Phumelele 

I’m sitting in my TV room with Terrence thinking about everything that has happened. I’m still waiting for the DNA results. The queen said she’d let me know once they are out. I’d like to go into the new year clear about my paternity. 

Then there’s the issue of malume who’s locked up in the basement. I want to phone mah and tell her, but I’m not even sure if I’m allowed to. This is so messed up. I haven’t even been able to tell Terrence about all of this because his child is also not getting better and the hospital is still waiting for a new heart. He’s so down. He loves his kids, that much I’ve learned. The mother of his child seems to be on the insane side of the spectrum though. She  phones every ten minutes. He only takes her calls hourly. 

“You good?” He asks me. 

I nod my head. 

I haven’t told him about my paternity issue. I wish I could talk to him about it, but I don’t even know if we are saying it not… and I’m not sure if I’m allowed to share royal news like that.

“Wena ukahle?” I ask him.

“I need to find a heart for my child. I don’t where I’m going to find it, but I need to find it. But I’m still confused about what happened. How the hell did he go to sleep healthy one day then wake up with a heart that could kill him any minute?”

I actually don’t know what to say. We didn’t even have a merry Christmas. Outside of my drama, he was stressed about his son spending Christmas in hospital. 

I’ve never really thought about wanting kids. I’ve always been sure that it’s not right to birth kids into poverty. While kids are blessings, it’s not okay to bring them into life nawe impilo ikuxakile self. So, I haven’t been financially comfortable enough to think about having kids. And seeing that my age has now crossed over into mid-30s, I don’t know if it’s an option still worth exploring. I’m not even in a committed relationship like that. Imagine being a single mother in this economy? Ngihlala emsebenzini- kuyafana nokuthi ngihlala emcashweni. Where will that child live?

“Maybe I should steal a heart”, he says. 

Hai bo! 

“Where are you going to steal a heart, Terrance?” I ask him.

“I don’t know. Surely, there’s someone in the illegal market selling a heart. I can cash out my savings and buy it.” 

“And if they scam you? These illegal market things are very risky.”

“I need to save my son, Phumelele. This is my child! I can always work for more money. Where will I find another son?!” 

I just keep quiet because he’s yelling at me now. And while I appreciate that he’s probably just stressed, I don’t appreciate being yelled at. Not even my parents yelled at me back home. Now a man must yell at me like I’m a child? But let me apply some emotional intelligence and keep quiet. Because if I open my mouth…

His phone rings. 

It’s the baby-mama.

He answers the phone.

“Ja”, him.

…

“Neng?!”

…

“Shit, I’m coming.”

He hangs up.

I don’t plan on asking him what’s been said because I’m still upset about him raising his voice at me, but he tells me, “He’s slipped into a coma.” 

Okay, this is bad. 

“Can I go with you? I’m even prepared to just sit in the car to avoid drama with his mother. But I just want you to know that I’m right here with you.”

I don’t know why I say this. I’m supposed to be mad at him.

He stretches his hand out at me. I hold it. I wear some shoes then we leave together. 

The whole drive to the hospital, I find myself praying so hard for his son. We need a miracle. I’m praying for a miracle. Any miracle at all. We will take it. 

We arrive at the hospital and he insists that I go in with him. The way his baby-mother is dramatic via phone, I don’t want to meet her in real life. 

But here we are, walking into the hospital holding hands. We head to some section of the hospital… I believe it’s the ICU. 

I just see a lady looking at me as if she’s going to beat me up. I try to pull my hand away, but Terrence holds it tighter. 

“And then? Who the hell is this?!” She aggressively asks.

“My girlfriend, Phumelele. What are the doctors saying?” Yoh Terrence. 

The lady seems so hurt.

“Are you not going to introduce us?” The lady.

“You are not significant enough in our relationship. Tell me, what’s the doctor saying?”

This girl is going to beat me up! And the way ngiyigwala ngakhona, Nkosi yami. Imagine being beaten up so far away from home?! 

I’m sitting in the waiting area while Terence and the mother of his child are inside with the kid. I can hear them arguing from here. They are arguing about me being here with Terrence. 

“And then?” The queen. 

What is she also doing here?! 

