O-week has officially started. O-week is orientation week. I'm not attending any events like that field party they had, but I attend the lectures where they teach us about the various subjects and help us choose what would go best with the qualifications we are trying to attain. Today, it's just lectures from 10am. It's now 6:45am. My kids are all bathed up. I've also bathed. I'm preparing their lunch boxes for the day. They are eating breakfast. I've fed...
Episode 6Bridgette My mom, my sisters and I have finally arrived in the kingdom and at my res. We've just been shown to my room and as I walk in, I find my roommate already here, unpacking and being assisted by a man I assume is her boyfriend. They seem very close and cozy... there's a hint of their chemistry that reminds me of Bongani. I miss him instantly."Hey roomie. I'm so glad you are finally here. I'm Wehweh... Nomawethu, but...
I have just finished bathing. And by bathing, I mean washing in a dish in the only bedroom that is in this house. I wash portions of my body at a time. Today, I’m heading out to Taung. I’m going to Tholoana University and I’m going to study medicine. “Voetsek wena Mrembula”, my aunt tells. Mrembula lives in the house next to ours. They are probably arguing over Mrembula’s requests for my hand in marriage and my aunt’s continuous promises that she...
I make my way down the stairs to have breakfast and start my day. As I walk down the passage, I hear Musiq Soulchild’s ‘Don’t change’. I’m not proud of the fact that I know this song. It makes me feel older than I actually am. I know this song because my parents play it so much or they forever sing it to each other. I stand at the top of the stairs case and watch them slow dance together...
“Sis Wehweh, do you and bhut’Patrick hate my brothers and me?” My little brother asks me. First of all, it’s 6am. He woke me up because he was hungry. I don’t know why he didn’t wake my mother up. Now, I’m making him food and he’s interrogating me like this unprovoked.“Why would you ask me that, Tshiamo?” I ask him. He’s my mom’s and my stepfather’s first born together. Patrick is my stepfather’s child from a previous relationship. I’m my mother’s...
I'm minding my own business in my assigned bedroom, pumping milk out of my breasts so that I can have food ready for my 8month old son... some milk he will drink, some I'll just put in his porridge for breakfast in the morning. My daughter is fast asleep. She's four years old. My son is asleep too. The three of us share this room. I can't wait for university to begin. It all starts next week, so I move into...
I decided to take my sisters to Gold Reef City today. My mom annoyed all of us. She has a new man and when my mom has a new man, trouble is coming.I have three sisters. The first born is Zoe, then I’m the second born (Bridgette), after me is Kayla, and the last born is Amanda. We all have different fathers. I’m not kidding. My mom is the kind of woman who sees a need to give all her...
“I can’t believe Khotso killed Mohato… and Zari? Those are my kids!” Thabi says as we get ready together for the funeral.I don’t say anything. I’m still establishing my boundaries around here. Also, I’m mindful that these people got killed because of my sister.“I underestimated him, I will admit that. I always thought that Ona was the ruthless one. But Khotso yena… he is heartless. He clearly took after Mohato their father in that regard. And with Phuthi by his side… yerrr!”“Phuthi...
“Uzobuya nini, baby?” I ask him for the tenth time. We are in our main bedroom. I’m packing for him, the kids are jumping around the room and playing (Sihle on our bed also having the time of her life) and he’s sitting on the couch in here eating the food I cooked for him. I made him ribs, rice, tomato gravy and spinach… the traditional one where it’s just spinach and onion, no extras. “Yini sthandwa sami? You’ll miss me kakhulu?” He...
Six Months LaterKhotsoWhere does one begin to explain the past six months? If this is not madness, I don’t know what is. I hope you have your cigars, whiskey, wine… whatever you generally need to digest shock… and are sitting down. Before I can talk to you about the fact that I’m all dressed up in my seSotho wear for my twin’s wedding that is happening today, I need to take you through what has happened in the past six...
