TSAKANI

“Breakfast is ready!” I yell so that everyone can hear me, but I doubt they will with all this noise they are making. It has been weeks ever since the war ended, and let me just say we tried all that we could to help all those homeless people. We are currently residing in my old house, luckily for me, it ain’t destroyed, none whatsoever guess they were still coming. And as for bubbles home, it has been destroyed completely only a lone wall stands, but half of the house is off vele. We are living with bubbles newly found friends, Lindiwe, and the gents obviously. Maxine & Batista have been very close lately, but they aren’t spending enough time  as they want because we are crowding them, and quite frankly bubbles & I hardly have time for ourselves with all these people present here. Funny enough their houses are intact, but here they are crowding us, and I still have to make them food in my own house.

“We’ve been waiting for breakfast,” says one of Lindiwe girls who step inside the kitchen. This girl is giving me bad vibes, I don’t like her she’s like some bad rash that refuses to go away no matter how much you try to remove it, she annoys me.

Me: “I called out,” I continue dishing up.

Her: “Guess your voice wasn’t loud enough because none of us heard you. I wonder why is your girlfriend not helping you. Where’s she anyway? And don’t tell me that she’s still sleeping!” Told you that she’s annoying, and crazy too because she asks a question and answers it herself, anyway she behaves like this only when bubbles is not around she’s low-key scared of her, her eyes always shoot open when bubbles steps inside the room. I ignore her. “Well, I can always help I don’t mind,” she smiles and bat her lashes.

“Ek’se msunu wakho vaya la jou shit before I tell the boss lady about your nonsense, and she won’t hesitate snapping your neck. Voetsek Nja! Leave!” Batista roars stepping inside the room looking pissed as hell, the girl jumps when she hears his voice, and quickly hurries out of the kitchen heading back to the lounge. I laugh. “This girl has it bad for you man, she needs to go,” he takes a strip of bacon from one of the plates and throw it in his mouth.

Me: “Exactly. In fact, all of you must leave my house bubbles & I need our own space now we need to start making babies,” he chuckles.

Him: “You still call her bubbles even though you were told that her name is Tammy Guns, not bubbles.”

Me: “She’s Tammy Gun to her friends, and you. To me she’s bubbles, and she knows it.”

Him: “Right.”

Me: “It seems as if like things are getting pretty serious between you & Maxine.”

Him: “They are, but we are taking things slow, after that shit Enhle did I’m guarding my heart, and it seems like she too has been through a lot, and doesn’t know what love is. We are actually learning to love each other.”

Me: “I’m glad that you finally decided to give love a chance.”

Him: “I had too, when I saw her something in me moved. I thought that it was going to be a passing phase, but I was lying, this is real, and I like the fact that she understands me. Not forgetting that she’s a strong woman too, but why wouldn’t she when she’s friends with Tammy?” We both laugh.

Me: “At least we have strong women in our lives not some weakling who will cower when things get heated or we are going through shit, they will fight with us tooth & nail. Bonnie & Clyde type of shit.”

Him: “Vaar. Mara, have you realized how distant Talon has been lately ever since mentioning that the families are coming back tonight?”

Me: “I’ve been observing him man, he looks really stressed I wonder what’s stressing him. He’s not the same Talon we know, and what irks me more is the fact that he doesn’t want to talk about it.”

Him: “Even Leon can’t get him to talk no matter how much he tries talking to him, he shuts him out.”

Me: “Let’s just let him be, he will tell us once he’s ready I can’t force a grown man like him to talk to us about what’s troubling him, all we have to do is to be there for him and try cheering him up the best way we know how.”

Him: “You are right.”

“Gosh, you boys are gossiping like little girls instead of bringing us our breakfast, you are gossiping. Who are we gossiping about?” Milan says wrapping her arms around our necks. She’s such a vibe.

Me: “We are talking about Talon.”

Her: “Argh man, he will be fine I’m sure he’s stressed about whether his pregnant girlfriend is still alive or what.” Whoa, what? Batista & I look at each other this is new to our ears. Who on earth did Talon impregnate?

Me: “Askies? What did you just say?”

Her: “Wait a minute. Don’t tell me that I just snitched on your friend, I thought you guys knew since you are his friends. Well, he didn’t say that it’s a secret after all. Next time I need to tame my mouth to stop tumbling words freely. Anyway, let me take this food to the lounge gents.” She picks up the first tray, and walk away leaving us shocked. But how? When? And mostly importantly who did he impregnate? This is confusing.

Batista: “Dude, you believe her?” Do I? Of course, I do believe her.

Me: “I do. You?”

Him: “Me too. Any idea who he impregnated?”

Me: “None. And as far as I know Talon was never in a serious relationship, and even if he impregnated someone why is he hiding this from us?”

Him: “There might be a possibility that we know this person, and he doesn’t want us knowing who she is.”

Me: “I wonder who is she,” Batista shakes his head. Right now I can’t think of anyone, not a single person comes into mind. Milan comes, and takes the remaining trays.

