Christmas Morning

“Baba? Ukhona?” I’m honestly shocked to see him here. Very shocked. I thought he went to Switzerland for business. But I’m also quite relieved that I will not be spending Christmas alone. The staff is at home for Christmas today and all my siblings went to their mothers to spend Christmas with them. I’m not on the best of terms with my mother, so here I am. I think my dad travelled thinking that none of us will be here. 

“I’m here. Wena wenzani la?” Him.

“Hai bo! Kusekhaya nje la.”

“You know what I mean.” 

I just don’t answer the question because I don’t feel like it. So I take a deep breath. 

“Merry Christmas, baba”.

“Merry Christmas, my baby girl.”

“Are you around for the day? Maybe I can cook us a nice Christmas meal then we can have a nice and hearty Christmas together.”

He laughs then says, “you know how to cook?”

“So, you sent me to tertiary in another country with no chef and thought I couldn’t cook? What did you think I was eating?”

“I’d like to believe I educated you enough to know how to make a plan in such situations.” 

I laugh aloud. He laughs too. 

We find our way to Chef Henry’s kitchen. I find some ingredients and pots then get comfortable in the kitchen. He will probably kill me when he comes back for not putting things back where they belong, but I intend to make this a merry Christmas for my dad and I. 

My dad walks in with dry white wine… a very fine 1826 bottle. This is one is from his personal and locked cellar. No one goes in there. He’s a wine and whiskey collector. In his private cellar, he has bottles that he bought for heavy amounts of money in auctions. He has someone who sits in auctions for him to buy fine wine and exclusive whiskey. I want his life one day. 

“Care to join me?” He says. 

I smile and says, “please.”

He pours it all in the wine jug to let it breathe a bit before we indulge. The best way to have wine, I tell you. 

Since he’s spoiling me with expensive alcohol, I’ll spoil him with his favourite dish…

Creamy samp, beef stew and vegetables. Thankfully there is soaked samp in this kitchen. Mine is to do the rest. I’m not much of a cook, but cooking my dad’s favourite meal is a legacy that my paternal grandmother left me with when she passed. My dad was her only son… her whole life. His happiness was everything to her. When she realised that it wasn’t my mom’s priority but rather mine too, she taught me all it took to keep my dad smiling. 

While I cook, he settles on a kitchen stool. He’s even wearing jeans and a golf t-shirt today. I feel like he was expecting company and now I’ve got in the way. It’s probably Sis’ Slee. She’s been the consistent girlfriend lately and I believe it’s serious. I want him to marry her. But I’ve heard them arguing before and my dad kept saying I wasn’t ready for a stepmother. I don’t know who told him that I want him to be a bachelor for the rest of his life. Honestly. I don’t even know when or why, but the wife he had before I left for varsity has now left too. 

I think my dad has a detached thing about him. He’s good at everything but love. And it’s sad because he’s such an amazing man. If he really wants to, he could be an amazing husband. I blame my mother for jading him the way that she did. 

“Unjani uSis’ Slee?” I ask him. She’s such a beauty! Yoh, she’s gorgeous! She reminds me so much of Jo-Anne Reyneke. Ileyo type. 

He laughs then says, “she’s fine.”

“And nina? Ninjani?” I also don’t know why I’m involving myself in my dad’s business like this.

“Not as good as you and Mnqobi because I’m not disrespecting my mother for her.”

To be fair, his mother is no more.

“If you don’t want to talk about her, it’s fine. But uMnqobi ungenaphi kulenkulumo?”

“Nomawethu, I may be sharing a bottle of the best wine found on earth with you, but I’m not your friend. Let’s not disrespect each other.”

I’m silent.

“Slindile is fine. Our relationship is fine. She seems to understand me better than all the women that I’ve ever been with.” Oh, now we can talk about it?! Mxm. 

But it’s Christmas, let me not be a cow. 

“How do you mean?” I ask.

“Women have always loved what I can provide for them, but they’ve never been able to understand that I have to work hard for it. That means I sometimes have to be away for long periods of time. Even if they travel with me, I’ll only see them at night because I travel for work not for leisure. So my breakups and divorces have always been because I just didn’t have time for them. Slindile gets it. She doesn’t fight with me for being busy and prioritising being a father… even managing decent relationships with the mothers of my kids. When she does travel with me, she understands that I’m not going to be with her 24/7. I appreciate that about her.”

