Schools are now on midterm break. Wandi and Rena decided that Rena and Moloko will be going to visit Wandi for the week. Wandi phoned me then Rena nagged me. When I told Khotso, he laughed. Then they mentioned that Senzi is flying again, so he will be around for about two days then be on the road. He’s excited to see them, but he’s even more excited that they’ll be keeping Wandi busy while he’s away. 

“What about your studies? Mid-term break is not a holiday”, I enquired. 

I was told that they had a schedule where studying was included. Ja neh. 

So, Khotso and I are driving Rena and Moloko to Wandi’s place today.

I have packed for both of them – Rena, I mostly assisted because she’s very capable of packing her own bags. I just made sure that she has everything that she will need. Moloko I packed for. He’s very excited to also be going. There’s a part of me that wishes that he would stay at least. Who’s going to entertain me when Khotso works long hours? Maybe with them away, I’ll be able to be part of a heist or two. Who knows? 

“You ready to go?” Khotso asks me. He has just packed bags in the boot of the G-Wagon that he bought for me now that he let Senzi and Wandi have my Maserati. 

“I can’t believe they are leaving me”, I say sulking.

Khotso starts laughing at me. He walks up to me then hugs me, still laughing at me.

“They are going to be great. You know, this is the first time that they are going to visit anyone. And if I’m being honest, I feel like they’ll be safe. I trust Wandi. They love her and Senzi. And I’m so happy that they have a sister in her and a brother in Senzi. It’s honestly the most beautiful thing to watch.” He says.

“And mina?” I say.

“You’ll have me all to yourself and I’ll have you all to myself.” He says.

“But you work long hours. I’m going to be alone for most of the time.” 

“Should I take leave? Then I’ll be all yours all week.”

“That would be nice”, I say, smiling.

“Okay… then I’m all yours.” He says.

We kiss.

“Guys, we are ready to leave!” Moloko says. 

I take one last sigh then we head to the car. 

The car ride is nice. Rena is chatting our ears off and Moloko is right there with her. Moloko is slowly but surely coming out of his shell. He used to be very reserved. When I first met him, you’d know he likes you if he just follows you everywhere. Now, he talks and he will tell you that he doesn’t like certain people and even give you his reasons. He finally got his braces and he tells me that he stopped being friends with a few people because they teased him. I went to the school and told the teachers to deal with it because what will never happen on my watch is my child being bullied. He needed to fix his teeth. What were we supposed to do? Braces are not just jewellery for the teeth, they are helping him. Khotso told me that I’m going to turn Moloko into a little bitch. He said Moloko must learn how to throw a punch or two. Mxm! I didn’t even answer him. 

We cross the border into South Africa after about four hours and now we drive towards Wandi’s house, which is another six hours away. The kiddies are fast asleep now.

“You need to rest, baby. I can drive from here.” I tell him.

“You sure? Yoh, I even have a cramp in my leg.” He tells me. 

“Let’s stop at this petrol station, stretch our legs, wake the kids up and see if they need the toilet”, I say.

He does as I say and we prepare for our first stop. 

Khotso takes Moloko to the male restroom. I head into the female restroom with Rena. When we are done, we buy ourselves some drinks and sandwiches to eat. We actually chill outside the car as we eat and drink. 

Khotso’s phone rings mid-conversation with the little ones.

“Sho”, he answers his phone.

…

“What?!”

…

“I don’t understand what you are saying to me, monna.

…

“Where are you?”

…

“Okay. I’m in South Africa with Phuthi and the kids. We just crossed the border. Re ko Free State nou. Stop by the first Engine petrol station you see and pick me up.”

…

“Sho.”

I look at him. What happened to him taking leave? 

“Lefatselabarena… Moloko… get in the car.” Khotso says.

They just get in the car and not ask questions.

I look at him.

He pulls me away from the car.

What’s going on? 

“Pope is going to pick me up now. Ona, Zithulele and Maboko have been arrested.” He tells me.

My eyes widen.

“Laura’s bishop investigated shit in the church, opened a case and now three of us have been arrested. Some other priests too. I told Laura to manage this shit! I told her! We need to go and sort this out”, he says.

“Where are they held?” I ask.

“They are held here in South Africa, some prison close to Benoni.” He tells me.

He sees me getting stressed.

“Phuthi…”

I look at him.

“I need you to… we have to deal with this without you.”

“But I’m part of the church. I work at this church that has people arrested AND I’ve been to prison. I’m probably the one person who could really help.” 

“My kids cannot afford to lose another mother.”

