A Long Way Home by Mardria Portuondo

Author:Mardria Portuondo [Portuondo, Mardria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B0BVF6FJ52
Goodreads: 109435827
Published: 2023-02-08T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Zuma had to go to the passport center to take her photograph for a passport. I had her birth certificate and the money for the application, and a representative from Zepher’s organization would be helping her to fill out the forms before taking her to apply for an emergency passport. Of course, I would have to go with them, but I was sure I would not be allowed inside and it might be a challenge to get Zuma to go anywhere without me, therefore, I would have to talk to her about that possibility before we leave the hotel room.

“Babe,” I said when she exited the bathroom. “I’m going with you and Majorie to the passport center, but they might not allow me inside…”

“Then I’m not going,” she replied as expected.

“I will be right outside waiting for you,” I said. “Majorie can go in with you because she has a humanitarian pass, but I cannot go in.”

“What if I come out and you’re gone?” she asked.

“I would never leave you. You’re my girlfriend, remember?”

“My dad left and I’m his daughter,” she reminded me.

“But he did it to make your life better,” I said. “If I leave you then I would be making your life worse. Your father placed you in my care and you are my responsibility. I would never neglect my responsibility.”

“That’s why you got a purchase card,” she said with a smile.

“A credit card. I got it because I am responsible, right?”

“Yes. You’re a responsible person.”

“See? I won’t leave. I promise.”

“Okay,” she replied. “I don’t want to wear that. I want to wear my pink dress.”

“Wear this pants outfit, honey. It’s better.”

“Why?”

“Because we need to take the hair off our legs. Mine grew in Mbakti. See?” I said showing her my legs.

“And it’s not okay to wear hair on your legs?”

“Nor here…nor here,” I said showing her the two other places. “It’s fine for a man but not for a woman.”

“So when the hair comes off I can wear my dress?”

“Yes, you can, honey,” I said and she smiled and got dressed.

I got dressed as well and noticed Zuma’s hair. Mine had taken twenty minutes of brushing to detangle the one month of knot that formed during my time in Mbakti. She had beautiful hair toward the scalp, but on top was unsalvageable.

“What?” she asked as she stood looking at me.

“We need to get your hair cut,” I said.

“My dad cut it just before you came to Mbakti,” she replied.

“Oh. We need to take more off,” I said and went to her. I took her to the bathroom and put her in front of the mirror. “Do you remember what happened the first time I put you in front of a mirror?”

“Jo,” she said and laughed. “Don’t remind me. I thought I was in two places at once.”

“You called me Jo,” I said and turned her to look at me. “It’s your first time calling me a pet name.”

“Pet name?”

“A short version of the original name as an endearment.

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