Her: “I think you will have to prepare another breakfast. You know what; I think it’s time we all leave your house we can’t be finishing your food like this.”

Me: “Of course, but I will have to look for a place for you to stay first then once I find one you will all leave my house in peace, and regarding the breakfast I’m no longer hungry I lost all my appetite.”

Batista: “I’ll pass the breakfast too, go and eat.”

Her: “Cool.” She shrugs, and walks away. Batista & I step out of the house, and head straight to the garden we need air.

★»★«

LUXOLO

Some peaceful sleeps finally. I sit upright, and stretch. My phone rings underneath the pillow I get hold of it, and it’s Luxolo. We’ve been communicating a lot lately, but today she will be coming this side because my mother is coming back this very morning, I’m sure they are on their way right now, and of which means that we might see her in the early hours of the morning,

“Biggie.”

“Hey small one. Still sleeping?”

Me: “No. Just woke up, what’s up?”

Her: “Nothing much I’m just bored.”

Me: “Where’s Ali & the kids?”

Her: “I don’t know where they are, they left me sleeping they didn’t even bother waking me up,” I laugh.

Me: “Maybe you talk too much, who knows.”

Her: “No, never. I just don’t tolerate nonsense. Still living with your guests?” I heave out a sigh, they need to leave all of them.

Me: “Yeah. And they are starting to annoy me, I need my space, Tsakani and I need our own space!”

Her: “Chase them away sis or else they will not leave. It’s been weeks with them staying in your space, I’m sure Tsakani’s friends have places of their own. Why don’t they go, and shelter there for a time being?”

Me: “I’m in no position to kick them out this ain’t my house is Tsakani’s.”

Her: “Flip, almost forgot about that. If it won’t be a problem for you & Tsakani I have a spare house that I don’t use you can stay there for a time being.”

Me: “I will have to talk to Tsakani first. Wait, why not shelter all these people crowding us right now?”

Her: “That could work too. Have a word with Tsakani, and hear what he says.”

Me: “He will be very happy biggie, whuuu I’m sure he’ll even do a celebration braai.” She laughs.

Her: “He surely is fed up. Anyway, let me prepare myself something to eat. I will see you later, should I bring anything?”

Me: “Just yourself, and some energy to confront your mother.”

Her: “Will do, but I will need to be tipsy in order for me to confront her. Honestly, I don’t know what I will say to her, what her reaction will be like once she sees me. A lot is going on in my mind right now smally, I’m nervous.”

Me: “You will do just fine I’ll be with you through it all, don’t worry. We got this.” I still can’t get over the fact that my mother dumped her child in her friend’s place I wonder what was going on in her mind that time. Worst of it all, she named me after her clearly she was replacing her with me, gosh. Unbelievable!

Her: “Thank you. Let me go, love you.”

Me: “Love you too,” I hang up, and place my phone next to me. I’m not in the mood to face all those people, they are too noisy, especially Milan & Lindiwe, yerrr those two can talk shame for hours. Maxine yena is crazy in love with her mans, she can’t stop raving about him when we are together, and Batista is actually her first boyfriend. Well, she ain’t a virgin though as you all know that they used to rape them there at that Arena/hell place nxa.

I get off bed, and go and stand near the window looking at the view. The view is not appeasing though

sighs. But I will stand anyway, and take in its dullness. So, I turned Sol’s club into a shelter for all these homeless people. Half of the roof was out, but the building remained standing. We manage to fix the roof, windows, and the doors too, it seemed as if like some of these gang members were staying there because it was in a bad state. Takeaways, beer bottles, and cigarette butts were sprawled out on the floor, wuhhh how can I forget used condoms. These men were nasty as fuck. I’ve put the men, and the young boys on the main floor, and the women together with the young girls on the top floor they all have their bathrooms, they only share a kitchen that’s where they have their meals. Anyway, Sol passed on a few days ago. May his soul in rest in peace. At least he gave me his blessings. 

“And she’s finally awake.” One of Lindiwe’s friends says stepping inside the room. See? We don’t even have privacy they just budge in anyhow they want, they just fucking don’t care. I simply roll my eyes at her. “You know I wa…” she doesn’t even get to finish her sentence when Milan gets hold of her hair twisting it, and she yelps.

“You bitch have some nerves to come into Tammy’s bedroom the way you please. You think I don’t know that you have your eyes on Tammy’s mans? You are just waiting for her to mess up, and then you are going to step in, and try warming yourself to TK. But, baby girl that will shit will never happen. I will kill you even before you jump into bed with him, I will kill you!” Milan tells her.

Her: “Let go of my hair you are hurting me! And I don’t know what the fuck you are talking about!” Milan pushes her forward, and pulls her back with her hair, and she screams tears threatening her eyes. “Pl- please.”

