Mystery Man

Events that had taken place seemed unreal. I did not know what to believe. Was I in a dream, or could it be possible that my father and his buddy were performing witchcraft? And if indeed that was true, would I still want to bond with this man? Or would I have to return back to Joburg and remove my father from all of my thoughts as if he had never existed? I wondered.

“Can you tell me what just happened here,Ben was here one minute then he disappeared into thin air." I protested. My father cautiously took out a black and white striped handkerchief from the deep pocket of his blazer, wiped his glasses and put the  handkerchief back to where it had been. Belinda brought with her, two cups of hot tea, my father could not hold himself. He grabbed the cup of tea and began to drink. With each sip, he bravely revealed his dark innermost thoughts. After all that was the only way I could ever trust him. He had to tell the truth.

“Back when i was in my 20's i had you. Your mother and i were thrilled, but i was unemployed and i needed money to support my family. I joined a gang that was called Number twenty six. I was able to make quick cash selling drug’s, but still the money was not enough and I despised working for thugs. I told the gang leader i wanted to quit and he didn’t like that saying very much. They threatened to kill my family if i ever stopped working with them, I didn't give in to their threats, eventually they found my true home address. They set the house on fire. Fortunately your mother was visiting a family relative in Lesotho, while the incident was happening. I suffocated from the strong smoke, a firemen rescued me before the entire house collapsed. I went into total depression and had to be admitted in a hospital, that’s when i met Ben.He taught me everything i know and today I too have become a guardian." He paused for a while, then continued to speak.

 "I work for an organization called the GOH,Guardians of the Hex. We fight all sort of bad, human and non human. We use advanced technology and combat to fight our enemies" he emphasized. Confusion struck me.I didn't know how to react. I felt proud of my father, I also felt angry at him for abandoning his family to save the world. As I lifted my gaze, I saw my father looking back at me, I smiled, hoping he could not see the anger within me as I was embarrassed to show my true feelings to people I hadn’t known that long.

He didn't smile, he only gave me a hug.” I love you my child, please forgive me "he whispered."

 "I already did"

My father closed the office door slowly. 

"Come with me" he said, leading me to a secret compartment, that was located behind the book shelves. 

The room was large and wide. 30 cm from the book shelves were three computers, the smallest, the medium sized and the largest one amongst the other two.

"I use the small computer to search the internet, I use the medium sized computer for all my forging activities in case I need to travel internationally. I use the largest computer to track any incoming threats that might cause harm to life on Earth such as Extra terrestrial beings and meteors. My father explained.

 Opposite the computer's was a cabinet filled with government files. Each file was placed orderly according to their number. “what are in these files?” I asked curiously.

My father took one file, it had a number seven written on the top left corner, with the name Miranda Klaus on the centre. My father opened the file. It was evidence, showing the type of crime Miranda had done.  There were horrifying images of children blindfolded, with bruises on their bodies. Other images showed children in military uniform, holding guns like little military personnel. “stop! please no more.. "I cried. 

My father closed the file and put it back to the cabinet where it had been placed before. 

" My job as a guardian is to ensure that evil people like Miranda never get to hurt anyone ever again. When we are done rescuing the victims, we give them counselling and take them back to their families. I’m no magic man, I only use advanced technology and combat to stop crime “My father explained.

My father was not as evil as I had thought, he was a hero. I lengthened my stay, I too wanted to become a guardian, perhaps it was my purpose.

“How do I join the GOH?”I inquired. 

“You don’t join, you get recruited.

The response I received from my father didn’t satisfy my curiosity. Two weeks passed since my father had revealed his secret to me and yet I still longed to be a part of the GOH. A man by the name of Tebogo Phenyo arrived at my father’s house, He spent at least an hour in my father’s office, before sending Belinda to call for me to join them in their meeting. We exchanged greetings and I sat on one of the chairs.  

“Your father has told me good things about you, he has also told me of your interest in the GOH.I came here bearing good news. You have been offered placement at the GOH training program. The program will last for six months. If you finish your training there is a high possibility that you will get a chance to prove yourself whether you are worthy enough to be a guardian or not. What do you say? Do you accept the offer?” Mr Phenyo explained. 

My heart raced with excitement, my smiled said it all. 

“Yes  I accept” I screamed. 

My father wished me good luck . He seemed genuinely happy for me.

“Then you can call me Professor as I will be your mentor for the whole six months.” Mr Phenyo stated. 

I didn’t mind. As long as I was going to attend the GOH training program that was the only thing which mattered to me at that very moment.