“Sawubona ndlovukazi”, I say.

“I said I’d bring the results to you. What are you doing here?” She says to me. 

“I’m here with a friend. His son is in a coma. He needs a new heart and he is nowhere near getting it.” 

“Oh… shame. Is your friend the head chef at the royal house?” 

I nod my head. 

“He’s staff. We will help him. Where is he?”

“Inside with the mother of the child.”

“Arguing about you?! Ke bona ba bayetsang le rata le li kana in a hospital ICU section?”

I’m just quiet. 

She sits next to me.

“The results are back. You are actually Maboko Seete’s sister. The paternity tests came back with a percentage too low for him to be your dad, but there is some relation. We squeezed Zolile for more information and he confessed that Linda slept with Maboko’s father too.”

My mom was such a slut! What the hell?! So many men?!!! And she sleeps with sons and their fathers?! 

“How does Maboko feel about it?” I ask her.

“I guess he’s relieved that his wife will not be leaving him. But he hasn’t said much about a family reunion… even Fifi went back to Johannesburg to live her life. To be fair, she wasn’t Ntate Seete’s child anyway. I guess when the time is right, Maboko will take you to the family. Just be patient.”

I nod my head. 

“But I admire the person that you are. Truly. Any other person would have milked this, especially when coming from a place of poverty.” 

“Ndlovukazi, poverty is my financial circumstance, it’s not who I am. My character is deeper than that”, I say.

“And I believe you. And I want to reward you for not coming into our lives to cause havoc even though you had the power to do so. You proved that you can be trusted. And with your experience in service to royal houses… I’d like to make you my lady-in-waiting.” 

Wow! Really?! 

“Really?!” Me.

She nods her head and says, “you’ve more than proven your loyalty to me and to our family. Take the role. It has better benefits and better a better pay. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to see and spend time with your boyfriend. I’ll even help his son for free… as a favour to you.” 

“Ngiyabonga ndlovukazi. Truly, ngiyabonga. And I accept your offer. I’d love to be umsizi wakho.”

She nods her head and smiles. Then she says, “please learn some sotho hle. We cannot have this language barrier situation.” 

I laugh.

“Let’s go tell your boyfriend that I’m transferring his son and helping him.” 

We get up and walk into the ward together. We actually walk in on the baby mother slapping Terrence. 

“Wow!” The queen. 

They both gather themselves and show respect, bowing their heads at her.

“Meh over here told me the situation. I’m prepared to help. I’ll have your son transferred to a hospital that will help tonight. He will have a heart by tomorrow morning.” The queen.

Terence is so relieved. 

The girl tries to come for me while throwing hands, saying, “he’s not your son! Why are you so forward?!”

“Do you actually want your son to die?! He’s getting help. Shouldn’t that be all that matters?” The queen.

“Please forgive me, mofomahadi… it’s just –

“I’m not interested in your insecurities that you place ahead of your own child. What kind of a mother are you?! Meh gets help and you are concerned that it makes you look incompetent?”

Silence. 

“The hospital is in Koena. A helicopter will pick him up soon. The crazy woman doesn’t get to go. Head chef, you’ll fly with your son.”

“I’m his mother”, she says.

“I don’t care. You can get a taxi to Koena.”

“It’s six hours away.”

“Then get going.”

“It’s okay, Ndlovukazi. She can go.” I say.

“You sure? Nobody speaks to my lady-in-waiting like that then gets favours from me.”

I nod my head and say, “she can go. This is bigger than her pettiness.”

“I suppose you are right. She suffers enough knowing the man chose you over her. But she better watch her mouth and attitude next time, or else she will know me!”

– 

Terrence’s son is being prepped to be transferred to another hospital. Terrence told the mother to leave with the helicopter, he will drive down through the night with me. She was ANGRY! ANGRY I SAY! 

Terrence and I are now driving down to Koena. 

“You can leave me at home if it will make things easier”, I say. I actually want to go back home. That girl almost put her hands on me. I’m not even going to front. I’m scared of her! 

“Meh, you are coming with me to Koena. You are the one who asked the queen to help. You’ve done for him than what his mother and I did combined. You saved his life. She’s not keeping you away. If it were not for you, he’d be dying.”

