UMENDO SO!

EPISODE ONE BOOK TWO

Ukukhulisa umntwana oyedwa ngumsebenzi nje wona wodwa. Nampa sebebathathu
lapha ekhaya, laba abadadlanyana sebegijigijima nkosiyami, bagijima, bavule, badonse
yonkinto, okudojwayo konke kuqonda emlonyeni. Good thing was uSazini was hands
on, wayebakwanisa yena, kodwa lapha esasitshayisa khona wayeyabe sezwile
umtanabantu. Eminye imisebenzi yasendlini wayengasayenzi kuhle, things like
cleaning, washing and cooking. Kwesinye isikhathi ngangithola umthanyelo
wokuthanyela iyard egedini, endlini ubone nje ukuthi ubesithi uyazama wacina
eseyekela. Yangihlupha into yakhona ngoba lami ngangingasatholi isikhathi
sokuphumula, kwasokuyikutshayisa komunye umsebenzi ngisiya komunye endlini.
"Charlie kodwa sizaphila kanje kuze kubenini? Uyabona nje loSazini is not coping,
sokumandela laphekhaya, injetshane engaka! 3 yonke. lomsebenzi wendlini?".
"Uqinisile yazi, ngiyayibona lami leyo kodwa senzenjani MaBhe?"
" Angazi yazi, kodwa umama laye ukubonile nge weekend leyana aze abuye la ukuthi
kunzima, she suggested ukuthi athathe oyedwa uSpoonky, sidinge umuntu
wokuncedisa, wathi yena utshayisa masinyane esikolo loThembi laye uzabe encedisa
nxa ekhona".
"Hmm! Do you think its a good idea ukuhlukanisa amaphahla? I don't think so.
Kunganceda khona sibili kodwa angiboni kungumbono omuhle. We have to come up
with another plan".
"Mina ngake ngacabanga icreche but ngesaba ukuthi you won't like it."
"That could work, but akhona amacreche athatha abantwana abancane kangaka?"
"I think esikhiweni bayabathatha kuma nurseries kodwa bayadura ngoba
bangumsebenzi kulalaba asebekhulile".
I then promised to find out ngendaba ye creche but in my heart I wished ukuthi ngabe
ugogo uyabathatha bobabili thina sincedise ngemali yokudla loNkazana, sibathathe
ngama weekends kuphela. After a month sihlezi labo ugogo wabo uNaLerato wabuya
ezozama encenga ukuthi abathathe, kodwa uCharlie kazange afune lokuyizwa leyo
wazwisisa usalukazi ngemva kokuthi vele umtanakhe wenzani, wasecela
ukuzebavakatshela ngamanye amaSaturdays, savuma.
ULerato wafika wavalelwa esitokisini, ebotshelwa ifraud lokuhlukumeza abantwana
ngento ayeyazi ukuthi ingamanga. Ngemva kwama investigations uCharlie wanted to
make sure that she goes away for a long time as he felt she didn't deserve to be a
mother. Enkantolo yokuthethwa kwecala lakhe uCharlie wakhuluma langendaba
yezangaphakathi, ukuthi uLerato wayemfakele ipoison ekudleni, kodwa yena
wakuphika lokhu wathi kwakungumuthi wokuthi amthande, inkundla yathi isithe
kaveze lapho awuthatha khona umuthi ukuze kudingisiswe, wesaba ukuthi gogo
weMalawi uzamloya angake akhulume ibizo lakhe ecourt kumbe emapholiseni. Ngoba
she was a first time offender wagwetshwa iminyaka emihlanu. Wakhala unina
kaLerato, kambe umtwana wakhe onguye amthembileyo esesiya pika eKami. Lo
omunye umnawakhe kaLerato kwakungumfana weMbanje otshona ehlezi emagrosa
enatha ama calabash lama scud. Esikolo wayetshiyile ethi simchithela isikhathi, lonina
laye wamekela. UNakaLerato vele wayengabakhulisanga kuhle abantwabakhe.
Kwayikhona eqalisa khathesi ukuzisola ngoba babehlala bemtshela omakhelwane
lezihlobo engafuni kulalela, engabakhuzi esithi uyabathanda. Kwakuthi nxa uLerato
lomfowabo bangatshaywa esikolo ngabotitsha ahambe ayekulwa lababalisi okuzwayo.
Ngelinye ilanga uLerato eseseHigh school wabanjwa ephethe izigqoko esikhwameni
kungelamabhuku, wayethe uzayamakisa iregister and then during assembly time
abesebunker aye ebafaneni. It happened ukuthi bambamba ezama ukuntshungubala
ecingweni ngugroundsman, wahle wamhambisa kuHeadmistress. after searching her
bags sokutholakale izigqoko, unina wathi ebizwa esikolo wafika wamvikela wathi
nguye obemthumile ubevele ethe angabuyi esikolo mhlalokho yena waqinisa ikhanda.
Sekutshiwo njalo babesangathini ababalisi. Bamangala ukuthi nangu umzali esipha
umtwana igunya lokuganga kulokuthi ngabe bayancedisana in moulding her, labo
bayekela. Esaseprimary wayengathintwa ULerato, angaze agange loba enzeni, unina
wayehamba afike athembise ukunqunula ngoba betshaye loba bencwebe umtanakhe.
Ukutotoza kwakhe abantwana kwasekubhadala khathesi, yena esithi uyabathanda.
uLerato usesejele, umnawakhe kasonto yalutho uhlala edakwe zimbanje, etshontsha
impahla endlini to feed his habit.
Wayekhala eyedwa ecourt ngelanga lokugwetshwa, no relative, no friend. Babediniwe
abantu ngokumtshela ngabantwabakhe, so basebemlahlele izandla bathi uzazibonela.
Oyise babantwana babengaziwa ukuthi ngabangaphi. Wayezisebenzela uNaLerato ele
stand eflea market, ehamba eBotswana leSouth Africa ukuyawoda. Babengasweli
lutho abantwabakhe.
Even though wayengezwa uLerato kodwa she managed to pass well in school and
went to University, eseqedile wathola lomsebenzi omuhle. Esesiya ejele wacela unina
ukuthi amkhangelele endlini, kumbe afake amaloja ukuze I rent
ingamkhami.waqonqosela ukuthi umnawakhe angalugxobi kwakhe ngoba angathola
sokuyiwolu, esethengise yonkinto for imbanje.
Kwaswelakala ngitsho loyedwa owayezamtshela ukuthi nguye owone abantwabakhe.
She never understood the saying ethi 'it takes a village to raise a child' yena wayesithi
abakhe bakhuzwa nguye yedwa, nxa bonile katshelwe uzazikhuzela yena azitshayele.
Kanti that was the biggest mistake of her life and now she was reaping.
One Saturday eMganwini, uNaCharlie watheleka ekuseni ethi uzengiphumuza
ngokuncedisa ngabantwana uzake ahambe labo for 3 weeks ngoba izikolo zazivaliwe.
"Mama shuwa, hantsho belizatsho sibalethe selingaze livukele lapha bakithi ekuseni?"
"MaBhebhe, bengifuna ukukhuluma ngakho ngilikhangele emehlweni,ukuze nxa lisala
ngilincenge kuhle."
"Hihihihi ngitsho mama angeke sale labazukulu bakho. UXolani yikuthi usasemncane
besizalipha bonke like liyetshona ligijima"
"Hawu! Now you want to send me to an early grave malukazana,hahahahaa!
Ngingabakwanisa shuwa sebebathathu? Kodwa yena uXolani nje yingilosi bakithi
kakhalakhali, ngizake ngizame. Emakhaya phela uthola isalukazi sile 15 abazukulu
ngapha siyalima, siyapheka siyeskotsho".
"Mama don't tempt us shuwa, bathathe bonke loSazini sike sisale siyintombi lejaha
kancane. Khona vele besicabanga ukuthi baye ecreche, ukuphungulela uSazini
umsebenzi. MaBhe how far ngokuthola indawo?"
"Ngisadinga ndoda, awaduri awaduri, angithi ngikhangela lapho okuzabalula khona
ukuthi mina kumbe wena sibe siba dropper every morning, manje engiyithandileyo
iyadura kakhulu, we won't afford it. So ngasengi.......
"Kanti lihluphekelani kangaka? Basasebancane abantwana laba ukuthi sebengaya
ecreche. Hantsho I had offered Mabhebhe ukuthatha oyedwa lingidingele umuntu
ozancedisa bese....."
"Hayi mama ukubayehlukanisa ngeke kuvume vele, ngahle ngayala lakuMaBhe ngathi
akwenzi. Siyabonga I offer yenu sibili."
"Kulungile ke, kodwa cabangani ngakho, ayisikho ukuthi omunye sesiya kwelinye
ilizwe, I'll just take uSpoonky lina lisale labafana".
According to me that was a good plan, kodwa yayingeke ivunywe nguCharlie. Eye
creche was the best solution.
Later on uCharlie wahamba wayabadropper eLobengula kwasala sokuthule endlini,
babehlupha bona kodwa sasesibakhumbula in just a few hours behambile. Abantwana
bakithi ukuphangisa basebengibiza mama, lakimi kwaso ku register ukuthi
ngilabantwana abathathu. Kwesinye isikhathi ngangikukholisa, kodwa nxa sengidiniwe
ngingasa concentrate kuhle emsebenzini kumbe ngingacabanga umthakathi ongunina,
ngangiqalisa uku intertainer ama thoughts okuthi ngabe bayahamba bayehlala
eLobengula, and then their cuteness iphinde ingitshintshe ingqondo.
Following Monday engekho amaTwins ngathola endlini kutshaya umoya, USazini
epetule yonkinto wa cleaner. Lengadini okwasokusifa, ngathola evuselele bakithi
umtanabantu ngaze ngezwa ngimzwela. UCharlie laye wayibona I difference waze
wacommenter.
"Yeah oSpoonky bangumsebenzi sibili, uSazini ubengasakwazi ukwenza adume
ngakho".
"Shuwa sibili sthandwa, I think we overwork her. Worse she only goes ku off after 3
months esiya ekhaya. Hantsho ngangithe ngama Sundays angabambi lutho ngizabe
ngisenza konke, kodwa selokhu kwabuya amatwins hayi, umanjalo bakithi."
"Kumele sibone iplan ngemali yakhe ubona njani MaBhe?"
"Ngiyikhwezile 2 months ago Sthandwa, sokuzaba lecreche so, we cannot afford
ukumfakela futhi".
"If you say so my love, bengisitsho nje, phela she has been good since waqalisa,
kakaze nje aphambanise kumbe atshintshe, ngaphandle kwezitayila esafika, lakho
kwakuyikungazi".
"Hahahaaa uyakhumbula amawipes".
"Beauty please, don't start, sufuna ukungibulala ngembambo, laphana ke aze afake
ilettuce esitshebeni esithi ubecabanga ukuthi yikhabitshi?
"Hahahahaaaa mayeeee! USazie bakithi. Uqinisile kodwa she has been good shuwa.
Angani angahlala enje angatshintshi."
After a week uNaCharlie wafona ecela ama pampers lamaPorridge, esithi she's having
a time of her life, usecela ukuthi bahle bahlale bangasabuyi. Lami
ngasengibakhumbula kodwa, ngahle ngayala, sahleka ngasengithembisa ukudlula
ngitshiya ngakusasa nxa ngitshayisa emsebenzini. Zaqhuba insuku konke kuhamba
kuhle iviki lokucina sebezabuya abantwana ngathi ngitshayisa ngisadlala dlala loXolani
owayeselenyanga ezingu7 uSazini wafika waguqa
"Bengicela ukukhuluma lani mama?"
"Yebo Sazini. Konke kuright?"
"Eh mama bengithi ngilitshele ukuthi inyanga nxa iphela sengihamba kokuphela
ekhaya angisoze ngiphenduke".
You know that feeling eyenza ulunywe yonkindawo uphinde uginqe. That was me at
that moment.
"Sazie, kuleproblem ekhaya? Kwenzenjani?"
"Eh akulaproblem, bengithi ngibonge konke elangenzela khona sengicabanga
ukubuyela ngiyencedisa umama ngoba uyedwa".
"Hawu umama usaqinile kodwa phela Sazie, kumbe kukhona okuzwileyo?"
"Umama uqinile sibili kodwa kasela muntu omncedisayo ezingadini zakhe
lokuthengisa imbhida".
"Sazini, asikuphathanga kuhle yini kumbe usola imali, angeke uphombukutshiya
umsebenzi egcekeni egcekeni kungelasizatho, khuluma iqi......."
Ngisakhuluma kungene imessage efonini yami. Ngugogo UMaKhwananzi
'MaBhebhe ngicela lingifonele loNeneza lingatshayisa'

