THE CANE OF WEALTH Novel Chapter 11

NARRATED

“Ready?” Zen straps his arm around her waist as they walk out of their bedroom. She is all showered up and smells fresh again.

“Yes”

“You smell heavenly” he drops a kiss on the crook of her neck,

“That’s because I use oh so heavenly products” she grins. She loves that he always compliments her,

“Oh so heavenly. I’m storing the name for future purposes” they take the stairs down,

“I meant to ask, what’s your Hitler boyfriend’s last name?” he continues to ask,

She eyes him “Why do you ask? And he is my ex-boyfriend” she adds,

“Just curious” he shrugs,

“I’m not telling you, leave the guy alone please Zenzele. His manhood paid for that stupid hand of his”

“Who said I’m going to do anything to him?”

She eyes him. Yes it hasn’t been even a week but she knows Zenzele is not clean on paper. His got that aura of people who’s ‘taken care’ of people.

“I just want to make sure I have my guys take care of his statement in case he tries to press charges” he explains,

She freezes. She hadn’t thought of it to that extent, “I can’t go to jail Zen”

“You won’t. That’s why I need his last name just in case he tries to be stupid” he say,

“Mngomezulu, his last name is Mngomezulu” she breathes,

“Relax, nothing is going to happen to you” he kisses her cheek to calm her down.

Mandla is seated on the dining table with a newspaper in hand as they pass by. He folds it when he sees them and meet them half way.

“Makoti” he greets Ntwe, he hasn’t seen her since yesterday morning,

“Bra Min……”

“Uzonya Ntwenhle!” (You’ll shit yourself…..) he scolds,

Zenzele laughs. He also doesn’t like that she calls his father bra Mindlos,

“Baba I mean, how are you?” she asks with a smile that she fails to hide,

“I’m fine. Where the hell where you last night on the dinner table? In this house we eat dinner together. You can have your breakfast and lunch alone or out but dinner is for family. I expect everyone under this roof together during dinner, is that clear?”

Ntwenhle looks at Zenzele. He obviously didn’t tell Mandla that she no longer stays here.

“Why didn’t you ask me where my wife was?” Zenzele asks,

“Because I don’t want to speak to your stupid as8s sometimes!” last night was one of those night when he didn’t want to speak to him,

“Well this stupid as8s took kaMabaso back home. That’s why she wasn’t on the dinner table”

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” Mandla roars,

“Nah, Ntwenhle is back home with her family” Zenzele smiles,

“ZENZELE MASE8NDE KAYIHLO! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH SHANDU OWES ME FOR YOU TO JUST TAKE HER BACK HOME BEFORE YOU KNOCK HER UP?!” Mandla shouts,

“I’ll knock her up when I want to and when we are both ready to have children, for now, fu8ck off Mandla!” he walks past Mandla with Ntwe in his hand,

“WE HAD A DEAL” Mandla say, and that brings Zenzele to a halt. He is boiling,

“We had a deal. You give me the child I want, and I don’t go for Jabulani. Think of that when you’re busy wasting my time” Mandla adds, pointing a finger at him,

Zenzele takes two steps back. He stands so close Mandla’s finger pokes at his chest “Dare me. Dare me motherfu8cker and you’ll see why the call me ghost!” he doesn’t shout, in his calm demeanour Mandla knows he just poked at something he is not ready to meet, “Touch Jabulani, you’ll meet the monster you created” he whispers, so Ntwenhle doesn’t hear him, “The only reason your still breathing is because we carry the same blood” he can’t kill his own blood, “But dare Mandla! I dare you to touch my son! Blood won’t save you this time around” that’s a warning.

Mandla swallows. Zenzele has never threatened him like that before, yes they fight almost every day but Zenzele always let things slide with him or walks away when things gets heated,

“And while we at it, whatever debt you have over Shandu is paid. I’ll pay it myself if its money you want. Ntwenhle, Jabulani, the Mbathas and Precious are my people, don’t fu8ck with my people and I won’t fu8ck with you and your skeleton upstairs” he adds, just so he knows who ghost will come out for,

“Precious?” Mandla frowns. Zenzele has never cared for Precious like that, but all of a sudden she made it to his people’s list…..

“Goodbye Mandla” Zenzele walks back to his girl and they leave.

Mandla watches them. He is still thinking about Precious.

