CINDY

What a hectic day I had, and today I submitted my resignation letter at the office I’ll only work this month that’s it. I really can’t risk finding myself in the middle of a war that doesn’t even involve me. I pull up next to Vuyo’s car he’s home early today that’s a first, considering the fact that he always arrives 20 minutes after me. Oh, well, guess we are going out tonight. I step inside the house taking off my heels in the process my toes are stiff.

“Honey I’m hom…,” I stop mid-sentence when I find Vuyo busy playing with a boy who is probably 6 years old if not younger that I’ve never seen before, he looks so dirty, I wonder who is he, and what the fuck does he want in my house. “And nou? What’s going on here?” I’m annoyed to say the least.

“Hello to you to my love,” he gets up from the carpet and walk toward me giving me a kiss.

Me: “Who is he, and what is he doing in my house?”

Him: “Let’s go upstairs babe, and I will tell you everything. Blessing?” He turns to look at him. “Ng’yabuya manje ne?” (I’m coming back now, okay) he nods smiling, I pull him roughly by his hand leading him to our bedroom.

Me: “And that?” Throwing my bag on top of the bed.

Him: “His name is Blessing, well, I- I…”

Me: “Stop stuttering, and tell me what the hell is going on Vuyo!”

Him: “Why are you shouting me now?”

Me: “Look, I’m sorry baby it’s just that I had a long day, and coming home to find you home with a street kid really put me off.” I shake my head.

Him: “First things first he’s not a street kid his name is Blessing. Secondly don’t bring your work issues in this house, deal with it before you step inside the house, and start throwing tantrums. Anyway, I found Blessing outside his home playing, his mother have locked him outside. I had a brief conversation with him, and he enlightened me about his home situation, to cut the story short his mother said that I should take him with me, and I did. I couldn’t leave him there after how I saw what his mother did, I had to take him he needs to be in a good environment,” I laugh clapping hands.

Her: “And this is a good environment for him? And since when are you Mr save the less fortunate? Do you want him to infest our house with his poor status? And what were you doing in that house?” He sighs.

Him: “I will not allow you to call him names, and make fun of his situation. I will ignore all those nasty things you’ve just said about him,” he chuckles. “Yazi, it seems as if like you’ve forgotten where you come from, where I picked you up, and don’t forget that I made you who you are today. You have no fucking right to talk about his situation in a bad manner,” I roll my eyes at him. Did he really had to remind me of where he found me? Well, there’s a different between me, and this Blessing of his anyway, a huge one for that matter. And why is he being defensive. “Anyway, he will be staying with us for a while.”

Me: “What? You must be out of your damn mind, that thing in my lounge must leave my house, you can’t bring strangers to my house. He must leave, he is not welcome here. End of story.” How is Vuyo taking me though? He brings a complete stranger in my house, and he has the audacity to tell me that he will be staying here for a while, is he expecting me to babysit him? Well, he has another thing coming. I don’t care even if the boy is homeless or being abused, but he must leave my house.

Him: “Let me ex…,”

Me: Chirping in. “No. Don’t explain anything just take that nonsense out of my house I don’t want him here. I will not take care of another child whereas their mother is free, he must leave this very moment Vuyo!” He heaves out a sigh then shake his head.

Him: “He will leave once everything have been sorted babe, his home condition is not safe for him, and his mother doesn’t care about him, he abuses him. The only person who cared about him is gone. So, please Cindy, have a heart until I figure out what to do with him.” I laugh, sarcastically.

Me: “And how is that your problem? You don’t have any kids of your own, why care about children who are abused, and live in a not so safe environment? This is the part where you include social workers instead of being a hero, the next thing you will bring in more kids claiming that their homes are unsafe, must I accept them too? We should make our own kids Vuyo not raise some strangers kids, he must go!”

Him: “Don’t be heartless Cindy, he’s still a child for quite sake! Do you know how abuse damage these little souls? And who wants to grow up in a toxic home, a home where you see very well that you will not prosper if you continue staying there. The child needs love, and to be taken care of.”