EPISODE TWO BOOK TWO

Ngasala ngilesithuli nge message kagogo, loSazini laye ngapha lendaba ezingethusayo.
"Kulungile Sazie, ngizwile sizabuye sikhulume. Wothi ngilinde uSaXolani."
Ngasengifonela uCharlie ngimbuza ukuthi usengaphi lokuthi uzafika sikhathi bani.
Wamangala ngoba ngangingakaze ngikwenze lokhu, wavele wafika esethwele isifuba.
"Is everything ok MaBhe sengimenyezelwa kuradio?"
"Hihihihii iradio yangaphi lawe? Nothing is okay lapha. How was work?"
"All good, nothing new, ngimangaliswa yikudingwa phela njenganini, I'm not even
late".
Wangena ekitchen wathela iMazoe wasebuya ukuzehlala phansi ekhipha itie
eyiphosela le! LoXolani wayeseze wajumeka ngilokhu ngimphethe.
"USazini phela uthi setshiya umsebenzi monthend. Akula reason angipha yona, uthi
ufuna ukuyancendisa unina ukulima lokuthengisa imbhida".
"Ah! Babe, is that a reason yokutshiya umsebenzi? Maybe kukhona akusolayo, imali
mhlawumbe?"
"Uthe asomali, uyazi mina I thought she was happy all this time".
"Hmm! That's bad MaBhe, thina sakhula sithwele nzima ngkhaya ngabosisi. Phela
uNaTshalisi libhunu, kakho owayekwanisa ukukumela okwakhe, abanye babehlala one
week bavuke bebalekile, abanye bangaya ku off babengaphenduki".
"I know all those stories ngamankazana Charlie, emsebenzini abantu bakhala
nsukuzonke, I thought ukuthi thina lapha sitshaye ijackpot manje nanku".
Ngasukuma ngayalalisa uXolani nxa ngiphenduka ngilunguze uSazini owayese busy
ethelela engadini. Ngasengikhohliwe lokuthi ugogo uthe ufuna ukufonelwa kwaze
kwathi sesisidla isitshwala my phone rang once, nxa ngichecker ngithole ukuthi
nguZodwa, she was just beeping.
"UZodwa laye, ufuna ukugobhoza khonapha kala le airtime, eyami yiyo okumele
idlaliswe khona kunguye otshayo esifubeni."
"That's Zodwa for you, lami uke wangi fonela ngamtshela ukuthi ngizafona
ngingatshayisa bengisasebusy".
"Ah mayeeeee, sengikhohliwe, ugogo uMamkhwananzi ubethe simfonele
singatshayisa, besengikhohliwe yazi. Ithi ngifone, okukaZodwa sizaphela sikubone. I
think I'm low on airtime, can I use yours?.
"Eyami icitshile, no battery, kodwa mana mana ungakafoni. What if ufuna
ukukhuluma ngomcimbi kaXolani? Uzathini? Remember yi handle with care leyana,
kumele ukhethe kuhle amabala akho before umphendula."
"Eish, this is one person engingafuni kuxabana laye. Like I said kudala, nothing will
happen to uXolani, its 7 months now, lokhe engelalutho. There's nothing eyehlula
umthandazo, but now, how do I tell ugogo that?"
"Wothi wena sizamfonela singacabanga ilanga, sivele siphume kuye".
"Hayi wothi sihle siqedelane laye, ngizamtshela ngenhlonipho ukuthi thina sicabanga
ukuweqa umcimbi emtwaneni wethu uzakhulekelwa kuphela, I pray she understands
laye njengomama, phela laye indlela azwisisa ngayo uNaCharlie yangethusa".
"Okay, ukhulume wena, mina angithi uyazi ukuthi kangithathi mango."
I dialed her number, with my fingers crossed, uCharlie laye wayesethwele amehlo
ngoba emazi ugogo wakhe ukuthi ngu no nonsense, besakhula kwakuhlala kungu cat
and mouse phakathi kukaNaCharlie loMamkhwananzi. So bona they were always
caught in the middle nxa ugogo wabo ekhona kumbe bangavakatshela ekhaya,
imithetho kagogo lekamamakhe itshiyene so that made life difficult for the kids ngoba
kuthiwa unina wayebatotoza, ngapha uNaCharlie esithi ugogo is being stoneage.
After so many rings ingabanjwa sengizakhalala, she picked. Sabingelelana sabuzana
Impilo, kwelikade sesikhulume ngezomkhathi lamadolo abuhlungu ngenxa yokuguga
wasesitsho isizatho sokufuna ukufonelwa.
"Kambe shuwa MaBhebhe ngalidingela unkazana olunge kangaka, okhutheleyo, lina
selifuna ukumenza ibhoyi".
"Eh gogo angizwisisi, simenzeni uSazini ngoba besisithi konke kulungile uzijabulele".
"Unina walomtwana ubuye kimi etshinga kubi uthi selifuna ukumbulalela umtwana,
ngcono abuye azezihlalela ekhaya, phezu kokuthi ngangincenge ngancenga uSazini
wayevele engadingi umsebenzi".
The phone was on speaker isetafuleni, uCharlie wayelokhu ezidlela mina inhliziyo
yahle yabamnyama, lesitshwala sasesize somelele esandleni lapha, wasecabanga
ukuphendula.
"Gogo linjani bakithi, nguNeneza".
"Kodwa shuwa Neneza lenzani sibili? Lifuna ukungiyangisa lapha esigabeni?
Umtanabantu lowo........"
"Ye Salukazi, sikunanzelele lathi lokho, sesizabahambisa ecreche abantwana, batshone
khona, sibathathe nxa sesitshayisile, uSazini akusadingakali ukuthi ahambe MaMkhwa,
sesikulungisile lokhu khululeka. Umtshele lomamakhe ukuthi siyaxolisa, ngeke
kuphinde kwenzakale, ngoba wathi ebuya sasivumelene ukuthi uzoncedisa ngoXolani
kuphela".
"Khona vele abantwana lahlala labo bebancane sebeze besiwa esikolo Neneza, unina
ungaphi? Ayisuye okumele ukuthi ngabe uzikhulisela abantwabakhe? Neneza shuwa
lenzani lonyoko khonangapho? Ngiyakwazi vele nguye......"
"Gogo gogo, yindaba enkulu ekanina wabantwana sizayilandisa ngelinye ilanga
ungavakatsha kumbe thina singabuya ekhaya. OkukaSazini kubeliphutha, kodwa
sesilungisile, lisixolisele kuNaSazie".
Iphika lami lehla ngenxa yokuthi asondaba yomcimbi, but I still kept my fingers
crossed ngoba ngangisesaba ukuthi mhlawumbe izalandela eyomcimbi kodwa hayi
wavalelisa, savala iphone.
"Phew! At least Babe its not what we expected, lokhu okukaSazini lathi besikubona
sibili. It was too much. Kusasa I'll have to sit her down and assure her ukuthi we are
sorting things out, hopefully she'll change her mind"
"Nxa kuyikuthi yikho sibili okade kumhambisa, she'll stay, hantsho siyabe sesilungisile
lapho okuleproblem khona, which is too much work."
"Asethembe ukuthi uzavuma ukuhlala nkosiyami".
Following day after work ngamhlalisa phansi uSazini ngamxolisa ngokum overloader
ngomsebenzi, I told her ukuthi we are sending the kids enursery bazabe sebetshona
bengekho bebuya ntambama lathi sesivela emsebenzini. Waxolisa laye ukuthi
uphambanisile ngokuhle acebe ekhaya, bekumele atsho izikhalazo zakhe kimi ngoba
ngangingayisuye u'madam' kuye, I treated her as my young sister, loCharlie
ngokunjalo wayembona njengomnawakhe. Days went on, I found a nursery for the
twins, ngabhadala konke okwakumele kubhadalwe, lokuthenga izinto ezifunekayo.
Amasavings ethu ahle athintitheka. Good thing was, we already had a house, fully
furnished, lezimota, but khathesi the way imuli eyayisinkulu ngayo, the expenses were
more and okokusaver vele sahle savala ibhuku, akula cent eyayizasala.
Sunday after church saya eLobengula ukuyathatha amaphahla ngoba izikolo
zazizavulwa ngoLwesibili, umamazala wayesezabuyela emsebenzini.
"Kanti mama namuhla alihambanga esontweni?"
Kubuza uCharlie singena because eyethu yayiphuma kuqala kuleyabo, we were only
expecting to find uThembi yedwa ngoba yena vele ezokukhonza wayengazwanani lazo,
esakhula wayehamba ngebhanti, pho khathesi esekhulile umnyango wechurch
wayesewungena nxa kufiwe kumbe nxa kulomtshado.
"Siphuzile ukuvuka Tshalisi, manje lezipemperegwana zakho lezi, besizafika sokuvalwa
ngomthandazo. Ukubagezisa lokubagqokisa ngumsebenzi, ngingasabali ukubafunza.
MaBhebhe shuwa liphila njani? Hayi ngiphose ngaqhatsha unkazana temporarily".
"Hahahaaaa bangumsebenzi bona kodwa thina sesibajayele. Okokuthi nxa bengekho
so isizungu besisitshaya sibili, saphosa sabuya sazobathatha".
"Uqinisile shuwa MaBhebhe lami ngizabakhumbula kodwa."
UCharlie asukume ayethela amanzi ekitchen abesedinga uThembi ebedroom yakhe
angamtholi.
"Hawu! Kanti ungaphi uMaDlie? Kumbe ucabange ukuye church today? Bona
abantwana bangaphi vele?"
"Uthe usayapicker amanye amadocuments eMorningside, wasebafaka emoteni
lomtakaThulani, I'm sure sebesendleleni yokuphenduka".
"Ah okay. Linjani kodwa NaTshalee?"
"Ngiyaphila mina ngicaphulwa yikuvulwa kwezikolo, umuntu sokumele athathe
ipentsheni sibili, kunini ngisebenza? Sengidiniwe mina."
Saxoxa xoxa, ngasengisiya phakulula, ngoba wayesephekile uNaCharlie, isitshwala,
lolimi lwenkomo, lebhobola eceleni. Ukudla kwesintu vele yizinto zami. Lapho
okuphekwa khona angisuki. Ngakholisa okunye.
"Kanti mama ibhobola eli fresh so lilithethe ngaphi ngalesisikhathi?"
"Hamba uyebona ku deep freezer uzamangala wena. Ungafika la ngo August
uzangithola ngisidla ulude olufresh."
Umamazala waye thenga olude, obhobola, ombuya ngeseason yakho, axhwathise
ebesefaka in small plastic bags aphosele kudeep freezer kugcwale. Uzabe sekholisa ke
until the next season. I was wowed, lami ngathi ngizakopa. Benefits of me and her
being friends, ngasengifunda izinto ezintsha. That's how I saw the importance of
having a mother empilweni yomtwana oyinkazana. Ngangilaye uNaZodwa kodwa
kwakungafanani.
Bafika abantwana behamba loAunt wabo, babezijabulele, bethengelwe amafresh
chips, bengasamofuzi, sebetshutshuma, izigqoko sezimafuthafutha.
Umtaka Thulani wayesekhulile bakithi. Ethi ukufanana loyise, sasesizambonela kuye
UThulani.
"Selihambe labuya MaDlie? Azizange zikuhluphe izipemperegwana zikaTshalisi lezi?"
"Not at all, ngiyancweba phela mina nxa bengezwa, sebengazi bebancane bengaka,
lokubhansula izandla lezi".
"Ah! Ah! Thembi zala abakho ozabatshaya, uncweba abantwabami wena?
"Hahahaaa! Owami uyabengathintwa, wait until I get my first baby iPhD, a rich
husband then lokhu okwabantwana ngizathi sengikubona"
"Uright kodwa MaDlie? How is work or school? Khonokho okwenzayo eNust."
"Ngisharp mina. Busy busy as always, in a few weeks I'll be going to Harare, for a
conference. Hello MaBhe, unjani UXolani? Ithi ngimbone, I promise angisoze
ngimncwebe, hahahaa"
"Aunt ungathi idiscipline ulayo kuwe lapho, bazabuya bonke bobathathu bazehlala
lawe. Ngale ngkhaya sizabe sibakhuza ngawe sisithi sizamtshela uAunt nxa beganga."
"Ah! MaBhe ungafuni ukungizondisa ngabantwana, I want them to know me as their
go to Auntie, who's fun and hilarious."
Sihleke sonke umamazala abesecela uThembi to pack impahla zabantwana.
"Liqinisile kodwa Tshalisi ngokuhambisa abantwana enursery bebancane kangaka?
Mina my offer still stands, singasabahlukanisi ke, ngibathathe bobabili besesidinga
unkazana".
"Mama, I think I made myself clear, uMaBhe setholile indawo ecreche wabhadala
yonkinto, kusasa so bayavukela khona."
"MaBhebhe mtanami, hayi ukuthi ngithini kodwa utshukuthi loXolani laye uzahamba
ecreche esengangabo na? Phela kumele baphathwe ngokufananayo".
"Eh! Mama ngiyalizwa, its just a temporary situation ngoba loSazini uphose wahamba
ngoba umsebenzi ubusumandela ngenxa yabantwana abanengi, I understand
elikutshoyo, Charlie what do you think?"
"Kanti mama selisithini, umoya wonalowo awukho right. Okokuthi uXolani kumele
laye aye ecreche emncane sokuvelanga, kungenelana njani loku......"
"Angitshongo njalo I'm just saying ukuthi whatever you are doing for these twins, you
must also do for uXolani, vice versa. Angilwi, MaBhebhe kodwa uyangizwisisa ukuthi
ngithini?"
NaCharlie was making sense ngoba kusasa kwakuzathiwa ngiyabakhetha and I'm
being a mean stepmother, ngoba ayisibo bami sengibahambisa ecreche bebancane,
worse nxa uXolani ngingasoze ngimhambise nxa eseku same age laba abaqalise ngayo
ukuya enursery.
"Charlie I think I agree with umama lapha. Why not consider her offer ngoba
kuzakhanya ingani ngiyabakhetha nxa uXolani engasoze aqalise laye nxa esengangabo,
because eyokuhlala labo bengayi enursery is now out of question, because of uSazini."
"Beauty, kodwa angithi uyakwazi ukuthi registration fees are non refundable,
sesibhadalile salungisa konke, why are you changing your mind right now".
"I'm not changing my mind, imali iyasetshenzwa singadinga unkazana bahlale lomama
la thina sibathathe ngamaweekends and holidays".
"I don't believe this, so all this while you were pretending like you love my kids, now
iopportunity yokubasusa endleleni yakho isivela suhluyeqa. You are being selfish
Beauty, uzicabangela wena wedwa ukuthi abantu bazathini ngawe, awulandaba le
well being yabantwana laba."
"Hayibo Tshalisi, kanti susilwa, bengizicabangela mina kuphela angitsho ukuthi
akuliwe, uMaBhebhe eyenzeni?"
"No mama, angazi ukuthi ngizabhadala ngixolise kuze kubenini? Ngatsho ngathi
abantwana sebekhona, we cannot erase the past, she must learn to deal and live with
it. UMaBhebhe, sengimbonile, she will never accept my kids, konke lokhu bekuyi
pretence all this while".
I started ukwehlisa inyembezi ngoba amazwi akhe ayebuhlungu kimi, I was only
considering isuggestion kamamazala as I saw it making sense at that time, manje
nanko ngasengithethiswa. I then tried to make him see reason kodwa, wasukuma
wadobha amakhiye emota wahluthuna uSpoonky kugogo wakhe wasesiyamemeza
uThembi ebedroom kagogo.
"Thembi, qeda phela, mina lizangithola emoteni lempahla, ubuye loBobo"
Abuye ehaluzela adlule esitting room angathalazi lokuthalaza. Unina amgijimise.
"Tshalisi, kanti sungenwe kuyini? Osukuthethisela uMaBhebhe khona kuyimi engibuye
lesuggestion kuyini? Ukhulile mani, stop behaving like a teenager".
"I have heard it mama, I said no, kodwa lokhe liphikelela, angifuni labantwabami".
Wahamba wafika wangena emoteni, uThembi walandela le suitcase eyidonsa ngapha
ephethe lo ongumfana, nxa ededa kubeka umtwana esitulweni sakhe, she put the
suitcase in the boot, before she even asks ukuthi sokuhambanjani u Charlie wasusa
imota, wahamba wangitshiya loXolani eLobengula.

