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“No,” the boy replied in perfect English, a hint of defiance in his eyes.
“I just want the purse back,” I said, holding out my hand. “I’ll let you go after that. I promise I won’t call the police.”
His eyes flickered with conflict, then he said, “My family needs the money.”
Once again, his English was perfect.
“I’ll give you some money if you just hand over the purse,” I said. “There’s something I need inside. It has no value to you.”
He glanced down at the purse clutched in his arms, thinking. But before I could say another word, he leaped without hesitation off the pier and into the ocean below.
Cursing under my breath, I kicked off my shoes, pulled off my shirt, then glanced down at the churning water below, hesitating only for a moment before leaping off the pier. The splash enveloped me as I plunged into the darkness, fighting the stubborn waves as I pushed myself back to the surface. The moonlight offered just enough illumination for me to spot the boy ahead, his strokes quick. I plowed through the waves, the adrenaline and the need to retrieve Veronica’s purse sharpening my focus. I couldn’t let him get away—not just for the purse, but something about his desperation tugged at me.
My muscles burned with the effort, but I finally caught up to him, lunging forward to snatch the purse from his grasp. We both surfaced near the shore, gasping for air as we walked out of the water and sat on the sand.
“I need it,” the boy said, looking both defiant and defeated. “You promised to give me money.”
That was if he had given up the purse while I was on dry land, but I wasn’t about to argue with him. I pulled out a few soggy bills from my wallet, extending them towards him.
“Here, take this,” I said, my tone softening. “Why do you do this? Does someone make you steal?”
He took the money, stuffing it into his pocket. “It’s just me and my ma. We need it to eat.”
“Listen,” I said, tapping his shoulder to ensure he was paying attention. “This isn’t the way. You’re young. You can change things right now, if you want to. Go to school. It’s tough, but it’s a real way out. Don’t let this be your life. How’s that going to help your mother if you’re in jail?”
He looked at the ground, scuffing the sand with his toe. “No one cares if I go to school.”
“Don’t let that stop you,” I replied firmly. “Do it for yourself and for your mother. What do you like to do when you’re not stealing from people?”
He met my gaze, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes, before he glanced up at the sky. “I love the stars.”
“That’s great!” I said. “There are so many jobs that are related to stars. You could become an astronomer, an astrophysicist, or even an aerospace engineer. The sky’s the limit!”
Maybe I was being cheesy with the play of words, but that actually got a grin out of him as he looked up at the stars again.
“You can do it,” I added.
He nodded, but didn’t say another word. As he scampered off, I stood for a moment, watching him disappear into the night. Maybe he’d consider my words, maybe not. But at least I’d tried to point him in a better direction.
Shaking off the water, my thoughts drifted back to Veronica and the unending surprises Africa seemed to hold. I circled back and grabbed my shirt from the pier, deciding not to put it back on since it was now more rags than fabric because of the barbed wire encounter. I slipped my shoes back on, then took a short, contemplative walk back to the night market, my mind replaying the night’s chaotic events.
As I approached our table, the group’s expressions shifted from worry to stunned silence. Veronica was the first to move, her eyes wide as she jumped up from her chair.
“August! What happened?” Veronica exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock as she scanned me from head to toe. Her face contorted with worry as she noted the scrapes on my chest and the remnants of the torn shirt I was clutching in one hand. “This is unbelievable. You’re bleeding. Do we need to get you treated for this?” Her voice trembled slightly, reflecting her concern. But I was going to be just fine.
Caleb eyed my chest. “Looks like you encountered that shark after all.”
“Just a little scraped up, nothing serious,” I reassured them all, then handed Veronica her soggy purse. “Here you go. Everything inside might be a bit waterlogged, though. I had to dive off the pier to catch that kid.”
“Your chivalry never ends,” Sabrina said, stepping closer.
Veronica glanced at me again, then went through the contents of her purse, relieved. “My phone wasn’t in here, thankfully. I had it on the table.”
“I can’t believe you caught him—that boy was fast,” Simon said. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“It looks worse than it is,” I admitted with a forced smile, propping myself against the back of my chair. “Honestly, I’m just desperate for a drink now. I’m officially over surprises in Africa.”
Simon glanced over my shoulder and winced. “Might be a tad early for declarations, mate.”