I stare at him. I’m tearing him up. Then he says, “and I… I… I cannot afford to lose another love in my life. Please.”

I hug him.

“Baby, maybe I can really help. I’m experienced”, I say as I’m in the hug. 

“I know. But I have to be selfish. I have to put the kids and me first. I have to keep you away from this. I need you to trust that between pope and I, we can solve this. Reahile, Khabane, Banathi and Mohale are already on their way. We’ve got this. I want you to make sure that the kids are okay. You know they will come for you as a strategy to keep us desperate. Look out for that. Please.” 

I nod my head. 

“I love you. Here’s the phone that we will be communicating with. Keep all the kids away from their phones, okay?”

I take it then I say, “Khotso…”

He looks at me. 

“Don’t die on me. And don’t get arrested on me. I still need you too. I’m begging you”.

He kisses me.

Pope parks next to us. 

He jumps out of the car.

“Let’s go. Ntuthuko is at the prison already with the lawyer.” Pope.

“How did he get here so fast?” Me.

“He’s been in South Africa with his girlfriend.” Pope explains.

“Okay.” Khotso.

“Phuthi, get the kids… Senzi too, please.” Pope.

“That goes without saying”, I say.

“Make your way to this location”, he gives me a piece of paper with an address. It’s a place on some farm in Kimberly. The hell?!

“Teboho, Fifi, Letlali, Sonia, and all the kids are there… kids and grandkids. You’ll be safe there. But get there by tonight. I have a feeling that borders will all be shut on a search for us”. Pope.

I nod my head.

“Sithembe wena, MaNgwenya. Sikuthembe namakhosikazi wethu nezingane zethu. Sicela ukubuya nonke nisaphelele.” Pope.

Khotso kisses me. 

He quickly says goodbye to the kids. 

I wipe my tears, get in the car then take off. I see pope and Khotso drive off too.

The kids are silent, so I take it that this is something that they are used to. No one has mentioned Thabi. I wonder where she is. 

I’m about an hour away from Wandi’s place now. I phone her.

“Hey mah”, she answers in high spirits.

“Wandisa, I need you and Senzi to pack as much as you can. When I get there, you get in the car and we have to go away for some time.”

“Why? I thought Rena and Mo were the ones coming to stay at my place.”

“Wandi, I’m asking nana. Please. OKhotso and oShaka are in trouble with the law. Some people are even getting arrested. They’ll capture us to put pressure on them, putting our lives in danger. We need to go away so that they can deal with this effectively. Once they’ve sorted everything out, things will go back to normal.”

“Mah, I don’t understand what you mean”, she says.

“Just do as I say. Please. We don’t have much time. Ngiyakucela.” Me.

I hang up. 

They have to be okay. They have to be! 

When we arrive at Wandi’s place, Ntuthuko is here and Khotso’s red V300 is already packed, seemingly waiting for us to just get in. The minute I switch off my engine, Senzi tells me that he’s going to park my car in their garage and I need to get into the V300. Ntuthuko offloads bags. Wandi finds me. 

“Senzi phoned his dad and asked him what’s going on. He explained enough to have us all scared to oblige. We don’t have time, let’s go.” She tells me. 

I nod my head then I sit at the back of the V300 with Wandi, Rena and Moloko. Senzi and Ntuthuko are the ones driving. I wonder how much they’ve been told. 

Moloko is a bit shook. He’s been next to me this whole time, cuddled into my arms and shaking. Wandi gives me a fleece blanket so I can cover him to calm down. He gives Rena and Moloko some food and something to drink. 

“I’m good. I’ve been through enough of this”, Rena says. 

I just look at her because I’m kinda worried.

“What do you mean?” Wandi asks her.

“You’ll soon learn, big sis… there’s nothing normal about our lives. Sometimes, we are living on top of the world… sometimes, we are dodging bullets and running for our lives… when it gets really bad, we bury people we love. So the key thing is to make sure that you are not the one being buried or the one being arrested. When you are arrested, at least they’ll work hard to get you out. But when you are dead, rest in peace.” Yoh, Rena. 

Wandi looks at me.

I notice Ntuthuko looking through his rear-view mirror. 

I put a blanket over Rena now that’s she’s fast asleep. Moloko is also fast asleep. A blanket is over him too.

Wandi and I are now cuddled together under a blanket. Ntuthuko and Senzi are chatting away in the front.

“What did Shaka tell you guys?” I ask Wandi.