Yaz I don’t like this thing of his of just making decisions then giving me the “deal with it” attitude.

“That woman almost beat me up, Terence. I’m scared of her”, I confess.

“If she puts her hands on you, I’ll have her arrested.”

“Uzobophisa umah wengane yakho?!” How ruthless is this guy?

He’s silent. 

Okay…

We just drive on I suppose. 

“So when and how did you become the queen’s lady-in-waiting?” He asks me.

“Ey, it’s a long story.”

“It’s a six hour drive.”

I take a deep breath. I tell him everything that happened – except for the part that my uncle was tortured… he actually listens. And he actually doesn’t judge me or my mother. He’s actually there for me, holding my hand and telling me that I’m one hell of a woman and that he’s proud of how I’ve dealt with this situation. 

I smile at him. 

He kisses my hand. 

“I’m thinking of going home for a day or two around New Year’s Eve. I miss my mother.” I say… the one I’m actually proud to call mom – not the whore that gave birth to me.

“I was hoping that we’d be together and –

“I really need to go home. I haven’t been in so long. She stays alone and it doesn’t sit right with me that she spent Christmas alone.” 

He nods his head. 

“Wena, stay this side and be by your son’s side as he heals. I’ll be back before you even know it.”

He nods his head. 

…

I’m in a line now of people waiting for a taxi that’s going to Johannesburg. From there, I’ll get a taxi to Durban then I’ll get another taxi to home. I’m so excited to see my mother. I miss her. When I asked the queen about my uncle, she said they let him go. I obviously didn’t believe her, but my mom confirmed. So I’m relieved. Though, I will admit that I’d be happy for my mom if he died. Uyahlupha nang’umuntu. 

“Sho”, I hear a voice. I’m not sure who is being spoken to. 

“Hawu! Dumela Meh”, a woman’s voice. 

Now I look in the direction of the voices. It’s Maboko and Refiloe. My siblings apparently.

“Hi”, I greet them with a smile. 

“I guess you’ve heard that we are siblings”, Refiloe. 

“I did. I’m really sorry for making you and your wife fight though, Maboko. It wasn’t my intention at all”, I say. 

“I know. Tebza knows too. Linda was just a painful part of our relationship, you know. Little did I know that both dad and I were tapping. I feel the worst. I cannot believe I almost lost Tebza because of a woman like that.” 

I don’t know how to feel. Kusobala ukuthi I was conceived emanyaleni. 

“I just feel like such an inconvenience. I wish my uncle didn’t tell me anything. I’m happy with my mom, you know… the one I know… the one who raised me.” 

They look at me as if they feel sorry for me. 

“Tebza thought we’d take you to KZN. We are driving down to Zimbali for a family trip for the new year. Come with us.” Maboko. 

“You don’t have to – 

“I insist. Come on”, Maboko says already taking my bags. Refiloe just holds me and leads me to some luxurious sprinter. 

I look at her and she tells me to climb inside. 

What car is this?

The seats are facing each other and there are tables to eat in between the seats that face each other. 

“Sanibonani”, I greet everyone. It’s full in here. 

I’m greeted back by Maboko’s daughter, Ruri. She’s here with her boyfriend, Khanya. I’m glad kukhona ozongizwa. I’m greeted back by Maboko’s son, Khabane. He’s here with his wife, Khanyisa and their three kids who have now also called me gogo. My expression made everyone laugh. I’m not even 40 and I’m gogo. Yoh! Refiloe’s son, Akwande is here. There’s also her stepson, Ntuthuko, his wife, Tamia and their six kids who are also calling me gogo. Kuyazalwa ku lomndeni! 

Teboho hugs me as if welcoming me to her family. To think that if I were her stepdaughter, this trip wouldn’t be happening… she’d be in the process of divorcing the love of her life. I actually hate Linda. I hate her! I’m glad she’s not here today to suddenly play mom to me. 

The ride is very vibey and loud. Each person in here has their age mate. Maboko and his son, Khabane, are sitting in the front with Ntuthuko and Khanya. From what I understand, they’ll be splitting the driving distance amongst each other. 

“Thabi tells us you have a man and he’s a chef.” Teboho says. 