“FUNANI!” he calls his assistant,

“Sir” Funani is never far from reach,

“Tell Boli to go collect Precious for me, something is fishy here…” he orders.

–

–

ZENZELE

Sitting before him is his own life, the two he’ll die for. One is been in his life for less than a week but it feels like she is always been there. He is tired, they have been up and down the mall for hours. Now they are having lunch before the two go buy shoes. Apparently they still have to go buy shoes that matches with all that they bought. His mistake was telling her that there is no limit, and giving her his card.

“Is it still sore?” he asks with a silly smile on his face,

He doesn’t see her but his heart knows what she looks like,

She shifts uncomfortably, clearing her throat and he smiles. He did that on purpose,

“What’s sore?” Jabu asks, looking between the two,

“Her lip” Zenzele say. Ntwenhle bit her lip during her balls match with Senzo. And no he wasn’t asking about her lip, he was asking about something he was supposed to kiss better last night before Shandu messed everything,

“JABULANI EAT YOUR FOOD! YOU SAID YOU WANT BURGER AND CHIPS!” Ntwenhle scolds Jabulani. She is been shouting him to eat for the past 15 minutes. Jabulani is not much of an eater.

Jabulani sighs before he picks another chip. It will take a miracle for him to finish his meal. His father knows it but his new mother is not having it.

“You’ll end up looking like him if you don’t eat!” she adds,

“I hope him is not me” Zen say,

The two laugh. That confirms that she is referring to him.

“I’m going to the bathroom. When I come back I better find this plate clean wena Jabulani!” she points a warning finger at the boy before she stands up.

They picked Jabulani from school and came with him for shopping. She insisted, she wanted him involved too.

Zenzele is not worried as she leaves their table. Khalipha is always close by and Khalipha doesn’t work alone. He has his own guys he works with.

“You like her, don’t you?” Jabu asks looking at his father smile like a fool,

“I don’t like her, I love her. Do you like her?” Zenzele asks. It’s important that Jabulani likes her too because he can’t have his two most important people clashing,

“I’m in love with her” Jabu,

“Easy damn it! That’s your mother” Zenzele scolds,

“She is gorgeous I can’t help it. You should see how every man is staring at her” Jabu say,

“Are you messing with me or are you being for real?” sweat shoots off his forehead,

Jabulani is not lying, but seeing his father sweat makes him burst with laughter “I’m not messing with you, she is extremely beautiful and her eyes…..” the boy whistles,

“Jabulani Mabaso don’t look at your mother like that”

“I’m giving you a clear picture here! And her skin….sho!”

“Boy how old are you?!” Zenzele barks,

“I’m 13”

“Then act like a 13 year old and stop eyeing your mother!”

“I’m not eyeing her. I’m giving you a clear picture. And sometimes you forget that I’m your cousin. This is cousin doing another cousin a favour”

“Boy if you ever call yourself my cousin…..” Jabu laughs, he knows how much he hates it when he says they are cousins.

“On a serious note Jabu, do you really like her to be someone you can see as mother?” Zenzele asks,

“You don’t need to ask me that. I know I have a mother in her. She is got that warmth and love that makes me feel so safe and protected. I think she is the Mabaso wife that’s going to break the curse. She is not going to leave us, I feel it” Jabu say,

Zenzele smiles. It’s a sad smile as he thinks of Nthati. Jabu’s mother. His situation with Nosipho is better because Nosipho raised him. From the little he remembers she was there in the beginning, then she wasn’t. Nthati on the other hand did a number on Jabu, that witch left his uncle immediately after giving birth. She didn’t even care to raise the child. Jabu doesn’t know a mother’s love except for the love his late grandmother gave him.

“I’m glad you found something in her that makes you feel safe. I’m going to keep her for the both of us” Zen reaches for his hand and squeezes it.

“I have also been meaning to ask you something, have you seen your grandfather use a cane?” Zenzele continues to ask,

“A cane? Is he blind too? Lord I hope it’s not a family thing I can’t afford not to see Slenda…..”

“Jabulani he is not blind. I’m asking if you have seen him holding a cane, not a white cane” Zenzele interjects him,

“I have never seen him holding a cane” Jabu shakes his head no,

“Not even once?” Zenzele frowns,

“I would have asked him what is the cane for if I saw him holding a cane” Jabulani is a busy mouth. He would’ve asked Mandla if he saw him holding a cane. This confirms that Ntwenhle is the only one who sees the cane in the house.

