I have just landed from an international flight. While I want to just dash home and sleep, I miss my girlfriend a lot. It is already 8am, so she must either still be sleeping or she must be at work. Let me call her. 

I dial her cellphone and she answers after three rings. 

“Hey handsome. Welcome back to land. How was the air?” 

I laugh. I can never get used to that. 

“Baby, I miss you. I want to come and see you. Where are you?” 

“I’m at the studio, babe. I just finished five huge orders. I’m preparing them for delivery now, then I’m spending the rest of the day in bed.” 

“You work too hard, love.” 

“I know. But we have a plan, remember? And with these five orders, I’ve finally met my half of the plan”, she says. 

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah. I’ve been saving up for three years now, babe. I did suffer a bit because of Covid-19. But, I’ve bounced back and I can finally afford to contribute to our place together.” 

This really makes me happy. 

“So, I can finally tell my parents to contact family members I’ve never met before to negotiate lobola for you?”

She laughs aloud. 

“I’m serious. You know I’ve been wanting to marry you even before my parents started singing the ‘Senzi, you should get married’ song.” 

“You know they didn’t mean that you should marry me, right?”

“Well, unfortunately for them, I love you. I want to marry you.”

“You really think I’m the mam’fundisi type?” 

Now I laugh aloud. 

“You are my type. Period!” 

She laughs. 

“Can I see you today?” I ask her. 

“Sure. After these deliveries, I’ll call you. Do you want us to meet up at my place?”

“Nah, I’ll fetch you from your place then we can come to my place.” 

“What’s wrong with my place?” 

“Your mom is back. Imagine if she walks in on us having sex?” 

She laughs aloud.

I smile. 

Her laughter always makes my day. 

“I love you, baby.” I say. 

“I love you too”, she says. 

I walk into the house and I find my parents having breakfast together. Staff is pacing about, serving them or cleaning about in the house. 

The butler meets me at the door and takes my bags.

“Son, good morning. Welcome home”, my dad says. 

“Good morning, father. Hi mom”. 

“Hello son. How was your trip?” My mom. 

“They were good. I’m just tired now. I want to take a shower, go pick up Wandi then get some sleep.” 

My mom rolls her eyes. 

“Good morning, Lady Laura and Bishop. Hi Senzi”, Julia greets as she walks to the breakfast table. Why is she even here? 

My mom beams at her and my dad just acknowledges her. 

“I hope I’m not too late. I got held up at one of the homes that we serve breakfast at every morning.” Julia says.

“Please, have a seat. You know, we appreciate all the work that you do. You truly are a servant of the Lord. And your father’s sermon last Sunday – giiiiirrrrlll! Pastor Lukhele is on the right page with the Lord.” 

Whatever. 

I turn around to make my way to my room. 

“Senzangakhona! Don’t be rude! Sit down. Julia has joined us for breakfast”, my mom.

“I’m not hungry. And I’m tired. I need to take a shower.” I tell her.

“Senzangakhona! Sit!” 

This woman! 

Julia smiles. 

My mom and Julia talk about a lot of things. I know my mom wishes that Julia were the girl I’d choose and marry. She’s a beautiful girl and she does sometimes get my penis excited, but I’m not interested. I love Wandi. 

“So, Senzi, we are looking forward to your sermon this Sunday”, Julia says. 

My mom smiles at us. 

I just nod my head. 

My mom frowns.

“Do you need any help preparing it?” Julia asks me, running her foot up to my balls under the table. Fuck!

“Don’t worry, my fiancé is helping me.” I know this is not how I should’ve announced this, but – 

My mom is joking on her food. Julia’s foot is removed from my penis and my dad is staring at me. 

“Dad. Mom. I was hoping we’d discuss this family matter privately, but since Julia is frequent in this house…” 

Julia’s feelings are hurt.

“I’ve asked Wandi to marry me. She said yes. I asked her four years ago already, but she wanted time to establish herself and save money so that we could pay for our wedding without using the church’s money then live in our own house that we have purchased together. Now, we are ready to proceed with whatever you require of us.” 

