growing up or...not

7/21/2019 Growing Up or...Not

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Growing Up...Or Not Ashley Tyler

Unonzwa sees himself as a normal person, but everyone else doesn’t because his eyes area bright blue and his family to everyone is strange. Normally Zimbabwean people only have dark

brown eyes and most of them aren’t as wealthy as Unonzwa. His father is a white man and he’svery wealthy, his mom is full Zimbabwean. He is half white and Zimbabwean that’s why kids atschool or who live net him pick on him. Unonzwa is very intelligent and he is receiving a goodeducation in a school with good reputation. He is also from !wekwe, Zimbabwe. !wekwe is acentral city with good education, and Unonzwa is attending the small school nearby his home.

"ecause Unonzwa is #$, soon to be turning #%, he hasn&t started his own family or startedhis own farm. 'nstead, he&s at the home he grew up in. (hen he was a little kid he helped hisfather, )im, with his farm. *very other day they go out and sell some food at a nearby village. Hisfather also fies people&s wagons as a +ob and his mother, ambo, stays at home, and makesclothes and blankets for them.

Unonzwa gets bullied at school because of his eyes, since he&s the only kid with blue

eyes. "ecause he’s half Zimbabwean people call him an -it. /he school he attends has onlywhite kids that go there and rarely native people. 0ometimes the people at his school cross theline and make him feel like he shouldn&t be there at all. He hasn&t broken down yet, that’s becausehe&s always thinking about something positive. He learned from his parents that 1No matter howbad someone treats you, revenge is never the answer.1 Unonzwa is trying to live a normal lifewithout anyone bullying him, but he can&t since he knows that having a white father is strangebecause a Zimbabwean girl is suppose to be with a Zimbabwean man. His mother would tell himevery morning before he left for school 1No matter how hard things may seem, there&s alwayssomething good around the corner.1 /hat&s the advice he would take and keep in mind until hegot home.

Unonzwa loves school, he en+oys it a lot. 2any kids who live near him don’t go to schoolbut he doesn’t understand why. His father would tell him it’s probably because they’re poor orthey don’t want their kids to go to school. Unonzwa didn’t get why he mentioned -becausethey’re poor. What does that have to do with going to school? He would shrug it off and do hishomework or study. )im and his friends are the ones who built the hut the way they wanted it./hey didn’t do the 3traditional’ way instead he made it so ambo and )im have a shared room,Unonzwa has his own room and they have a living room and a kitchen. /heir bathroom was builtseparately and is right net to their hut.

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)im patted his son on his back with a smile.

-How are you doing in school5 he asked Unonzwa.

-6retty good. (hen are we leaving5

)im thought for a few seconds before answering, -Hmm, probably in a few hours.

Unonzwa was curious why they weren’t leaving earlier. Usually his father would say-7et’s go as soon as he got home from school.

-(here’s mom5 Unonzwa asked. )im sat down in a chair at his small office.



-0he’s at your grandma’s hut. Unonzwa nodded and since he finished his homework atschool, and had to wait a few hours before going to the market, he decided to try to make somefriends or +ust practice football.

-8an ' go play some football5

)im nodded, too busy with reading something. Unonzwa took his chance and went to theplace where he knew where all the people his age were. 't’s 7wazi’s hangout spot, it’s the fieldwhere she plays football. 7wazi is the most popular girl. *veryone loves her because she is abeautiful and perfect like a Zimbabwean princess. /o Unonzwa she’s +ust another girl tries toohard, even though she impresses others. 9s he got closer, he could see her and all of her friends:or +ust people who follow her around;. )ust as he got there he realizes that he forgot to bring hisfootball, but then remembered as he looked around that he has his other one here. /he group ofpeople were sitting in the middle of the field which bothered him a little bit. "ehind a big rock bysome random person’s hut he found his football, usually he would leave an etra one +ust in casehe forgot to bring his other one. He picked up the old worn out black and red ball and started toplay by himself since he doesn’t have any friends to play with.

7wazi was watching Unonzwa from afar. 0he didn’t like Unonzwa because he wasdifferent. "ut she does feel something for him, she +ust doesn’t want to admit it.

-'s that Unonzwa5 one of her friends asked, 7wazi rolled her eyes.

-' think so, why is he here5 0he huffed. *dzia had a huge crush on Unonzwa, and shereally wanted to go see him. 0he knew that 7wazi wouldn’t approve, but she didn’t know why.0he decided to +ust go for it *dzia stood up confidently.

-(here are you going5 7wazi whined. *dzia pointed towards Unonzwa who waspracticing some tricks. 7wazi felt frustrated and +ealous.