Me: “I don’t care, whether you justify this or not I want him out of my house at this very instant, I’m not about to raise a child that I didn’t birth I’ll be damned Vuyo!” He gets up from the bed.

Him: “We will talk again once you are calm Cindy, and maybe just maybe you will be rational to hold this conversation with me without throwing any tantrums, excuse me. I need to go, and check up on Blessing I’m sure he’s bored.” I push him back down.

Me: “I hope you, checking up on him, means that you are taking him to his home. I will not allow him to stay here in this house Vuyo. See to it that he leaves, and I don’t want to talk to you about this any further. We should be busy making babies, but no. Instead, you want to play daddy, daddy to a stranger that you picked up playing outside his home without a care.”

Him: “You are really not ready to have this conversation with me like the adults that we are because there’s more to this than what meets the eye. We will put this conversation on hold, until then, please excuse me.” Vuyo is not taking me seriously right now, and by the look of things he is not going to get rid of him, he is willing to keep him around for as long as he wants, but not on my watch. That boy must leave, he must.

Me: “But he will leave whether you like it or not Vuyo! I will not raise another woman’s son never.”

Him: “Okay. And just so you know I have a daughter.” I chuckle, he’s joking, he wants me to react, and I will not.

Me: “Oh, please. What daughter because we both know that you can’t make babies.”

Him: “As I’ve said before; you are not ready for this conversation, trust me on this one Cindy,” He exits the bedroom banging the door after him, making me jump a little. Imagine Vuyo having a daughter? Pfttt, that’s the day Jesus is going to come back. I sit on top of the bed, and browse through my phone. What a day…

★»★«

TSAKANI

I watch her as she’s busy peeling vegetables, she offered to cook. She looks distracted by something, but I don’t know what is it. And when I ask her about it, she says nothing, but something is definitely troubling her. Well, at least it doesn’t affect our mind-blowing sex. I honestly love her, she’s one of the most important things in my life, I never thought that I would ever love a woman like I do with her, she makes this love thing look so easy. She came into my life unexpectedly, and changed it for a better, I’m happy, very much content with her, to think that I said that she’s not the type of  woman you can introduce to your parents, I swear the devil was using me that day. He was deep within my feels convincing with me nonsense. This girl deserves to be introduced to Mr president himself, in fact God must know her too. I live for this girl, and I will most definitely take a bullet for her because I know she will for me too without flinching, but my mother is going to be trouble. That woman loves drama, and wants everyone to do what she says, she’s controlling.

Speaking of them, I wonder how are they considering the fact that Mmnangwane & Linah are there, it’s a madhouse for sure with Mmangwane getting it with my mother, and Linah working on the last nerves of abomakoti, especially Mmathabo because she’s hard-headed that one. She doesn’t allow the family to push her, and give her orders that they too can’t take.

“Bubbles, need some help?”

“I thought you would never ask wena sthandwa sami,” I laugh getting up from my chair.

Me: “What must I do?”

Her: “How about you eat my pussy while I’m busy cooking?” She wiggles her brow.

Me: “Are you for real bubbles?” She laughs.

Her: “Of course not. You can help me by chopping the cabbage.”

Me: “Cabbage out of all the vegetables bubbles? Why not I take over with peeling the potatoes, or grate the tomatoes?”

Her: “You asked me what you want to do, and I’m giving you something to do, you are still complaining. What do you want to do ke?” She stops peeling the potatoes.

Me: “You. I want you, I want to fuck your brains out on top of this kitchen counter with all these vegetables staring at us, imagine how awesome that is going to be?” She laughs.

Her: “Your sex appetite is so out of this world my love, but I’m not complaining I like it, even though it always leaves me sore, but I love it.”

Me: “Say what? I’m a self-proclaimed sex God bubbles, my dick is addictive, and my sex game is the best, and your pussy is my sanctuary,” she laughs.

Her: “Look at you Mr poet, wena sex God, Mr sanctuary,” she laughs.