“This is between us, don’t ask him about the cane, okay?” Zen say,

“Why?”

“Because I’m trying to find out what Mandla is up to. Have you seen Mntungwa’ cane around the house since he died?” Zenzele continues to ask. By Mntungwa he means Mpendulo, their late grandfather,

“Baba I don’t know anything about canes and I have never seen one around the house except for yours. Can I go give this burger to a nyaope boy outside? Mah is probably coming back and she is going to chow me alive for not finishing my food”

“Go” Zenzele sighs. His mind is back on the cane. What happened to his grandfather’s cane? Mpendulo had a cane. He always insisted that the cane was something he would inherit from him when he passed. He was too much of a UK boy then and didn’t pay attention to anything. But now……he wants to know what happened to his grandfather’s cane. Only one person can give him something to work on…..

“Lilly, call mkhulu Mvelo” he throws a command into his phone,

The voice assistant springs to life, dialling the foreign number in his phone. The phone rings for a while until it’s finally picked,

‘Who are you?’ the ever so arrogant voice of Mvelo asks. Mkhulu Mvelo is the oldest grandfather they have left in the Mabaso homestead. He is a grandfather of a grandfather of a grandfather…..one of those long depressing introductions no one understands to. But he is the family grandfather and his last name is Mabaso, that’s all that matters. And somehow by god’s grace at age 97 Mvelo is very much alive and doesn’t look like he is going to die anytime soon.

‘Mkhulu it’s me Zenzele’ Zen say,

‘Boy at age 97 I have met too many Zenzeles in my life you have to be specific!’

‘Zenzele Mabaso, your grandson’ they are all grandsons and granddaughters to him,

‘Oh! My boy, unjani? Is that stupid father of yours troubling you again?” Mvelo only gets called to put Mandla in line,

‘No mkhulu. I’m calling about something else today. I want to know who received Mntungwa’s clothes when he passed’ Zenzele asks,

‘They were shared amongst the family’ Mvelo say,

‘What about his cane? Do you know who took it?’

‘Mandla took it. It’s the only thing he took from his father’s items’ Mvelo say. Mandla. There he has it, the cane that Ntwe saw was his grandfather’s cane. The one his grandfather always insisted that it was going to be his.

‘Are you sure mkhulu?’ he asks,

‘Zenzele when I was born your grandfather was still swimming in his father’s scrotum! Don’t be asking me shi8t mfana!’ barks Mvelo. Zen forgets that you don’t ask Mvelo if he is sure, he hates being questioned,

‘My apologies Mntungwa. How is Mam’ Sonto?’ Sonto is his wife, his candy,

‘She doesn’t want me to peek beneath the petticoat lately……’

‘Mkhulu please’ Zenzele interjects him,

‘Do you know any healer you can contact me with?’ Zenzele continues to ask,

‘I know too many healers. Come down here when you want so see someone I’ll sort you out’

Zenzele nods ‘Thank you mkhulu, I’ll come after my surgery’ he say. He feels Ntwenhle, she is back and he feels that she is not pleased.

‘What surgery?’ Mvelo asks,

‘I’ll call you later to explain mkhulu’

‘Don’t forget to send me money for tea wena mfana’ that’s Mvelo, always scamming everyone,

‘I’ll send it’ he drops the call. With Mvelo he knows he doesn’t need to ask him not to say anything to Mandla. Mvelo and Mandla are oil and water, they both hate each other’s guts.

“Mommy, what’s wrong?” he focuses on the woman before him,

“I don’t want you to have that surgery Zenzele” something about that surgery doesn’t sit right with her,

“You’d rather I be blind forever?”

“No. Your vision will be back. That surgery is going to blind you for good if you go ahead with it” she say.

“How do you know that?” he frowns,

“I don’t know either but I know what’s in my heart. You will get your eyesight back when you get what’s rightfully yours” she say,

“You’re asking me to take a very big gamble because I waited months for this appointment” he sighs,

“I know there is nothing you want more in this world than to see this curves of mine but please trust me. Just be patient a little bit. If you go ahead with that surgery you’ll lose your eyesight for good. Please Ndabezitha, I’ll do anything you ask if you cancel this surgery” she reaches for his hands and squeeze them,

“Anything?” that’s a big gamble,

“Anything” she say,

“Fine, I’ll cancel everything. You’re lucky I love you and you know how to get in my head”

She smiles “You love me?”

