Mike looked at the stretched road ahead of
him as the beaming lights of the vehicle lit the
way. He was driving at a speed beyond what
he had always considered normal. His mind
lost in thoughts he could not give himself
chance to take a look at his wife who was now
fast asleep in the seat next to him. Wishing he
could change the hands of time and do more
to help his deranged brother, he sighed deeply
at such tormenting thoughts.
Growing up, Mike and Jake had different
childhood experiences with Mike having a life
that Jake consider better than what he himself
had. Although mike always argued that wasn’t
the case, he could never get to convince his
brother that he had to fight hard to get
through his own hardships unlike Jake who
gave up and resorted to play a blame game
for every person in his life.
Jake even blamed mike for being born after
him, claiming if he was the only child born
from his mother, she could have lived longer
to take care of him. Now that she had to
struggle with raising two children alone after
their father abandoned them. Mike was
different from Jake though, instead of
drowning himself in self-pity, he decided to
look for his father at the age of 12 and moved
in with him, getting an education and a much
better life than his brother.
Jake had refused to have anything to do with
his father he chose to stay on with his mother
until she died of Malaria when he was only 17
years old.
Being identical twins was the only thing the
two had in common, everything else was
different. Mike was a calm and collected
sensible person who always stayed optimistic
and hard working. He took every chance he
got to better his life even at the slavery
treatment he had to receive from his step
mother and step sisters and brothers.
On the other hand, Jake was so outgoing and
mostly unreasonable, he acted on impulse and
was never ready to work his butt out for a
better life. He found it easy to blame others
for his letdowns and took every opportunity to
benefit from those around him. The more
reason he always found himself in a lot of
trouble.
Seeing the twins together, most people found
it very hard to tell one from the other. They
spoke the same way, they had the same
physical appearances and people said even
their gestures were similar. The two were
always mistaken by those who met them at
different places. Mike had to get used to hear
people call him Jake and sometimes even
some girls Jake used to play around with
would confront him over some silly affairs he
had to struggle to settle the issues. He had to
suffer some degradation in public for the
crocked ways of his brother, especially after
their mother died and Jake started doing some
sloppy and con businesses.
Mike recalled a day when he was coming out
of a mall and a woman hauled him by the
shirt asking him to pay him what he was due
to her. “Woman I don’t know who you are and
what you talking about,” he tried to defend
himself.
“you are so stupid if you think you can play
dumb and pretend you don’t know me when
you got money from me!” the loud woman
yelled attracting people’s attention.
“Am sorry, but…” he couldn’t finish his
sentence and realized what that was all about.
“Jake” he shook his head breathing deeply.
“ listen lady, am sorry for your money but
trust me I may look like him but am not the
person you are thinking I am, I have a twin
brother Jake, am sure he got your money “ he
explained trying to calm her down.
“hahhahaha that’s a good one Jake, you
suddenly have a twin brother huh? Well you
will give me my money today twin or not. I
swear I will humiliate you in this place” she
gnawed angrily.
Mike looked at her undone hair, her face
covered in anger and her mouth moving fast
as she spoke, he knew he had no chance at
all, so he sighed knowing what he was to do.
Pay for his brother`s sins again.
“Okey mama, let go of my shirt you are
embarrassing me, now tell me, how much my
brother owes you?” he asked calmly.
“You are something else Jake, anyway, its
K1000 “She looked at his face mockingly.
“What? Okey” he quickly stopped himself.
“Let’s get to the ATM machine I withdraw it
for you cause I have no money on me right
now” he told her.
Mike sighed deeply at the memories from his
past, he realized they were just getting to
Lusaka and it was morning. Slowing down he
parked at an eating place and looked at his
wife who had slept almost the entire trip.
“Love, hey Isabel” he shook her touching her
shoulder.
“Let’s get something to eat love, we are in
Lusaka” he tried to smile at her sleepy face as
she stretched out.
“Am not hungry” she frowned looking away.