“That there’s money that was being pumped into the church to create the job opportunities that are there. The bishop had the books investigated and turned it over to the police, underlining it as criminal activity that Lady Laura was overseeing. He had her and all investors arrested. Those investors include Shaka’s dad. They need to clear their name and until they do, they can’t be stressing about our safety.” She says.

I look at her.

“Senzi has always suspected that there was more to the church than the tithing money. Why would bishop think the money that made that church is criminal activity? Why would he burn his own investors?” She asks.

I just take a deep breath.

“This is crime money, isn’t it, mama?” She says.

“Wandi –

“Rena told me that y’all run an entire organisation called the church. The church runs things with several governments across the world and pretty much rule the underworld. She tells me you were doing time on their behalf, that’s why they are loyal to you.” Rena talks too much! 

“Wandisa, I’ll tell you everything. I promise. Khotso and I will sit all of you down and tell you everything.” I say.

“Mah, you don’t need his permission to talk to your child. Not even Rena needed his permission to tell me what’s going on.” She says.

“Yes, I don’t need his permission. But seeing that we are sharing kids here and the kids are quite close, I figure we should both have the conversation with you with you. Surely, he also deserves a chance to sit down with his own children and explain this to them.” I say.

She nods her head.

“Mah, at least tell me that we are going to be okay”, she says.

“You will. I’ll give my life to make sure of that.” I say.

“But only for us, right? Only for the people in this vehicle. You’ve given everyone else enough. You gave them years behind bars. You gave up years of raising your only child. You gave them time missed out on our relationship. You need to put me first now, mah. I can forgive you for loyalty to Bab’Khotso, Rena and Moloko. I understand that we are a family now. But anyone else, mama… you’ll just be showing me that you don’t care about me… about our relationship. You’ll be telling me that baba was right all this time about you choosing crime over me.”

“Your dad said what?!”

“My point is, mama… I will not forgive you if you put your life or freedom on the line for anyone else but the people in this car. Please… be selfish! For us! I know Bab’Khotso asked you to stay out of solving this because he put Rena, Moloko and me first, saying that we can’t afford to lose you. If he can also see that, then I need you to see it too.”

I just breathe then pull her into a hug. I kiss her forehead, assuring her that I’m not going anywhere this time. 

–

We arrive at the location provided just after 2am. Wandi and I stayed up with the guys. 

We offload the car, waking Moloko and Rena up to also go into the house. It’s quite an interesting house. It’s on a farm. We are on a farm and there is one big ass house on here. As soon as we are done offloading, the car is parked. We head inside and find some people still awake.

“We were waiting for you.” Teboho says to me.

“Sorry we took so long”, I say.

“It’s cool. The girls are all sleeping in one room, so Rena can join them. The boys are all in one room too, Moloko can join them. We left a vacant room for Wandi and Senzi. Ntuthuko has his own room too. Then you’ll sleep with all of us, the mommies. We sleep with all the grandchildren.” Sonia says.

I just nod my head. 

“Do you guys need to eat?” Letlali asks us.

“We good. Thanks.” I say. Wandi confirms alongside Senzi and Ntuthuko.

“Okay, let’s get some rest.” Teboho says.

“Cool, I just want to call Khotso and –

“You have a direct line?” Sonia.

I nod my head. 

They all gather around me, including Ntuthuko, Senzi and Wandi.

Am I the only person with a burner phone here?

I dial the only number on this phone.

After two rings…

“Baby”, Khotso answers his phone.

“Hey. We’ve arrived. Everyone is good.” I say.

“That’s good news. They’ve set up roadblocks everywhere, so we were a bit worried. But I’m relieved.” He says.

“Okay. Are you guys winning?” I ask.

“The boys are here. We were going to send them to you, but they could be easily followed then you’ll be found. But they want pope, me, Ona, Zithulele and Maboko. They don’t give a fuck about everyone else.” 

“How strong is the case?” 

“The lawyer tells us that they don’t have much. The bishop is busy testifying to shit he didn’t even see, so he’s not even a credible witness. He’s just jaded by his wife for.. you know…”

“Where’s Laura?” I ask.

“Isolated from all of us. Apparently, the bishop denied legal representation on her behalf. He apparently gave her an ultimatum… she comes clean or they divorce. That fat piece of shit! He wants her to burn us or they are done.” He explains.

“Can you get her to call me? Or call us?” Senzi.

“Huh?” Khotso.

“I’ll talk to her. She listens to me. If you can get her and I to talk, I’ll do the rest.” Senzi.

“I don’t want to involve you in this, Senzangakhona.” Shaka.