Milan: “I’ve been watching you sweet little girl, you are such a bad actress. Now fuck out of here before I kill you for real!” She let’s go of her hair, and sis hurries out of my room wiping her tears. “That bitch be disrespectful nxa. Anyway, I only came here to take her out of your bedroom uyaphapha!” I laugh. Whoever taught her the “uyaphapha” word really did us bad, sis loves the word gosh.

Me: “Thanks babe,” She nods, and walks out. Milan really got my back, and I’m grateful. I wear my slippers, and step out of the bedroom heading to where Tsakani is. These people must leave, I shake my head as I pass them making noise in the lounge. I get to the garden, and Maxine is sitting on top of Batista’s lap.

“Tammy to the rescue. Hello guys.” They greet back. “My love, can I please talk to you? In private.”

Him: “Yeah, sure,” he gets up from his chair, and we walk away.

Me: “I don’t know how this is going to be delivered in your ears, but Luxolo told me that she has a house that she doesn’t use. So, she suggested that we go and stay there for a time being, and leave everyone here. But, I told her to take everyone of course this is your house after all.”

Him: “Call her back, and tell her that we will take the house we will leave everyone here. Well, not really everyone because Batista & Maxine are leaving tonight they’re going to Batista’s house. It may be my house, but I don’t need it anymore, we will have to buy a new house once everything is back to its state. And I miss worshiping your body,” not me blushing because wawu.

Me: “Well, if you say so. I will tell her to take us there tomorrow, I hope she has some clean bedding. Anyway, the families are coming back tonight where will they sleep?”

Him: “Don’t worry. I’ve already organized a place for them. I can’t wait for Sabelo to tell me about all the drama that took place, he said that secrets came out, and a lot happened.”

Me: “I wonder what secrets are those, and what happened.”

Him: “We will find out tomorrow. Hhe, almost forgot to tell you. Talon is going to be a father,” I gasp.

Me: “What? Who’s the baby mama?”

Him: “I have no idea, but I have a feeling that is one of Lee’s sister just don’t know who though.”

Me: “Hectic!”

Him: “Too much. Have you eaten?”

Me: “Nah, I haven’t. I don’t think there’s anything left in the fridge these people are here finishing our food, food that they don’t even buy. Nxa,” he chuckles.

Him: “Exactly. I also haven’t eaten, after hearing that Talon made someone pregnant I lost my appetite, yoh, hhayi.” I laugh.

Me: “Shame. Anyway, who told you this?”

Me: “Milan. She thought that we knew, but dololo. We didn’t know anything cabanga my love, Talon didn’t tell us anything, yet we are his friends.”

Me: “Maybe he’s waiting for the right time to tell you guys, just let him be.”

Him: “We are doing exactly that.”

Me: “I love you. Let me go and take a quick bath.”

Him: “I love you too. I wish I can join you, but these people occupying my house are noisy they will want to jump in the shower with us,” I laugh, and start walking. He’s right, these people are a nuisance!

★»★«

NOMALANGA

I can’t wait to get to my homeland, and see my daughter how I miss her, and I wonder if our house is still intact even if it ain’t, I’m sure that Luxolo or Tsakani made a plan for us. Hlulani really ended things with Okuhle, six years of marriage down in the drain only because of a woman who likes controlling. Okuhle did ask for a second chance but Hlulani refused even though she told him that she’s pregnant, but Hlulani being Hlulani said that he will support the child, but he doesn’t want her anymore. It ended in tears. Babalwa has lost too much weight, guess this thing of her breaking her family, breaking her son’s marriage really hit her hard, the boys don’t want anything to do with her. They’ve disowned her as their mother.

“Wuuuhh, finally. I can’t wait to drink some Russian bear, and excite my throat it’s been long since it tasted something strong, I was getting tired of those cocktails, and juice,” Mmathabo says clapping hands, she’s happy. I don’t blame her though, we are all happy, and we are going to be reunited with our families, I hope Muzi & Bhebetsi died in that war, sies.

“You can’t be drinking strong drinks your baby isn’t even 4 months. Yet, you are ready to take is vodka’s? Do you know that vodka burns the milk right?”

Her: “Hhayi, sis Noma. I’ve been through a lot, please allow me, I need to relax, and relax my mind too. Don’t start with the lectures, and I was bound to stop breastfeeding at some point anyway,” I nod. I will not argue with her.

Me: “Okay.”

Hours later we land in this very beautiful place, it’s even clean I wonder who does it belong too. We all step out of the plane, and take in the African smell. It’s good to be finally home. From a distance I can spot Luxolo she’s talking to some woman, I wonder who is she. Anyway, we left our luggage in the plane. The kids run around this place clearly happy to be back home too. I’m about to reach Luxolo when the woman she was talking too turns, and faces me. My heart stops beating for a few seconds, impossible, it can’t be. I blink thinking that I’m seeing things, but she’s still here looking at me with eyes full of sadness. My knees start being wobbly, tears threaten my eyes, I can’t move, but my breathing is heavy, and I’m sweating. My legs go heavy, and I sink down, and hang my head low. Impossible… I looking at Nono, and all I see is hatred in her eyes. But how?