Chapter 2 HEARTS AT STAKE – TWO

HEARTS AT STAKE – TWO

"Before we start our Couples Fellowship program for today." the master of ceremonies said. "We could have an opening prayer."

He rose up to the occasion. He made denim blue jeans, white green cotton tee shirts, and a grey cap on his waist belt. His wife stood up patiently looking up as her middle aged man spoke.

"Amen!" That was done.

"Then let us remember that the Couples Fellowship is against disharmony in marriages. We are here to foster better marriages while also bringing up stronger family ties. In our part as men, we seek to create husbandmen of vines that can stand on the gap within their crop consisting of his wife and children. We also seek men who will be the Nehemiah(s) of the modern world. Men who will stand in the gap and say NO to corruption of the family ideal. DO you seek anything for the women-folk sweetie?"

"I thought you would never stop self-praising yourself and your clan of men," she replied. "Thank you honey. Just briefly, every woman here should be a Naume, a Ruth, a Deborah, a Mary the mother of Jesus and an Esther. Every woman here should recite by head, Proverbs 31 verses 10 – 31. It describes you almost three thousand years before you were born. Those that use its wisdom irrespective of religion live a happy, prosperous and blessed life. Prosperous does not mean having wads of cash. It means being within the ability to achieve your dreams and aspirations."

"Thank you mother!"

"You should also read Songs of Solomon, in some Bibles they are called Songs of Songs," the master of ceremonies took over from the mistress of ceremonies. "These psalms as they are, which praise love are not feminine. We men should also read especially that one on of a woman who cheats with younger men and wipes her mouth asking what sin she has committed. Beware! Don't be aware of your wife but rather don't kindle the anger of the Lord over a cheating spouse either way. Read Psalm 18. Hear how God rents the Heavens and comes down to earth with feet burning like coal, nostrils aflame with fire to avenge His beloved. Never ever be caught on the wrong side.

"I want to give you statistics of what broken homes or broken marriages can do. The majority of inmates in US prisons are from single families. So to prevent that, let every husband and wife stay together and do whatever it takes to do within your marriage. If you have to shout at each other, find a deserted island in the Zambezi to do that. Mind you don't spoil the speech of crocodiles and hippos. Those doing presentations should stand together as I and my lovely wife are doing. Always remember we no longer have arranged marriages. She is your worst choice. The opposite is true."

"Sweetie," the mistress of ceremonies said. "If they had allowed husbands as collateral, I would have repaid whatever loan within a month."

"Bravo."

A few minutes later Martin saw a tall and attractive looking dark skinned woman. She was as tall as he. She swung into a seat next to him. She threw one long and beefy leg over the other. For a moment, there were bits of flesh to see. Why did women grow bigger in and around the thigh and hip area? She adjusted her dress hem to cover any flesh thrown out by her sitting position. The burgundy shawl over her dress was befitting the wintry morning. She had winter knee boots on.

"I hope you still remember me," she replied smiling at him. "Husband!"

"Oh that's why," he smiled back remembering their arrangements. He leaned closer and whispered. "I am Martin in case you get tongue stuck. I know I am very attractive. We have been married a short time."

"Sandra will do as well."

"How many children do we have?"

"One girl, first grade."

"What happened to the one at boarding school, form one?" he asked in a whisper.

"His real father took him away," she and him shared laughter.

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"Oswald will present the next speaker. Oswald is my good golf buddy. Don't let the grey hair fool you. He has been teaching mathematics to bright eyed first and second year Bachelor of Science students at the University of Zimbabwe. Before then he was a Mathematics lecturer at Belvedere Teachers College, then now Belvedere Technical University College or something for ten years. My brother, Oswald to introduce the next speaker," the master of ceremonies had said.

Oswald and his wife Bridget ambled towards the platform. They exchanged hugs as couples.

"Bridget will present the next topic," the master of ceremonies had said. Bridget and Oswald rose and stood by the podium. "She denied me a beefy hug she gave my wife."

"Welcome back to our couples meeting. Do not start dozing due to boredom. I would like all new couples to stand up. Those here for the first time."

Sandra nudged Martin, they and others stood up.

"Could you approach the podium of this amphitheatre," she said. "Oswald, Greendale has never been this cool."