“But that’s good, baba. She sounds like a keeper.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Did you plan to spend Christmas with her? Phela you look good for someone who was just going to spend Christmas alone.”

“Yeah. But she understands that it’s just me and you today.”

“I didn’t mean to gatecrash your plans. I’m fine to share you with her today.”

“Really?” He says, very excited and shocked. 

“Yeah. Baba, I’m happy for you. I want you to be happy. You deserve love. Work and your ungrateful kids cannot be it for you.”

“Being with Mnqobi has clearly matured you up, hey.”

“Maybe.”

“I see. But you need to make things right with your mother. She’s really hurt.” 

“You know, baba… I don’t understand you and mom. I do everything that you ask of me. I even keep my feelings to myself for the sake of peace. But none of you acknowledge that mom made her decision and expected you and me to fall in line.”

“Nomawethu –

“Baba, she left me too.”

He looks at me. I’m getting teary and I’m angry because I hate that this situation makes me so angry. 

“She rejected me! She left you and me to figure it ourselves while she started her family with another man – a man that she left you and me for. I’m hurting too. Where’s my apology? No baba! I’m not going to apologise for nix!

“Manje uMnqobi –

“Baba, this has nothing to do with Mnqobi.” 

“Hai bo… I’m just asking about him.” I know he’s moving away from talking about what I’ve just told him:

“Uyamthanda?” He asks me.

“Kakhulu, baba.”

“UWandile tells me that his family and their close friends are thugs. Nomawethu, you know very well that of all my children, uwena osondel’ enhlizweni yami kakhulu. I’d die if anything happened to you and I had to fetch your corpse from that kingdom. Le mpilo that Wandile described to me sounds like anything can happen to you anytime.”

Wandile has a fucken big mouth.

“Wandile is just forward. He had no right to talk to you about my boyfriend.”

“Nomawethu, he was concerned.”

“He wasn’t. He was just being selfish, controlling and was being a bully. He had no right, baba.”

“What’s going on between you and Wandile?” He asks me with one of his eyebrows raised at me.

“He told me he has feelings for me.”

“Are you surprised?” 

“Yes, baba. I am. I genuinely saw him as my friend. Why didn’t he keep those feelings to himself?! Ngim’bheke njani?! How am I supposed to still be his friend after he’s told me this? And what makes me mad is that Mnqobi told me this. But I fought for Wandile and our friendship. Saxabana into eyingasuki phantsi noMnqobi and I defended him. Now I must go back to Mnqobi and tell him he was right?!”

He laughs and says, “and what’s wrong with that?”

He looks so entertained. Lol! I love my drama for him.

“I don’t want him to know that he was right. I already feel like an idiot. How could I not have seen it?! We’ve been friends since we were in primary school. What changed?!”

He’s just laughing now. Then he says, “Lalela, I’ll give Mnqobi a chance. Kodwa if he hurts you in any way at all, ngizofunda ngaye ukuba uguluva.”

I smile at him.

“Ngiyakuthanda, MaRadebe. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Ngisho noNkululeko nje bowungakhulumi ngaye with so much love in your eyes.”

“UMnqobi is a good man, baba. He has a daughter that he loves so much… just like you love me. And we have such a nice relationship mina naye.”

“Kuhle phela ukuthi uzwane nengane yakhe. It’s important.”

I nod my head. 

“Mhlawumbe ke when things die down a bit, angeza la ekhaya… ingane hhayi uMnqobi. Loyo uzongena la after he’s brought me my buffalos. You are not leaving this house with cows, wena. You are leaving with buffalos.”

I laugh. 

“You are going to love Sasi.”

“Sasi?”

“His daughter. Her name is Sasihle. In context it’s Sasihle isandla sikaJehova.”

“Wow!”

“I know. It takes my breath away every time I say it.”

“Hai cha… Sasi is very welcome la ekhaya.”

I go around the kitchen island and hug him, kissing his cheek, then I say, “Ngiyabonga baba. Now go invite uSis’Slee ezodla ukhisimuzi nathi. Tell her I’d like to be a bridesmaid this time. I know that if I’m a bridesmaid, there will be no divorce.”

He laughs aloud. 

Merry Christmas indeed. 

….

