The Quadra Guides To Change

Sitting outside the house is an old woman in her 70s. Sitting on a bench, looking at a picture of her grand son Kamil, when he was a baby. She had him in her hands. Younger then, a wide smile there. Her smile now is probably the same but her aged skin hides most of it.

Kamil, now seventeen, over five feets tall, exits the house closing the door behind him. Holding two luggage in both hands.

"Grandma?" His voice a bit clogged by the intense cold outside. He clears his throat.

She looks over her shoulder and them up at him as he stands in front of her.

"Look at how big you've gotten."

Kamil chuckles. She looks at his hands holding up the luggage. "And strong" she added.

Kamil looks excited. An undertone of sadness as he will be leaving his grandmother for college.

"Drop those things first. Drop-drop them" she says gesturing for Kamil to keep his luggages.

Tapping the right side of the bench, "Sit down here" she says. Kamil obeys.

They both inhale and exhale the water vapor in the air. Kamil waiting for his Grandmother to say something. She looks around like she's counting everything in her surrounding.

Distance away, they both see the taxi approaching theit house. They will soon be taking Kamil.

When the car stops in front of them, his grandmother speaks. "Do you see most of your mates around?" She questions. A strong expression on her face.

Kamil stays silent, he has no idea what reply to give her.

"Answer me, the man is waiting," she presses him, but not with or harsh manner.

The taxi driver shoots his head out of his window, yells. "Please, stop wasting my time! I have things to do!"

"Will you keep shut! I was in the women's gathering when you were circumcized!"

He curls himself back into his den, tapping his leg impatiently.

Grandma waits for an answer. " No ma."

"Good.." she starts. "I'm not saying you a wrong or anything. Or you don't know what you are doing... You basketball, where is it? "

Kamil lowers his gaze to the floor. " I gave it out... "

"... To your friend..." Her voice cuts through his despite how calm her's was. "Your " BEST FRIEND" who? " Grandma asks.

Kamil looks around. He seems to be looking for someone who'd come over to wish him farewell.

No one.

"George" Kamil whispers to her hearing.

"There are a lot of George and Georgias at school. Does George have a father? "

" Yes"

" Do you?"

Kamil falls silent, unable to answer the question. He tightens his fist on he knees.

"... You don't know if he says to his friends... " Grandma switches to a tribe called Yoruba saying "... He is gone for good, I will now be the team captain. Even if Kamil returns, there's nothing he can do to remove me."

She looks over at him, switches back to English "A good fellow, a bad fellow... You will never know their difference until you are at a fragile point in life."

Tears stream down Kamil's eyes, the cold breeze contributing to more flow of tears. It drops on his hand.

She places her hand over the tear drop hand and rubbed over.

"Grandma is here whenever you need something. What ever it is. Remember what I told you. What did I... "

"... Not all Ruby is real. Don't fall for it" Kamil cuts her off with the quote she always told him since he was a kid.

Grandma nods. " You're ready now?" Kamil nods. " Show me. "

Kamil rises and forces a smile on his face "thank you grand ma."

She nods as he carries his luggages. He steps towards the taxi and loads his luggages in the trunk.

Kamil turns back to take a last look at his grandma, discovers that she had already entered inside.

Kamil enters the back sit of the taxi. The driver starts it and drives down the road.

As the car zooms into the light ot the morning sun, Kamil looks in thin air, wipes his tears. Gradually, a smile swoshes over his face. An authentic smile from the outside. A smile that with a long stare at it is sensed sinister. An expression that will change lives forever.