Dysfunctional Family - Season 1 - Episode 42

Episode 4 years ago

Dysfunctional Family - Season 1 - Episode 42

A scene had officially been staged and now people gathered around Tracy and Sandra, wondering what the brutal slap Tracy had given Sandra was all about.
“Baby, what’s going on?” inquired a curious Lubesha who had appeared at the scene too.

With an angry finger pointed at Sandra, Tracy uttered, “This desperate, shameless and clingy excuse for a woman has kidnapped our son!”

“Excuse me,” Sandra recoiled back to her feet. “That’s outrageous! Do you know I can sue you for defamation of character?”
“Oh please shut your mouth and sit your dramatic a-s down, Sandra. I swear I’m giving you 30 minutes to return my son otherwise I’ll peel your skin off your flesh and will enjoy every minute of the act!”
Totally confused, Lubesha pulled Tracy aside. “What do you mean she’s kidnapped our son?”

It was Laura who replied, she’d overheard his question.

“I’ve looked everywhere for him and he’s nowhere to be found. Last time I saw him he was leaving the car that had brought him and the bridesmaids. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?”

“Ask him,” Tracy hissed.
Minutes later, the chapel had been cleared of many people such that it was only family members of the groom and bride left..Sandra was there too seeing as everybody was convinced she’d kidnapped Lubesha.
Tracy’s father approached her where she was seated, she sobbing.

“I am aware you and my daughter have beef,” he began. “But please have mercy on her son, my poor grandson. You do know being kidnapped has traumatic effects, right? You’re going to ruin the boy’s life in so many ways. Yours even cause kidnapping is a serious and punishable offense.”
She disgustedly looked up at him. “I didn’t kidnap your grandson,” and stood. “You wanna talk to me, come with the police and enough evidence against me.” Her purse in hand, she wiped her tears with her free hand and walked out of the chapel.

“What a drama queen,” Tracy snorted and added, “What do we do now, Lubesha?”
“Report to the police, I guess.”
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” said Donald warily. “But if my memory serves me right the police only take in missing person’s reports 24 hours after the person in discussion went missing.”

“Great,” Powerless, Tracy’s knees buckled and she sank to the floor. Thinking about what Sandra’s minions might be doing to her son filled her heart with immense terror.

“My baby,” she sobbed. “Heaven knows I can’t go through the pain of losing a son once again..the pain is immeasurable!”

Juliet crouched before her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You’re a good person, Tracy. Sandra might be crazy but I doubt she has the guts to end a human life.”

“The b---h had an abortion for crying out loud!” Laura exploded with fury. She was so angry she felt like Junior was actually her son. Hell, she loved him like her own son.

“I think aunt Juliet is right,” Sylvester offered.

“How would you know?” Laura gave him an incredulous look, crossing her arms. “Unless of course you know Sandra well.”

“You don’t need to know somebody well to tell they are capable of murder, sweetie. I say this is just a desperate move by a desperate woman. She’ll probably get back to her senses soon and get Junior released.”

“I still say we call the police,” came Tracy’s weak and quivering voice.
Her Dad intervened, “Leave that to me. I have people who owe me favours in the police department so am working on that,” he patted his daughter’s shoulder and stepped aside to make a string of phone calls.
He came back a few minutes later and announced, “Done! A search party for Junior has been launched as I speak.. Tracy,” he crouched down too. “I promise I’ll do my best to find him.”

Fearing he’d lose his mind, Lubesha jerked his arm free from Amos who was comforting him.

“I can’t stay here and do nothing no more..” He began to scuffle out of the chapel while almost everyone asked where he was going, begging him not to do anything crazy.

Lubesha had no access to his car that day so he got on the first taxi he could find and told the driver where to take him.

Lubesha was at Sandra’s within 35 minutes thanks to less traffic. He paid the driver and went to knock on the gate.

A guard peeped through and opened the small gate.

“You are not allowed here,” he curtly told Lubesha.

“Just as I thought..Is Sandra in?”
“I’m not at liberty to divulge any information to you.”

“I assume she’s in then. Alright, she’ll come out.” catching the guard off guard, Lubesha kicked the gate with so much might that it made a loud banging noise.