It’s Christmas! And I’m so excited to be home this Christmas. We arrived here three days ago and my family has been accommodating the Maphosas and I. Our home is definitely that big. No one is sharing, except for the married couples. We have a whole wing for guests. Like I said, I don’t exactly come from poverty. The Maphosa brothers like it here… Molise’s mom has had her judgy moments here and there, but my mom – bless her soul – she really embraces her and humours her nonsense. She always says it’s so that she treats me well. It’s not about their egos, it’s about mine and Molise’s marriage. My brother took the Maphosa brothers into the township yesterday and my goodness,  they are so excited. 

Yes! My mom is extremely excited to have us here… especially me. My dad is also happy that I’ve come home this Christmas. All this time, it’s been my siblings and them… without me. I’m the youngest but I’m the only one that’s married. My sister is getting married though and we are all excited.

My kids were very unsettled at first, but now, they are super happy. My dad hired jungle gyms and trampolines for them. There are slides and swings too. They are honestly so happy. They are in Disneyland. My dad stays out there with them. I don’t know if he’s playing with them or what. But he stays out there with them until my mom shouts at all of them to come and eat. Molise’s two younger brothers have kids too, but they are with their mothers. The eldest one is the only one who doesn’t have a child. I wonder if my kids playing out there make the younger two miss their kids. 

I’m drinking tea with my sister as we are done cooking and bathing. I’ve bathed my kids and she has bathed her kids. She has three. I’m still contemplating my third one. We are waiting for everyone to come down so we can open Christmas presents then get down to eating. 

“Will you be able to make it to my wedding?” She asks me. 

“Of course! I’ll be there if you invite me.”

“I’ve added you, the kids and Molise on the list. And seeing him get along with Sbu – my hubby to be – I’d love to have you guys there. It’s just that… since you married Molise, we just don’t see you anymore. We didn’t even think you guys would really make it for Christmas.” 

“Zanele, I won’t lie to you… things have been challenging, especially in the beginning. Kodwa manje things are better… mina naye si-right, nomndeni wakhe have come a long way. If you invite us, we will be there.” 

“That’s good. And don’t be mad that you are not a bridesmaid. I didn’t know that – 

“It’s okay. Just being invited is more than enough. Ngiyabonga.” 

Then I ululate and she’s excited. We decide to even dance together as we sing traditional wedding songs together. 

–

The opening of gifts was actually fun. Molise and I bought for his family so it wouldn’t be awkward. Fortunately, my family thought ahead as well and bought gifts for everyone. It was nice. Everyone was happy. My dad was Father Christmas and it has been awesome. 

Now we are eating and chatting away. I get a DM notification. It’s that Molemo girl. I show my phone to Molise who is laughing hysterically at whatever joke has been said. 

“Merry Christmas to you and your family. Sadly, my child – your husband’s child at that – and myself are having bread and tea for Christmas… with no electricity and no water. Mah your conscience be just as merry.”

She’s mad that I never responded to any of her DMs. I didn’t know what to say. Why am I the one that’s being harassed? Why isn’t she harassing her baby-daddy? I told him that a person named Molemo Ntseki just started following me on my social media platforms. Then she started liking my pictures of my family and I. Then she started DM-ing me about having a child with Molise. Molise told me that she’s a mad woman who left with their kid when they were teenagers and never looked back. I just need to understand why I am being treated like I’m the one who told her to run away with the child.

Molise asks to be excused then gets up from his seat. I excuse myself too then follow him. As soon as we get outside, he phones her through that instagram-call thing. She’s on speaker. 

“Hello?” She answers. 

I wrap my arm around his waist. I don’t know why I do that, I just do. He even calms down a bit. He was quite tense. 

“You don’t have money to give your child a decent Christmas, but you have money to buy data to text my wife nonsense?!” He barks. 

“Molise… well then, it’s nice to see that I finally have your attention. Your coward of a wife didn’t have the balls to face me?”

“She doesn’t have time for hoodrats. In case you didn’t notice, you are not exactly on the same league.”

I find myself smiling. 

She’s silent. 

“Stop contacting my wife. I’m not going to tell you this again!”

“Molise! We need to talk. Please.” 

“About what?!”

“Our son! Please. I just need fifteen minutes of your time. Please.” 

Now Molise is silent. 

I take the phone from him. He lets me.