EPISODE THREE BOOK TWO

Angene uThembi endlini eseyethukile.
"And then, what was that? Phela ngitshiye yonke into I right ngisiya ebedroom, sihleka
kumnandi, kusuke kwathini? MaBhe, why are you crying?"
"Angithi ngumfowenu lo ozitshisisa ikhanda, I only suggested ukuthi abantwana laba
ababili bahlale kimi lapha, uMaBhebhe nxa evumelana lami sexabana laye kulokuthi
aqonde mina".
"Ah! Charles is crazy, wothini ngimfonele aphenduke khathesi so".
"No! Its okay Aunty, sizayagada umtshova, we'll be fine".
"Ukuzala so! Thembi akubahambise mtanami kulokuyatsutsurisana lomtwana
etshoveni MaBhebhe".
"Let me eat quick quick then I'll go and drop you. Ungaworry wena sweetie,
ngizakhuluma laye mina uCharlie and put some sense into his head".
"Ngiyabonga shuwa".
Safika endlini sabathola bedlala ebedroom, ngafika ngabeka uXolani labo khonapho
ngaphuma, uThembi wangena ebedroom walwa loCharlie into enkulu. Emtshela
ukuthi he must appreciate me because I have accepted these kids, a few women
would do that, waze watsho lokutsho ukuthi ngabe nguye vele ngabe bahlala logogo
wabo ozala unina because she was not going to tolerate anything ephathelane
labantwana bomunye umfazi abafike yena ephakathi.
Here I was thinking uThembi was a fan of Lerato, but inkulumo zakhe proved
otherwise. She just didn't want ukungena ezindabeni, yikho wayezikhiphile phakathi.
Esekhulume wakholwa she didn't wait for him to respond, wadobha amakhiye emota
wadlula engivalelisa wahamba.
Wasala ezisola uCharlie ngesenzo sakhe and his piercing words, wangisendela
imessage ecela ukuthi sizokhuluma. Ngazihlalela ngibukele iTV, I didn't want to face
him at that time. I didn't even have the energy to talk. I was watching but my mind
was far away, ngethuswa nguSazini esengitshela ukuthi ukudla kwabantwana
sokulungile. Njengoba ngangithe ngamaSonto ngizabe ngizenzela, ngasukuma ngafika
ngabathatha ukuzobafunza ngatshiya uXolani ngoba wayeselele. Ngokwesaba
ukuvusa uXolani, kazange atshone ekhuluma lami esesaba ukubanga umsindo, lokuthi
umfula vele wawusagcwele lapha koMaBhebhe wavela wazithulela. Sebedlile
abantwana ngabagesiza basebelinda ukulala, ngoba babezavuka ngovivi ngelanga
elilandelayo, ngahle ngabalalisa ngo7. Kwabanzima ukubalalisa ngoba
babengasijayelanga isikhathi leso. After dinner I went straight to bed as I was also
going to wake up earlier than usual ukulungisa abantwana.
Ngavuka ngabalungisa ngasengibahambisa, uCharlie ngangilokhe ngimupha isilent
treatment. Sengisemsebenzini he decided to send me a long message.
'Sthandwa sami, I know I keep hurting you, but please accept my apology. I'm sorry
for the way I spoke to you ngayizolo. What you have done for me and the kids is
unquestionable, angazi bengingenwe yini. I just want to let you know that I love you
and whatever decision you want to take ngabo, I respect it. Izolo ngikhulume
ngamawala, seeing them bevuswa ekuseni kakhulu kungizwise ubuhlungu, they
seriously need to enjoy being children, I didn't look at the bigger picture. Ngiyaxolisa
MaBhe, they're your kids as well, please forgive me."
Instead of the message soothing me, ngazonda kakhulu. How could he say all that he
said. Ngavela ngacabanga ukuzikhupha in all the decision makings zabantwana laba.
Ngaphendula.
'I think the only safe thing for me will be to make decisions about uXolani kuphela,
laba abanye I'll just go as far as just being their nanny kuphela, angithi abalalanga
kwesami isisu. Nxa kuleproblem unina uyaphila eKami kafanga, uzayakuye uyebuza
yena ukuthi lenzenjani ngabantwabenu'.
I sent that message and yabonisa ukuthi its delivered kodwa kasaphendulanga. Within
30 minutes ngiyithumezile ngabona ngoCharlie esethutsha emsebenzini wami.
Ubumenemene bakhe. Lokhu wakwenza ngabomo ethembe ukuthi emsebenzini
kuphakathi kwabantu ngizakhuluma kuphela, I was not going to ignore him. Only a
few nurses ababeseduze lami knew him from isikhathi bezoyenza amhlophe kaXolani,
otherwise he never came to my workplace.
Sahamba sayakhulumela emoteni phandle ngoba imiduli ilendlebe, ngangingafuni
indaba zami zaziwe nguzulu, especially emsebenzini.
"Khuluma fast okulandileyo Charlie amapatients ami angilindile."
"MaBhe that was a low blow ongisendele yona. How could you say that?"
"Was responding to inkulumo yakho yayizolo, phela you never gave me a chance to
talk, you accused me of being selfish and hating your kids. Charlie abantwana laba
basasebancane, basazokhula, kuzayenzakalani nxa ngibakhuza kumbe ngibatshaya nxa
bengona? Hantsho kuzathiwa I hate them? Best thing to do yikuzikhipha kibo ngivale
owami. To mantain ipeace."
"You know what, I'm going to the nursery to cancel yonkinto then we take them to
Lobengula".
"Hayi Charlie yenza okubonayo lawe njengoyise. Mina ungasangibuzi, just notify me
ngosucabange ukukwenza. I'm tired of fighting. I am also tired of your apologies
ngoba awufundi. Always acting on impulse. Khathesi uthi susiya bakhipha esikolo,
unkazana usumdinge sikhathi bani, ngoba logogo wabo uyabuyela emsebenzini
tomorrow. Uyazi ukuthini? I'm supposed to be working mina."
Ngaphuma emoteni ngatshayelela isivalo semota ngahamba ngamtshiya esevule
umlomo engasakwazi ukuthi ayenzeni.
Wabuyela emsebenzi esegodola, sengitshayisa ntambama I sent him a message to go
and collect them nxa etshayisa mina ngangitshaywa likhanda. Ngangibhalise ukuthi
bazathathwa yimi kumbe nguye, ngafaka lebizo likaThembi but ngathi nxa kuza
kubuya yena ngizaqalisa ngifone ngibazise.
Ngafika endlini ngapheka, ngithe ngingakaqedi bafika. Umsindo wabo nkosiyami!
Mina ngapha lekhanda liyakhenketha, the noise was not helping ngasenginatha
amaphilisi. At that moment I was still hurting and angry, ngakhuluma ngenhliziyo
ngathi 'umsindo lowu is one of the reasons wokuthi liyehlala eLobengula, when am I
going to have peace vele empilweni yami.'
Ngaqeda ukupheka ngacela uSazini ukuthi abadlise abesebagezisa, mina ngaba busy
ngoXolani. Days continued, kulokhe ku tense lapha endlini. Sasikhuluma kuphela nxa
sibingelelana kumbe sending each other messages for izinto ezifunekayo. Endlini
kwasokumunyu kungasachazi. It took me back to the time ngisanda ku discover
ngoLerato. It was like that. Ngangingasathembi phela ukuthi ngikhuluma ngithini
ngabantwana, lest I get accused of hating them. Ngangivele ngivale ingidi yami. Life
continued like that kwaze kwangani sesikujayele okuyinto kwakhona. Kwakungihlupha
kodwa ngingazi ukuthi ngizakuqeda ngani.
Umama kaLerato wabuya ngenye I Saturday ezovakatsha. I wanted to create
iconversation ngasengibuza ngonina wabantwana ukuthi unjani ngaphakathi, kanti
sengiziqalisele okunye, waphihlika wakhala ingani kubhujiwe, abantwana baze bakhala
labo sebebona umuntu omdala ekhala. Ngavela ngangasaqhubekeli phambili
ngombuzo, sangayibuyeleli futhi lenkulumo yakhona ngesikhathi esethe wathula
ukukhala. Watshona lathi sibili, wasehamba ntambama, uCharlie went and dropped
her. Her presence was an ice breaker ngoba we found something to talk about that
day.
"Charlie kanti what was that sibili? Mina bengibuza out of the goodness of my heart
kanti sengiqalise okunye".
"Ah lami phela ngethukile, ngithe sengimdropper waxolisa ngesenzo sakhe, wasesithi
indlela umtanakhe aseyiyona izwisa usisi, inwele sebamsubula usenguntswi, usecake,
lejwabu leli sokungani ngolohlanya okukudala lwacina amanzi lesepa".
"Mayee! Kambe ukuthi kungabe kukubi ngaleyondlela?"
"Her crying said it all, ubeseqalisa ukukhala futhi ngavela ngavalelisa wayehla
ngabakela".
Saxoxa that night kwangani akuzange kwabalama hiccups ngamaviki adlulileyo,
lenkonzo yebedroom okwasekukudala yacinwa, lelolanga yadlalwa sibili okuzwayo.
Ekuseni savuka sonke sihlakaniphile, sijabulile, sahamba emsebenzini. Ngangihlabelela
ilanga lonke kwaze kwabuza engisebenza labo ukuthi kanti ngiwine iscratch card yini
ngibachathekele.
Mbayimbayi ngasengicabanga ukwenza ukuganga, ngasengifuna ukuyazibonela
unyanewethu eKami ukuthi lento ekhulunywa ngunina ingabe iliqiniso yini kumbe
sesenga lezimithiyo ngoba efuna uzwelo. Lokho ngangingeke ngikukhulume endlini, I
decided to call my partner in crime.
The phone rang non stop engadobhi ngacabanga ukuthi mhlawumbe ubusy
uzangifonela, ngangifona nge whatsaap, then I decided to call her directly. Ivele ithi
tuuuu, izithulele.
"Kambe ukuthi ngabe kwenzenjani?"
I tried and tried, even the messages ayelokhu ele one tick.
Ngafonela uAunt, yena ke vele uAunt wami iphone uyibamba kuphela nxa efuna
ukuyisebenzisa, iyake ihlale ingabonakali amalanga engasakwazi ukuthi uyitshiye
ngaphi, lanxa isifonelwa le battery liyabe selingasekho. Ngavela ngakhalala after 3
rings.
Ngahlupheka ngasengicabanga ukuyabakhangela nxa ngitshayisa.
Nxa ngifika ngathola uZodwa ebusy ngokuthunga kodwa ingalo ile bandage,
uyathunga kodwa kanzima, ebusweni lapha that vibey face engiyijayeleyo yayingekho.
Nxa ngithi ngiyakhangelisisa ebusweni lapha uletshisa ungani bekuvuvukile ngoba
kuyacazimula kodwa sekubohlile.
"Khazi! What happened? Kwenzenjani?"
"Sabona Beauty".
"Yebo, kanti kwenzakaleni bakithi?"
"Hantsho I tried phoning you lendoda yakho langiziba, ngabona ukuthi ngiqakatheke
kuphela nxa ngilusizo. MaBhebhe ukusuka eMganwini kumbe eNkulumane clinic usiza
eNketa yi how many minutes? Khona nje ukuthi udobhe iphone and return my calls
awuzange uzihluphe. UCharles ngamfonela wathi ubusy uzangifonela, kumbe lokhe
busy lanamuhla? Futhi kungeke kungimangalise ukuthi uza la namuhla ngoba kulosizo
olufunayo. Umuntu so! I thought I had a sister in you but you showed me ukuthi
ulolunya. Wayeqinisile umalumekazi sikhula nxa wayesithi umtanakhe ulolunya
wayekubone kuhle".
"Zodwa please dont say that ngabe uyakw......."
"Beauty ngicela uhambe please".

