Mr Mkhize was staring at his son who seemed to be extremely focused on the television.“So Jabu, now that you are about to finish your high school, what do you want to study next year because I and your mother were thinking that you would study medicine or anything along that line you know”, says Mr Mkhize as he was preparing himself to sit comfortable on a single sofa. "Um...dad" he stuttered, "not being rude or anything but I’m not going to study anything along the line of Science, my passion is in Art and that’s what I intend to study going further”, Jabulani said as he stumbled with fright,not sure if his parents were going to accept his career choice. “Art my foot man!" his father shouted, "You are not a white man,that thing is for white men and there is no money of mine that will pay a cent for such a fruitless career!",he added. "Not when I’m still alive,have you ever seen a person making a living by drawing trees?,son you need to change your mind or I’ll never pay for your studies”,said Mr Mkhize with anxiety.He suddenly stood up as he was feeling hot, and went straight to the bedroom, spitting hot words on Jabu’s mother who was behind him,telling her to talk to her son. Jabulani’s mother approached then her son in order to try and change his mind but sadly, her countless efforts were pointless because his mind had already been made up as he had already applied for courses in Art schools. Mrs Mkhize tried to talk to his vicious husband but he didn’t want to listen,he then said as soon as Jabulani finished his matric he should leave their house and become a man somewhere else as he took the matter as a deliberate disobedience. Jabu did well at school but unfortunately for him he didn’t get any bursary which only meant that he either had to take his parent’s offer or go and jostle for his dream. As soon as he was done with his matric while waiting for exams,he embarked on a new journey in search of employment, everyone knows that getting employed without any experience can be an impossible thing to do but fortunately,within two months he got a job at a nearby restaurant as a waiter. Mr Mkhize had earlier told Jabulani that as long as he wasn’t going to school to study what they thought was going to be best career for him, he was supposed to move out and search for his own place where he was going to make his own decisions without any interruptions. Within a month Jabulani had raised sufficient funds for his first rent and was able to move out, although his mother wasn’t pleased about the whole drama,his father wasn’t budging about his decision. Jabulani moved out and struggled to get on his feet while working overtime so he could raise more money for his school fees.Though it was stony without or with a little support,Jabulani managed to proceed with his studies as he was drawing and painting people on the streets who wanted family portraits and they would pay him for his marvelous,showy work. His mother was always there for him,even though it wasn’t an everyday thing,she would check on him once in a blue moon to know how he was doing.Days became months and months became years and before he knew it Jabulani was graduating, getting his licence for his art work. He was very fortunate because on graduation day he was granted with a scholarship to study further in New York where he was going to be working along with the detectives in drawing sketches for suspects and criminal suspects for the New York Police Department. Jabulani told his mother the news and a few days later,he heard a knock on the door as he was packing his clothes in preparation of his New York flight. To his surprise,it was his own father! He had tears on his eyes,and could not say much. “Son I’m proud of you”, Mr Mkhize said,with eyes full of tears and a face full of remorse,Jabulani could not hold himself too,he busted into tears as they both hugged each other. Mr Mkhize cried and asked for forgiveness before his son could leave for New York City. Jabulani forgave his father and thanked him for pushing him.It all taught him how to be responsible because had that entire situation not happened he wouldn’t have known how to it feels to be a man and he wasn't going to be able to survive alone in New York.
Moral of the story : Never let anyone live their dreams through you because they will achieve theirs when yours will be delayed, find your dreams and pursue them no matter how stony the journey will be because no matter how small you think your dream is ,God always has greater plans with whatever passions he gives to his people.
Remember : There's no success without a challenge.
_7H3 3ND_
Story Author : Cecilia Sibanda
Story Editor : Derick S Sithole [K-Detso]
Picture drawn by K-Detso.
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