Forward, but okay. 

I laugh then say, “he’s not my man.” 

“What is he?” 

“We just service each other”. 

They all burst into laughter. 

“But you go to hospitals with him to see his kids?” Refiloe says. 

Mofomahadi clearly told them a lot. 

“He was just hurting that his kid is really ill and I felt bad. But now I regret it because the mother of his child almost slapped me.” 

“And you just left her?” Teboho. 

“What was I supposed to do?”

“Strappa ntsha!” Teboho. 

Refiloe is just in stitches. So are Khanyisa and Ruri.

“Yazi ngiyigwala  kanjani?” Me. And I’m not ashamed of it shame. 

They find this entire situation hilarious. I just find myself laughing now. 

“Girls from Tholoana Kingdom have audacity that is at an all-time high. You need to grow some balls, babe. Especially if you plan to catch a man here.” Refiloe. 

“I don’t know with Terrence hey… five kids from three different people? I’m not strong enough for that.” I say. 

“Do you have any kids?” Refiloe. 

“Nope. And I’m okay if I never have any. I’ve always had other things to do in my life than to have kids. And now I’m 33 years old and not in a committed relationship. I’m not trying to have kids at 40.”

“What if you meet someone who wants to have kids?” Refiloe. 

“The good news is that I’m not into Ben10s. So the age group I date in will be men who already have kids. The pressure is off.” 

“Akwande’s dad was over 50 when we had Akwande.” Refiloe. 

“Ntuthuko already had 4 kids when I met him and he still wanted 2 more from me.” Tamia. 

They see the stress on my face. 

We all laugh. 

I see the guys laughing too. I guess they are listening to our conversation. 

– 

I told them to just leave me in Durban. I’ll take a taxi home. It doesn’t make sense for them to go kwaNongoma when they are staying in Zimbali. So I took a taxi back home from Durban and I’m greeted by my mom’s chickens running about in the yard as I enter it. 

I hear my mom yell from inside, “HEEEEHHHH!!!! KWAFIKA INGANE YAMI BO!”

I’m so happy to be home! 

I hug her and we just embrace each other right out here. Some of the neighbours even peep out to see what the noise is all about. Some greet me just as enthusiastically and some just wave in dissatisfaction then head back into their houses. Emakhaya, not everyone will like you. To some people, I was never supposed to get out and go out there. I’m not doing anything amazing, but the fact that my mom doesn’t ask around for sugar and soap anymore slaps at them so hard. It’s weird to me because some of these people are even doing better than us. But no, any sign of progress is a no-no.

My mom has now prepared tea for me. I bought her a stove and a kettle so she’d stop using the coal stove to heat up everything, making this house smell like a coal factory. She enjoys it so much. Electricity is still a tricky situation la emakhaya, but we use what we can. 

“Yoh ntombi yami, you look after me so well. Look at what I’ve done with the house. I managed to build an outside room for Zolile… ey aphume la endlini. Manje nawe you have your own room and I have mine. I bought a dining table and new beds. I even bought new couches. I even managed to get us a toilet inside the house. I got a bathtub too. Ngiphila kamnandi njani. I increased my chickens and built ihhoko lami. Now I make money from selling eggs and izinkuku ezicuthiwe.”

“Wena na!”

I’m so happy for her.

We laugh. 

“Indl’enkulu is so proud of you. She came to visit and she sees all that you are doing for me. Yoh Meh-meh wami… uyisibusiso sami wena!”

“Mah… ngiyakuthanda! Kakhulu futhi.” I say. 

She smiles at me. 

Then she says, “tell me all about the kingdom and your job there.” 

We spend a good two hours just talking. And it’s so nice. 

My uncle walks into the main house. 

“Sanibona! Phumeh, Ukahle?”

We both know what’s really going on. 

“Ngiyaphila Malume. Wena ukahle?” He knows what I’m asking. And he’s badly beaten. He doesn’t look good. 

“Siyancenga”, he says. 

My mom serves breakfast and I suppose our day can start. 

I’ll go to town tomorrow so I can leave her with goods before I head back. I’ll give Terrence a call later to check up on him and his son. 

…

Come back at 8PM for a bonus episode!