EPISODE FOUR BOOK TWO

It was my first time to see Zodwa look at me with so much disgust, that scared me to
death. She was a sister, a friend and a confidant.
"Khazi noooo! Are you chasing me out of your house without even asking for an
explanation?"
"Beauty, its been over a month since I tried calling you, you never bothered to call
back, ok fine! Even if wawucabanga ukuthi its not important, how about just checking
up on me or umama kodwa lokhu ukuthi si right, siyaphila? Phela wena nxa
ngingasakudinganga awuzihluphi. Umalume yena ucine nini ukukhuluma laye? Beauty
why are you like this? When I complained kuye, wathi wena vele uyahlala izinyanga
ungambonanga, kwakusamhlupha usanda kwenda, khathesi sewaze wajayela.
Ngumendo yini mnawami? Lisitshele phela thina omazakhela esingakaze sende
mhlawumbe asazi. After ukungiziba lendoda yakho, I went back to our messages I
discovered ukuthi vele yimi engihlala ngizihlupha ngawe, nxa kuthe kwaba nguwe
oqalise ukungidinga uyabe ulohlupho. Impilo yami ayiqakathekanga vele kuwe."
Wakhuluma umzawami and all that she was saying was absolutely true. I am that
person who is never bothered about impilo zabanye abantu, yikho ngangingela le best
friend nje kodwa lokhu. The only important people in my life were my husband and
now my son, laye uZodwa, ubaba loAunt even though kwakungafanani lokukaCharlie
loXolani. That was a weakness I had, 'out of sight out of mind'. Mhlawumbe yilo
ulunya olwalutshiwo ngumama ngikhula.
Inyembezi zaseziqalisa ukwehla ngoba ngangitshelwa indaba zami.
Ngangingizimisele ukungasuki loba nje wayengixotsha until she heard my side of the
story and forgive me. I knew she had every right to be cross with me, because all she
said was true and I was wrong. After some time kuthulisekile, inyembezi zilokhe
zisehla kimi. Wangikhangela, ubuso bakhe bathamba.
"OK! OK! Akwekele ukukhala lapha! A few weeks back ngathi ngiye goli ukuyathenga
amalembu ami, ngabanjwa ngogubuzela abathathu epark station yeJohannesburg,
babefuna izikhwama
lefoni, ngazama ukulwa wena kwabanzima, ihandbag yahamba, lesinye isikhwama
esasilama materials. Heeee! Ngangitshayiwe ebusweni lapha, ngagwazwa lesandla.
Ifoni yasala esandleni esasesivuza igazi."
"Mayeee! Zodwa shuwa, sorry mtakamalumami, vele uhlala usitsho ukuthi igoli
uyayizonda, kanti bezingekho izinto ozifunayo eMusina kumbe eBotswana? Angithi
you always say its safer, abantu babengaphi ukuthi bakulamulele?"
"Mncm! Kuleyinye idrama queen etshadayo, ifuna isigqoko sikamakoti, so amalembu
akhona atholakala ePlaza eseJohannesburg kuphela, yikho engangikusukumele nje
kuphela, she paid for transportation and all. Ngangifike ekuseni ngayathenga konke
okufunekayo ngasengibuyela epark station, no kugeza nothing, I only brushed my
teeth and washed my face epublic toilet ngahle ngathi angilali, indawo leyana
ngiyayizonda ngenhliziyo yami yonke, egoli mzawami yi mind your own business,
uyathi uyalamula kufe wena."
"Manje shuwa wasusenzani? Usulimele?"
"Nhlanhla kulesurgery yakoMaphisa khonapho abantu bebus iSenator engangibuye
ngayo ngizabuyela ngayo helped a lot, they paid for the medical expenses ngoba
ngahle ngayakhala kibo, ngama ngokuthi angazi muntu around, tickets and passports
kwakutshontshwe lesikhwama. They sorted everything le travelling document
emapholiseni. Ngasengibuya ngelanga elilandelayo."
"Ah ungitshela okunye shuwa khazi. Kuthwa elokufa alitsheli. Manje wasulala
ngaphi?"
"Ah wena, njengoba ngasengibheje ngemba phansi ngathi angazi muntu egoli, I was
lucky because ngathutsha emabhasini akhona ngivuza igazi vele ngangifuna bangiphe
elinye itikiti ngizibuyele ka one. Ngangingalimalanga lokhuyana okusabisayo,
bangithunga 8 stitches esandleni, okokuvuvuka hantsho lawe uyakwazi ukuthi
ngilomzimba omubi, plus bethuswa ligazi elaseligcwele ezigqokweni lapha, umnikazi
wamabhasi wayekhona yiyo inhlanhla engabalayo.They had to book for me overnight
at some place okuthiwa yi Formula what what."
"Ah! bale customer care shuwa".
"Mnxm! Marketing strategy lawe, with social media these days they were betting on
me ukuthi ngiposte ngakho, ukuze bathole more customers, but uqinisile, I was really
lucky ngoba bangisiza sibili".
"Mzawami shuwa ngiyaxolisa, vele whatever that has been going on kimi is absolutely
no excuse yokungakudingi ngixolela sibili Makhuya, say whatever and I'll do it, to
make things right between us. I'm really really sorry, kambe injiva ziphose
zangibulalela wena shuwa."
"Are you sure about what you mean when you say whatever".
"Anything you want mzawami."
Wayesencibilikile, ukuzonda sokuphelile, okunye I'm sure wethuswa zinyembezi zami
wahle wangizwela waxola. I have always been her little cousin sister. She just loved
me so much and her being her, asomuntu ozonda kuze kweqe. Angakutshela iqiniso
lendaba zakho, lawe umbonise iremorse, then you are home and dry. Kuyabe
sokuphelile.
"Okay khazora, I'll hold you to that. Wena beka imali kuphela ngisile."
"Okay okay, manje amalembu kamakoti wasusenzani ngoba esetshontshiwe?"
" Yathi isuka ibus eJohannesburg ngo 8 ekuseni ngakufonela, your phone was off, later
ngafonela uCharles who promised to call me back, kazange. Sesifika I buzzed you
twice wangafoni, I did not have itransport yokungiletha endlini. I beeped uBheki
lwana owayengifuna owangale koSekusile uyamkhumbula? He called back wathi
imota yakhe ifile. Lobabakho laye ngamzama manje wayeseplazini. Ngazama uCharlie
eyakhe yiyo eyayisi off, ngathi ngiphinde wena yayisi engaged for isikhathi eside ngaze
ngakhalala"
"Awu shuwa bakithi, wahlupheka mzawami"
"Imali yokuthenga iairtime dololo, ngacina ngifonela umdala lwana we central police I
had no choice, khonapha wayesetshayisile but he came ngespeed, I'm sure endlini
wathi kule crisis emsebenzini, nguye owacina engiletha, he also gave me i3 quaters of
the money yezinto ezatshontshwayo, umakoti wasezihambela wayathenga. Mxmn!
Khathesi ixhegu leliyana elibi selikwazi ukuthi ngihlala ngaphi, I tried ukuthi ngibize
icab layala".
"Hahahaaa usezazibuyela next time you if you ignore him".
Sasesixoxa sesihleka, all was forgiven and forgotten. Ngasengimlandisela lami ngezami.
Wamangala ubulema bukaCharlie bokungitshiya eLobengula.
"Kambe shuwa uCharles ubuzanka ngobani? Does he know ukuthi you are doing him a
big favour by taking care of those illegitimate kids. Balutshwana abafazi
abangakwenza lokhu, kumele aguqe phansi abonge uThixo."
"Mzawami I don't think he realises it. Ngacina ngimtshela ukuthi sengizikhipha
ebantwaneni bakhe, ngizaba ngunanny wabo kuphela. Nxa efuna ukwenza ama
decisions aqakathekileyo kaye eKami mina ngizakhonya kuXolani kuphela"
"MaBhe laphana vele uzaba le problem, nxa uMzet ekwazi ukukhuluma kubi so.
Uzabakhuza ubathini abantwabakhe? Kuzathiwa uyabazonda phela".
"Exactly my words mtakaAunt ingani wawukhona ngisitsho njalo".
"Umama o! You will never have peace, you'll always be walking on eggshells
ngabantwana bonalabo ngutshele. All eyes on you. Kumele ubaphathe exactly the
way ozabuphethe ngayo uXolani. Your every step is being watched like a hawk. Vele
the only best way was ukuthi bagcinwe ngumthakathi ongunina liba supporte bekuye.
Speaking of which, ubusithi sihambe siyebona lokhu okubatshazwa ngunaLerato
eMlondolozi?"
"Ye khazi asambe shuwa, ngifuna ukuyazibonela, inhliziyo yami maybe ingahlaliseka
ukuthi lalapho azaphuma khona uCharlie ngeke amkhangele lokumkhangela."
"Heheheee izinto zakho kodwa wena so. Umuntu lwana vele uyaphuma
esengunjwathi, no car, no job, no kids, criminal record eqolo, kakho ozamthinta.
Bulawayo is too small, ngaphandle angathutha ayeqalisa ilife entsha kwenyindawo."
"Uqinisile, kodwa lets just go and feast our eyes mani khaziii!".
"Okay Khazi hlela usuku ubusungifonela."
"Inumber yakho phela ayingeni Khazi, did you change?"
"Uyadlala wena, uthi benguzondele okokudlala yini? I had blocked you. Ngizathi
ukukukhipha ke ejele yaba blocked ngikufake kuparole, one mistake nje uyabuyela.
I'm watching you".
"Cross bhayibhili, ngeke ngiphinde, ngizafona nsukuzonke ngikuchecker, wena lobaba
lo Aunt".
Ngatshonjalo ngisenza lokhuyana esasikwenza singabantwana ukufunga udweba
isiphambano esiphaqeni ngamathe uqede ubophanise iminwe yokukhomba. Sahleka
saze sabulawa zimbambo. Ngasengithatha ipaper bag ngagcwalisa ama lemon
esihlahleni phandle ngoba ngangifuna ukupheka imarmalade jam ngawo,
ngasengihamba endlini.
Ngathi ngifika ngathola uCharlie esefikile, he was busy packing clothes zabantwana
esikhwameni.
"Umthole enjani uZodwa loAunt?"
"Hawu! Wapakitsha impahla zabantwana kwenzakalani?"
"Unkazana utholakele eLobengula, I cancelled enursery, so sengibahambisa".
"Oh okay."
I didn't want to ask okunengi because I had made a decision ukuthi okwabantwana
labo angisakungeni. Instead ngaqhubeka ngikhuluma ngokunye
"By the way, uZodwa ulimele".
Ngalandisa indaba kaZodwa yonke njengokungitshela kwakhe.
"Ungcono ke wena sebekuxolele, mina pho engingayisilo gazi lakhe uzangikhangela
pho?"
"C'mon, Zodwa is not a bad person, she had every right to be cross, wena hamba
uyexolisa kuphela. My advice ungaxolisi ngefoni ublockiwe, zihambele".
"Ngizathenga iNandos ebabayo le 2litre yecoke then I'll be forgiven before I even
open my mouth".
"Hambozama ndoda, mina I'm safe for now, all I'm asking for you to do is remind me
to check on her every day otherwise she'll block me again. That was my promise".
"Hahahahaa, only if you pay me to do that"
"Hamba khatshana le. Akutsho, unkazana umama umthethengaphi, futhi you didn't
tell me ukuthi sucabanga ukubahambisa, I only said I won't be making decisions,but at
least ukungazisa phela?"
"Angibuzanga, kuthwa useleviki ekhona, uthi ubesamchecker ukuthi u right yini, phela
laso lesiyana siyahlupha emankazaneni lami lapha ngiziqalisele okunye, but phela
babe hantsho I did agree ukuthi its the best decision so ngahle ngafonela uNaCharlie."
"Wena ngabe awucitshanga iregistration yabantwana saqala saba leshuwa, i impulse
thinking yakho yonaleyi engihlala ngikhuluma ngayo. Uzathi ngatsho."
"MaBhe shuwa don't be a prophet of doom, maybe usengcono khathesi uNaTshali
phela segugile, let's just keep our fingers crossed angabaleki unkazana."
"Hopefully so, otherwise mina angisazingeni,nxa kungabheda, lingangihlupheli uSazini
abantwana sebebiswa futhi unkazana wenu lowo setshaye wa dissappear.
Ngiyamesaba mina uGogo uMaMkhwananzi, wazizwela ukuthi wayezonde njani."
UCharlie wayethembise unina ukuthi uzabaletha ngelanga elilandelayo ntambama,
wasecabanga ukuthi ulomhlangano loTown councillor ayengakwazi lokuthi uzaphela
sikhathi bani, yikho nje ngamthola esepakitsha engazange angitshele ngaphambilini.
Wayekade ehlele ukungitshela ngaleyontambama besesilala sibavalelisa, kodwa
ngenxa yomhlangano wathi ngimphelekezele sibahambise. I then decided to leave
uXolani loSazini sahamba.
Nxa sifika eLobengula sathola kulemota esingayaziyo eyadini, ekaThembi yayingekho.
Igedi lomnyango savulelwa nguNkazana owayesiyakhwezela umlilo phandle lapho
ayepheka khona inkobe.
Sangena sahlala, uCharlie wabuza ukuthi uThembi ungaphi, kwathwa uyeHarare
ngokomsebenzi coming back the following week.
Wayekhanya ehlakaniphile usisi wakhona engani ngumawaya.
Whilst we were still scrutinising her ngamehlo akhe ayegijigijima, wabuya wathatha
uSpoonky owayephethwe yimi wadlaladlala laye. Singakabuzi ukuthi umamazala
ungaphi sezwa uhleko olungani ngolwemfuleni luphuma ebedroom yakhe, then
kwalandela ibhonga lomuntu oyindoda. Sisamangele umnyango wavuleka, kwaphuma
uHeadmaster weMawaba owethuka esibona watshedela emuva masinyane, wavala
umnyango.