-<ou can’t go over there. 0he stomped. *dzia rolled her brown eyes, -(hy not5 '’m +ustgoing to see what he’s doing. 7wazi sat there thinking for a moment. -'sn’t obvious, *dzia5He’s playing football by himself like the freak he is. 0he spat angrily.

-(ell, '’m going anyway. *dzia walked away, hearing 7wazi yell 3/raitor’ behind her.

Unonzwa concentrating on his practice, so he didn’t notice *dzia was right net to him.0he tapped his shoulder, which made him +ump. He stopped what he was doing. -=id 7waziwant to send me a message5 'f so ' am not taking it. Unonzwa said feeling slightly irritated.7wazi would send a few guys to beat up Unonzwa sometimes. /hat’s what she called a3message’, but usually Unonzwa would hide from them so he never got beaten up. *dzia shookher head.

-No, ' +ust wanted to see what you were doing. Unonzwa was taken back.-'’m +ust practicing football for the game. 0he nodded.

-Hmm isn’t that tomorrow5 He nodded not saying anything. Unonzwa talked with*dzia for a long time. 0oon 7wazi wasn’t at her spot anymore, but they didn’t care because theywere having fun and Unonzwa was actually making a friend.

-Unonzwa>> 7et’s go>> His father called interrupting their conversation.



-'’ll see you at the game tomorrow *dzia. 0he smiled and let him go. 0he watched asUnonzwa left +ust as she turned around 7wazi was standing there with what looked like an evilsmile.

-0o guess who has a +ob5 *dzia shook her head her bright smile fading away.

-No if it has to do with Unonzwa '’m not in it. 7wazi knew this was going to happen.

-(ell then ' guess '’ll have to tell4 *dzia knew what she was going to say, of course thatmade her agree to whatever plan 7wazi has. Unonzwa made it back at the hut with his father.

-(ho was that you were talking to5 )im wondered.

-'t was +ust a girl, ' met.

Unonzwa and his father got in his wagon and checked if they had everything they neededbefore they went to the market. )im was not really ecited to go to the market, today because heknows the looks he and his son would get. 6eople always stare and call his son names when theyare working. /hey sell what his wife ambo makes things like blankets, coats, and pillows for

everyone, and they also sold food. )im finds it strange that people don’t say anything to him,because no one calls him names or really bothers him. 0ometimes he thinks that it’s because he’swhite, but he honestly hates getting different treatment as if he’s a king, when he sees his songetting the opposite. )im parked their wagon by a broken pot on the ground. /here were lots ofpeople there today. Usually it wasn’t this busy. )im looked around, seeing a few rows of wagonsand small stands preparing to start selling their items. Unonzwa started his part to get their standset up, and put some signs up. He set down a few vases he made at home and then he alsobrought out his old football. )im was surprised with the new items his son put out.

-9re you sure about this5 )im sighed nervously.

-<es, ' mean ' do have my new football at home, and these vases ' made at home too. 'can always make more. Unonzwa said happily. )im nodded and turned his attention back to theZimbabwean people who came to their stand.

-Hello, how are you5 't was the normal greeting his father would start off with beforegetting into what they were selling.

Hours later Unonzwa and his father returned home from the market. /hey made a lot ofmoney with Unonzwa’s vases and his football. )im split the money with Unonzwa. ambo sat intheir living room waiting for )im to enter. ambo looked out the window with a smiled whenshe seen )im and and her son arrive.

-/hey’re home. 0he whispered happily to herself.

/he net few days had been going by really well for the family, ecept one early morning)im came up with an idea. "efore he made his decision, he communicated with his wife amboto see if his idea would be put into action. Unonzwa was at school now, so that means )im had afew hours to get his plan set up in time for when he gets home. (hile that was happening,Unonzwa was at school. He was currently learning about the Zimbabwean culture and what theydo, it was weird to see what Zimbabweans do since his family doesn’t do any of those things. 'twas another reason they were seen as different.



-*verything is going to be okay Unonzwa, but as for now you need to start getting yourthings together because you are going to live on your own. ambo said. )im nodded as shetalked.

-(hen5> Unonzwa asked.

-Now. ambo said.

-<es Unonzwa, we already got most of your things and we also put them in your new hut,since you’ll be starting a family soon.