“Molemo, hi.” 

“Hi. Are you the wife?”

“I am. When would you like to meet?”

“As soon as possible. Please. I’m desperate.”

“Can it wait until the new year?”

“It can’t, ausi waka. It really cannot.”

“We are in South Africa. We will only be back in the kingdom after the new year.” 

“I’m in South Africa. In Gauteng. In a township called Vosloorus.”

“Okay. I know the township. I’m familiar with. Sizofika. Expect us around lunchtime.” 

“Ngiyabonga. I’ll send you the exact address. Thank you.” 

We hang up. 

“Tell me, why are we giving into her demands?!” He snaps at me. 

“Because she has your son. We can’t wish him away, Molise. Igazi lakho leli”, I say. 

“I’m not going to support her! I know her tactics very well”, he says. 

“Then we must take the boy. It’s the only way… but for as long as she has your son and she knows that we can afford to look after him, we haven’t heard the last of her. Maybe this is something that we seriously need to think about. Maybe this is the third child that you’ve always wanted.”

He’s quiet. He’s very upset though. 

I wrap both my arms around his waist. I stand on my toes. I keep jumping up to kiss him because he’s deliciously tall. He laughs at me, then leans in to kiss me. 

“We will figure it out, okay? For now, Merry Christmas.”

He smiles at me. 

I unbutton the first two buttons of my dress and flaunt a hint of my lingerie to him… 

“Here’s your other Christmas gift”, I say. 

I feel him get an erection. 

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. But when I come back from the mall. I want to go before they close.”

“What do you need from the mall?” 

“A gift… for your son… we can’t just show up empty handed and kids love gifts.”

“He’s probably eleven now.”

I nod my head with a hint of fear…

“Good to know.”

…

Christmas afternoon

Our Christmas arrangement is VERY dependent on Khanyi and Bane. We usually spend one Christmas at our home where kazi and papa come over with Khanyi’s siblings. Sometimes Rofhiwa comes, sometimes she doesn’t. But the twins always come because Reahile spends Christmas with us FOR THEM. Rofhiwa and Khosini must just marry each other. They are both such bores in life. This year, we are spending Christmas in South Africa at Khanyi’s parents’ house. We all usually don’t mind this agreement because honestly, we all get along. It was tricky in the beginning because of the history between kazi and uncle Khotso. But everyone seems to be over it now. 

I was looking forward to getting out of the kingdom and just getting some space from Khanya. I’d say that we are okay, but I’m not completely over his infidelity. I gave this guy my virginity and if he’s with me for the rest of our lives, he will be the only man I’ve ever been with. He couldn’t even give me faithfulness. And I know… I know that I’m the one that disappeared and didn’t even call or text or smoke signal… he probably thought that we had broken up… but it still hurts so badly. I didn’t renew Thendo’s contract. I cannot even look at her. I didn’t confront her or anything. I just moved her to assist someone else then didn’t renew her contract. So when her contract ends, it’s done. She’s been trying to get time with me to try convince me to renew her contract, but I’m just not going to speak to her. I know she needs the job. But she should’ve thought about that before sleeping with my boyfriend. So now, she can go be a snake in someone else’s garden. 

Tholoana is spending Christmas with Khanya and his mom this year. Yes, Khosini is also there with them, but no one counts him in anymore because he is… Khosini – especially around Tholoana. I’m glad Tholoana doesn’t let it get to him in the slightest bit anymore. I’m proud of Khanya for embracing Tholoana the way that he has. Everyone else will fall in line eventually. 

“You good?” My mom asks me. 

Everyone is having dessert now. The kids are going crazy in the garden. The adults are very happy – men in the bar, women in the lounge room enjoying their alcoholic beverages.

“I’m fine.” I say.

“Have you spoken to him today?” She asks me.

I shake my head.

“Why?”

“My battery is flat. My phone is off.”

“It’s called a charger, Ruri.”

“I think I just need space from him.”

She looks at me.

“Mah, I can’t get over it. I don’t know why. I don’t know how to. I don’t understand why he had to… I mean, I understand, but I also don’t understand. I’d never do something like this to him.” 

She hugs me.

“Maybe we should break up”, I say. I’m still in her arms.

“If you think that’s what is best for you guys, then maybe you should. But not on Christmas. You can’t do that.”