EPISODE FIVE BOOK TWO

Sakhangelana loCharlie, mina I was smiling ukuthi umamazala ubekade ezikhanda,
manje uCharlie became furious. Wasukuma wabeka umtwana phansi weseqonda
ebedroom, ngeqa ngayambamba.
"Charlie nooo! Ususiyangaphi?"
"Beauty ngamanyala ani umama awenzayo in my father's house?"
"Umama ngumuntu omdala Babe, mekele".
"MaBhebhe akuqondananga lawe lokhu ngiyekela, umama cannot disrespect indlu
kababa like this, nxa efuna ukwenza izinto zakhe kahambe khatshana le, hayi la. This
man is married for goodness sake".
"Like that ever stopped you, at least umama ngumfelokazi. You cheated on me
ngisidla amabele, in my house, my bedroom, my bed. Khange! Nansi ievidence"
Ngatsho ngikhomba abantwana abasebekhakhamele becabanga ukuthi we are
fighting omunye wayevele esekhala. I continued ngilokhe ngimbambile.
"So ungaqali ukuzenza uMr. Holier Than Thou lapha. Futhi uzama ukuthini nxa usithi
akuqondananga lami? Am I not a full Dliwayo uhle ucace khathesi Charlie?"
Yayisiqunywe umsila inja, wahle wagoba wahlala phansi sengimtshela ngesiwule
sakhe.
"You are a Dliwayo, kanti usukhuluma ngani? I mean as umtwana ongumfana kumele
ngilwele umuzi kababa."
"Uwulwela uwulwelani? Umama is a widow, she is allowed to date or even marry nxa
efuna. Stop overreacting mani".
"Last time I checked this man was marri......."
"Charlie! Akuyelele ukuba hypocritical lapha, its pathetic."
Sahlala salinda for about 30minutes, no talking, labomamazala ngale ukuthi baphume
ebedroom, kwaba yinkani, I'm sure kwasokuzinhloni lokwesaba. UCharlie
wayesezondee. Kube ngangingekho kwakuzachitheka igazi sibili. Kwelikade kwaphuma
umama uheadmaster elandela emuva bafika bahlala khonapha lathi. UNkazana
owayekade edlala loSpoonky wasethatha loBobo baya ekitchen. Ngathi ngisithi
ngisukume ngibalandele umamazala wathi ngihlale phansi.
"Tshalisi kanti ubungatshongo ukuthi you are coming tomorrow?"
"I'm here now, today tomorrow umehluko ungaphi? I'm glad I came, ngawabona
amanyala....."
"Zwana lapha fanami and ungizwe kuhle, ngingunyoko ngiyakuzala, this is my house, I
can do whatever with whoever, uyangizwa?"
Kwasokusithi ngibaleke because that was too big for my ears. UHeadmaster sece
esofeni izandla phakathi kwemilenze ekhangele phansi.
Wasukuma uCharles
"Beauty, thatha abantwana sambe."
"Siyengaphi labo. Charlie grow up mani".
Aqonde ekitchen afike abadobhe, nxa esephenduka, usephethe mambande ukuthi
adonse lesuitcase.
"MaBhebhe donsa isikhwama leso sihambe".
Ngimkhangele nginganyikinyeki. Umamazala seqhuqha ngolaka.
"Charlie, ngiyaphinda njalo, stop being a hypocrite abantwana bonalabo
uzabakhangelelwa ngubani ngoba you cancelled le nursery? Valelisa abantwana
sizabuya sizokhuluma kuhle ngeweekend when you have calmed down. Mama
sizalibona Saturday or Sunday, I will confirm nge text."
Ngasukuma ngathatha uBobo ngamqhubela ugogo wakhe ngamemeza uNkazana
ngamupha lo omunye. Wanxapha u Charles ekhangele UHeadmaster wasenyemukula
ekhangela unina, kwangani angakhafula. Mina ngasengilayela kunkazana izinto
ezimbalwa zabantwana sahamba.
Emoteni kwakuyi zwi zwi engekho okhulumayo. Mina enhlizyweni ngangifile nya
ngohleko.
Lizibethi, Lizzy Lizzy has gotten her groove back. Elizabeth libizo lakhe lokuzalwa.
Into eyayimcaphula kakhulu uCharles yikuthi he couldn't share his frustrations with
me ngoba ngangizamyangisa njengasekuqaleni and eqinisweni vele, he had no right to
judge his mother.
We got home,and he went straight to bed engadlanga lokudla. Sasiqinisile
esiMaMkhwanzi nxa sasisithi uNaCharlie wayebatotoza abantwabakhe ngoba uCharlie
never dealt with issues like a man, wayehle agubuzele ayekhala engutsheni.
Mina ngadla okudlulisileyo lelolanga. Life was good for me. Since I had extended sleep
ngelanga elilandelayo I decided to watch a movie, uXolani laye wayeselele. I called
umamazala ngimtshela ukuthi sifike kuhle, waxolisa ngenkemenkeme yakhe. I just
brushed it aside as it seemed weird uku discusser izinto zamatshamari laye.
Ngavalelisa.
Isifuba sami sasitshisa lendaba le ngasengicabanga ukufonela uZodwa, but first I had
to make sure ukuthi izibulo likamamazala lilele nya!
"Hawu Khazi angizange ngithi sokumele utshone ungifonela ubuthumuthumu
ungichecker".
"Hayi lawe, ngile latest mani."
"Woza lendaba mina ezami indlebe zihlala ziready".
"Heeeeeee! You won't believe this? EsiNaCharlie sesile sikomba".
"Ulamanga wena! Uzwe ngobani?"
Ngiyilandise indaba, okunye wayengangizwa kuhle ngoba efile yikuhleka, lami
nganginyenyeza hlezi ngivuse abaleleyo.
"You just made my night shuwa mzawami, manje lowu asekuzondele kuyini? Uthi
uyazenzisa lapha laye, kayekele unina adle ubutsha bakhe"
"Uthi into emcaphulayo yikuthi indoda leyo kuthiwa itshadile, lokuthi benza amanyala
bezikhanda endlini kayise".
"Hawu khathesi sekwazi ukuthi nxa utshadile you stick to your partner? Sengibonile
ukuthi yikho esinyokozala sasizwisisa uLerato, they have something in common.
Snatching other people's husbands".
Ngezwa umnyango wetoilet uvuleka i dropped the call, ngacitsha iTV ngayalala, only
to discover ukuthi bekunguSazini uCharles ngamthola ezihoqela.
Isecond birthday yamatwins yayisiseduze ugogo wabo wathi uzayenza iparty.
Samxolisa thina ngoba our budget was strained and another thing uCharlie vele
babengakhulumisani lomamakhe after the incident kaHeadmaster. Nxa wayelento
afuna ukuyikhuluma ngabantwana mina loThembi sasesingama go between. UThembi
finally gave up, wabiza ifamily meeting. Charlie did not want to attend but I forced
him wacina evuma. It was on one Sunday afternoon, amatwins ayebuye kithi for the
weekend but the meeting was eLobengula ngoba when i suggested ukuthi
ibeseMganwini ngoba uCharlie wayentsara ukuthi siyeLobengula, wala umamazala
ethi kasoze ambuluzelwa ngumtwana yena ukhulile, nxa engafuni kubuya awuphuthe
lowomhlangano ngoba she said she did not need to explain herself to anyone.
Unkazana waye ngakabuyi ku off ngesikhathi sifika, sathola umama epheka ekitchen
uThembi was busy kulaptop yakhe ngezinto zakhe zemsebenzini.
"Linjani bakithi, selifikile. Let me finish with this document, vele sengiqeda."
Okwangaphi? UBobo wahle weqela phezukwakhe wabona ukuthi continuing is
pointless, wavala wasenquma ukuthi usezakubona later sesihambile or kusasa
emsebenzini.
Umamazala wathi esizwa singena wehlisa izitofu zakhe wasebuya wafika wabingelela.
There was tension in the air, the silence was deafening, labantwana basebeye
kumtakaThulani owayedlala amatope phandle uXolani wayezimunyela, kwasokuzaba
yizikhathi zakhe zokulala. UThembi waseqala indaba
"Since i'm the one that called this meeting I'll start. Sesidiniwe ngaletension ephakathi
kwenu mama loCharlie, it has gone for too long. Kulabantwana lapha aba involved so
namuhla kumele kuxolelwane kuphele. Mama, do you have anything to say?"
"Mina angila problem lo Charlie, yena nguye who decided to forget ukuthi umuntu
omdala phakathi kwami laye ngubani, umthetho kawufake eMganwini le, hayi la".
"Ngumuzi kababami lowu so ngeke ngi........."
"Ye uqinisile sibili. Ngokayihlo, ungaphi uyihlo Tshalisi? Ungaphi ngiphendula!"
"Mama that man is married, how can you do that to your friend?
Yangethusa lapha lami eka 'friend' ngangingayazi.
"Charlie stay out of it, asondaba zakho lezi. We are here to make peace, khuluma
kuhle lomama, she's still your mother you know, ungakhohlwa ukuthi lani latshaya
umazivelela, you were only expected the following day, lami i was in Harare, so
umama decided to let loose"
" I know ngumama kodwa what is she teaching us? Abantwabami laba abahlala lapha
bazafundani? Nxa wena MaDlie ukuvumela mina vele ngitsho".
"Tshalisi, you were not supposed to see that, so ucabanga ukuthi i do staff infront of
your kids? What do you take me for? This thing has been going on for a long time,
noone knows, even uThembi enje i have never done anything to disrespect her. Into
engingayixolisela yikuthi lahlangana lokwakungamelanga likubone. For that
ngiyaxolisa shuwa MaBhebhe lawe Charlie".
"Mama. That man is a family man, kanti unkosikazi wakhe asomngane wenu?"
"Charlie that woman went to Australia 7 years ago esiyavakatshela abantwabakhe
kasaphendukanga, abantwana yibo kuphela abazihlupha ngokuvakatshela ubabawabo.
Kwazi bani, engxenye sewazitholela ikhiwa khonale?"
"That's not an excuse yokuthi selingasala lithatha indawo yakhe".
"Like it was an excuse for you ngesikhathi sikaLerat......"
"I knew you were going to bring this up to defend yourself, asikhulumi ngami loLerato
lapha, sikhuluma ngento eliyenzayo and its wrong"
"Tshalisi if you are now thinking ukuthi your sin is better than mine, thatha nansi
iphone yami bala amamessage from my so called friend in Australia".
Sekuphendulwana kanje mina lo Thembi sesilokhu sitshibilikisa amakhanda sikhangela
osekhuluma. Charlie took the phone from his mom, the messages were chats of
NaCharlie with her friend in Ausi. Ngasondela eduze ukuthi sibale sonke. UThembi
kukhanya wayesewabalisiwe so wahlala ethule elinde thina as we were scrolling down.
Kwakuzingxoxo nje ezempilo yansukuzonke then ngakhangwa ngeyinye umngane
esithi kaboni ebuya back ukuzohlala ekhaya, manje umkakhe uyala ukumjoina so
secabanga ukuthi baqamule umtshado. Impendulo kaNaCharlie yayitshotshozela
ukuthi vele akwenzi ukuthi indoda ihlale iyodwa isikhathi eside kangaka, divorce being
the best solution.
UCharlie gave back the phone, mina Ngangisafuna ukuqhubeka ngibone
ubugwelegwele bukamamazala who was throwing hints emnganini wakhe ukuthi
akhalale umtshado abantu bona sebevele bezigugele.
"Uyabona ke Tshalisi ukuthi kuhambanjani? Soon these people will be divorced".
"Mama kuyayangisa lokhu, what do you call it? Huh? What will the community say?
Emsebenzini wenu? Akusoze kuthiwe yini elibahlukanisileyo? I'm speechless ukuthi
lawe you are encouraging her to give up!"
"Yeyi! I did no such thing. Ayisimi engamthuma eAustralia ngathi kayehlala".
"Just so you know, I'm not supporting amanyala akho mina".
" Woooooo Charlie ngithe khetha amazwi akho, this is still our mother".
UCharlie was irritated and restless, lokhe echecker isikhathi emdulwini kuwall clock
eyayiseceleni kwalapha esasihlezi khona, aphinde alunguze egedini nge windi. I
noticed that ngaze ngabuza
"Kunini ukhangela isikhathi kukhona lapho ojahe ukuyakhona?"
Engakaphenduli sizwe kulomuntu otshaya igedi phandle. Nxa sisithi siyalunguza,
ngugogo uMaMkhwananzi. Kakho owasukumayo ukuyavula igedi sonke sakhangela
uCharlie owayesekhangele phansi edlalisa iminwe yakhe