“Isa come on, we both know how hungry you
are always especially with the pregnancy,
come on now don’t do this to me. Let’s go” he
pleaded holding her hands.
“I know you are upset with me but do it for
our baby, I love you Isa and am sorry please
listen to me my love. I cannot afford having
you mad at me like this. Whatever am doing
am doing it for you and our child, you have to
trust me” he pleaded his face somber.
“Please” he looked into her eyes as she turned
to look at her.
“I love you, but you are acting bizarre and I
hate it Mike” she looked at his eyes.
“I know and I promise I will explain everything
soon enough.” He smiled holding her chin and
lifting her face towards him. He planted a soft
kiss on her lips and she held on to him.
“I need ….“
“I know” he cut her, “bacon or lamp steak and
fries” he smiled still holding her.
“Yeah” Isa smiled broadly.
“And icy coke too” she added
They walked to the restaurant hand in hand.
Isa knew mike loved her and he always found
a way to make her feel good about everything.
He would be so silent and thoughtful
sometimes, but she knew he had his own way
of showing her what she meant to him. She
was the outgoing type of a woman and she
had always tried to get him to be more social
and take him out for outings. She had to drag
him off his office desk sometimes just to get
him take some time off work. But she still
loved him.
“Babe!’ mike called out bringing her back to
the moment.
“What is Mike?” she asked gathering she was
not paying attention.
“I was asking how many bottles of coke i
should order for you.” Mike asked her.
“Just get me as many, its daylight and I know
I will need more as we drive home” she replied
shrugging.
She watched as mike made the order and paid
with his card. They sat down waiting for their
order to be ready and she noticed Mike
checking his phone again.hj
“Shit!” he cursed his face turning into a frown
again.
She almost opened her mouth to ask what it
was but recalling the last night argument, she
decided to pass it. She shook her head as she
watched him read what was sent to his phone
and noticed his fist was almost shaking.
“Excuse me love, let me make a quick call” he
looked at her and she nodded her head.
“Go ahead love” she smiled approvingly.
“How dare you go to my house you jerk? I told
you am on my way” Mike whispered in the
mouth piece immediately he got out the
restaurant.
“Well, bro, I tried to call you and you switched
off the line. Guess what? Your maid just
served me a nice meal and am relaxing on
this beautiful couch enjoying myself.” Jake
mocked him.
“ Oh, I almost forgot, your sister in law is such
a cute little thing, she just walked in and looks
so sexy, sad she doesn’t seem to like you so
much cause she didn’t even notice you are in
the house” Jake added making Mike shiver in
rage.
“Get out of my house Jake, I swear……”
“What?” Jake challenged him.
“Please don’t mess my life Jake. What do you
want?” mike sank his voice
“I want your life dummy! You took everything
and left me with nothing man, this time in
want the good life too and you will get to
experience my life too.” Jake smiled proudly
as he took a bite on the sausage he had been
served.
“What is that supposed to mean Jake?” Mike
asked ignoring the irritating sound of his
brother chewing loudly.
“Get over here brother! We got a lot to talk
about. For now I will sleep in your bed and
rest. You know the cops are everywhere
looking for me and I cannot risks hovering
around” Jake sighed.
“You cannot be at my house Jake, am on my
way and my wife….” He almost spoke but Jake
cut him.
“When I do my nap, I will leave before you
come. But bear in mind that if you don’t show
up before evening, you will lose everything
Mike and am damn serious!” Jake scolded and
cut the line leaving Mike stoned in one place.
H looked around and back seeing his wife
watching him from inside.
‘’ calm down Mike, calm down you can do
this.” He told himself and turned to walk back
in to join his wife
‘’ not yet?” he asked her faking an okey smile,
but Isa could see through his lie.
“Nearly I guess” she shrugged holding his
hand firmly.
“I hope you get better soon my love. I don’t
like that you look worked up” she smiled at
him and he smiled back.
“Yeah I hope so too my darling, I really hope
so” he frowned sitting back in his chair.
