TSAKANI

We’ve been sitting here for over 5 minutes now, and she ain’t telling me anything she is busy playing with her fingers.

“Hhey, talk young girl there’s an important matter that I need to attend to stop wasting my time,” she looks at me, and her eyes are already glossy. She better not start with the tears. “And don’t you dare open your tap shower, don’t, or else I will deal with you.”

“Ninga se ya mahlweni, ni pfumeleli ni kombela ku rivaleriwa eka mavunwa hinkwawo, na leswi ningaswi endla akuri ku tshikeleriwa hi tintangha. Ano fositeriwa ende ni kombela ungani kwateli kumbe ku kwatela vanga ni xi-ave eka leswi,” (before anything else, allow me to apologize for lying to all of you, and all that I did it was peer pressure, I was forced, and please don’t be angry at me, or the parties involved)

Me: “Vula vula kunene, nina swa nkoka leswi ni lavaku kuswi endla, amatshanweni ya swona ulekuni onheleni nkarhi, vula vula mani,” (just tell me already I have important things to take care off, instead you’re here wasting my time talk maarn)

Her: “Ni… Hi… Ahi ye entlangwini, kumbe niku fundraiser/swa ntlangu wa charity hiku hi leswi aswiri swona. Mina, Sihle na tintombi tinwani lava hinga… (I… We… We went to a party, or should I say a fundraiser/charity case function because that’s what it was. Me, Sihle, and some girls that we… Our friends) I look at her attentively, and she wanders her eyes around, and bite her lower lip. “Hi rhambiwe hi munghana va hina wunwani. Aswi fanerile leswaku ni hemba hikuva aniswi tiva leswaku awungata pfumela leswaku niya loko aniloku byela ntiyiso,” (we were invited by another friend of ours. I had to lie because I knew that you wouldn’t have allowed me to go if I told you the truth) my nose flares. “Aniswi tivi ku nitaswi kota kuya mahlweni, Ni… Ni kombela uni rivalela,” (I don’t know if I’m ready to continue, pl… Please forgive me)

Me: “Bullshit Kedibone! You said that you wanted to talk to me right? Vula vula,” she is making me angry right now. I also have to deal with Spikiri, and here she is wasting my time with absolute nonsense. Time that I don’t have. “Loko unga lavi ku vula vula na xisitu xa pilangu, tlakuka kwala xitulwini xexo ufamba,” (if you don’t want to talk, then get your flat ass up from that chair, and leave)

Her: “Nakombela boti, mingani endli sweswo. Ni chava kum byla ntiyiso, na chava hikunene ende nyungibyisi. Aniti nyungbyisi hi lwesi ninga swi endla,” (please brother, don’t do this to me. I’m scared to tell you the truth. I really am, and quite frankly I’m not proud of myself. I’m not proud of the things I did)

Me: “Stop wasting my time Kedibone. I have serious things to take care off, if you’re ready to talk to me, you know where to find me because I’m not going to waste my time with you,” I get up from the chair.

Her: “Boti,” I look at her, and she bites her fingers, tears are already streaming her chubby cheeks. Nc nc nc, I walk away scratching my dreadlocks they need some conditioning now it’s a sign, if she doesn’t want to talk me then I see no point of her coming here, and I can’t force her if she doesn’t want to talk.

I pass Sabelo in the lounge he’s watching soccer, he is a coach in our hood he coaches a team of under 12 years together with my cousin Mpho. I step inside the garage, and I find the gang singing for Spikiri they’re singing his favorite song “Kwesta x Ngudu” and he is zoning in & out.

“Ugawulekile ne? Bheka ubutepetepe njani,” (He’s hungry? Look at how weak he is) I tell the guys sitting down, they bust out with laughter. “Esinye phezukwesinye majita,” (thank you gents)

Talon/Mathousand: “Akuna nkingooo skhokho esethu lespani,” (there’s no problemoo, and it’s our job) I nod. He loves being extra.

Me: “Spikiri ntwana yami, kuhambani kanty?” (What’s going on) he sniffs.

Him: “Hade Bra TK bengingana skhetho,” (sorry Bra TK I had no choice)

Me: “Ringa nami ntwana yami ngizindlebe njalo skhokho,” (talk to me my man, I’m all ears)

Talon: “Bhodla njayami, bhodla uzaze unuke umlomo,” (burp my man, burp, you will end up with a bad breathe) the others laugh.

