I can now ride a bicycle just like any other postman

REMEMBER, last time I took on the job of being a postman. My biggest handicap and secret was that I could not ride a bicycle. I will never forget that day in a long time.

The bicycle was proving to be a big hindrance. My mailbag was still full of mail. Luckily enough, I had completed delivery of all mail for the Durawall Block section. If only I could ride the bicycle, my task would be simple. My ears were still stung by the humiliation I had suffered earlier on from the rowdy children who had followed in my wake. Long after they were gone, I could still hear clearly their voices in my ears: Postman! Postman! Postman! Postman opens people's letters! Postman knows our deep secrets!

Postman does not keep secrets! Postman is a gossiper! Postman is a foolish man! Postman! Postman! Postman!

I was tired and hungry. I felt dizzy. Sweat had run down my cheeks. The sweat had dried and I was feeling uncomfortable. My shirt under the armpits had changed colour and there was a whiff of body odour that was unpleasant.

To make matters worse, I was pushing the silver and red bicycle uphill as the road was on a steep ascent. It was while I was on this steep narrow road at one of the houses that a man met me at the gate. He came in a hurry as he seemed to be expecting some correspondence. He appeared to be around sixty years of age. He was quite in great shape for his age. A vicious-looking black dog came trailing at his heels. All its canines were out as it growled menacingly at me.

After making sure that it was the correct address, I handed him the letter which he immediately tore open in a hurry. As I was turning away from him, while all the time I was giving the dog a watchful eye, he came towards me, looking very much disappointed. He waved his hands angrily in the air helplessly.

“I am expecting money not this letter only,” he said. I was rather taken aback. My job was to deliver mail and that was that. I shrugged my shoulders and left him standing by his gateway. He looked very much agitated. To me this was crazy.

I wheeled away the bicycle. The day was almost over. In about two hours, the sun would be swallowed by the darkness. I decided to report back at work but first I had to hide the mail which I had not managed to deliver to the different addresses. It meant that I had more work on the following day. According to the postmaster, all correspondence for the day had to be delivered.

As I went away, some people were giving me strange stares. Only a few who were amused waved their hands. In all earnest, I wanted to give up on the job even though the job offered better remuneration than at Amandwandwe Security where I had taken leave of absence.

The kind of salary they offered could improve my life significantly. I could even complete my two roomed house in Wedza or even buy a calf and build my herd. I was thoughtful as I trudged on. If only I could ride the bicycle. I decided to take a deserted road which led a bit further away from the residential area.

I had seen some people before getting on their bicycles. They got on their bicycles lackadaisically and did not seem to put much effort at all. I got astride the bicycle. I looked around again, my eyes taking a clean sweep in all directions. The stretch of the road was deserted. There was no one spying on me. As I got astride the bicycle, I put the left foot on the left pedal first and then the right foot likewise. I tried to pedal with both feet at the same time. I rode the bicycle for about two or three metres then I lost balance and plunged headlong into a ditch.

I got up and dusted myself. I smiled. There was a ray of hope. I wanted to make a second attempt, but I saw a group of women approaching. I recognized one of the women who shared a stall near Mai Maidei at the market.

I decided that was enough for the day and I headed for the post office. I needed more practice. It was only a matter of time before I could ride a bicycle just like any other postman.