Prologue
When the big car stopped in front of their compound, Moyo dropped the broom she was using to sweep the company. It wasn't every day you see that type of car in the Zamani's compound: A bicycle, bike, and small cars that were fine, but a car that looked like it was cut off from the magazine. It had never happened.
Everyone had stopped doing what they were doing and focused on the car, eager to see who was coming out of the car. The first thing Moyo saw was the shining heel shoe before her eyes moved up and saw the woman dressed in designer wear. Soon, a man equally dressed in designer wear came out of the car. No one attempted to move closer to them.
The woman moved as if she was not stepping on the floor. After glancing around to see who was approachable in the community, they moved to Moyo. The woman stayed quiet; it was the man that spoke to her. He smiled as he asked for the Zamani's family home.
"You are in the correct place. Please, who exactly do you ask for here?"
"We will love to see the whole family. It's a rather serious matter."
Moyo didn't ask anything further; she assisted them into their living room while she went to call her parents.
Her father worked as a cleaner in a big company, and her mother worked as a teacher. They might not be wealthy, but Moyo loved them so much. She wondered how her parents knew these strangers and why they had something important to discuss with them.
She offered them drinks, but they rejected it. While waiting for her parents, they asked her where the family child was.
She smiled, "My name is Moyo Zamani and I am the only child of this family."
The woman stared at her sadly, and Moyo couldn't help but wonder why. She was about to say something when her parents came in.
"Good day to you. Please how can we help you?"
They introduced themselves, and then they asked Moyo to excuse them. Curious, Moyo stood behind the door to eavesdrop on their conversation.
They started by asking her parents which hospital they gave birth to her in. Her mother answered. They asked her the year and date. She answered. Then they went into a story about discovering their daughter was not theirs. The children were mistakenly swapped in the hospital. They had hired private investigators to find the location of their real daughter.
Moyo was crying silently at that moment. They were trying to say that she wasn't her parent's child. She held the sound that threatened to leave her mouth, but as she heard her mother tear up, she couldn't hold her tears.
"Are you saying Moyo is not my daughter?" She heard her mother's voice. She couldn't see them, but she imagined that the other lady nodded her head. Her father was quiet on his part.
Soon, they called Moyo to tell her the story she had already heard. She stayed quiet and listened quietly; she already made her own decision. When told that she had to follow her real parent, Moyo shook her head slowly, "Thank you, but I would rather stay with my parents here."
Her real mother, Florence Adeleke, burst into tears too, "But we are your real parents, and we want to know you too."
She shook her head, "I am sure you already have your daughter with you. Let me stay with my parent they have no one but me."
This time, her father, George Adeleke, spoke, "Moyo, we know you grew up here, and you are familiar and comfortable with your parents here, but please give us the opportunity to be your parent too. We can come to a favorable agreement, and you will still see your parents. Cassandra and you."
Moyo wasn't comfortable with the idea until her mother held her hand. "Darling, they are your real parent and will give you a better life than we can. Why don't you just go with them? I will visit, and you can also visit me here."
She fell on the floor, holding onto her mother's clothes. "I will miss you, Mum. I will miss you so much."
The Adeleke offered them money, which they refused. Florence Adeleke promised to introduce them to their real daughter, Cassandra, and bring her to visit with Moyo.
The moment the car rolled out of the Zamani compound, Moyo cried. She felt as if her life was about to take a huge turn.