Leon: “Uyonya nou mus,” (he will start shitting now)

Me: “Yekelani ukuba bo lovie, ziphatheni,” (stop behaving like women, behave yourselves)

Them: “Hade bhoza,” (sorry man)

Me: “Simengawe ndoda, is’khathi samasha,” (we’re waiting on you time is moving) I take my gun from my waist gun holster, and place it on his lap. “Nawungafuni ukuringa uzozicisha, uzobhoda, futhi ke umfula uzowazi,” (if you don’t want to talk you will kill yourself, you will die, and again you will know the river) he shakes his head sniffing. “A grown man crying, hhayi umhlaba uyabhubha,” (the world is ending)

Talon: “Ringa ndoda mele ngojola mina manje angisi sonor phela mina,” (talk man, I need to go, and check out my girlfriend I’m not single) I laugh.

Him: “Please don’t kill me Bra TK,” his voice is really low ai., but you can hear what he’s saying.

Me: “Ringa, and be safe it’s simple as ABC/123.”

Him: “I… I had no choice, I was cornered, and they held Zano (his girlfriend) hostage, they were torturing her man. They sent me videos of her being brutally tortured, she was crying pleading with them to stop, but they weren’t listening to her. She will hate me men, it’s all my fault.”

Me: “Get straight to the point. Who are those people, and what do they want from me don’t even think about lying, because I will do worse than them,” he nods.

Him: “Ngiyacava,” (I know). “Just don’t kill me,” I nod. “I… I’m working with… Working for… TK bra wami don’t do this, don’t make me talk,” I get up from my chair, and walk up to him, crouch before him then squeeze his cheeks making him to look at me straight in the eyes, I want him to see the coldness of them.

Me: “I want these eyes of mine to be the last thing that you see before you depart from this world, I want you to remember them even when you floating in that river. I fed you, moved you out of the streets, and took you as my little brother then you do me like this? You betray me in this manner?” I tighten my squeeze in his cheeks. “You’ve forgotten who I am, you got so comfortable that you even jumped at the opportunity to betray me without even thinking twice. I will kill you, and I will find whoever you’re working for, and kill them too. You will meet at the river, let’s say it will be your gang reunion. Leon, give me the pang I’m done talking,” he widens his eyes as Leon hands me the pang, I get up surveying the pang. “Untie him, one leg I will give to my dogs, they miss tasting fresh blood.”

“Adele. I’m working for Adelaide!” He quickly tells me, he has already peed on himself. I stop surveying the pang, and look at him. And I’m not surprised about him working for Adele, they are fucking each other anyway.

Me: “What did you just say?”

Him: “I’m working for Adele.”

Talon: “Yah. Ngasho maarn! Nifakana amalimi njer kanti nifuna ukuwisa u TK? Nifuna ukuwisa I African Mafia? Hehe, nithatha ama chance nales’gogwana sakho. Enhlek uyadelela wena, you deleling period,” (yes. I did say. You’re busy inserting each other tongues because you want to betray TK? You want to betray the African Mafia? You like taking chances with that old woman of yours, you are very disrespectful, very disrespectful) I laugh once, and keep my straight face on.

Me: “Why?”

Him: “She wants to take you out, she wants everything you own.”

Me: “For how long have you been working for her?”

Him: “Almost a year now,” I laugh. His bravery, for half a year he was taking us for fools, we were doing heists with him while he was selling us out, this means Adele knows that we the ones who jacked Armor’s cars. And again it makes sense as to why police were at certain place where we will be doing heist, and jackings, he was giving them a tip. He laughed with us knowing very well that he was busy making deals with Adele, hehe. It’s true when they say ‘never say you know a person’ yhey umuntu akusi wakini, I’ve seen it today. Spikiri betrayed me like Judas did to Jesus.

Me: “Basically Adele knows all our moves & plans, right?” He nods. “Now, what good will it do to keep you alive? You’ve sold us out mus njayami.”

Him: “Hade Bra TK, nomayini TK not ukung’cisha,” an evil grin creeps out of my lips.

Talon: “Mina ngine plan,” we all look at him. “Ngiyicava ngiyaflopa malanga amaningi, mar leli ngithunyelwe madlozi,” (I know that I flop most of the time, but this plan was sent to me by my ancestors) I laugh.

Leon: “Jesus is coming back bafethu.”

