A LESSON BY LIFE By Teboho Masakala

A LESSON BY LIFE

By TEBOHO MASAKALA

HARRY was in hospital, he was coughing, he was crying and he was sick, very sick and not a second would pass without Harry not coughing or feeling pain, Harry cried every time he trenchantly thought of his family.

He remembered how blessed he was, he once had a wife, children, cars and a beautiful house he was proud of, he was even a church goer but all of that was gone and he had nothing and had lost everything he had; mostly he missed his wife who had left him years ago, Harry sat on the hospital bed and remembered the good life he once had, he remembered how it all started.

Harry was at home with his wife Mary and for a long time he looked for a job and could not find it and he was really worried because his wife and kids were struggling to make ends meet. This bothered him because he loved his family, "I don't know how I am going to get a job, I went to all these places and for years now I have been struggling, what am I going to do?" said Harry, "don't worry my husband because you will soon find a job and I promise you we will live happily together me, you and the children" His wife Mary said, trying to comfort him. "But when?" asked Harry "just don't worry because GOD will provide a way for us" Mary said "OK, let’s hope that will one day happen" said Harry, they sat down and the children came and they ate their food and went to sleep.

Harry woke up the following day, he bathed and went to look for a job , he looked all day round without any success and as the day was ending he went back home to his family, "How was today, did you find anything today" asked Mary "no I did not find anything and I am still looking and I am beginning to lose hope," said Harry "don't worry you will get a job "GOD will provide a way for us" said Mary trying to comfort Harry not to lose hope and again Harry had some hope because of Mary and he bathed and went to bed.

"Harry!!! Harry!!! Harry!!! Wake up, wake up I have good news for you" shouted Mary waking up Harry 'what is it?" said Harry "look here in the newspaper they want people to work in the mines of silver city" said Mary "What? Really; and are you serious?” said Harry in excitement and amazement "yes and look how much they are paying and with that kind of money we can buy a nice house with it" said Mary. Harry jumped in excitement and hugged his wife "tomorrow I am going to silver city to look for that job" said Harry and for the whole day they were happy that there was soon going to be light at the end of the tunnel.

The following day Harry woke up early, bathed and after eating he called his two kids and told them he was going to look for a job in Silver city and they cried but he told them that he will be back in a short time and there were smiles on their faces "please Harry behave yourself, please, you know how Silver city is and many men who went there never came alive and some forget their families and marry and at the end they end up having ALZIMA and you know how dangerous ALZIMA is" said Mary with tears "I promise my love I will behave and no need to worry, you know I am faithful" said Harry and he left them. ALZIMA was one of the dangerous diseases, and someone who had it will have only few years to live and would die, it was so dangerous that even people ran away from you and even the person who had it had all these sicknesses because their body became weak every now and then, and Silver city was the place where most people had it"

Harry arrived at Silver city and looked for the job he saw in the newspaper and he finally got it and he had a job in the mines of Silver city and every month he sent money home to his wife and children and called his wife now and then. Soon after some few months working the mine company closed down for the Easter holiday and every man went to his family and Harry also went to his family for the Easter holidays.

Harry arrived in the morning at home and his wife and kids were happy. "Daddy, daddy is home" said his two kids and they hugged their father "hello my little girls" said Harry and he hugged his children "welcome back sir" said Mary and he hugged Harry and the family were together. With the money that Harry had saved they bought a house and they were happy, after Easter holidays Harry went back to work at Silver city.