“Hey,” the guard caught Lubesha. “Go in peace before I get rough.”

“Sandra! Come out and face me! Sandra! Sandra!!”

“Sir-”
“It’s okay ba Benja,” came Sandra’s voice. “Let me talk to him. You can go inside.”

“I thought your Dad said-”
“I just gave you an order, don’t make me repeat myself please.”
“Okay,” like the loyal dog he was, ba Benja went back inside. Sandra crossed her arms and looked Lubesha straight in the eye. “What?”

“Junior has nothing to do with this so please let him go. I don’t need to be psychic to decipher you kidnapped him. Come on, he did nothing wrong to you.”

“But his parents did. They treated me like trash so now he’s paying for their sins.”
“So you admit you’re behind his kidnapping?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t say that.”
Lubesha went down on both knees and folded his hands as if praying. “Sandra, in the name of the love you claim to once have had for me, please let my son go. He’s been through too much already. You and I can strike a deal if you like but please just let him go.”

Sandra was about to reply but the sound of an approaching car cut her short.

Still kneeling, Lubesha turned his head and saw the decorated BMW pull over and Tracy emerged.

“Why are you kneeling before this Jezebel?” she restlessly demanded.
“If you have any sense in that your head,” Sandra mocked. “I suggest you kneel beside your husband and maybe I might just reconsider not killing your son.”
“You wouldn’t dare do such a thing to an innocent boy!”
“Tracy sweetheart, don’t test my patience.”

Tracy decided to swallow her pride and actually knelt beside Lubesha, not caring about ruining her K5,000 wedding dress in the process. She too folded her hands and pleaded with Sandra to have mercy on them.

To Sandra, this was a billion dollar moment if not priceless. This moment was to die for. The looks on their faces were just simply priceless!
She nodded her head in mockery, laughing. “Aha..didn’t I warn you? Didn’t I tell you you’d regret ever crossing paths with me? Lelo mwatolamo amano.


How does it feel, huh Tracy? How does it feel to experience so much pain on the day that is supposed to be the happiest day of your life? It hurts, right? Well, this is just the beginning. By the time I’m through with both of you, I swear to God muzamuziba Yesu (you’ll know Jesus).” She clicked her tongue and called Ba Benja.

“Please get these pathetic people out of here and the next time they show their faces don’t hesitate to inform me so that I sue their asses for trespassing.” She clicked her tongue again and walked out on them.

“Sir, Madam, please stand and leave.”
“Don’t touch me,” Tracy sternly warned the guard and got to her feet.

Lubesha followed suit and together, they got into the car that had brought Tracy.
“I’m finished,” Tracy broke down once the driver hit the road. Lubesha was equally finished but being a man, he had to be there for Tracy so he hugged her tightly and assured her they’d find their son.

“You mean his dead body, right? Lubesha, you never know the pain of losing a child..not until you experience it. I just can’t lose Junior, I can’t. Heaven knows I’d give my life away if it meant me saving him. I’d sacrifice anything to see him fine.”

Lubesha didn’t reply, all he did was engulf her in his warm and assuring embrace.


☆☆☆

Sandra dialled the number as soon as she was in her room.

“How’s the boy?”
“Apart from talking s--t and threatening us to let him go before his grandfather unleashes hell on earth, he’s fine.”

“He’s tied up, I assume?”
“Madam, you know you don’t have to tell us how to do our job.”
“Good. Right now, I want you to make a video of the boy getting b---h slapped. Make sure the slaps are harsh. I’ll send you a line to which you’ll anonymously send the video. He’s paying for his mother’s deeds, by the way.”

“Is that all?”

“For now,” she hung up, threw the phone on the bed and lay on her back, staring at the ceiling.

She couldn’t stop herself from smiling upon recalling how foolish Lubesha and Tracy had looked when begging her for forgiveness. Served them right for thinking they could toy with her feelings and go scot free.


☆☆☆

10 hours after Junior’s kidnapping with no news as to his whereabouts, Tracy received a video on whatsapp from an unsaved line.
Her phone had been in her hands as she was awaiting phone calls from her father, Donald, Amos and Sylvester who had gone out to sort out the kidnapping issue.