Him: “Tsek wena,” clearing throat. “I will say it in English because my ancestors went to model C’s school just like me, but we’re not there now. So, instead of killing him, why don’t you turn the table around, and make him to spy on his sugar Mama on our behalf? What do we have to lose? Phela magogo will still think that he’s working for her, whereas in actual fact he is working for us. All we have to do is to feed him with wrong information while we acquire the right information from him, let’s just say he will be our inside man, if akavumi mcishe,” I nod. He is right, in order to catch a thief you must use another thief, but in this case it’s the same thief.

Leon: “For the first time in all these years that I’ve known you this is my first time hearing you talking sense

I’m impressed,” clapping hands. 

Him: “I’m booked phela mina ntwana yami ngincwadile blind,” they laugh.

Me: “So njayami, game plan?” He nods. “Full blast.”

Him: “I will spy for you magenge.”

Talon: “Wasibhayiza uzo cimwa yimi mathupha, syezwana?” (You mess us up I will kill you myself, am I clear) he nods. “Good. Ng’sayojola manjer,” he winks at us and walk out.

Batista: “Wawa ecruiter amahlanya ntwana yami,” we all laugh.

Me: “Tell me about it. Clean him up, and clean this place I want it clean,” they nod, and I walk out. I head straight to my room I need to clean up.

★»★«

LUXOLO

I give my mother her medication we’ve just finished eating, she cooked a full meal, but I was really not in the mood for pap phela I’m maintaining my figure, I have a body to maintain. Anyway, I ended up eating because I didn’t want to disappoint my mother, and I’ve missed her cooking. I don’t even remember when was the last time I had a fully cooked meal it’s always salads, fruits, and lots of water how can I forget cocktails mara? I settle next to her, and we watch TV.

“This BnB is quite expensive Nono. How are you affording it,” she looks at me straight in the eyes.

“Well, They’re running a promotion I guess it’s their way to recruit more people, I think they were losing customers. Phela Mama you must remember that; people tend to lose interest in a lot of things. So, they are trying to win back their customers, and besides my boss is the one who paid for all these,” she nods.

Her: “But still. What kind of work are you working again?” How do you tell your mother that you’re a stripper in one of the finest clubs in town? I don’t want her knowing how I make money.

Me: “I’m a waitress, but I only work night shifts,” she widens her eyes.

Her: “What? Couldn’t you find an afternoon job? By night; from what time are you talking about exactly?” Hmm, my mom though.

Me: “18:00 – 03:00 everyday, and afternoon jobs are scarce Mama. Things are bad out there, we have to take whatever comes our way beggars can’t be choosers.”

Her: “03:00am? Exactly the time where witches are at work?” I laugh.

Me: “I don’t know about that Mama because I’ve never seen them at work.”

Her: “Your safety? What do you use to go to & from work?”

Me: “Stuff transport Mama. Don’t worry yourself about me Mama.”

Her: “I have every right to worry about you Nono, you’re my daughter, and I don’t want anything happening to you I wouldn’t survive. It was hard being away from you for months, imagine if it was forever? We live in a cruel world Nono, a world where female are not safe, and they live in fear kubi la ngaphandle mntwanami,” I take her hand into mine, and brush it, then heave out a sigh.

Me: “I know that you’re worried about me Mama, but nothing will happen to me, nothing. The God I trust never sleeps nor slumbers, he is always watching me together with the Ntuli ancestors.”

Her: “That doesn’t ease the worry I have about you, but if you say that you’re safe then who am I to dispute that?” Shrugging. “Anyway, did you finally find a Mkhwenyana for me?” I chuckle.

Me: “No. Not yet, and besides my line of work doesn’t allow me to date,” honestly who in their right mind will want to be in a relationship with a stripper? A woman who shows all of her asserts to different men every night? A woman whose body is touched by different men? Who will date me? No one, at all. Sighs, guess it will just be me & me.

Her: “What do you mean? Is your boss refusing you to date?”

Me: “My boss doesn’t interfere with what we do outside work,” she shakes her head.

Her: “Let me go, and rest the pills are already playing their role,” she gets up from the couch. “Are you going to work tonight?” I shake my head.

Me: “No. I’ll be with you for the next coming 2 days,” she nods.

Her: “What happened to your phone? Every time I call it, it rings unanswered,” eish. Scratching my head.

