Hilltop: Is Finding Truth Really Worth the Climb?

By Fortune Ma-one

SYNOPSIS

 

One mountain to conquer, but seven hills to cross first!

 

Growing up in Sheffield, England, bright Denzel is on his way to a great many adventures, some he dreams of and others life throws at him. Teachers adore him, his friends are the best, and he makes his mark wherever he goes. But again and again unexpected twist of events crush his home and his world, and new challenges emerge around every bend.

Will hope be enough to steel his resolve? Join us on an epic journey full of highs and lows as a feisty young boy battles to find his true north.

 

From Publisher

A Heart-Warming Story About Hope, Determination and Conquering Life's Challenges

 

The Writer Applies Thought-Provoking Analogies to Teach Children How To: 

• Know their worth

• Explore life in a positive way

• Build confidence one step at a time

• Overcome fear of rejection

• Embrace and celebrate diversity

 

Reviews

 

"I thought the book was very descriptive and extremely sentimental; the readers can empathise with Denzel and his sister as he goes through changes within his childhood. It promotes a message of hope and courage with a bit of humour. All round a very engaging and light-hearted book with a strong message!"

- Aida, age 16

                                                                                                                                           

"Encouraging and inspiring especially for those in the same situation."

- Esther, age 10

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

"Uplifting and relatable."

- David, age 13 

 

"It is a very, very, very interesting book. I love every single bit about it. I would give it an A+."

- Tinashe, age 11

 

Language: English

E-Book ISBN

9781838380816

Paperback ISBN

9781838380809

Reading Age: 10 years and up

E-Book: 3.1 Mb

Pages: 192

Publishing Date

7th September 2021

 

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ubuntu Courtyard
• Release date: Sep 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781838380816

Fortune Ma-one

Fortune Ma-one was born and raised in Zimbabwe, and made in the UK - a place she’s called home for two decades.                                                      Fortune’s dream was to travel worldwide, working in a role that meant interacting with people from different backgrounds. That path led her to a degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management (UZ), followed by a Masters in International Management from the University of Sheffield. But that’s not why she’s now writing novels. It’s mainly because some of her friends complained that her text messages were too long, punctuated with commas and capitals in the right places. “Who does that? Write a book!” they said. So, she started out as a blogger, focusing on inspirational and thoughtful stories on Ubuntu Courtyard. Hilltop is her debut novel. She lives with her two teens - a fashionista daughter who wants to be an architect, and a son who specifically instructed her to include the fact that he is AMAZING in her biography. Her observations as a mum and while working closely with children for over seven years have found their way into Hilltop.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Rooted

Denzel—a name whose origins could be traced back to Africa, meaning the wild one. Legend has it that Denzel bears a strong Cornish Celtic heritage, where the name translates to from the high stronghold. However, the little boy’s mum hadn’t searched for meanings before she named him at birth. Mum called her beloved son Denzel having watched one too many movies featuring the American actor Denzel Washington. She’d told the boy that almost every film role he played made ordinary people believe that nothing was impossible. That whatever challenges you may face in life, there was light at the end of every tunnel. So the name Denzel was about courage, hope and strength. It was about overcoming. It was about winning against the odds.

Our Denzel was born in Sheffield to a South African dad and a Zimbabwean mum. They left Africa as expatriates in search of greener pastures. That means they were looking for better opportunities to work and live. Denzel’s father worked at a local bank with numerous branches around the world. The little boy didn’t quite understand what his father did at his job, but it had something to do with computers. Work required him to frequently travel worldwide. His mum worked as a nurse at a local hospital.

Sheffield is widely known for having some of the friendliest people in the United Kingdom. Visitors often speak highly of the city, which is also known for being built on seven hills, like Rome. Each person in the city is represented by four trees. That means there are more trees than humans, which makes the city the greenest in Europe. Sheffield is also the only city in the UK to share its borders with a national park. About a third of its land is nestled within the world’s famous Peak District. Made in Sheffield is synonymous with authenticity, skill, and local pride passed on from generation to generation.

To add to all that, Denzel’s mum once told him Sheffield was like an oasis in the desert, for it had a way of making newcomers feel at home.

CHAPTER 1

A Mountain and a Boy

The sun’s glittering rays beat down on the little boy’s frame to snatch moisture from his skin and sap his energy. Although the dazzling glare had reached its peak, a gentle breeze soothed his nostrils with a cooling effect, making his breathing that much comfortable. The gale of grace somehow gave the little boy a boost to keep pushing up the hill after a long day at school. He tried to keep pace with his mother, who encouraged the little boy to stay to her right side. This way, you’ll be much safer, Mum said.

Denzel’s school blazer clung to his lean, athletic body, tie wrapped around his buttoned-up shirt-collar. Miraculously, it was still tucked inside his grey shorts. Gutters around his stocky legs refused to let go, keeping his grey socks straight, like soldiers standing at attention. It was his unkempt short afro that told a tale of a long adventure-fuelled day at school. He always left home looking prim and proper, but at the end of each school day he and the fellow boys looked as if they’d been to war.

