Fiction-The Cunning Uncle Tom

He had a penchant for silky and trendy cars and this day, Uncle Tom drove a distinct BMW X5 into the college yard.

Some Kwaito hits blasted blatantly from the car and the music made college students poke their heads through lecture rooms and hostel windows. Those passing through could not help but throw long fateful glances at us.

We rushed to the boot, which he had thrown open for us to take some groceries and we all emerged from it munching a chocolate bar.

That had become a norm with Uncle Tom during his many Saturday visits to the college.

He alighted from his car, a plastic smile precariously hanging on his age-beaten face. He hugged Sharon passionately and also gave me a warm hug.

I had known Uncle Tom since the time Sharon, my roommate, had introduced him to me during our first year at college. He sometimes offered us a lift whenever we had the need especially at the end of each semester.

While other students had sleepless nights over how they would travel back home, it was all easy for Sharon and I. Uncle made sure he was always in time to pick us up. As time went on, we would actually choose the car to travel in among his fleet of luxury cars.

After vacation, Sharon had always told me of her mouth-watering escapades with Uncle Tom, leaving me in anguish of fantasy and envy.

In my third year at college, I was now very close to Uncle Tom such that even in the absence of Sharon, I would fill in her gap.

As fate would have it, Sharon woke up with a fever one morning and could not get out of bed. I decided to call Uncle Tom whom I had known to be her confidant and in no time he was at college.

He quickly suggested that we take Sharon to a local doctor and I escorted her. She was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure and was given bed rest during which we would check on her later in the day.

Meanwhile, Uncle Tom decided we cruise around town window shopping then lunch afterward.

 “Do you want that outfit?’ Uncle Tom suddenly said, shaking my whole self into some trance,

“Oh!! Sure that’s a gorgeous dress,” I said, unable to control my abrupt shock.

“I will buy it for you,” he said, fishing out a thick ward of crispy greenbacks from his pocket.

“Do take that one too,” he said pointing to another dress which was on display in the boutique that we had entered.

“In fact, this is the outfit that I would want you to put on when we go for lunch in the afternoon; he added already handing the cash to me to pay for the dresses and a matching pair of heels.

I did not hesitate to take the money as Sharon and I had received huge amounts of money from Uncle Tom on many occasions.

After that Uncle Tom took me to a local salon for a hairdo after which I changed into a new dress and high heeled shoes.

Thank you very much Uncle T. I don’t know how to exactly show my appreciation for your generosity. You have been of so much help to us,” I muttered my gratitude.

“Don’t worry my little dove; you will always have more of these gifts. It’s high time we go for lunch,” he said, opening for me the passenger door to his dark Land Rover Discovery 04.

The engine coughed and spurts of blue smoke escaped from the exhaust as we left for a local hotel. Selbourne Hotel situated in the peripheries of the city centre was our destination.

The dress that I was adorning was just exquisite and it suited me like a second skin shaping the contours of my curved bottom. I was soon transformed such that Uncle Tom threw naughty sneaky picks at me and at one moment, he nearly lost control of the steering wheel.

He parked the vehicle near the five-star-hotel lobby and we ambled inside. Uncle Tom was by my side, his hand slightly touching my waistline. Patrons in the hotel ogled at us but I did not give a hoot.

“A good meal goes well with a glass of wine,” Uncle Tom said as he ordered our meal.

I protested at having a glass of wine but he insisted saying it wasn’t that much a strong drink at all. Not intending to disappoint him, I took down the meal with gusto.

College had indeed infused a sense of adulthood and independence into my life. I was away from the snooping eyes of boarding masters, matrons and, teachers whose presence was a pain in the neck during my high school days.

I gulped down a glass of the sweet wine and asked for a refill. It was very refreshing and I felt at ease.

After the meal, I was no longer myself, a burning sensation erupted from my chest, my body became weak and my vision blurred. I leaned on Uncle Tom’s shoulders and he tenderly stroked my face with his bearded chin and that sent a shiver of excitement down my spine.

“Do you know how much I love you Charlene?” his voice broke the momentary silence.

Uncle Tom had called me sweet dove, sweetheart, and Love on many occasions even in the presence of Sharon and I love you did not mean much to me.

“Yes I do, I cannot deny that after all that you have done for me,” I said drowsily.

On hearing these words, Uncle Tom snuggled closer to me and whispered in my ear;

“I have always admired you since the day Sharon introduced you to me and I have always longed to have you by my side.”

He looked at me and I turned my eyes away from him at his imposing gawk.

“I really cherish and admire what you do to Sharon. She tells me quite a lot of events you have had together. I always wish you would treat me the same,” I said drowsily, and felt a tinge of jealousy creeping into me.

“You can always have better times than her if you love me as I do,” he said his husky voice piercing through my heart.

Uncle Tom’s words were as real as his facial expressions. I was really moved, drawn to him like the moon draws the tides. At that dint of a moment, I, out of the blue, cared less of our friendship with Sharon who had introduced him to me.

I was now feeling groggy with each passing minute and I requested to have a rest in his car while he finished his wine. But Uncle Tom had all this planned.

“Actually, I always have a room booked for me at this hotel in cases of emergency and you can rest there for a moment as we wait to take your friend from the doctor,” he said as he helped me to my feet and led the way to the room.

I threw myself on the bed and everything seemed to be going upside down and he struck. His promises were as sweet as nectar, which I sucked in ravenously - promises of marriage, a house of my own, luxurious cars, a white wedding, honeymoon in Mauritius, worldwide tours in the belly of a bird, traversing the streets of Hollywood and rubbing shoulders with my movie and musical idols.

Hugs became caresses, light kisses developed into deep sensual kisses and murmurs of disapproval turned into mourns and groans of pleasure as I felt his huge and sweaty shivering body on me. By the time he asked me to ensconce myself on the settee, I had already opened myself to him. At that very moment, I sensed something slid down me, and I knew he had done it and without protection.

Suddenly the words of an advertisement on national TV back in the days rang at the back of my mind:

“Mukadzi chaiye haamanikidzwi kuenda pabonde kuti anzi mukadzi chaiye. Mukadzi chaiye anoramba kuita zvepabonde kusvika nguva yakwana. Mukadzi chaiye anomirira….”

I had not waited for my real-time and two months later, I found out that I was pregnant. I then told my friend Sharon about the ‘good’ news.

“I am pregnant for Uncle Tom. He made me take a strong drink and slept with me. I will make your uncle a good wife and you become my niece,” I told her one day as we rested in our room.

 “W-h-a-a-at!” Sharon stood in amazement. Never trust a person to that extent ooh gosh, I am not related to Uncle Tom; I don’t even know where he stays. He is just one of those people whom I call during times of need.

“He tried to lure me into his bed on several occasions but I have stood by my principles and he has been trying ever since. And when I call he comes because he thinks one day, he will win my heart. I was going to tell you about him one day after I saw that he was now interested in you,” she said.

I shivered and felt my legs become weaker and could not bear the weight of my body. I passed out.