EPISODE SIX BOOK TWO

It was obvious ukuthi ufunani lokuthi ubizwe ngubani.
"Thembisile loo! Akelizengivulela ngatsha lilanga bo!"
Wasukuma uThembi esiyavulela ugogo uMaMkhwananzi, owangena ehaluzela
eqonda etoilet. UNaCharlie wayesekhangele uCharles engasanyemukuli. If we thought
she was angry then, lokhu kwasokungokunye. UCharles yena waqhubeka ekhangele
phansi, he knew ukuthi ugogo uzamqeda inkani umamakhe ngoba umhlaba wonke
ungaka, she was the only person who could put unina in her place.
Wathi ephuma etoilet wakhala ngokoma, ngasukuma ngayalalisa uXolani
owayesejumekile, ngasengisiyathatha amanzi. Ngathela konke ledrink ngoba
ngangingazi ayezakuthakazelela.
"Gogo suzewafika? Hantsho bengithe ungifonele nxa usuzayehla ngibuye
ngizokuthatha erenkini?"
"Mtanomtanami, angisabuyanga ngebhasi yikho ubona ngiphuzile kangaka, uSobhuku
uGwebu ubesiza edolobheni, angithi ulendlu eNjube lapha. Nguye ophuze ukusuka,
uhle wabuya wazangitshiya khonalapha egedini. Yikho nje ngingasafonanga.
"Linjani mama? Libatshiye benjani abanye ekhaya?"
Kubuza uNaCharlie, angaphenduli umuntomdala, alalamele itray engasengiyibeke
phambi kwakhe adobhe idrink ankunkuluze, kwazise wayefile kakhulu yikoma. Uthe
eqeda kunatha, uThembi wasethutsha, wayedlule lezikhwama zikagogo wayazibeka
ebedroom eyayingeka Charlie loThulani. Afike ahlale phansi abesembingelela kutsha
ugogo wakhe.
"Kanti wena Thembisile kwathini kuwe lapho? Ufuna ukugugela esikolo?Awukwazi
ukuthi umuntu ongumfazi uphelelwa yisikhathi? Khathesi kumele ukuthi ngabe
suselamisa owesithathu. Ufuna ukucina ufanana loAunt wakho uSitshengisiwe owaze
wazifela emazweni engelatshiyane?"
"Hawu gogo! Kanti abantwana bakhiwa esihlahleni yini? Hantsho kumele ngiqale
ngiqede ukufunda, ngithole ijaha, livele, lilobole, sitshade, siqale sithenge indlu
lokunye sithi sesicabanga ngabantwana".
"Mnxm! Ohoooo! Ucabanga ukuthi isikhathi sizama ntse! silinde wena? Unyoko ufuna
abazukulu".
"UCharlie gogo ule 3, uThulani wamtshiyela one. Kumbe bakhona abanye abasazovela,
phela laye wayezikhanda umtakababa. Ngangicabanga ukuthi bazavela
ngomngcw......"
"Hayi ungavali ngalabo ayisibo bakho, silinde umkhwenyana lapha Thembisile.
Ngiqinisile".
"Uzabuya salukazi masinyane so, lindanini lina kuphela".
"Ngilindeni wena sufuna ngize ngife, uyangibona ukuthi sengigugile?"
"Not now MaMkhwa, 20 more years lisidla amabele lina".
Kuxoxwa kanje uNaCharlie uthule lokhe khangele indodana yakhe engicabanga ukuthi
in her heart wayephahlula zonke inhlamba zomhlaba ayezazi emthethisa. Laye
unkalakatha zwi wayesezidlalela amagames efonini yakhe. Selinde ukuthi ugogo
aqalise iWorld War 3.
"Neneza kanti ubutheni ecingweni? Chasisa kuhle ukuthi kungani ngilapha".
Usehlebuza ugogo, uNaCharlie wayelokhu engatholanga impendulo yokubingelela.
"Gogo umama sekhombile, indoda yomnganewakhe, bayatshamarana. Ngathi
ngimkhuza wangithethisa. Into embi ngakho yikuthi benzela idoti yabo lapha emzini
kababa. Ngazibonela ngawami lawa. Bengicela lingikhuzele ngoba mina
ngingumtwana kafuni kungilalela."
Ngavele ngaqalisa ukuqhuqha ngoba ugogo vele siyamazi, worse lomalukazana wakhe
ababonani.
"NaNeneza, kambe liqiniso engilizwa ngoNeneza?"
Akhulume esemkhangele ugogo, kodwa zwi uNaNeneza, umlomo wawusuvalekile
ingani ulengcino.
"Ngiyakubuza NakaTshalisi. Liqiniso yini?"
"Mama ngicabanga ukuthi mina angisumtwana esengingathonisiswa. Kunini
uSaTshalisi wabhubha? Angiboni kuyindaba yabantu ukuthi ngimdala ngingaka
ngenzani lobani ngaph......."
"Heeeee! Manyala mani lawa owenzayo mfazindini? Awuboni kuliphutha khonokho
okwenzayo? Endlini yomtanami? Kade ngangisitsho ukuthi awulunganga. Phambi
kwabantwana NaNeneza pho? Umalukazana wakho lo akuhloniphe njani?
Awusaphumi ngani kulumuzi uyeyenzela ingcekeza yakho khatshana le?"
"Kanti mama uzabangumuzi kaSaTshalisi yedwa njani? Sawuthenga sonke njalo
engasekho nje, usungowami."
"Uzalwa ngaphi wena ongazi ukuthi umuzi ngowendoda. NaTshalisi phuma emzini
womtanami nxa usufuna ukubuyela ubeyintombi. Futhi leyi eyokuthi yindoda
yomngane wakho ingiqeda amandla, ngiphelelwe ukuthi vele uyisibungu bani wena?
Wathathwa ngaphi?"
Ugogo uMaMkhwananzi yilabana abakwanisa ukukhuluma nonstop bengaqedi.
Lingatshona ekhuluma yedwa abalaleleyo belalele kuphela akalandaba. Waphiwa
emlonyeni vele. That's why I always prayed ukuthi ngingaxabani laye ngitsho
langelanga elilodwa.
It seemed we were in for a long haul ngoba loNaCharlie laye was not backing down
ngezenzo zakhe. She did not see anything wrong. Wathatha amanzi ugogo
wawankunkuluza refuelling herself.
"UNeneza umithisa phandle nje nguwe. Kunini ngakukhuza ngokutotoza abantwana,
kuyini obafundisa khona? UThembisile sezegugile engaka, intanga zakhe
sezilabantwana ngababili ngabathathu kodwa wena iphutha lapho awuliboni
njengomzali. Ugijimisana lamadoda abantu! Mayibabo! Wangenza malukazanandini!
Ihlazo elingaka! Ngangihlala ngisitsho. LoSaNeneza ngamtshela ekuthatha ukuthi
ulibele lendlela wangafuni ukungilalela."
I was getting uncomfortable ngenkulumo zikagogo. Ngasengifisa ukuthi ngabe uXolani
or one of the kids uyakhala ngithole iexcuse yokuphuma. UCharlie wayesebobotheka
eqaphise ikhanda, he looked like he was saying 'yah bayitshela'. Then NaCharlie
decided to get down from her high horse
"Mama ngiyaxolisa ngokwenzakala laphekhaya, mina ngangisithi ngiyafihla abantwana
abasoze babone. Kwabaliphutha ngoba........"
"Iphutha lani mama? Abantwabami laba bazakhula bebona izinto zenu
eziphambeneyo, mina vele ngithi tshiyanani lomdala lwana angaphi......"
"Oh! Please Charles! Akuyekele umama. You of all people should never be the judge
in all this. Okwenze ukuthi uyefonela ugogo kuyini? As if wena uspotless awula ngitsho
lechatha elilodwa".
NguThembi lowo, lami nganqekuza ikhanda ngoba lami yayinginyanyisile into
eyenziwe nguCharles. Mina lokuthi esikolo wayesiyakwenzani, ngoba wayengaqali
ahluzisise izinto before esenza. He liked to act and talk before thinking things through,
needless to say, it always backfired.
"Thembie, ngithe if wena you are okay ngakho mina I'm not, umama nxa efuna
ukwenza izinto zakhe, not in this house. Kumbe sekumele sibize imuli yonke,
obabomdala labomalume mhlawumbe angazwisisa ukuthi kulihlazo akwenzayo, worse
because abantwabami sebehlala lapha, I will not allow such traits phambi kwabo. Plus
lapha sihlangane ngomama, into yokuthi kube kukhulunywa ngendaba zakudala
ezaboLerato , its not helping. We are here to solve i issue kamama lokungaziphathi
kwakhe njengomuntu omdala".
Abesebuza uNaCharlie.
"Mama mina ngicela ukubuza ukuthi kanti angivunyelwa yini ukuba lomuntu oyindoda
empilweni yami?"
"Heeeeee! Usabuza lokubuza? Ngiyaphinda njalo. Ngumuzi kabani lo? Futhi
akutshiwongo ukuthi yindoda yomuntu leyi osugijimisana layo NaNeneza? Impendulo
yami ikhona khonapha igoqelwe, ngethemba nxa uhlakaniphile njengoba ungumisi nje
uyayizwa. Ngiqedile".
Anqekuze ikhanda uCharlie, esethabile ukuthi mission accomplished and after all, it
was not in vain ukubiza ugogo, kanti akazi okulandelayo. UNaCharlie wavele
wazithulela, but ukuthi wayengahlukana laye ngoba sokukhulume uCharlie logogo?
Ngiyala. She decided to keep quiet as she saw ukuthi it was a losing battle.
"Kanti we Neneza amaphahla lawa alizange lithi sebefunda ecreche? Sokutshintsheni
usukhala ngokuthi unyoko uzababonisa iziga? Kanti vele kunina basuselwani? Lidlala
mdlalo bani lonyoko?"
That was a long question with a very long answer. UNaCharlie took a deep breath
ukuthi seze waphunyuka, at least for that moment, as it was not certain
okwambayimbayi. Waqalisa ukulandisa ke uCharlie from kusukela ngesikhathi ngibeka
imithetho endlini to ilanga uLerato agwetshwa ngalo. Sasilalele isalukazi singatsho
lutho. Ngangisitsho engqondweni yami ukuthi, uyabona ukuphapha Charles, khathesi
suzingenise esilaheni.
"Kambe uyayibona imiphumela yesiwule Neneza? Khathesi suphose walandela
umfowenu uThulani. Kanti Ugogo wabo ozala unina bekutheni ukuthi ahlale
labazukulu bakhe? Abantwana laba abalotsholwanga, selizigcinele mahala nje, licala
elikhulu lonaleli".
"Ah! Gogo ukulotsholwa......."
"Neneza kusasa abantwana laba kumele bahanjiswe, besebethathwa kuhle ngesintu
sebelotsholiwe. Lifuna ukungibonisani lina nyanisi? Lizenzela izinto zamakhanda enu
liphambanisa. NaNeneza ubusy ugijimisana lamadoda abantu limotsha izinto".
Ngethuka okwakhanyayo ngaze ngabamba umlomo. Yaaah! Wasenza Charlie!
Ngasukuma ngathi ngisayaphakulula, sengibalekela amagama kagogo aqatha. I had
heard enough to last me a lifetime. UThembi wasukuma laye wangilandela. UNeneza
wayeseyinhlanzi etshelwe ngamanzi. Tables were turning khathesi. Lemali yokulobola
ayikho, wayezayithatha ngaphi? Ugogo uMamkhwananzi nguntando kayiphikiswa.
Everyone was receiving their fare share from her, kwasokushota mina. I knew ukuthi
that alone kuzagubuzelisa omunye ubaba inyanga yonke. Anyway wayezidingele, mina
ngangithe angisazingeni and that was my decision. Sesisekitchen uThembi wakhala
ngokupaparika komfowabo.
"Kanti uCharles abesekubizela ugogo kuyini, because instead of it being a solvent,
izinto seziworse khathesi, usevusa ezileleyo ugogo."
"Eyi, lami angazi MaDlie, kodwa mina akungimangalisi. Kanti awumfundi ngani
umfowenu, that is how he operates."
Sesiqedile ukuphakulula mina ngabiza ababedlala phandle ngabafunza, sengiqedile
ngayakhangela uXolani who was still sleeping. Wayethi everytime amatwins nxa
ekhona, he enjoyed their presence so much okokuthi wayentsara ukulala ekholisa
ukudlala labo. Kodwa lapho obabumjuma khona wayelala lize likhohlwe ukuthi
kulomuntu.
Sadla, thina abadala,sithe siqeda ukudla, the atmosphere was not healthy,
ugogo wayebheja ngendaba yamalobolo ethi kumele aqhutshwe. UCharlie promised
to sort it out. Njani? Only him knew because mina ngangisazi mhlophe ukuthi imali
ayikho. Wonkumuntu wayesetubhule umlomo. Ugogo ezondele umamazala loCharlie,
umamazala ezondele uCharlie logogo, uCharlie uzondele unina logogo oseletha
ezamalobolo, mina loThembi sasicaphulwe nguCharlie. Nxa ngisathi ngigezise imiganu,
uNkazana wafika, wathatha over. There was something familiar ngalosisi, but
njengomuntu osebenza eclinic, I quickly pushed the thought aside ngathi maybe
ngambona khona.
Sasesivalelisa ngoba ilanga laselisiyatshona.
"Wothini ngihambe lani ngike ngiyebona uSazini, kunini ngamcina."
Kwatsho ugogo. UNaCharlie wahle weqa wayathatha isikhwama sikagogo wabuya
wasithi qithi phambi kukaCharlie. Imeeting yayiphele kungalungiswanga lutho
oluqondane lesizatho somhlangano but there was now a pending serious one.
Eyamalobolo abantwana.
Sesisendleleni ugogo wayehamba edlala loXolani emuva wasebuza.
"Kanti Neneza. Lalingathanga lizangibiza ngizokwenza umcimbi womtwana?
Uselenyanga ezingaki kanti? Lifuna ukusibonisani lina bantwana?