She opened the video and screamed.
Lubesha was outside Tracy’s house, on phone with a cop regarding getting the suspect arrested.

“For Christ’s sake, the psycho accepted she’s behind the kidnapping!”
“I’m afraid your word isn’t enough evidence to get Ms. Sandra Fulilwa arrested. I can’t do anything unless you provide me with incriminating evidence…then I can get an arrest warrant.”

Lubesha sighed. “Thanks,” for nothing.
He hung up.

No sooner had he cut the line than he heard Tracy scream from the living room. Fearing the worst had happened, he rushed into the house just to find her stifling a sob with her hand.

“Take a look at this,” she said and gave Lubesha the phone.

He watched the video and was appalled. Such brutality was beyond him. Who slaps a 13 year old(turning 14 in a week’s time) so harshly? Such hostility towards a young teenager was intolerable and inhuman!

“That woman is crazy,” Tracy shook her head in disbelief. “We need to do something asap before my baby gets brutally murdered. I won’t be able to forgive myself if that happens. My actions got us into this mess. Maybe if I hadn’t interrupted your wedding none of this would be happening.”

“Don’t blame yourself,” Lubesha sat beside her. “Why don’t we give the line that sent the video to the police? See what they find out.”

“Don’t bother..I tried directly calling it, it’s off. Probably the SIM card has already been destroyed. Sandra’s smart, she knew we’d think of tracing the line.”

“You have a point. Oh Lord,” Lubesha buried his head in his palms. He’d thought too much since the kidnapping such that he now had a terrible migraine. Juliet who’d been preparing snacks with Laura in the kitchen showed up with the snacks but nobody seemed hungry.

“Any word from Donald, Amos, Sylvester or Mr. Fulilwa?”

“There’s nothing yet,” Tracy pursed her lips.

Laura said, “Sylvester’s getting all the help he can.”

“Great,” Tracy only said it out of courtesy.
Lubesha’s phone chose that exact moment to ring. It was a private line calling him.
“Pick it,” Juliet urged.

Lubesha swiped to answer. “Hello?”
“Babe,” it was Sandra and he immediately put the phone on loudspeaker.

“What do you want?”
“I’ve got an offer for you.”
“I’m listening.”
“Are you with the police?”
“No, Sandra.”
“Good. Cause don’t even dare double cross me. If you do, the next video I’ll send will be that of Junior having his balls cut off. Or better yet, that of his mutilated cadaver.”
“What’s the offer?”
“I’m on loudspeaker, aren’t I?”
Was Tracy’s house bugged? Or maybe she just guessed? “You want the truth, yes.”
“Even better. Now listen and listen good…you’ll come over to my house, sign some documents which state that am your wife and you my husband and then we’ll leave this country to go settle in another country. In simpler terms, you marry me in exchange for your son’s freedom.”

“You’re sick!” snapped Tracy. “Lubesha doesn’t even love you! Can’t you just accept the simple fact and leave us alone?”
“Unfortunately, I can’t. Let’s just say am killing two birds with one stone cause I know neither you and Lubesha will be happy if he marries me but I on the other hand will be over the moon!”

“Is that all?” Lubesha seriously asked.
“Yeah,” Sandra agreed.
Lubesha exhaled. “Deal.”
“You can’t be serious, can you?” Tracy asked as soon as he was off the phone. “There just has to be another way!”
“I agree with Tracy,” Juliet piped up. “You can’t just throw away your life to please that witch.”

“That’s the problem, I’m not doing it to please her. I’m doing it for my son. Now both you and Tracy know the pain of losing a child so I’m guessing you’d not wish such pain even on your worst enemy,” he took Tracy’s hands in his. “Baby, you said in the car that you’re willing to sacrifice anything for our son, right? So am I.”
“But-”

“No buts…” He shook his head. “This is the end for us, Tracy. I love you so much, never should you forget that. Tell Junior I love him too.”
“Lubesha-”

He shook his head again, kissed her on the lips for a full minute and wiped her tears. He slowly slipped her hands from his and stood. “Goodbye, people.”