“You are moving out too?” My dad asks me. 

“Yeah. I need my wife to be respected. And seeing that Julia is always here and has no bone of respect for Wandi in her body, I’m not moving Wandi in here to be disrespected by Julia.” I say. 

Julia seems hurt. I don’t even know what’s hurting her. This is how she’s built her reputation in my life. 

My mom is hyperventilating. What the hell is her issue? 

“Anyway, I’m going upstairs. I need to get clean and go meet up with my fiancé.” I say then leave the table. 

Silence, I tell you. 

Absolute and fine silence. 

I actually enjoy my shower and I’m just looking forward to being with Wandi today. I feel like we haven’t spent much time together since her mother came back. I know she was extremely nervous about her mother’s return and I’m happy for her. I’m happy that they are building. I’m happy that their relationship is strong and that she also has a chance of being with her mother and having her mother in her life. 

But I definitely miss my fiancé. I miss us just being selfish with each other because my work schedule is all over the place, so every minute I’m on land and not in the air, I’m with her or we are communicating telephonically. 

I step out of my shower and lotion myself. When I am done, I step into my bedroom and find Julia sitting on my bed crying. This girl! Yerr, I’m naked. But I’m not going to feel like I need to hide anything in my own room. What is she even doing in here?! 

I just find underwear and wear it. Then I go through my cupboard and look for a pair of shorts and a t-shirt to wear. I find them and I get dressed. I don’t know what this one wants and I’m not interested in finding out. I get dressed and she cries there wherever she is. 

“Are you really going to ignore me?” She says as I put on my sneakers. 

“I was about to ask you to get the fuck out of MY bedroom”, I say to her. 

“We need to talk, Senzi”, she says. 

“Nope, we don’t. I need to go and meet up with my fiancé. Please leave my bedroom.” I say. 

“Senzi” 

Now she’s touching me.

I get up and physically throw her out of my bedroom. She slides down the passage and lands at the beginning of the staircase. She cries. 

I grab my keys, inspect my room to see if she’s left anything dodge here. She once left her underwear and Wandi stopped speaking to me for a month. 

This crazy woman left lipstick… and shoes… and a bra. Fucken hell!

I take her things, lock my door then head to my car, throwing her with her stuff as I climb over her as she cries. The staff actually laughs at this. 

I get into my car then drive off. I dial my beautiful fiancé.

“Hey baby”, she answers her phone.

“Hey my love. Are you done with deliveries?” 

“Almost.” 

“Okay, I’m headed to your studio now. You’ll find me there waiting for you.” 

“Okay babe.” 

We hang up. 

Maybe I’ll even use the time I wait for her to prepare my sermon for Sunday. I can sit in her office and just work on my sermon for Sunday. 

I finally get to her studio. I park outside and see that the shop is open. When you enter, it’s a boutique. It’s beautiful and I’m very proud of my love. 

“Hey Senzi”, the manager greets me. 

“Hey. You good?” 

“I’m good. Wandi is doing deliveries”, she says. 

“I know. I’ll go wait for her in her office”, I say. 

She says okay and I head there. The studio is upstairs. That’s where she sews and creates. 

I step into her office. It’s so her. It’s a yellow and white office with brown furniture. There is one massive photograph of me and her then there is another big photograph of herself with her brothers, Khanya and Khosini. 

I pull out my iPad and start preparing my sermon for Sunday. I use the MacBook on her desk – which is hers – to access an online Bible and just work on my sermon. I listen to a few podcasts as well that speak on this topic… the topic of seeing God in things that have been set up by the devil to destroy you. My focus is particularly on family. While we have a fundamental understanding of what family is and how God intends for family to be in our lives, family is also a key toxic and disruptive factor in your progress towards what is meant for you. So how do we see God in that? How do we see God in family that prioritises money and status over love and understanding? Especially when love is the greatest thing because God is love? 

I want to focus on money being at the centre of the jealousy, judgement and division that exist in families… where is God in all of that? 