EPISODE SEVEN BOOK TWO

Ngahitshwa ngamathe enkulumeni kagogo engangingayilindelanga. UCharlie ke yena
started sweating ezandleni ngoba ngambona esesenwaya izandla. Ngangivele ngathi
kungcono mina kube yimi engitshayelayo ngoba yena istress samalobolo
sasesimphethe okuzwayo.
Wavela wacabanga ukuthi ngcono ayivale eyomcimbi ingakayi khatshana.
"Sizalitshela gogo singahlela usuku."
"Wee Neneza! Kanti ngilibhora lenu mina elizabe lingijikela le lale. Sengikhona,
fonelani abantu ngomgqibelo lo ozayo kwenziwe, sidlule kikho. Kanti lithi idorobha
lenu leli ngiyalikholisa ukubelokhu ngibuya kilo?"
"Eh gogo! Besicabanga ukuthi......."
"Not now Beauty"
Wangigama umlomo uCharles sengifuna ukuchasisa. I don't know why he kept on
stalling ukuthi sihle sikhulume kanye kubeyikuphela.
Sathi sifika endlini, wajabula uSazini ukubona ugogo uMaMkhwananzi. Wayesephekile
yena kodwa njengoba sasisanda kudla, ngasengisithi sizanatha itiye lembambayila
later.
UMagubuzela wahle wayenza akujayeleyo, watshona khona. Sazihlalela thina esitting
room sixoxa kwaze kwabasebusuku kakhulu, lakho sisenziwa nguXolani owayelale
kakhulu emini, so wayengelabuthongo. Sesilala nganquma ukuthi kusasa nxa ngibuya
emsebenzini, uCharlie engakabuyi ngizafika ngimtshele mina ugogo ukuthi umcimbi
awusozwe wenziwe kuXolani.
Ekuseni nxa siphuma sisiya emsebenzini uCharlie diverted ngingakwazi, waqonda
eMawaba. Wayethembe ukuthi esinina singena emini ngaleyoviki, ngeke simbone.
Wafika wathola kusaseyi assembly, walinda. Ithe iphela uHeadmaster wathola
elindiwe ereception. Uvalo lwamuthi tha tha! If it was somewhere wayezabaleka, pho
ke wayelandelwa ludwendwe lwamatitsha ayezolanda ama register lezinto
ezinengingeni zokufundisa. Otitsha abanengi lapha babebatsha bengamazi uCharlie
ngoba laye wayefunde eMawaba phela iprimary yakhe yonke. Okunye yikuthi
wayesemdala, lababekhona ngalesosokhathi babengasamboni ngoba esekhulile, labo
sebebadala nje. He noticed utitsha wakhe owamfundisa uGrade 4, uMrs H Ngwenya.
Wayesekhulile bakithi. Abanye wayebafanisa mhlawumbe ebabone emfeni kayise
lokaThulani.
He was not in the mood for a meet and greet and he did not want to cause a scene
esesilwa phakathi kwabantu, he kept his cool walandela umphathisikolo bayangena e
ofisini yakhe bavala umnyango.
"Sabona ndodana, ungahlala phansi. Sikwenzele itiye emnyama kumbe elochago?"
Etsho lokhu edobha ifoni ukuthi atshele ureceptionist ukuba abuye letiye baxoxe
benatha.
"Angisiyondodana yakho mina, njalo angilandana kuzanatha itiye lapha, ngizokutshela
ukuthi hlukana loMrs Dliwayo, kungenjalo ngiyafonela unkosikazi wakho eAustralia
ngimtshele idoti le ophezukwayo lomngane wakhe".
"Ungalwi mtanami, ngoba ukuthi lisibone leliyalanga kwabaliphutha. Kwenzakala
okwenzakala, angeke sibuyele emuva. Okokutshela unkosikazi wami ungazihluphi, I
already did the honours ngelanga elasikhanda ngalo. Divorce is underway as we
speak".
"Haa! Kambe shuwa I respected you all my life and then you do this!"
"Ngicabanga ukuthi ukhulile Charles, you know these things, inhliziyo ayiphakelwa, iya
lapho ethanda khona. Your mother and I are adults, we know what we are doing
so...."
"Leave my mother alone uyangizwa?"
Wasukuma ngolaka uCharles ebhoda ngemva kwedesk wayiphosa inqindi endodeni.
Kaphendulanga uHeadmaster, wabamba isihlathi sakhe lapha inqindi eyayihlale khona.
"Tshiyana lomamami, and I don't ever want to see you in that house. Hopefully that
was the first and last time".
"Ihh! Ufuna ukumthatha yini unyoko?"
Yahlala enye inqindi emakhaleni. Kwasiza umessenger owabizwa ngumsindo kaCharlie
esithi uzo checker ukuthi konke kuright. Wafika wabamba u Charlie owatsheda
wadobha amakhiye emota wathi esesemnyango wanyemukula.
"Let this be a warning to you xhegundini".
Wahamba ehaluzela esiya emsebenzini lapho afika khona wahlalahlala
kwangasebenzeki wasecabanga ukuya endlini, kodwa njengoba kwakulogogo
uMamkhwananzi that was not an option wacabanga ukuyathatha amatwins loXolani
abahambise etown ukuyakudla amachips. Waqala eMganwini wafika wadobha
uXolani wasesiya eLobengula. Wathola uNaCharlie esehambile eskolo. Watshaya igedi
waze wathi esezadela wathutsha uNkazana ethonta amanzi ethandele ithawulo.
Wayekade egeza. Waxolisa wavulela uCharlie igedi wangena ke laye ephethe uXolani.
Sebesendlini wacela ukuthi abantwana balungiswe ufuna ukuhamba labo
uzaphenduka labo ngemva kwemini. Esahlezi iphone yakhe iringe.
Kwakungumamakhe"
"Hallo!"
"Kambe shuwa Tshalisi, ukuthathangaphi ukuhamba utshaya abantu abadala?"
"Ngitshaye bani mina?"
"Mnxm! Ungayenzi ingani awukwazi ukuthi ufike wenzani lapha esikolo. Ufuna abantu
bathini shuwa? Ikhanda lakho liyathatha kuhle?"
Charles was not in the mood of speaking to his mom, futhi wayezimisele ukuphika
ukuthi ufike walwa esikolo. Wayesazi mhlophe ukuthi u headmaster angeke ayevula
icala emapholiseni ngoba lokhu kwakuzadumisa indaba zabo. Okwabayinhlanhla
yikuthi akulamuntu owabonayo kumbe owezwa ukulwa kwabo ngaphandle
kukaMessenger who promised to keep it quiet.
"Tshalisi asoBobo lowo okhalayo kubackground?"
Babekade besalele,bavuswa yilizwi likayise owayekhuluma efonini.
"Ufunani wena endlini khonapho ngingekho?"
"Hawu! Kanti abantwabami abahlali lapha? Akusamelanga ngifike ngkhaya noma
yisiphi isikhathi?"
"Yeyi wena! Njenganini owake wathutsha emini ngingekho, loThembi kakho phela,
abaqali ukuhlala lapho abantwana, awukaze ukwenze."
"There's always a first time for everything".
"Indlela osudelela ngayo ngingafunga ukuthi ispirit sikaThulani sivukele kuwe.
Ungenwe yini vele? AsoCharles engimaziyo lo. Ongiphendula kanje, ohamba etshaya
abantu abadala."
"Ha! mama, believe what you want, ngizothatha abantwana for a ride and to buy
chips in town. Lokhu okokuthi ngiyadelela, whose fault is that?
"I hope awunqwatheli uNkazana khonapho. Was Lerato not a lesson enough for you?
Phuma endlini lapho, uMaBhebhe angezwa ukuthi sufika eLobengula singekho kasoze
athi yimi engikukhombisela uNkazana lowo futhi? Please angifuni more problems
mina."
Esakhuluma, uNkazana wayeseqedile labantwana, isimanga yikuthi wayelokhe
ethandele ithawulo, weza ebaphethe ngapha langapha emunweni elengise ipaper bag
elama pampers amabili, ama wipes lezigujana zamanzi ezimbili.
"Sengiqedile bhudi".
"Mama, bye sesihamba thina"
He dropped the call waseyifaka esikhwameni. Unkazana nxa ethi uqhubela uCharlie
uSpoonky kanti okunkalakatha kubambe umphetho wethawulo yahutshuka, ukuthi
abambe ithawulo kwasekuyikuwisa uBobo. Wayiyekela yayawela le. UCharles ngitsho
ukukhangela eceleni, wamuthi nhlo! umlomo usukhamisile.
Wabeka umtwana phansi wadobha ithawulo wabaleka wayangena ebedroom
kaNaCharlie ngoba yiyo eyayiseduze wavala umnyango. Wahlekelela uCharlie
waphuma wayabeka uSpoonky loXolani emoteni wasephenduka ukuzothatha uBobo
lepaperbag, laye owayesekhala ecabanga ukuthi sebemtshiya. Usisi angabonakala?
Wayelokhu ecatshile. Wahamba uCharlie engasamvalelisanga, kodwa that lightened
up his gloomy day, it was a joke that he chose not to forget.
Esikolo uHeadmaster managed to sneak out engabonwanga ngabantu, to go home
and clean up ngoba wayephume umungula lokuthi ayethoba, wathi esephenduka
wayesetshintshile impahla kodwa eleblack eye okwathi abantu bembuza ukuthi
kwenzenjani wathi ufonelwe ngomakhelwane bethi babone abantu abasolekayo
bengena endlini manje wathi efika ukuthi ayekhangela wathola kungotsotsi, yibo
ababemtshayile. People bought the story, babonga ukuthi abamlimazanga kakhulu,
kwadlula.
After work ngathi ngitshayisa ngathola ugogo loSazini behlezi ngaphansi komthunzi
bezixoxela, uXolani wayengekho labo I assumed ukuthi ulele.
"Litshonile gogo".
"Siyatshona ntombendala singabuza lina? Selivela emasimini?"
"Sesivela khona salukazi kungathiwani shuwa. Sazini nginika ibench lami ngihle
ngihlale lapha phandle. Ngicela ungihambisele ihandbag yami ebedroom. Ulele
uXoxo?"
"Hayi uhambe loyise, umthethe emini yekuseni. Kanti kakutshayelanga uNeneza
wakutshela ukuthi kasebenzi namuhla?"
"Hayi ngabona ukhohliwe gogo. Kodwa phela siphumisene lapha ekuseni engumuntu
oqonda emsebenzini. Ukuthi kambe kwenzekeni wasephenduka?"
"Asazi mzukulu wami. Kasichazelanga lutho thina, kumbe wena Sazini ukutshelile?"
"Hayi gogo katshongo lutho. Mama, ekuseni likhohlwe ukungitshela ukuthi
siyatshebangani namuhla."
"Wuuu Sazie! Ngabe ukhiphile iphakethe lenyama efrijini. Khathesi siyancibilika nini
isitshebo nkosiyami. Akuthi ngifonele uSaXolani adlule ethenga inyama ebhusha."
"Kodwa amagetsi atshone engekho, amboni ukuthi iqinile, khona ebuya lawo vele,
wothini ngiyekhangela esikekayo".
"Ah okay sisi, wothi ngibafonele nje ngibachecke ukuthi bangaphi"
I tried to call uCharlie wangabambi, he was probably driving, ngacina ngikhalala,
loSazini wathola ikhona sibili inyama engaqinanga kakhulu eyayisikeka ngahle ngathi
ayifake eziko abesesikha lembhida ayigesize asikelele, ngizathi sengiqedisa.
Ngangisenzela ukusala ngikhuluma logogo ngendaba yomcimbi uCharlie engakabuyi
ngoba wayezangalisa ukukhuluma.
"Gogo bengicela singene endlini, kulento engifuna siyihlafune, phandle lapha
bazasizwa omakhelwane."
"Sokwenzenjani futhi MaBhebhe, kanti ukubuya edolobheni licala? Kuhlalwa
kuthonisiswa amacala kuphela, useyenzeni khathesi uNeneza?"
"Hihihihihii! Kayenzanga lutho, ugogo bakithi"
Sesisendlini ngafisa ukuthi ngabe ngithathe ilitshe elincane ngalifaka ngaphansi kolimi.
That superstition always worked for me ngisasemncinyane.
"Gogo indaba yomcimbi sakhuluma loNeneza sabona ukuthi singayenzi kuXolani.
Njengamakholwa sabona kungalunganga ukwenza umtwana izinto ezingaziwayo"
"Kanti uthini MaBhebhe? Izinto ezingaziwayo ukuthini?"
"Hayi ukuthi ngithini gogo ngenhlonipho enkulu inkolo ayiv........".
"Heeeeeeee! Nxa lomtwana uqinisile ukuthi ngowakoDliwayo, umcimbi kumele
wenziwe, kungenjalo, mngciii inkosi phezulu"
Watsho lawomagama ugogo uMamkhwananzi uCharlie engena esitting room,
wayewazwile wonke. Nxa ngithi ngiyamkhangela wayesekhamise umlomo.

