The next day, meaning yesterday, Mr. Gwejegweje came to the house to hand over the keys before embarking on his trip to Nyanga. Aquilina was in the backyard, putting clothes on the line to dry. I called her, hoping to get her to bring us some drinks, but she never came. But I could hear her singing to herself in the backyard.

“Never mind the young lady, Maforimbo,” said Mr. Gwejegweje. “You know what they say; a woman’s work is never done, especially around the house. Besides, you and I both have hands, I don’t think you are incapable of going to the fridge and getting us drinks, man! I will come back another day, and then I will look forward to a full meal. But I will send word in advance, so that I don’t find her too busy with household duties.”

After I returned from the kitchen with a couple of bottles of ice-cold lager, Mr. Gwejegweje told me why he had come. “See here, Maforimbo. The reason I came here with the keys myself, instead of sending Pri or Pre, is that Gwisai rang me this morning. He says he landed himself a job in Botswana as a research assistant at a mining company. This means he will not be returning next term. So, I was thinking that you should take his place for now as the Head of the Science Department, at least until my superiors find someone substantive or they decide whether you should remain in the position. But, I don’t think it will prove too hard to persuade the board to give you the position permanently. With your track record so far, it was always going to be yours at some point. Even Gwisai himself, when you first came here, said that you were his heir apparent.”

I did not know what to say. I did not know whether to show surprise or delight at the news. I burst into laughter, then clamped a palm across my mouth. Then, I tried to grab Mr. Gwejegweje’s hand so that I could shake it. All this time, I was yelling for Aquilina to come in and hear the good news. She never came. She was still singing her song, outside. Mr. Gwejegweje finally downed his beer and rose. “I have to get going, Maforimbo. We have to reach Harare before the stores close. We shall go to Mutare by the evening train from there, and proceed by bus to Nyanga.”

By the time Mr. Gwejegweje left, I could no longer contain myself. I was jumping up and down and clapping my hands. I went to the kitchen to see what it was exactly that Aquilina had not been able to tear herself from. The door from the kitchen to the backyard was wide open, but I did not see her. Even the clothes she had been hanging on the line were no longer there. I stepped out into the backyard and walked towards the front of the house.

Aquilina was standing at the gate, talking to Mr. Gwejegweje. I thought she had seen him leave the house and had walked him to the gate. As she spoke, Mr. Gwejegweje grinned lasciviously at her. Then his hand fell on her shoulder, and slid down slowly, caressingly, until he reached her waist and circled to her back, while still sliding down. I felt a flaming rage rise from my heart until it burned all over my entire being. I found myself staggering as I stomped back into the house and slumped into a sofa. One thought held my consciousness: Aquilina, really? The room seemed to spin.

The spinning stopped abruptly. Aquilina had entered the lounge, her hands wet from handling the clothes she had been hanging outside. She wore a T-shirt that clung wetly to her breasts, and a wrapper that hugged her hips, held together by a knot just under her navel. Seeing my face, her smile faded. “What’s the matter, darling?” she asked. “Why were you yelling my name like that?”

I did not reply right away. I opened my mouth, but the seething rage had got my voice. Aquilina moved closer and planted herself on the arm of the sofa I sat on. How was she to know she was now signing her death warrant?

“Hati, what is the matter, darling?” she asked again, and tried to touch me. I moved away. She looked surprised by this.

“I see you get along very well with Mr. Gwejegweje,” I seethed.

Nothing more needed to be said. Her eyes told me everything. Everything I suspected, she confirmed it all with the way she looked at me. I knew that look all too well. I had seen it in the eyes of so many women I had come across in my life.

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Aquilina, $10.99, available via Amazon