Me: “I lost it at work, but since you say it rings unanswered I will have to look for it hard at work,” she nods, and walks away. Damn you wrinkled newspaper, why is the phone switched on? I will have to call him, and tell him to bring back my phone, I can already imagine him standing before me looking at me straight in the eyes with his glare of the devil, a sneer of a murder, and a body of something sexy, telling me where to get off with his deep almost growling voice, dammit. Why am I even thinking of him like that? He is few years older than me, but… Hhayi the devil is a liar, I refuse to be tempted. Even with his tattoos he is edible, he even makes me want to add 6 – 7 inks to these 3 inks of mine already, fuck.

I get up from the couch, sleep is overcoming me, and it’s just after 21:00pm. I go, and stand near the window, and watch as people go up & down drunk, staggering, and having fun. The phone that my proclaimed sister gave me rings, and it’s her obviously, I walk toward the couch, and pick it up “my big sister” fills the entire screen, I laugh shaking my head.

“Hey.”

“Hey, little one. I have news for you, I hope you’re sitting down,” I roll my eyes.

Me: “Khuluma, and I’m in bed.”

Her: “So early? Anyway, mommy dearest came back from work fuming, angitsi one of the neighbors called her, and told that her sister is gone she was fetched by some young girl together with her boyfriend, lebantfu babita I boyfriend yami nge boyfriend yakho, ave beyisa. Oh, yes. She was shouting for the whole neighborhood to hear, haike she started interrogating me, and asked me why did I allow you to take their sister. Haibo, that’s her daughter, and she was here for her mother I told her, haike the dragon in her woke up as I am talking to you right now I’m outside the yard that woman chased me out, what a drama she is. Anyway, let me go to my boyfriend’s place ngisayonyiswa lipipi yeva, I’ll see you tomorrow,” she hangs up before I can even answer her. Laughing, I think she’s suffering from bipolar this one because she ain’t close to being normal! I settle down. Lee said that he will sleep in the next room, but I don’t think he will, he is out here playing my bodyguard.

★»★«

VUYO

Cindy’s face is still swollen from whatever she ate in the afternoon when I asked her what’s wrong, she said that it’s allergy, but funny enough only her face is swollen the rest of the body is still fine, and the last time I checked she’s not allergic to anything clearly she’s lying, yet she sent me a text saying that she wants us to fix our marriage, how are we going to fix it when she’s still lying? This will clearly not work out, divorce is the only option now for the 2 of us. See, this, the lying & cheating is what led me to divorce my first wife. She was lying, and I was cheating she couldn’t keep up with my cheating, and I couldn’t stand her lies kahle kahle it was a disaster, we decided to call it quits, and we were not married in community of property just like I have with Cindy. When we part ways, everyone leaves the marriage with what she came with.

Anyway, when I came back from work I found her curled up in the couch covered in a fleece blanket, imagine how hot she was feeling in this hot weather it can never be me, or any of you because we will faint, but her nope. I finish soothering her face, and give her painkillers.

“These will help you with subsiding the pains.”

“Thank you,” her voice is cranky. “I’m sorry, about everything.”

Me: “Focus on getting better. What is it that you said you ate again?” Hhayi, she has been moered this one, but by whom and why?

Her: “I forgot the name Sasha ordered it for us, and it was my first time eating it, and definitely the first thing I’m allergic too,” I nod. “How was work?”

Me: “Work was fine, I had a productive day,” my mind drifts back to that young girl, I’m not one to reach out to people that easily, to help them, but with her it was easy. Seeing her lying in that bed naked young as she is, she moved my heart, but moreover it was the birthmark on her left thigh that caught my attention I have the exact same birth mark in that very same thigh. Could it… No, I don’t think so. It can’t be, I mean Anna ne… Oh, shit. It can’t be, it definitely can’t be, but it’s possible. Wait, why am I even thinking about the fact that she might be my daughter? No, and all of a sudden I feel hot, and my stomach tightens.

“What is it? You’re sweating, Vuyo, are you okay?” Cindy asks me with so much concern in her voice.

Me: “I’m fine. Please excuse me,” I get up from the couch, and rush to the bathroom I need to rinse my face, I need to wash away those thoughts. But how could she be my daughter whereas the Dr’s told me that I have a low sperm count I can’t make babies, now this? It just doesn’t make any sense I need to get to the bottom of this, yerrr. What if I slept with her? What if? This is bad. I step out of the bathroom and head straight to my room, I need to think, I need revisit the past, tap into old memories; maybe just maybe something will come up. I throw myself on top of the bed facing up- looking at this ceiling won’t help, but I need answers, I will have to rescue her fast, and find the truth.