Me: “Or am I lying?”

Her: “Of course you are.” I click my tongue.

Me: “Mxm. Yazi wena. Did you drink the morning after?”

Her: “That was the first thing I did when I woke up.” A part of me wishes that she should’ve forgotten to take them, but knowing her she will not. It won’t be a bad thing though if she carries my babies, yoh, I will teach those little rascals how to use guns at the age of 5 years old, hahaha I’m kidding.

Me: “So

you don’t want to carry my babies?” 

Her: “Say what? I would love to carry your mini yous wena, but right now I’m on a serious mission babies will only distract me, and hinder my plans,” she shrugs.

Me: “I wonder what mission is that, it seems to be important.”

Her: “Very important, and once it manifestes you will be proud of me. We will build the biggest empire, the world is not ready for us my love, we have a lot to show. And the picture I have of how this is going to turn out makes me impressed.”

Me: “Whatever that vision is, I’ll gladly support it.”

Her: “I know baby, I know,” she kisses me.

An hour later we are done cooking she has cooked a lot of food, enough for the gents too because I know that they are going to come, and start opening my pots, and fridge looking for food. But that will change once bubbles stays with me permanently, and this thing of them coming here as if they own this house will stop too. They will learn to stay in their house, and will know how much a bag of rice cost. We are busy eating, feeding each other when the door opens, see? This is what I was talking about. Someone is busy opening the pots, bubbles laugh. Leon, Batista, and Lee joins us, that means Talon is the one busy with the pots in the kitchen. They greet sitting down Lee already have the remote in her hands. Bubbles excuse herself, she’s going to prepare for work. I really hate her job, I really do. If it was up to me, I would’ve burned down the club, but Sol needs the money too.

“Another message received from the Bratvas gang,” sighs. The Bravtvas gang originates in Chicago.

“What message now?”

Batista: “They too are bringing war to us.”

Me: “Nothing new there,” shrugging.

Him: “I know, but they are bringing it sooner than we have anticipated.”

Leon: “Meaning that they can rain war upon us any time, even tomorrow, and remember that not everyone knows that they are coming.”

Me: “Then how do you guys know?”

Him: “Someone leaked the information unaware, I think their plan was to attack without warning anyone, and that would’ve given them the upper hand in this war.” I nod. “So, they think that they are clever neh?” He laughs.

Lee: “Exactly. I mean, they even took down the information, but our computer geek here beat them at their own game, and he sent them a message anonymously telling them that we will be waiting for them, and if not then we will bring the war to them.”

“Vele vele ufuna sithelekele emathuneni wethu?” (So, you want us to send ourselves straight to our graves) Talon says settling down.

Him: “We are not that crazy, why would I want to get myself killed deliberately?”

Talon: “Then what is you say kahle kahle?” We all laugh, Talon is full of jokes yuuhhh.

Me: “I wish I knew what he’s saying. Gents it’s time to put our heads together, and find a way forward. We need to take the war to them, and not wait for them to bring the war to us.” The last time a war broke out was when the grillers were rescuing some girl, now that was a war and a half, that was the war that went even abroad it was heavy. Phela the grillers are too many, and they were led by a woman but I heard that she has retired, and her husband is the one who took over, they’ve been quiet though. I guess that’s a good sign, hopefully they will resurrect when this war starts we really need to be united as South African gangs, and put our differences aside, and be one because these other gangs from other parts of these worlds are many, there are thousands & thousands of members, and they all have one mission. To kill & destroy.

“Goodbye gents. Have a very good night, and please wash the dishes once you are done eating. I will see you when I come back.”

Batista: “Lajola?” We look at each, and we nod.

Lee: “Yoh, finally bafethu it’s been long overdue. Congrats guys. So, when are making babies?”

Her: “The day Jesus finally get the courage to come here because wawu, ni H for hektik nina.” She is already marching away laughing.

Talon: “Hhe lovey!”

Her: “Yini wena?”