"It is. Always remember that though still as attractive as you are, you are now a grandmother of three!"

"The children married early," Bridget said over the microphone to ripples of laughter. "Now our new couples to the meeting will do what couples do."

"Which is?" Oswald asked.

"Kiss."

"They need guidance," Oswald suggested.

"Are you going to talk or kiss this grandmother of three?" Bridget had the assembly laughing. They embraced and kissed. "We are waiting. Those that have kissed well, will be excused."

"Ah, are these people serious?" asked Martin.

"Here goes your Ruwa presentation," Sandra whispered back. "And my mentor's sales and passion for hosting surprise events."

They ended up as the last couple. Oswald winked. Sandra and Martin did better than expected. She easily came into his welcoming arms. They kissed like they were a couple before sitting down.

____________________________________

"Thank you Jeffrey. The next presenter replaces where we had written Corporate Banking, the bank gave a late apology, we will instead call upon Martin ____," Oswald said.

"And his dame, Sandra," finished Bridget when Oswald had been awestruck on the name. "You think Sandra is more beautiful than me?"

"That carried over the mike," Oswald had replied to ripples of laughter. "I just thought she was better dressed than the other ladies except you of course."

"Did he answer the question?" she asked.

"NO."

He kissed her.

"I guess that settles it," Oswald replied.

He shook hands with Martin and Sandra before handing the directional microphone to Martin. Martin was dressed in brown corduroy trousers with a checked shirt in blue and white. He had on reddish Adidas canvas shoes. Sandra was in a white dress with red roses and polka dots. It had a belt at the back. She had on brown shoes with peep toes. Her hair was made out in trusses above her head in golden brown colours.

"Halleluiah!" Martin began.

"Amen!"

"It's good and dignified for me and her, to stand before you. Would you like to say a word Sandra?" asked Martin.

"I think we could do well with a cheerful song," Sandra has surprised him by coming up with a popular hymn which she sand with all the couples joining together. The song was, It is well with my soul.

"Thank you sweetheart. What a beautiful voice impressed within a beautiful body?" He had asked seriously.

"My pleasure," Sandra curtsied.

"I am used to being a back bencher not speaking at the front like this. I guess I will have to get enough courage not to talk about the green lawn, shrubs and flowers that surround us."

"Amen."

Martin had gone on. "First and foremost the company I represent deals with property. We are on a slightly different level of property that we deal with. Ours are blank canvases that an artist can turn into this beautiful portrait we are on today. I see a lot of couples going to have photo sessions in and amongst the greenery, shrubs and tree undergrowth. Photo sessions only, huh?"

There were ripples of laughter and hand claps.

"Let's check where in the Bible God talks about property. The woman on the well, sat there and talked to Jesus. She said Jacob, their great, great grandfather had dug a well more than fifteen generations previously which they were still using. That is real estate at prime.

"Now you read of people buying fields to grow grapes in the Bible. We have a development selling at this stage which is phase 3B off Sakunda Petrol Station going towards Ruwa. We did sewer reticulation, road construction which is at gravelling stage. We have storm water drainage systems in place. The stands are selling off plan with the maximum credit facility being for 48-months. I wish that was for 48-hours. That would require reserve bank or Treasury concurrence. What are you waiting for? Invest in property while you are still young. Blank canvases sell cheaper than a subdivided stand in Chisipite which has been around for decades. I am not down selling the Chisipite sub-divide. A blank canvas allows a whole group of people to put their holdings on the map.

"These range from 350m² to 880m². The larger the size the more cost effective it is. I thought with a credit facility of about four years, this is a prime investment for the middle aged couples to do for their children or grandchildren to be. The younger couples can to make themselves more comfortable. At my age, I have learnt a lot about quality investments. You can set up a housing co-operative today. Let's assume a thousand of us. Five years later under good custodianship anyone wanting to join will face a brick wall. The value would have gone up. That is investing against thresholds of inflation in laymen's terms. Again, what are we waiting for?

"Imagine the residence you can build before you buy the residential plot. Remember our needs are changing. Gone are the days when I grew up in a four bedroomed house. I had to share the bath tub with mom and dad. I am not even stating siblings including one that read the classified adverts while sitting on the toilet. One of my sisters would sing carols before, during and after her bath. You could actually walk 6-km and arrive before she had finished bathing. Nowadays the ensuite bath and toilet have moved a step further to include every bedroom having a toilet, a shower or tub. Folks, this is prime investment."