“Of course I do” he blushes, looking so handsome in her eyes. Sigh!

“Soon we’ll be playing omunye phez’komonye and I don’t stories!” he adds,

“Where is Jabu? We need to go buy shoes” she ignores him,

“Ungizwile, that loud mouth is getting filled soon” (You heard me…….)

“I pray with this mouth”

“You said you’ll do anything I want. So if I want us to play omunye phez’komonye today, we’ll play it” he reminds her.

–

–

MANDLA

He didn’t have a peaceful night. Precious have disappeared from the face of the earth. Boli looked for her everywhere but he couldn’t find her, that is stress on its own. He wants to find that girl. Precious bathed with the foundation, he bought her, they had a deal. Hopefully she didn’t lie when she showed him a negative pregnancy test the other day. If she is carrying Zenzele’s seed she must be found.

And then there is Lerato. They both argued almost the whole night. Lerato insist that it’s Ntwenhle that is angering ‘Mkhulu’ with her stupid prayers and Mandla argues that it’s something else. It can’t be that girl. She doesn’t appear that powerful in his eyes. Yes he knows that ‘mkhulu’ doesn’t like prayers but Ntwenhle’s prayers can’t be that strong. She is just a stupid kasi girl in his eyes.

At pregnant hours of the morning just when he is finally dosing off Lerato starts with her shenanigans,

“Lerato can I sleep, please!” he barks, he is not sure why she is running her hard tar foot up his legs,

“What have I done now?! You don’t want to listen to me, Mandla!”

“Ey, get your herd boy foot of my legs. Why are you not getting your foot scrubbed off or something? And since when do you have such stone feet?!” she is pissing him off by rubbing off on him like that,

“Your scratching me damn it! My skin is sensitive” he adds,

“MANDLA WHAT ARE…..” she shouts but freeze immediately when she feels the hard touch she is familiar with…

“Mandla it’s not me” she whispers,

“Then who is it mfazi because I’m sharing this bed with you?!” (…..woman…..) Mandla is annoyed,

“It’s…….Mkhulu” her voice cracks,

“MKHULU!” Mandla jumps, taking off the covers with him and there on their legs is Magadla,

“YOOOH ZENZELE!!!” he heads for the door, calling his son,

“Shut up damn it!” Lerato stops him. Mkhulu has his room. They have never seen him wondering around the house until today. And why is he on their bed?

“Calm down! We have to calm down. I told you that fat bi8mbo is messing everything” Lerato insist,

“Solve this Lerato! I don’t care who you think is the cause of this but get Magadla off my bed!” they both stand by the door,

“We need to figure out why he is here. Switch off the lights and let’s talk to him” Lerato say. The room has to be dark to communicate to Magadla.

He sits there on the bed as the two switches every light in the room.

“Mkhulu Magadla!” they both chant, clasping hands to the tortoise sitting on their bed,

His middle scute is still red, but now the urges of the scute are growing to something like flames,

“Mkhulu we bow to you, tell us what happened? Why are you here Mkhulu?” Lerato speaks. Magadla doesn’t speak but Lerato has always been able to read him. She sees what’s bothering him. Magadla left his room because someone brought light the house. That room is no longer dark enough, there is light and he doesn’t operate in light.

“Did we leave his room open?” Lerato frowns looking at Mandla,

“No. We locked it”

“I don’t know why you’re not listening to me Mandla. That woman’s stupid prayers are unveiling all that we did” Lerato,

“Your telling me Magadla is on my bed because of Ntwenhle’s prayers?” Mandla asks,

“I hope you hear me now, she is strong. We need to get rid of her or else she’ll be the end of us”

“Zenzele loves her. He made it clear this morning that she is very important to him” Mandla sighs. He knows getting to Ntwe won’t be easy.

“I’ll handle her myself!” Lerato say,

“Don’t do anything stupid, Zenzele is very dangerous” Mandla warns her,

“We’ll see who is more dangerous between him and I, It’s time I take care of things myself because you seem to be wearing my panties lately!”

“Don’t come crying to me when you meet the ghost. Get Magadla off my bed please!” he just wants to sleep so he continues with his search for Precious tomorrow.

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