Harry was a hard worker and soon he had enough money to buy even a car and his life and his families, life was better and his wife Mary was also happy because their sufferings had ended and they lived in a nice house and had a nice car. But soon Harry met a guy named Patric and they soon became friends "Harry my man, today is Saturday let’s go to a night club" said Patric" "no I can’t, I promised my wife I will behave" said Harry "forget her you are in Silver city now my man and you need to be a man" Patric again said "but my wife trusts me" "yes she trusts you but you are far from her and she wont know or see you, come let’s go to the night club, there are girls you can meet" said Patric "No I wont I love my wife" Harry replied

"Ha, ha, ha guys this guy is afraid of his wife" said Patric and other men laughed and made fun of Harry "OK I will go but only for today" said Harry "that’s my man" said Patric and Harry went to the night club, at the club they sat. Patric drank a lot "here have a sip Harry" Patric said "No I don’t drink" replied Harry "be a man and have only one drink" said Patric. "No man I told you I don't....." Harry replied but Patric interrupted him "OK what can I say; you are not man enough to be a man indeed" replied Patric teasing Harry "I am man enough" said Harry "If you are, then drink this beer" said Patric "let me show you" replied Harry taking the beer he drank the beer and his intention was to take only one but ended up drinking too much… he lost count of the bottles and when they left the night club he was very very drunk and even Patric had to carry him home.

Harry started going to night clubs every Saturday and drank a lot, "today is Saturday and you know it’s happening my friend," Patric said with a smile "Yes we are going" said Harry and they went to the club, Patric changed Harry, he no longer sent money home and he drank it with his friends and no longer cared about his children and wife. Harry even had a girlfriend and fooled around with her a lot, the same Harry who had been very faithful and loved his children and wife was gone because of Patric!

Harry came to the house he stayed at after work, and as he was about to open the door he found a letter from his wife and began reading it. "hi Harry please know that our child Lucie is sick and she has been sick for two weeks now and I have used the money I had to take her to hospital and now I have no money, please send some money home, love your wife Mary" "What? that woman is sick, she is not getting any money from me, she will not get anything from me" said Harry angrily. "What is it Harry and why you angry?" asked Patric "That woman who calls herself my wife wants money from me and she won’t get any" said Harry "don't give her anything and forget about her she is useless and don't even consider her, don't give her anything, you are a man now and don't listen to a woman" said Patric "Yes, you are right and by the way let’s go and have two beers because that woman has made me sick" said Harry and they went to the night club and drank.

Days and years went by without Harry going home or sending money home and he received lots and lots of letters from his wife Mary but he burned them. One evening when he was about to eat there was a knock at the door and he thought that it was Patric but when he opened the door to his surprise it was his wife Mary. "Hi Harry" said Mary 'hello" Harry said but he was angry and did not want to look at Mary. "Are you not happy to see me and please look at me" said Mary with a smile "what do you want?" said Harry "Harry I have sent you many letters telling you that our child Lucie is very sick and please give me money to take her to hospital" said Mary with tears in her eyes "What, are you sick, you want money from me? you won’t get anything from me" said Harry "but Harry your own child is sick and you wont take her to hospital? "said Mary in shock

"Woman I am a man now, and won’t listen to you, go back to where you came from and leave me alone" said an angry Harry "Harry, Harry, are you telling me its better for our child to die?" said Mary, crying "Yes it’s better if she dies than for you to want money from me, now get out of my place now go!" said Harry "You are chasing me away? Me, the mother of your child? Me your wife you are chasing me away?" Mary cried "I don’t have a wife or any children, leave me alone and go!" shouted Harry, kicking and hitting Mary. Poor Mary went back home crying and could not believe the man she called her husband was no longer the man she knew and loved; but was now a monster … she went home with tears and could not believe what Harry said.

Patric came one Saturday night to Harry, "let’s go and have some few cold beers my friend" Patric said smiling "Ok” Harry agreed, "your girlfriend Mandy will be there and you know that she is hot" Patric added. "Mandy is my girl and today i am going to be a man" said Harry with a smile and they went to the night club and at the night club as they were sitting and drinking beer Harry's girlfriend Mandy came and joined them 'come and sit here with me my love" Harry called Mandy "I am coming" said Mandy, "you are the man Harry" Patric who was very drunk said and after a few drinks Patric left and Harry was left with Mandy alone. "Baby you never showed me how much you love me" Mandy said "what do you mean?" Harry asked "I mean be a man and show me" Mandy replied, "not now I want to sleep” "or are you weak and not man enough for me," Mandy teased Harry, "I am man enough and I will show you," Harry said, "come let’s go to your place and show me" Mandy replied holding Harry and after a few seconds, Harry and Mandy went to the house of Harry and ended up making love. Harry made love to Mandy and that night Harry lost himself, he didn't know what’s going on with him; but he didn't care.