Martin took the allotted eight minutes to spell out what his company was selling. He gave out three contact telephone numbers including his own. Several cameras were taking photos of each set of presenters including a digital still professional photographer.

"I think I will end my presentation within the eight minutes allotted," Martin had said. "That serves us both on time management and real estate teaser I have given you."

"Questions?" Oswald opened the floor for three questions. "Martin and Sandra will take their seats."

"The pledge!" someone shouted.

"I am afraid to say Martin and Sandra cannot sit down without showing the couples they are madly in love," Oswald said. "How the heck had that escaped me fellows?"

"Someone is getting old," Bridget said in the microphone.

"We are here to maintain the presence of Godly family unity."

"Go on," Bridget nudged Sandra. "He won't kill you."

"This is ________," Sandra complained.

"Stop complaining and have a helluva time," suggested Oswald off the microphone.

"Oh boy," Martin shrugged his shoulders.

"Here comes the sales now," Bridget whispered. "It has to be French kiss by couples' club rules and nothing less. I am watching children."

They had to kiss passionately before sitting down. He held her with his hands around her waist while she had her arms around his neck. He gave her mouth to mouth respiration which she responded well to.

"Phew," Sandra said when she was seated after Martin had dutifully pulled out her chair. "I hope that was the last time I stood by your side, husband."

"Dandy chewing gum'" he replied.

"Was that Chibuku opaque beer?" she asked sending him laughing.

"I don't partake of the beverage."

"Where do you live bachelor boy?" she asked. "Just in case we are quizzed."

"Townhouse off Newlands, Borrowdale," he had replied. "And you?"

"Mom and dad's property in Westgate," she had replied. "To the south of the massive shopping complex."

"Down Harare Drive," he said. "I remember driving there."

"The next event, "the master of ceremonies announced. "Each couple will approach any of our four couples holding silver bowls within which the wife will pick a question. Both will present the question and their answers for us."

"Oh boy," Martin said.

"You said that once before," Sandra replied.

Sandra and Martin rose to present their question and their answer. Some couples luckily picked blanks. It was either the husband or the wife who picked a question with both looking sideways and eyes closed.

"First and foremost." Martin had begun. "We don't have any questions therefore we don't have any answers either."

"Our question," Sandra started the ball rolling.

"You are cheating Sandra," Martin suggested.

"Rigging is allowed. Describe how your marriage has changed over the years. "

"Your answer?" Martin asked.

"Our answer," Sandra answered correcting Martin slightly hooking her hand in his. "You used to run all the way from the office towards home and we met somewhere along the way. Then afternoon sex was terrific _______."

There was laughter, cheers, whistles and ululations. Even Martin found himself smiling pointing a finger at Sandra. He wanted to challenge her. He held a cordless microphone like she had in the other hand.

"Then there was the passion for success my love and we evolved more into our careers," Martin replied. "I took more time working and you did too. You only have to walk in doors to see the handiwork of the woman.'

"So how have changed over the years?" she asked.

"We are a young dynamic and hot blooded couple. We are still changing. We liked cooking, eating and talking at home and raising our daughter. There is need to help her do her homework. There is also need not to spare the rod yet not to abuse the child. Watch out that the little daughter doesn't drive a wedge between dad and mom. Kids can do it by lying if one parent supports the child while another thinks otherwise."

"We are still negotiating the hills. We have different career paths to bring in the bacon and hopefully invest for the future. Don't forget to invest in grandchildren through your attention to children and being a good custodian of what Jehovah God gives you."

"Thank you ladies and gentlemen," Martin bowed. Sandra curtsied. They kissed and came off the pedestal to handclaps.

"Short, sharp and to the point. Do we still have afternoon sex for the couples while the kids are playing?" asked the master of ceremonies. "She told me not to say if we are still doing it. However, I like afternoon shower afterwards."

Laughter.

"I won't comment otherwise you will again let the cat out of the bag," his lady quipped.

"Or the pig would squeal near a Moslem or Jewish check point."

"Or the skeleton may get out of the cupboard?"

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