We both chuckle. 

“How did you forgive dad?” I ask her. 

She doesn’t want to talk about it, but I need to know.

“I don’t know. I just did. And your dad did it multiple times with the same woman… and ended up marrying her.”

My heart collapses as if that’s what Khanya has already done to me.

“No, nana. Khanya has not done that to you.”

“What if he does?”

“Then you won’t be stupid like me and keep going back.”

“But why must I give him another chance? Why am I not ending it after one strike?”

“Because ke motho. And people make mistakes. This could’ve easily been you. Wouldn’t you want the same grace of a second chance?”

She has a point. 

“Just a phone call to say Merry Christmas? It won’t hurt. You can use my phone.” My mom says, handing me her phone. 

I find a quiet place to talk then I dial his number. 

“Babe”, he says, deflated. He does have my mom’s number. He sounds like he’s in a quiet place too.

“Hey”, I’m already crying.

He doesn’t ask me why I’m crying. He already knows why I’m down and upset.

“Merry Christmas”, I say. 

“Merry Christmas to you too.” He says.

There’s silence.

“I’m so sorry”, he says.

“I know.” I say. 

“Why can’t you forgive me?” 

“It’s just so difficult. I understand but I also don’t understand why you did this. You are the only man I’ve ever been with and will probably ever be with. I had already made peace with the fact that I wouldn’t be the only woman you’d ever be with. But to share you?”

“You didn’t share me. It was one incident”, he says. 

“So I can go sleep with someone else then?”

“Ruri…” 

Silence. 

“How’s your day going?” I ask him. 

“It’s fine. I just miss you. I miss us. I spent the morning with everyone, but now I’m just in my room… lying on the bed and staring at the wall-sized portrait of us that you insisted we do and put up in here”, he says. 

I laugh. He laughs too. 

“Baby, I’m so sorry.”

“I know. I’ll forgive you eventually. I’m trying. I did contemplate breaking up – 

“You can’t breakup with me, Ruri. Ngiyakucela.”

I’m quiet. Then I say, “you were ready to breakup with me.”

“I was angry. But I would’ve found my way back to you!”

“After fucking Thendo of course.”

He’s silent. 

“Has she contacted you?” He knows what I’m asking. 

“She’s tried phoning me but I blocked her. Then she sent me text messages asking me if I’d told you what happened and if that’s the reason you are not renewing her contract.”

“And what did you say?!” I don’t know why I’m getting angry. 

“I didn’t respond at all. Then she sent a text message asking me to speak to you so you can hear her out. I then blocked her.”

I’m quiet. 

“Ru –

“I just wanted to say merry Christmas, Khanya.”

“Ruri, please don’t hang up. Please.”

Now I’m on the line and we are both silent. 

“Ruri, I fucked up. If I could take it back, I really would.”

“Did you use protection?”

He’s silent. 

“What if she’s pregnant?”

He’s silent. 

“Why Khanya? Why?”

“I didn’t plan to sleep with her. And I wasn’t exactly walking around with condoms.”

“Did you go and get yourself tested? What if you make me sick?!”

“Ru… as soon as you are back in the kingdom, we will go together and I’ll get tested in front of you.”

“You must take that slut of yours for a blood pregnancy test.”

He’s silent.

“If she’s pregnant, Khanya. We are done. I’m not going to raise her child.”

Now he sounds like he’s crying. 

“Ru – 

“I’ll take not being the only woman you’ve ever been with. I’ll even work through having shared you at some point in our relationship. But I will not sit in this relationship and live with the fact that I didn’t give you all your children. That’s where I draw my line.” 

He’s silent. 

“Merry Christmas, Khanya.”

“Merry Christmas, Ru.” 

I hang up. 

Khanyi finds me. 

She sits next to me. 

“No, I don’t want to bore people with my miserable relationship.” I say before we start getting emotional. 

“I’m sorry”, she says. She really feels bad for me. 

“Help me forget… please.” I say. 

“Let’s go dance. DJ Bane has started.” 

We burst into laughter. 

My brother has this new found love for DJ-ing. He DJs at family events… then sometimes, Mnqobi and Banathi let him DJ in their clubs. Khanyi hates that part because he’s Bane… and girls love him. So they always fight when he’s DJ-ing in clubs. But shame, it makes him so happy, especially after he survived a bullet. He bought himself equipment and got an international well-known DJ to teach him how to spin. Yes, we are even learning the lingo. 