Harry started coughing when he was busy working but ignored it. Alas, for many subsequent days and years he kept coughing and losing weight. Even Patric noticed this "Harry what’s happening and why are you coughing now and then; are you sick?" "No I am not sick just having flu only" Harry replied "you need to see a doctor" Patric recommended "No I don't need a doctor, I am ok" Harry said angrily, but he tried to hide that he was sick and did not want to admit he was sick even though he was vomiting and losing weight. After some few months still Harry kept on losing weight inexorably; and he admitted to himself that he needed a doctor. Ultimately he decided to see a doctor and after work he went to the hospital in Silver city and after waiting in line for the doctor he got his chance "Come in sir" the doctor said. "Thank you" said Harry and after the doctor checked him he waited for two minutes and the doctor came with the results.

'Mr Harry, you can sit down again" Harry sat down "I have the results here with me” the doctor said, and Harry began to shake, "can I tell you them?" the doctor asked. "Yes you can go on" Harry replied. "Mr Harry Waterfield I am very sorry to tell this" the doctor hesitated to speak "Go on doctor tell me…" Harry said, shaking nevertheless. “Mr Harry Waterfield, I am very sorry to tell this and I am sorry to tell that you have the ALZIMA the disease and the ALZIMA sickness has been in your body for two years, I am very sorry" the doctor said. "No doctor,tell me you are playing," Harry shouted. "I am sorry I am serious sir” the doctor said and Harry stormed out of the hospital. For the whole day he shut himself in the house and did not go to work the following day; he started to remember his wife Mary but it was too late.

After Harry found out he had the ALZIMA disease he started to become very weak and he could not do his work properly. In the end he was fired at work and was again unemployed; one day as he was sitting in his house in Silver city he got a letter from his wife Mary and read it: "Harry by the time you read this letter i will be gone, Harry, know that Lucie has died and because you did not want to help and send money to help her, she has been dead for a year now and know that her blood is in your hands; and by the way, the house and cars were taken because we had too many debts and I sold the other one. Right now I am left with only our one and only left child Mercy and I don't want to tell you where I am bye bye Harry. The letter ended and struck his heart because he missed his wife and could not believe that his other child had died and it was now too late, because Mandy had left him when she found out that he had ALZIMA.

Patric came to visit him. "Harry my man," said Patric "my man!" Harry said but he was coughing and very weak. “Harry tell me what’s wrong? you lost weight and don't want to tell me, what’s wrong with you, please tell me" Patric asked. 'My friend I have the ALZIMA disease" Harry said crying, and in pain; but when Patric heard that he had the ALZIMA disease he got out of the house and left him alone, Harry, disconsolate and bitter, now had no one to look after him - he had no food, he was weak and most of all, he missed his wife but it was too late because he was alone and suffering and every now and then he remembered the words of his wife, Mary.
But the worst was not over. After many months, Harry was evicted from the house he rented in Silver city and had nowhere to go. He was crawling in the streets and could not walk because he was very weak and very thin, he slept on the ground. For three to four harrowing years he lived in the streets and ate from the dust bins;, he could never walk and sat alongside the street sleeping in the cold with no blanket.

One day when he was sitting in the streets coughing and weak, Patric saw him and felt sorry for him because he could not even do anything for himself and lived in the streets; and with compassion Patric took Harry and put him in his car and took him to the hospital where he left him, knowing the end was inevitable…