I include a parable of some sort. One that I’ve come up with myself. 

That’s my gift… coming up with stories or parables to drive home a teaching. 

…

“Hello handsome”, I say as I walk into my office.

He’s so deep into whatever it is that he is doing. 

He looks up and smiles at me.

“So, this is where you hide when you run away from your other girlfriend?” I say.

“My other girlfriend?” Him.

“Julia.” 

He becomes a bit pissed off. 

“Phela umnakwethu oserious loya. She phoned me saying she’s looking for you. That kind of bravery is inspired by something. Athi you guys didn’t finish talking this morning kini“, I say.

Now he’s pissed off.

“Where did she even get your number?” He aggressively asks me.

“Ngiyazelephi mina? Ngiyasho nje ukuthi umnaks lo. So, ubefunani kini? And why didn’t you tell me that the two of you visit each other like that now? Or akaqali? Are those bras and panties I found in your room the other day hers?” 

He stands up from the chair he’s sitting on and walks towards me. He pulls me into the office then closes the door. 

We are looking at each other now. 

“Nothing is going on between Julia and me.” He says. 

I do trust him. But this girl…. uyayinweba shame. What I’m trying to understand is why he is letting her.

“I came home from work and she was having breakfast with my mom. Then she was herself naturally. But I didn’t touch her. I never have.” 

“Do I need to deal with girl, Senzangakhona?” 

“Deal with her? How?” 

“Woman to woman! Uyayinweba phela manje. And honestly, I’m running out of patience for her little obsession with you.” I say.

“Baby, I can manage this.” 

“Really? It seems to be getting to me and I haven’t exactly seen you lift a finger to put that little skank in her place. Or yini? You enjoy the attention?”

“No, of course not. I ignore her. The more attention we give her, the more she feels inspired to keep doing this shit. If we keep ignoring her, she will get tired and stop.” He says.

“Senzangakhona, angilona ipopayi leyifebe zesonto mina uyezwa. This girl ngeke adlalele phez’ kwekhanda lami. I’m not the one. You better sort that whore out before I have to intervene. Because when I step in, it won’t be nice.”

“Wandi, you can’t talk like that.”

“I can and I will. She’s doing a lot of things that she shouldn’t be doing and you let her get away with it… you even forget to be honest with me about the things that she does.” 

“I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.” He says.

“I know. I’m just irritated. She really ruined my day.” 

“No, don’t give her that kind of power. Please. Come, let’s sit down so you can tell me about this order that has finally given us enough money to buy our house and get married like we had planned.” 

I smile. 

We sit down and catch up indeed. 

–

It’s evening now and this guy has invited me to sleep over at his house to celebrate the goal that we have achieved. Tomorrow morning, we go house-hunting.

We arrive at 7pm at his house and we find his parents having dinner… with Julia. 

Ja neh.

Senzi holds my hand. He can already feel my hand shaking. He kisses me. 

“Relax, okay?” He whispers to me as he brushes his lips against mine. 

“Senzangakhona! I didn’t realise you were bringing a guest”, the mother. 

“I didn’t realise Julia lived here now. I can’t even breathe without bumping into her”, Senzi says. 

Julia seems… hurt. 

“Julia is helping me with the camp that we are hosting for abused women and children. She will be sleeping over.” 

I find myself unintentionally chuckling. 

“I see.” Senzi says, holding on tighter to my hand. 

“Wandi”, the mom. 

“Lady Laura”, I say. 

“How’s your mother?” 

“Unimpressed with the treatment I’ve been getting from this family lately… especially the phone calls I’ve been receiving from the brave Julia”, I say.

This seems to scare Lady Laura a bit. There is a hint of fear in her eyes. I really wonder about this friendship between this woman and my mother. My mother talks to me about everything, except that. 

“Julia, I delivered your message to Senzi”, I say.

Now she feels intimidated. 

There’s some silence between us now. Senzi wraps his arms around me. He said he loved my heels today. I see Julia in heels too. Is she a mini me now or what?