Now he plays for adults and for us… everyone is on their feet dancing – even the kids. It’s really a merry Christmas.

…

“Watsiba this is the first Christmas where we had so much food and so much fun?” My aunt says to me. 

I smile at her. 

“God must bless you, Maphodile. You bring so many blessings into our lives.”

“Kea leboha, mam’holo.” I say. 

Mrembula is here spending Christmas with us. He’s dating Tono. Apparently, Tono even moved in with him. Ai Tono le yena. She’s too beautiful for this life that she keeps choosing for herself. She mustn’t get pregnant again. 

I bought the kids gifts when I went with Rea to buy gifts for his kids. I figured that my cousins are not the gift-buying type of parents… one is unemployed and the other is the type of parent that always has something to do that’s more important than just spoiling your kids. All the kids love me right now… and only one mother thanked me. It wasn’t Tono. 

“How’s Reahile?” She asks me. 

“He’s fine. He’s with his kids today.”

“And their mother?”

Please! She must not make me paranoid. Please. 

“What’s going to happen between the two of you? Will the kids come and live with you?”

“I don’t know”, I say. And I’m being honest. 

“Don’t you talk about it?”

“Yoh, Mamholo hle!”

She lifts her hands in surrender then says, “I just want to give you advice.”

I look at her. 

I’m saved by one of our neighbours knocking. The food is wide open – because it’s hot – so she just lets herself in.

“Mme Motlatsi, what do you want?” My aunt says. 

“I’ve come to ask for a plate of food hle.”

“We are not selling today.”

Why must my aunt be like this?! 

“Come in, Mme. I’ll fix you a plate”, I say as I make my way to the kitchen where I find Lele kissing Mrembula. This is her sister’s man! Also, Mrembula, WTF?! 

“Bathong lona!” I express.

They jump in shock.

“Mrembula?! Sisters?! Seriously?!”

“Heh eh Maphodile!” Lele says to me. 

“Tono o tlo reng wena?” Me.

“Tono took him from me!”

The madness in this house. 

“Please dish up for Mme Motlatsi and take her a plate.” I say then head to the bedroom. 

I dial Rea’s number only to be video-called by Zaza. I join the video and find that Ruri and Wehweh are already on the call.

“Merry Christmas!” They all shout. 

“Merry Christmas to you too! Gosh I miss you guys so much!” I say.

“Girrrrllll!! And we need to celebrate that we are a squad with brains because we all fricken passed our first year.”

We all scream in excitement. 

“Well ladies, I think you all should come to my turf to greet the new year. My family and I will host you and your men. My father owns a lodge in Hazyview. We will show you Mpumalanga’s kind of good time!” Zaza says.

“Khanya and I are not exactly in a good place.” Ruri says. 

“Hawu friend, ka christmas?” Me.

“He slept with Thendo.” Ruri. 

“What in the fucken hell?!” Wehweh says. 

Ruri gets emotional.

“I’m so sorry, babe.” I say. 

“You know I found Bridgette here in my house.  I thought she was sleeping with my dad.”

“WHAAAT?!” We all say, even Ruri. 

“Thankfully, she’s just sleeping with my half-brother. But still, I don’t want that bitch here. They clearly tag-teamed on this. Those fucken gold-digging sluts.” Wehweh.

“What if she’s pregnant? What am I going to do? She keeps calling me about her job because I haven’t renewed her contract. She even asked Khanya if he told me what happened between the two of them and why she’s not having her contract renewed.” Ruri. 

“I can fire her for you if you like”, Wehweh.

We all laugh. 

“I want to forgive Khanya. I really do. I just don’t know how to.” Ruri. 

We are all silent for a minute.

“And Mapho, please stop being mad at Reahile. His situation with Rofhiwa ended a long time ago.” Ruri. 

“But they slept together while we were supposed to be together. Isn’t that your issue with Khanya?”

“But you hadn’t said yes to being his girlfriend at the time”, she protests.

“Why was he courting me if he was still sleeping with her?” Me.

“I hear you. Eish. These men!” Ru.

“Maybe this will be a good time for you guys to be away from the kingdom then enjoy each other here eMpumalanga.” Zaza. 