Him: “U spane grand.”

Her: “Zoyenza njalo thanks, and don’t forget to wash the dishes.”

Me: “I’ll be back gents.”

Leon: “That’s what you said the last time, and what did you?” I laugh.

Me: “Rest boy rest.”

Luxolo: “I’m going home first,” I nod, and we get inside the car.

Me: “I should teach you how to drive bubbles.”

Her: “Please do. That’s another important lesson that I need.”

Me: “We will start tomorrow then.”

Her: “Yess!”

Me: “I love you bubbles.”

Her: “I love you too sthandwasami,” she gives me a warm smile. Yasis, I’m one lucky bastard!

★»★«

LUXOLO

Tsakani left as soon as he dropped me off. I take out the shoebox underneath the bed, I need to hide it. The unsettling feeling is still there, it doesn’t want to leave the back of my head. I still don’t know what kind of danger is it that’s coming, or maybe the men Bella stole from now know that Bella was last seen with me, and she gave me a bag to keep safe for her, I honestly don’t know. But what I do know is that I have to hide the box before something happens to it. I step out of the house, and walk at the back, and start digging a hole on the soil, it’s only for time being until I find a place that is safe to hide it. This is my jackpot nina, yoh. This will do, and no one will find it here. I get back inside the house, I rinse my hands, and take my bag, step out of the house locking the door after me.

10 minutes later I’m at work, and everyone looks so happy I must say I wonder what’s going on. I get to the change room, and I find the ladies celebrating with champagne this can only mean that Sol is not around. I sit on my station minding my own business when Zama stands beside me, taking a drag of her cigarette.

“Have you heard baby girl? Your blesser, Sol. Or should I say your fuck buddy, left?” I ignore her. “You are not understanding me, I’m telling you that Sol left town he went back to Russia, there’s a new boss in town, and you baby girl will not be getting the VIP treatment that Sol was giving you.” She laughs, and the others join her.

“And?”

Her: “What do you mean end? This means that your VVIP life is over. This new boss won’t play with you, he will treat you like the rest of us, but ke as for me. I will wake up next to him tomorrow, I’m a girl on mission.”

Me: “I hope he won’t drown in that ocean of yours,” she gasps, and the others laugh. “Now, fuck out of here, give me space your fragrance smell is making me nausea,” I look at her from head to toe, and look at myself in the mirror. I wonder why did Sol leave so sudden, whatever is going on with him must really be serious that he had to go home, may he heal from whatever his going through. I wonder who the new boss is. The door opens, 2 guards step in followed by a man whom I assume is our new boss. He is ugly, and he looks strict too. He is a no-go area this one, he doesn’t take shit you can tell njer just by looking at him.

“My name is Antony, and I’m your new boss until further notice. Whom amongst you is diamond?” The girls look at me. “It’s you? Then why didn’t you raise up your hand, or said something?”

“I am diamond. What do you want from me?”

Him: “Follow me to my office, and make sure that you get there before me, and as for the rest you meet me in my office before your shift starts.” He walks out followed by his guards. I look at Zama, and smile.

Me: “Well, guess Sol put in a good word for me, and as for you? Good luck waking up next to him in bed,” I laugh, and walk out of the change room.

Him: “I need to teach you the ropes of how this business operate,” I’m in Sol’s office, or should I sag Antony’s? Argh, whatever the case may be.

Me: “I don’t follow.”

Him: “I know,” he sits down. “Sol, believes in you, you better not mess this up. I, too, won’t be long here, but you will be. Now, let’s get to work, and don’t ask me any questions I also have no answers, I’m only following the rules given to me by Sol.” Could this mean? Uh uh uh, shuuuuu. Nope, let me not get ahead of myself, I mean Sol would never? I mean, pshhh. I startle when the table makes noise, Antony banged the table. “Focus. I’m sure I’m not teaching a 12-year-old here, this is business not primary.” He clicks his tongue, wawu, he’s rude, very rude. Well, I can be rude too if I want!