“Don’t you ever do that again, do you understand me? Ungathi mawungenelw’ ukuphapha, ufun’ ukuphaphela phez’kwekhanda lami. We are not friends, Julia. We have nothing in common, including Senzi. It will be very beneficial for you to understand that very quickly.” I say. 

“Wandi, you don’t come into my house and start threatening my guests. That’s very rude. I know your mother was in jail your whole life and she didn’t exactly teach you basic manners, so I’m giving you a free lesson now.” Lady Laura says to me.

“I hear you, Lady Laura. That’s why I expect better from people like Julia who have had their perfect families raise them into being responsible and respectable ladies. I don’t expect her to be a homewrecking desperate little skank when she’s had better teachings from present parents than I have. But here we are.” Me.

“You will watch your mouth!” Lady Laura.

“How?! My mother was in jail my whole life and didn’t teach me manners, remember? You know what else she didn’t teach me? Self-control. Uphind’ ungijwayele kabi wena Julia ndini, and I’ll do more than just have words with you! I was raised by the streets, so I don’t clutch my pearls when I play dirty.” 

Now there’s absolute silence. She’s scared! Good!

Senzi kisses me then leads me up the stairs. 

“Senzangakhona!” The mother. 

Senzi pauses and looks at his mother. 

“We need to talk”, she says.

“Another time, maybe. We have a big day ahead of us.” Senzi says.

“Senzangakhona! I’m your mother!” 

Senzi just walks up the stairs. I’m the one who stares at Lady Laura and Julia a bit longer before following Senzi upstairs. 

We finally get into his room. 

I sit on his bed. He is pacing up and down the room. 

“At this point, I’m happy to live in an apartment until we find our ideal home. I’m sick and tired of that girl, and your mother holding pom poms for her”, I say. 

He stops pacing around then looks at me.

“Wandi, you can’t talk to my mother like that.” He says.

“But she can talk to me however she wants? Looking down on me because I don’t have a perfect family?” 

“She was out of line too. And I’ll speak to her.” 

“Senzi-

“Wandi, I’d never reprimand you in front of her. In front of people, we are always a team. But I’m not going to keep quiet about pure disrespect towards elders.” He says.

“Why do you even bring me here, Senzi? You know very well that your mother hates me and you know very well that conflict in unavoidable when she and I are in the same room. But you bring me here regardless. For what? So she can bully me all she wants and I just stand there and take it? She doesn’t even respect you! What the fuck is Julia even doing here?!”

“Watch your mouth! And watch your tone! We are having a conversation here. The whole world doesn’t need to hear all about our conversation.” 

I take a deep breath. I also don’t want to give Julia the satisfaction of us fighting like this. 

He sits next to me. Well, he lies down on the bed. He starts brushing my thighs.

“You know that I love you, right? Only you.” He says.

“I know. But I’m human, Senzi. How would you feel if there was a Julia in my life and my parents treated him the way your mother treats Julia?” 

“Come here”, he says, pulling me towards him. 

I lie down and face him. 

He smiles at me.

I smile at him.

“I know this is difficult for you. And I’m sorry that I cannot make it any easier. I cannot control what my mom does or what Julia does. The only thing that I can control is how I respond to what they do. And I try my best to respect and honour you every time I respond to their nonsense. I’m sorry if it’s not enough. I’ve never wanted to put you in a position where you feel like you have to fight them for me. I’ve never wanted you to fight like this for me. You have me… mind, body and heart. I’m yours.”

I kiss him. 

“Please promise me something”, me. 

“Ini baby?” Him. 

“If I become a mother like your mother, you’ll have sex with me and tell me to stop it”, I say.

He laughs aloud. I giggle. 

Then he says, “How must I give you the sex?” 

He’s already undressing me. 

I climb on top of him. 

“Uyangipha?” Him. 

“Nope.” 

“Why not?” 

“Because Julia is still here. If you can get rid of her, I’ll give you everything… no foreplay”, I say.

He pushes me off him, fixes himself and leaves the bedroom. I just laugh. He loves sex the most when there is no foreplay. Such a weird pastor.