We all laugh. 

“Seriously… please guys. Please.” 

“Ru?” Zaza.

“Fine. I’ll phone Khanya and we will make a plan to come.” Ruri says, deflated. 

“Mapho?” I just nod my head. 

“Say it.” Zaza.

“I’ll come.” Me.

“With?” They all say. 

“My new man.” I say. 

We all laugh. 

“I’ll phone Rea.”

“Wehweh?”

“I’m there! Mnqobi arrives tomorrow this side so our next stop nje is Mpumalanga.” 

We chat for a bit then we hang up. 

I now dial Rea. 

After two rings, “Reahile’s phone hello?”

It’s a woman. 

I brave up. 

“Hi. Ke kopa Reahile.” I say. 

“Who is calling?” She asks.

“I don’t think that’s any of your business. It’s not even your phone. Give Reahile his phone. I’ll answer those questions if he asks. Last I checked, he didn’t have a secretary.” 

“Ey wena!”

“What are you doing with my cellphone?!” I hear Rea getting mad. 

Good! 

“I was just –

“Hello?” Rea is on the line now.

“DID YOU HAVE TO GRAB IT LIKE THAT?! YOU HURT MY WRIST!” I hear her shouting. 

“Reahile, just sort out your shit and call me back”, I say then hang up. 

This Rofhiwa bitch is going to tap dance on my last nerve. I can just feel it. 

My phone rings. 

“Hi,” I answer my phone. 

“Baby, I’m sorry about that. I didn’t even know that she had my phone.”

“Yes Rea, I have established that you have a problematic and attention-seeking baby-mama.”

“Are you okay?” 

“I’m fine. I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas.” 

“Merry Christmas, my love. How has your day been?”

“It’s been fine until I realised that you fuck your baby-mama so deep she even became your PA.” 

He’s silent. 

“Zaza invited us to Mpumalanga to celebrate New Year’s Eve then welcome the new year. Are you keen?” 

“Yeah. I’d love to spend the new year with you.” 

“Okay. I’ll take a taxi there, then I’ll meet you in Mpumalanga.” 

“Babe, please allow me to get you a flight to Johannesburg. You’ll stay at the house I’ve bought this side. We can stay there for a day and just talk, then we will drive down together.” 

I’m quiet. 

“Please love. We need to talk. We need to fix things. Kea o kopa hle.” 

“Fine.” I say.

“Cool. I’ll book you a ticket now. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

We hang up. 

I just take a deep breath.

…

…

Christmas evening 

I walk out of my bathroom in the Christmas gift that Terrence bought for me – a lingerie night dress. I couldn’t go home this Christmas. I had to work. Upon the public release of the Mohale twins, an annual Christmas party was arranged for the community. It’s a beautiful gesture by the royal house. I was working the party alongside other domestic workers. It was nice. I’m just tired now and Terrence promised me a foot massage. 

His son is not doing well in hospital. They are really struggling to find a heart for him. I feel really bad that I’m limited in what I can do to help. 

I stumble upon the queen in my living room. 

I want to run and get a gown. She just laughs as I do this. I come back into the living room feeling appropriate to be in her presence. 

“Ndlovukazi”, I say. 

“Dumela. How are you?”

“Ngiyaphila. I wasn’t expecting you.”

“I can see that. Your man is on these grounds, I assume?” 

I’m quiet. I mean really… am I in trouble for dating? 

“Anyway… I’m not here for that. I want to move this feeling nje that I have about you.”

“Ndlovukazi? I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I just have a feeling about you. I’m glad that you stayed when most people left, thinking we as a family are done. Thank you for your loyalty.”

Okay… 

“However, I’ve seen you looking at Maboko Seete. And then today… you were able help my husband with a nose bleed so… attentively.”

“I don’t look at Mr Seete in any kind of way, Ndlovukazi. And with the nose bleed… I suffer from it too so I know how to manage it. I was trying to help, that’s all.”

She laughs then says, “o mang wena?!”

“Mah?!”

“Who are you?! Who is your mother?!”

Where is she going with this?

“I’m not going to ask you again.”

“I’m Phumelele Khumalo, Ndlovukazi.”

“Who is your mother?! And don’t even think about lying to me because when I become suspicious of someone, I do my research. I’m merely here to give you an opportunity to explain yourself!”