“Baba, there are kids here. Moloko was freaked out the whole drive here. People in this house – kids in this house – they need normal as soon as possible. Wandi is pregnant. I’m going to be a dad and I don’t need my wife in a stressful situation at such a tender stage of her pregnancy. Let me talk to my mom and end this. You know that if there is one person who can make this go away quickly, it’s me.” Senzi.

I’m still staring at Wandi. I see Teboho, Fifi, Letlali and Sonia trying to calm my shock. But why wouldn’t my own child tell me that she’s pregnant? I’m nothing like my mother. And we are closer than this.

“Fine. Keep the phone on you or stay close to Phuthi. We will find a way.” Shaka. 

The line goes dead. 

I’m still up with Senzi and Wandi. We are waiting for the call. I’m actually so hurt. 

“Mah, we just found out ourselves. We haven’t even seen a doctor yet. You guys were not supposed to find out like that.” Wandi.

“Wandi, I’m your mother. And I know that for a long time, I wasn’t there. But surely, our relationship is at a point where you can tell me something like this.” Me.

“I was planning to tell you tonight, after you had dropped off Mo and Rena at my place. We were going to have tea then we would tell you and Bab’Khotso. But all this then happened. Mah, I’m sorry. I really am.”

I accept the answer. I hug them.

“Congratulations guys, I’m so happy for you. You are going to be great parents.” I say.

I’m still hurt, but I know this wasn’t malicious. 

They hug me too. 

After another hour, my phone finally rings. I give the phone to Senzi. 

…

Senzi spoke to his crazy mother. She was ready to sell us out. But the kid spoke to her and now she’s behaving like she was supposed to behave in the first place. She is letting the lawyer defend her. She’s presenting the cooked books we all put together to explain the cash injection into that church for when a day like this happened. 

Pope, the boys and I are waiting in the waiting area of the prison. 

“Laura need to be out, pope. She’s not stable.” I say.

“That’s exactly what’s on my mind right now. She’s very… volatile. And I want us to pull our money out of that place.”

“It’s a good bank, I won’t lie. It will be difficult to find another bank as good as them.”

“We can keep the bank.” Pope says.

“How?” I ask.

The boys are looking at us.

“We leave the church as we found it. Bare and poor. We kick it off that campus. We take over the shelter, the hotel, the company in its entirety and the mall, give it another name… then we do a foundation or something. We just need someone that we trust to run it.” Pope.

“That’s not a bad idea at all.” I say.

“That school that Thabi used to have for whatever criteria that kids had to meet… do you remember it?” 

“The school that made her decide to not have kids and expel her womb from her body?” Me.

“Yona leyo… ey, abafazi benu!” Pope. 

We both laugh.

“Seeing that you guys expelled her from the royal house and the media is all over that shit, this is our window… we move her here to set up that school – 2.0. You know South Africa lives for this shit… helping or whatever… they’ll even let you get away with shit just as long as you make the ruling party look like it’s making a difference. She will set up the school here, at the church. We will bulldoze that massive church down and build an entire school on there. Thabi will deal with the logistics and admin of it all.  The shelter buildings will be used as a boarding facility for the students. Those apartments can accommodate up to five thousand people. That can be the capacity of our students. So the church, the mall and the shelter is for the school. The company building and the hotel is ours. We will meet with the executive team, including Phuthi, and we decide how we extend the foundation and make non-questionable money out of it. That’s how we will clean it.” 

Pope has this all figured out.

“How do we shut Laura up? She may fight this. We are stripping her off quite a lot.” Khabane says. 

“I agree. Put Thabi on her. Thabi will know what to do with her.” Pope.

I actually agree with that.

“Let’s also chat to Tebza and Sonia. They are business geniuses. They’ll help us with the strategy to rebuild.” Me.

“And as for that fat shit with useless sperm that she married… if he so much as farts when we move him off the campus…” pope.

“Leave him to me, pope. Fat shits are usually comfortable jumping castles.” Me.

We fist pump each other. 

The jailbirds finally walk out. We are all so happy to see them. We are all on our feet now, fist-pumping each other and hugging each other. 

“Laura! Yerrr!” Ona.

“The bitch ID-ed us”, Maboko.

“We already have an exit strategy for her. Don’t stress. Let’s go tie up loose ends so that we can go get the wives and kids.” Pope.

Indeed, we leave this place to go sleep. We actually all sleep at the hotel that we own on this damn church campus. It’s about a thirty-minute drive from the prison.

The sun is piercingly shining through the window. I slept naked and I actually dreamed about Phuthi. Now I’m waking up hard.

I get up and take a piss. This relieves me a bit. 