Unonzwa felt as if he was about to faint, he couldn’t believe this was happening. /houghhe knows he isn’t the only one getting this news today, everyday there’s a few people who haveto start their own families and get a +ob. "ut he didn’t think it would be this fast. 'nstead oflistening to his father talking about what he should do and how to raise a family, Unonzwadecided to go to his room and get the rest of the items that were left behind. He found hisfootball, some clothes and his blankets. )im didn’t want to bother his son, he knows that this wasa lot to process, and he’s +ust imagining how Unonzwa feels and thinks about all this. Unonzwasat on the dirty floor of his small room thinking about how he was going to do as a father. Ar

how he was going to treat his family...'s he going to change5 /hat thought scared him,Unonzwa’s biggest fear was changing the person he is today because of his own family.

-'’ll be the best father out there. Unonzwa whispered with confident tone.

)im was listening to Unonzwa talking to himself about how he will treat his wife andkids. He smiled knowing that Unonzwa is going to be a great father. He was +ust nervous for himbecause this is a huge step for all of them. 7ater that day Unonzwa finally got the rest of histhings and decided to man up and live in his new home. He lived in a small hut that couldprobably fit three or four people. /he walls looked like they were about to fall apart soon, theroof had holes he made a mental note to fi that before it rains. 't wasn’t +ust built like he thoughtit was going to be, instead his father gave him a hut that was almost about to collapse. Unonzwalooked around outside his hut, he noticed he had barely any space to start a farm. /hat reallybothered him because how else is he suppose to bring food to his family5 *very man in thefamily worked on their own farm and feed everyone in their family and so far he had no one. "uthe knew that would change soon because he knows his father is probably trying to find someonefor Unonzwa.

-' can’t find anyone ambo. )im sighed taking a seat at the dinner table.

-(hat about that girl you were telling me about5 Unonzwa’s friend5 ambo wondered,continuing washing the dishes. )im’s blue eyes widen, now that ambo reminded him of her, hedecided to go with her.

Unonzwa went to sleep that night in his new hut, hoping that this was all a nightmare. 'n

the morning )im came in and woke up Unonzwa.-2orning son, clean yourself up because we have some talking to do. )im whispered,

tapping his shoulder. Unonzwa sat up slowly, letting a big yawn out and stretching his arms out.He rubbed his eyes, lazily getting up from his bed. He looked up at the roof of his hut, lettingyesterday’s event process through his mind. 't was like he got slapped in the face out of his daydream into reality. He finally got up walking over by his bed there is a bucket of water. /he waterwasn’t really clean though since in Zimbabwe and most of 9frica the water isn’t clean. 6ickingup his washcloth, he put it in the dirty water rinsing it first before wiping his face down, thenwashing his face again with soap this time. 9fter he finished he went into a smaller room which



was the living room, there was nothing in there yet, only his father sitting on the ground in themiddle of the room.

-(hat do we need to talk about5 Unonzwa wondered, taking a seat by his father.

-(e both know by now that you need a wife. )im started off, Unonzwa shook his head

stopping his father from going on.

-<ou have no choice Unonzwa, the only thing you can do now is +ust listen.

Unonzwa waited for him to go on impatiently, he started to draw on the sand they weresitting on to distract himself from this conversation.

-ambo and ' decided to choose that friend of yours. ' forgot her name but she was withyou when you were playing football. Unonzwa’s eyes widen before he could yell no )im askedwhat her name was.

-Her name is, *dzia. He mumbled nervously.

)im nodded.

-=o you know her parent’s names5 Ar where she lives5 )im asked.

Unonzwa didn’t know where she lived or ever met her parents, they +ust met a few daysago. 't’s kind of crazy to Unonzwa.

-' don’t know anything about her. He admitted.

)im nodded making a mental note to find *dzia later or maybe if Unonzwa will help outhe’ll probably +ust get it over with now.

-' could go find her, she’s probably at the market today. Unonzwa suggested.

-9lright that sounds good, '’ll go with you. )im stood up dusting himself off.

Unonzwa didn’t like that idea, he wants to go alone and not have his father come followhim.

-No>> Unonzwa yelled before realizing what he said. He tried to cover it up.

-' mean no you can’t come because you need to watch over ambo. Unonzwa told himnervously.

)im knew the reason why Unonzwa didn’t want him to go but that isn’t going to stop him

from staying. He needs Unonzwa to help him find the girl and her parents.-7ook Unonzwa you already know what '’m going say so '’m going with you.

Unonzwa nodded with a defeated sigh.

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7ater that day Unonzwa found *dzia by herself at the market, then she took him and hisfather to her hut. )im and Unonzwa are currently standing in front of *dzia’s hut both of themnervous.

*dzia’s parents came out, wide eyes, they both looked angry. Her mother smiled at bothof their guest.

-*dzia please follow me. Her mother said through gritted teeth, pulling her away.

/hen her father came out, he is tall, has dark brown eyes and he looked about forty fiveyears old.

growing up or...not

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