"The Hole" -- Rutendo E. Chimbaru

Curiosity got the best of me when I spotted two men standing by the dilapidated house at the end of the street. One of the men was tall and thin, whereas his counterpart was much bigger than him: he looked like a tonne of bricks! The duo was immersed in conversation which I could not help but overhear.

“We’re making the drop tonight,” said the tonne of bricks

“Wh-wh-why tonight, Tongai?” stammered the skinny man, his eyes darting from side to side.

“Because I said so Munya. Don’t question my authority. You knew from the beginning that this day would come,” he replied.

“But I’m not ready for this!” he squealed.

“Ready or not, be there. Remember to bring your guns. You know what, let’s go to your house right now and get the goods,” he said walking away. Munya did not bother to reply but simply followed.

What drop were they talking about? Were they part of a gang? All these questions came swirling into my head. I really wanted to know what they were going to do. It took me a split second to decide to follow them. I waited for them to round the corner before I followed. I felt like Sherlock Holmes. Adrenaline was coursing through my veins sending sparks to my fingertips and toes

Munya and Tongai kept walking for about twenty minutes then they came to a stop by a cardboard shack by the edge of the forest, which I assumed was Munya’s house. They disappeared into the house for half an hour. By the time they emerged the sun had been swallowed by the horizon. I had somehow gotten lost in my own thoughts while staring at the sunset such that I forgot why I was crouching behind a huge rock. I broke out of my daydream state as Tongai and Munya disappeared into the brush. Realising that I could not catch up to them walking, I broke into a run. Even though my legs were being viciously lashed by grass blades, I kept going until my body was literally screaming for me to stop.

I finally stopped and leaned heavily against a tree. My breathing was so deep that my lungs were about to burst. In my struggle to control my breathing, I didn’t notice that Munya and Tongai were hovering over me.

“Who are you and why have you been following us?” asked Tongai without taking a breath.

“Answer the question, little girl,” bellowed Munya. My mouth was as dry as the savannah.

“I-I-I…” I stammered.

“Tongai, I think we can use her for the drop,” said Munya with a mysterious glint in his eyes.

“Yeah, I think so too. Let’s go,” he said.

We walked for five minutes then all of a sudden…

“Welcome to The Hole! Home of the Daredevils!” screamed Munya staring at big hole filled with crystal blue water.

“The what?” I asked.

“The Hole. This is where we perform our stunts,” said Tongai.

I was flabbergasted. They weren’t part of a gang, just two circus boys. Well there goes my Sherlock Holmes aura.

“So why do you need me?” I asked.

“Well, we need someone petite and daring to perform this stunt called The Drop,” said Tongai, “Obviously I can’t do it and Munya here is too chicken to do it.” I was speechless. This is the drop they were talking about.

“So, are you in?” they asked simultaneously.

“Yes,” I replied.

-- Rutendo E. Chimbaru, 2015