I clear my throat. I don’t know how to be, if I’m being honest.

“I was raised by my biological mother’s aunt. She couldn’t have kids and when my mom got pregnant in high school, they gave me to the aunt that couldn’t have children. I grew up believing that she was my mother. I only found out recently that my mom was in fact Linda Khumalo.” 

She giggles. 

“So why are you here?” She asks me. 

“The plan was initially for me to tell my father that I exist. My uncle kept telling me that it’s Maboko Seete. He’d show me pictures of his family and show me how he should be looking after me because I grew up poor. So the plan was to come here and get him to look after him.”

“Then what changed?”

“My uncle said that it would be a problem if I were asked for a paternity test because my biological mother had a secret relationship with someone who, if anyone found out about it, would ruin friendships. He refused to reveal who it was. So I decided that if he wasn’t sure, I wasn’t going to risk Mr Seete’s family only for it to be untrue.” 

She nods her head then says, “get dressed and come with me.” 

–

I’ve been following her. And we keep going deeper into a basement. I’m even struggling to breathe a bit. 

I follow her into some room where the Mohale twins are. Mr Seete is also here. Mr Khuzwayo is also here. Their wives are here and Mrs Seete looks very angry. Then I see my uncle tied to a chair. He looks like he’s been tortured. 

“Malume!” I exclaim as I try to run to him, but I’m pulled back. 

What’s going on?! 

“Zolile, who’s this child’s father?” Mrs Seete asks. 

“I’d never betray my sister for you! She’s dead because of you! You think your perfect life with your perfect husband – 

Mr Seete punches my uncle’s chest so hard that Malume struggles to breathe.

“Why are you hitting him? Hai bo! Please stop it.” I try to fight for him. 

Mrs Seete gets up from the chair she’s sitting on. She pulls a gun out of Mr Seete’s back. She points the gun at my uncle and everyone is shocked. 

“I’m sick of your sister. I wish I killed her myself. I loathed her! Still do! Now even in death, she’s trying to hopscotch in my marriage. A child?! This is serious! And wena o tlo re tena mo! Who is this child’s father?”

“Ey wena – 

Mrs Seete shoots his knee and he screams! 

“Malume Khuluma! Please. Ngiyothini kumah if you get killed?! Please!”

Malume is just crying… he’s in so much pain. 

“It could possibly be Maboko. It’s possible! Linda was sleeping with both of you at the same time”, Malume says through his pain. 

“Maboko and who?!” Mrs Seete. 

“The king… Mohato Mohale.” 

The shock on everyone’s face! 

“Your sister was the definition of a slut hey!” 

“Mofomahadi knew. She wanted Linda to have an abortion. That’s why we had to send Meh away.” My uncle. 

“But Mohato couldn’t have kids”, uncle Khotso says. 

“Yeah… but Meh could possibly be his. If not his, then it’s Maboko.” 

“Or Kabelo”, King Ona Mohale says. 

Hai bo! 

My uncle is just breathing heavily. He’s in pain. 

“Wena, let’s go get a DNA test right now!” Mrs Seete says as she pulls me out with her. 

…

It is 2am and we are waiting for results. My DNA is being tested against Mr Seete, the Mohales and some person from Kabelo’s family. I’m literally shaking! 

“I didn’t mean to be hostile towards you”, I hear a voice say to me. I look up. It’s Mrs Seete. 

“Your mother is my worst memory in my relationship with my husband. I don’t have anything against you… but I don’t think my marriage will survive if he is your father. I just cannot live with anything attached to Linda anymore. I just cannot. It’s not you, I promise. It’s all her.” 

I just look at her. 

I don’t even have my phone to call Terrence. 

I get up with the intention to find a public phone. 

I bump into the queen. 

She looks at me. 

“Ndlovukazi”, me. 

She looks at me. 

“Bengisacela bandla… if these results come back saying that Mr Seete is my father… please have them changed.”

She’s shocked. 

“I don’t want the Seetes to separate because of this. They don’t deserve this. My mother hurt them enough. I don’t want to hurt them in her name anymore. Just say my dad is the Kabelo person. No one seems to care much about him.”

“You don’t want to know your father?”

“I’m old now. Ngiyasebenza. I can look after myself. Ngiyacela.” 

She just nods her head and leaves me there, walking towards the lab.