Scuffles, running in the corridors, grazed knees, often followed by visits to the matron for plasters that seemed like badges of honour—dressings were the order of the day. His well-polished black leather school shoes were still holding up, although they certainly looked a day older. The boy was well known for going through his shoes every few months.

That morning, Denzel and his mum had travelled the same path in the opposite direction after dropping off his sister at her girls-only school. Hunched like a question mark now, Denzel focused on today’s after-school snack. On the menu was a packet of Mini Cheddars and a cluster of frozen grapes. It wasn’t ice-cream day, unfortunately. Every Friday, he’d get a 99 Flake from the minivan parked outside the school gate. He almost always asked the ice-cream man to top the vanilla soft scoop with strawberry sauce, sometimes bubblegum flavour if he felt adventurous.

Perhaps it was the unrelenting heat or how heavy his feet felt as he climbed up the elevated pathway leading to his sister’s school, but the little boy was getting tired of the same old routine. His mum’s old car had stopped working. Mum said the battered vehicle had a lot of issues, which made fixing not worth the effort. Denzel! shouted a couple of boys as they drove past, frantically waving as they went in the opposite direction. Of course, that wasn’t the boy’s primary concern, although not having a car to take them to and from complicated things. Especially that hot summer’s afternoon.

A few weeks before, the boy had faced a life-changing setback. One day, his mum and dad had sat him down, together with his older sister, Nandi. Their father was fond of that name and often reminded everyone who cared to listen what Nandi meant. One who is joyful and strong-willed. How his sister lived up to that name!

That day the children’s parents said they had something important to share. Dad was moving out of their home, and Nandi and Denzel would continue to live with Mum. Too young to understand what was happening, the children were assured of the fact that their father would still see them from time to time and would make sure to invite them to his new house once he’d settled down. However, not seeing his dad every day came as a great shock, and the boy couldn’t understand why Dad had to leave.

Mum told them that everything would be OK and explained that although the parents would no longer be married, they remained attached through the children. As such, the boy’s father would always be a part of Denzel’s and his sister’s lives. She also promised that the sadness that the children felt would fade away over time. The children were puzzled and shocked, even after the reassurances. Both cried tears of heartbreak as they said goodbye to their father.

Later on, Mum told them a story about climbing a mountain.

It’s OK to be sad, and it’s equally OK to cry. I’m not sure when it will happen, but things will get easier over time. It’s like trying to get to a better place, but to get there, you have to climb a big mountain. Getting to the top is an exhilarating experience, and there, you will be rewarded with a glorious view. However, the walk to the summit is not straightforward. As you scramble to the top, you will trip over rocks and get bruised. Sometimes, you will wish you’d never started the hike. Other times, you will wonder if it was worth it, worth trying your best despite the challenges. As a result, you will sometimes lose the motivation to keep climbing.

The children were hooked to the picture Mum was painting, and she continued. You will certainly have bad days and good days. Climbing a mountain often feels like going around in circles. Other times, you will be convinced that you’re not making progress at all. Some people get lost along the way and may need help to get back on the mountain trail. But getting to the peak of the mountain is a journey only you can undertake; no one can take you there. And if you don’t give up and remain committed to the hike, you will one day get to a place where you need to be. It’s a glorious place, but it’s one place where only the adventurous can reach. I know you’re brave and that one day, everything will be alright.

CHAPTER 2

Are We There Yet?

Denzel’s heart was as pure as gold. He was loving, kind and considerate of others. Because his parents had tried to protect the children from their disagreements, the little boy thought his family was perfect. The boy had not been aware of the tensions between his mother and father. The news that they were divorcing had come as a shock. Still, he thought that he could play his part to undo the break-up.

If I try to be good and listen to everything I’m told to do, Daddy will come back home, the boy thought. Every story he’d heard as a child said that great things happened to those who tried their best. By going the extra mile and not making mistakes, the boy thought he could make sure they’d all live happily ever after.

So, a day after his dad left, little Denzel had woken up and quickly spread his bed without being reminded to do so. He went on to wash his face and moisturised his ebony skin with a dab of Vaseline. Then, for some reason, the boy remembered that at school they were always required to tuck in their shirts. So he thought it would be a good idea to tuck in his T-shirt too, even though it was the weekend and even though it wasn’t the kind of T-shirt that needed tucking in.

Denzel, always remember that you are loved. Although I expect you to do things that will help you grow and make you better, I want you to know that your father and I love you as you are, Mum had tried to reassure Denzel.

A few days after the children’s father had left, he picked them up and went to play in the park. Nandi and Denzel told him that they missed him terribly. They also wondered if he was OK, now that he was living alone.

I’m very well, thank you for asking, Dad had said. "I miss you two every single day. Not a day goes by without me thinking about you. I