I need to marry her. Soon. I spoke to her last night before we went to sleep. She told me that Wandi is pregnant. She was a bit hurt that Wandi didn’t tell her the minute she found out. But I told her not to be too offended by that. They themselves had just found out and chances are that they were still dealing with the shock themselves. One thing I learned with both Lulu’s pregnancies is that no matter how much you love kids or wish to have them… or even plan to have them… when that shit becomes a reality, it honestly scares the shit out of you. It’s a frightening reality. So, she mustn’t feel bad. It’s unfortunate that it came out the way that it did, but she just needs to be supportive. 

I just step into the shower from after taking my piss. The shower is quick. We need to pay Laura and fat shit a visit today. The good news is that it’s Sunday – no pun intended. We will give them a nice surprise during their service. Saphapha sdudla se!

I finish up, lotion myself with whatever product I find here then dress up in what I had yesterday. I don’t have any clothes. My plan was to drive back to the kingdom with Phuthi and actually enjoy having the house to ourselves. But here we are…

–

We finally arrive at the church. The service is actually ongoing. We just walk in mid-sermon, coming in from the very back of the church and strolling our way to the front where the fat shit is preaching. People are now focusing on us. The fat shit is trying very hard to ignore us, but Laura stands up on stage and cannot help but realise that life as she knows it – as they all know it – is over. Pope, Ona, Maboko, Zithulele and I stand right in front of him. He finally stops preaching and he stares at me. His bodyguards try to step to us, but Khabane and Rea are quick with their responses. Banathi has already pulled out his gun. The church bitchesare already screaming, making a noise. Please man, it’s a just a gun. They must save the screams for amens after we’ve said our piece. 

“Turn all of this shit off and get the fuck off my property”, pope tells the fat shit.

“Excuse me?!” The fat shit. 

I push him away from the podium.

Ona takes the mic and starts saying, “You all have exactly ten minutes to get the fuck off our property else you’ll all be arrested for trespassing”. 

There’s complaining but movement. 

“Why are you doing this?” Some woman says. It’s the fat shit’s sister.

No one pays her any mind. Who is she again?! 

“Laura, stop this from happening! You know these people, don’t just stand there!” Another sister says. 

“Seven minutes remaining”, Ona says.

“This is my church! MY CHURCH! You cannot just come here and take my wife, my child and my life’s commitment and hard work! I will fight you!” The fat shit.

“With what?! The blanks you shoot?” Pope.

He’s hurt. 

“Four minutes reminding!” Ona. 

“Laura, do something!” The sisters.

“Darling, do something!” The fat shit.

Laura is just crying. 

“You are coming with us!” Pope says to Laura.

Now it’s sinking into these people that we are not playing with them. 

There’s now movement, slow, but movement. Unfortunately they are not out of here in the stipulated time, so police are starting to arrest people. As horrible as we are as criminals, the law still has to protect us and our rights. So, some people are being put in police vans while others are sprinting as fast as they can to get off the campus all together. 

We are in the fat shit’s office now. Laura is sitting with us. The boys are sitting on the desks and the pope is in the fat shit’s chair. The rest of us are just standing here. 

“You are out”, pope tells her.

“What do you mean?” Laura.

“You were ready to burn us. You think we don’t know?” Pope.

“But I didn’t”, Laura.

“We don’t trust you anymore. You are out. This place will be taken over by us and will be run by someone that we trust. You are no longer that person.” Pope.

“Shaka, where am I supposed to go? Where?! My husband will probably divorce me after this. How will I make money?” Laura.

“If you are smart, you’ll know that your house and every car that you and that fat piece of shityou were about to betray us for are under your name. Kick him out. Sell what you can and start afresh. At this point, you’ll have to be tactical about how you survive because if you cause shit for us, we will murder you. Senzi has more than shown us that he can live without you.” Pope. 

Laura is actually in disbelief. 

“Maybe we will chat to Thabi to hire you or something when she takes over here. But for now… use your survival skills to survive.” Pope.

She just releases a deep sigh.

“Oh and by the way, we go back to the Buthelezis this weekend to fix the lobola situation and make Wandi a Maphumulo wife… undoing the shit that you and your husband did. You can come because well, he’s your son too… but you better behave. If my wife so much as complains that you looked at her funny, I’ll deal with you on a personal level. We are done here. Get the fuck off my property.” Pope.

She just gets up, turns around and leaves. 

“You trust her?” I ask.

“Nope. I’ve already put some people on her and trackers on all their vehicles. We have them.” Pope. 

Good!