INgwalo Zika MaVella

EPISODE EIGHT BOOK TWO

Waqhubeka ekhamisile, God knows what was going on in his mind. Ngemukela
uXolani ayemphethe elele.
"Kanti livelanga? Ubungasebenzi yini namuhla, uphendukeleni?"
"I was just out of it, so I took the day off. Litshonile gogo?".
"Siyatshona Neneza. Wahamba waloba shuwa, ilanga lonke?".
"Ngihambe ngayathatha lamatwins sayatshona sigiqika ecentenary park".
"Are you ok! Charles? Yindaba uphombukubamunyu nje?"
"Ngisharp, I just need to take a shower".
Waphuma wayageza sasala sihlezi logogo.
"Ye gogo ngiyalizwa ukuthi lithini, kambe angaba ngowakobani shuwa? Umfana lo sele
7months. Angithi lihlala likhuluma lisithi akukho okwehlula umthandazo? Nangu!
Uqine saka."
"Hayi mtanomtanami, lathi sasingakwazi singakufuni kodwa sakwenza, kunjenje
ngiyadlula emhlabeni uNaneza uzasala sokunguye okwenza ebantwaneni, angadlula
kube nguwe njalonjalo".
"Ah gogo, vele kwenziwani ngicelukubuza?"
"Ilanga engizangcwatshwa ngalo yilo ilanga uNakaTshalisi okumele akutshele khona,
ngoba elokufa aliqoqodi phela, ukwenzela ukuthi nxa laye engadlula kubekukhona
osele ebambe intambo. Besekusithi laye ngelanga azangcwatshwa ngalo, wena uhle
uchasisele olandelayo. Yimfihlo esayitholayo lathi".
"Gogo! Ukhona osewake wabhubha engakwenzanga?"
"Uthini lowu? Yeeee! Uyambona uyise omncane kaNeneza uEliot, lwana
owayesebenza ezimayini eWenela. Wayekhona emtshadweni wenu, owayecece
kakhulu ethonta, efake lengwane elosiba?.
"Ye ye ngingamkhohlwa njani ubabomncane uSaBruce. Ulokufika lapha kwezinye
insuku".
"Ye. Wayefike wazala khonale abantwana ababili. Uthe esephendukile lapha wafika
wavuma izono zakhe emfazini, kwalungiswa ukuthi bayethathwa. Kwakungamaphahla
lawo, phela wona ayisiwo nje koDliwayo. Bathi befika khonale ehamba loyihlozala
uSekaTshalisi, bathola abantwana kuthiwa babhubha belandelana omunye elenyanga
8 omunye isitshiyagalolunye."
"Ah! Shuwa sibili gogo?"
"Inyanisi. Akuqalwa ukudelela isiko. Lisiko leli MaBhebhe akuthakathwa muntu,
asonto embi lakancane".
"Hayi gogo mina ngangithande ukuhlolisisa izinto andubana ngizenze. Kuvele kusukela
ngaphi, kutheni?"
"Ah uthi lawe uyabuza kakhulu yini! Kulungile ngizakutshela. Kodwa angisoze
ngikutshele ukuthi phakathi kuyabe kusenziwani. UNaTshalisi kumele kube nguye
okulandisela konke mzwana welanga, kungasenani, ngizakutshela isizatho kayi
umcimbi ngokwawo, angifuni kuphambanisa lapha. Wena omele ungithembise khona
yikuthi awusoze utshele muntu, ngitsho uNeneza imbala, uyangizwa NaXolani?"
"Ngiyalizwa gogo".
Ukwenda lokhu! Babevele bangitshela ngakithi ngisizakwenda ngesikhathi bengilaya
ukuthi akubuyelwa emuva. Ngingathola kuvukwa ebusuku kuyiwa loya lami ngitshone
khona ngingabuzi, ngoba ngasengizikhethele.
UCharlie ngale eshaweni wayemi mpo ngaphansi kwamanzi, engagezi. He was asking
himself so many questions, after istatement athole uMaMkhwananzi engibuza sona
ukuthi uXolani ngowakoDliwayo yini.
- UBeauty phela asomuntu lwana othandaza kakhulukazi ukuthi sengaze ale
umcimbinyana ongatsholutho, its not like its a bad thing, its just protecting
abantwana bakoDliwayo?
- What if ugogo eqinisile ngombuzo wakhe ukuthi uXolani angabe engasowakoDliwayo
yikho esala ukwenza umcimbi?
- Khonale eGweru was she faithful, Its not like we were struggling financially, okokuthi
wayesengaze ahambe khatshana khonale esiyasebenza.
- Indlela aphethe ngayo amatwins iyasolisa. Ubathanda ingani nguXolani. What if
uvala indaba zakhe?
He stayed in the shower for a good 2 hours, kakho lowamqoqodelayo ukuthi
amkhangele ukuba konke kulungile ngoba lami ngapha I was absorbed engxoxweni
yami logogo.
"Kuthiwa kudaladala ukhokho kakhokho waboyihlozala wabulala indoda eyayisebenza
lapho iselusa inkomo. Wayemtshaye elahle inkomo emadlelweni amalanga amabili
elandelana. Ububi obabakhona yikuthi wayezidlele amabele umuntu omdala
ezidakelwe, wathatha ugodo inkalakatha wamtshaya ekhanda lapha kanye, wahle
waqanda umuntu wemzini. Kubo kalobaba owayesethule wayenguye yedwa umtwana
owayekhona, wayengathathanga elokhu ehlala emzini kayise lonina. Nguye
owayebakhangele sebezigugele. Kuyikuthi babekade belokhu bemncenga ukuthi
athathe umfazi ukuze isibongo sakibo singafi, pho ke lemali yokulobola wayengelayo.
Yiyo ayezama ukuyikhanda lapha koDliwayo. Esefile ke, abakibo babevele
bengabhodwa. Basebethumela uZimu olwaqalisa ukuqeda abantu bakoDliwayo.
Kwabakubi sibili ngoba kwakusidla kakhulu amadoda, labantwana abangabafana.
Kwadingwa ke inyanga enkulu eyabayiyo eyasizayo, yakwazi ukukuqeda lokho, kodwa
kwasomele kwenziwe ke umcimbi ebantwaneni basekhaya bonke abazalwayo".
I was so perplexed. Ngasengethukile, I usually heard of such stories, okunye
ngangikubona kumaNigerian movies, I never thought it could be real. UZimu! I always
thought yinunu eyayisidla abantwana kunganekwane. Lokhu engangiqeda kukuzwa
kwakuhlasimulisa igazi.
"Uyazwisisa ke MaBhebhe? Asobuthakathi lobu. Yisintu nje esaqalwa emva kwengozi
eyenzakalayo ukuvikela imuli yakoDliwayo."
"Ngi, ngiyezwa gogo, manje thina omalukazana singenangaphi ngoba asisibo
bakoDliwayo? Sesisenziswa izinto ezingaphathelananga lathi."
"Heheheee! UMaBhebhe bakithi! Imbuzo yakho. Angithi wacolwa ngenyongo
koDliwayo wena? Ungowakhona uphelele.
Lokho kwenziwelwa ukuthi abakoDliwayo abantwana abangamankazana bangakhula
bayahamba bayekwenda. Bayabesebesenza okwasemendweni wabo".
Ngakhangela uXolani owayelele ezandleni zami ngezwa ngifikelwa yikwesaba,
losatane wanyenyeza endlebeni zami, I heard him vividly esithi,
'voila, there you have it, do the deed or else you will lose your precious Xoxo'.
Ngambamba ngamkokotela ngaze ngaphumisela u'noooo'.
"Ih! MaBhebhe sokutheni?"
"Akulalutho gogo. Ngizathi ukucabanga ngakho besengilitshela kusasa. Kuyangesabisa
kodwa sengimbaxambili. Ngihlutshwa yikuthi mina ngakhula ngakithi umuthi uzila,
kwayo ntolwane lesihaqa vele sasingathinti. Sasiphila ngomthandazo kuphela".
"Hawu MaBhebhe lathi siyakhonza nje, akulanto embi ekuvikeleni imuli?
LoNkulunkulu ngethemba uyazwisisa".
"Hayi gogo, uNkulunkulu uphezukwakho konke, ngitsho lakho ukufa lokho yena
uyakunqoba, kungazange kwenziwe lamcimbi"
"Mtanomtanami, sengikutshelile ngoba ubuzile, thina sasingaphiwa lethuba
lokuphikisa sasitshona khona, ngesonto sivuke sisiya esontweni, akulalutho olubi
lapho ngikholwe. Bathi uNkulunkulu unceda ozincedayo".
"Umzwangedwa wami kodwa uyala salukazi".
Ugogo uMamkhwananzi wayengizwisisa, saxoxa kuhle ngakho loba nje wayevuke
ngolaka ekuqaliseni hinting ukuthi ireason I could be refusing was because I knew that
Xolani was not umtwana walapho ekhaya. Sengimchasisele kuhle indlela engangikhule
ngayo wazwisisa. She quickly brushed away the thought yokuthi asowakoDliwayo.
Sesivumelene ukuthi ngangizacabanga ngakho, sasesizixoxela ngokunye andubana
sengithembise njalo ukuthi angisoze ngithi vu engutsheliweyo emuntwini. My
weakness was uZodwa, kodwa I had to promise myself as well ukuthi isifuba kuzamele
ngisivale ngigqibe sibili, nxa sesitshisa ngisithobe. Uvalo lwalungivavatha lona.
Ngingasakwazi ukuthi ngenzeni. Kube worse nxa ngingakhangela uXolani. Ngisagxile
emicabangweni yami ngethuswa yisitshebo esasesinukelela, uSazini esezewafraya
waqeda, nxa ngisithi ngiyakhangela ekitchen ngathola esebonda imbiza yesitshwala.
Isitshebo eseqedile ukupheka.
"Hawu suhle wapheka ntombendala?"
"Ngithe ngisithi ngizelitshela ukuthi isitshebo sesivuthiwe lamanzi esitshwala sebila
ngathola liphakathi kwenkulumo ngavela ngazaqedisa."
"Kanti manje wasuhlanganisa imbhida lenyama, uSaXolani uthanda kuhlukanisiwe
phela Sazie".
"Hihihii, namuhla udliwe yivoti ubhudi. Mina, lani, logogo sithanda nxa
kuhlanganisiwe".
"Hahahaaa! Ya uqinisile uzabastrong, ngiyabonga shuwa. Ithi ngimchecke kunini
egeza?"
Ngangihleka kodwa ngingahleki. Ngangizibuza ukuthi kanti why do things have to be
this complicated? Ngifike ngiqoqode ebathroom.
"Hawu babe, yini engaka oyigezayo, kanti awugezanga ekuseni? Ayacharger phela
amanzi ah ah!"
"Sengizaqeda".
Ngahamba ngayahlala phansi sengilinde lo ogeza okungapheliyo, lesitshwala ukuthi
sitswinye besengiphakulula. Ngathi ngimuzwa ephuma ngahle ngayathatha amanzi
okugeza izandla.
Sadla kuxoxa mina logogo kuphela uCharlie zwi. He still seemed offish, manje
kwakungagubuzeleki mhlalokho ngenxa kaMaMkhwa. There was only one answer to
his mood swing. Amalobolo abantwana.
"Kanti Neneza wathula kangaka uright mtanomtanami?"
"Hayi gogo ngiright, yikuthi izinto zinengi mani, zingisanganisa ikhanda".
"Ucabanga unyoko? Umtwana ongumfana vele wenzanjalo, awuphambanisanga
ngitsho fanami. Nxa esefuna ukwenda angithi kuyakhulunywa kuhle, hayi ingcekeza le
ayenza endlini yomtanami? Vele ungavumi wena ukuthi undoda lowo angene laphana.
Ungibize futhi nxa ekwehlula. Khona vele ulomlandu omkhulu unyoko. Ngingafa
angithi nguye okumele asale esenza umcimbi. Ngikubeka emahlombe akho ukuthi
ungayivumeli lento iqhubekela phambili. Uyangizwa Thulani, mncm! wena Tshalisi?"
"Ngicabanga ukuthi uzwile gogo. Otherwise kuzachitheka izitshebo, yikungidelela
khonokhuyana abakwenzayo endlini."
"Pho ke abantwana uzathini ngabo, njengoba bengitshilo uku........"
"Imali ayikho gogo futhi angiboni uNakaLerato ezakwanisa ukubakhangela.
Usezithengisela kulezinsuku estendini sakhe eflea market so........"
"Ah babe, ukwazelangaphi wena khonokho ukuthi kulezinsuku?"
"Wangitshela leliyana langa ngisiyamdropper, sizixoxela"
"Wooo! Okay"
"Manje phela mtanami khonokho osukutsho akudingi thina ukuthi abantwana
bazakhangelwa njani ngubani. Thina okwethu yikukhipha okubizwayo besesithatha,
ngoba lokhu elikwenzileyo livumelana lonyoko kuzaliphendukela kusasa. Vele nje
yikubhuda, kwakungamelanga bavume lokuthi sibenze umcimbi bengalotsholwanga,
yikuthi kwaba yisiphangiphangi sokuthi basebegula."
"Sizalungisa salukazi singahlanganisa amacent"
"Ye ababuyele ke tanotanami. Ngiyazi izinto esizikhulumayo thina abadala azizwisiseki
kwesinye isikhathi, kodwa sibadala kuqakathekile ukuthi lilalele, lenze njengoba
sisitsho."
"Siyezwa gogo, ngizadlula ngikhulumisana laye kusasa nxa ngitshayisa ukuthi alungise
umuntu ozabesala labo. Baze badubeka shuwa abantwana, ukube besiwa le lale. Ayi!
Salukazi ngitshone ngidlala epark mina namuhla wothini ngiyephumula, lilale kuhle
ntombendala, sizabonana nxa ngitshayisa kusasa".
"Kulungile bhoyi, lawe ulale kuhle."
Sasala sibukele iTV sixoxa, ngasengivalelisa ke lami ngoba ngangizavukela ngakusasa.
Ngathi ngifika ebedroom ngathola ekhangele uCharlie. Ulele ukhangele phezulu ku
ceiling.
"Hawu awukalali? Don't worry, izahlangana imali. Kumbe sithengise imota eyodwa?"
"Kanti vele umusa wakho ngowani? Is Xolani my child?
 EPISODE NINE BOOK TWO
"What! Is that a joke or something?"
"Ngikubuzile, phendula umbuzo."
"Mnxm! Ungazongibangela umsindo mina lapha. Nxa kuyikuthi wena uhamba ujuja
abafazi lapha ngaphandle, mina ayisikho engikwenzayo".
"Manje yindaba ungafuni kwenziwe umcimbi kuXolani?"
"Where is this coming from? Why are you talking as if I'm the only one in this,
savumelana angithi ukuthi asoze siwenze?"
"Mina I don't have any problem with it, it has always happened ngkhaya. Sakhula
sikubona. Tell me the real reason why ungafuni?"
"Charlie this is the last straw. I have had it with you. Kunini ngikubekezelela
ngebehaviour yakho? Kunini? I have put up with a lot ku marriage yonaleyi, because I
love you, I thought we could beat anything. Sometimes its hard to look at those kids,
they are a constant reminder of your infidelity. Kubuhlungu Charles, but ngiyaginya
ilitshe and focus on what is good. Now you are asking me........"
"I only asked you one question, wonke lomndendende osuwukhuluma sungowani?"
"I'm not going to answer that coz it seems like your mind is made up."
"Was I going to ask you if I had the answer. Kuhlala kuthiwa umama nguye owazi uyise
womtwana. Khuluma."
"We are living in the 21st century Charles hamba esibhedlela uye checker."
Ngaqeda ukugqoka inight dress ngangena engutsheni ngalala, yena ke kabuquthanga,
lasa elikamlimu elokhu etshibilika. Ngabe ugogo wayengekho ngangizamxotsha
ayelala esitting room ngoba he was disturbing my sleep. Ngalala ngicaphukile, savuka
ekuseni kungekho okhuluma lomunye.
My mind was so disturbed lemsebenzini ngaphosa ngahlaba umtwana ijekiseni
engayisiyo. Ngafonela uMaMfundisi ngacela ukuzembona nxa ngingatshayisa.
Ngangingazi ukuthi ngenzeni ngomcimbi. As a spiritual mother she was the best
person to advise me, futhi ngangimethemba.
Ngafonela uSazini ngathi azise ugogo ukuthi ngizaphuza ukufika ngifuna ukudlula
eNkulumane 12 after work.
Ngafika khona ngathola umfundisi kuthiwa kakho uyebamba irevival EGwanda iviki
yonke, ethi ngibelenhlanhla ukuthi yena ngimthole, uphenduke ngalelolanga ekuseni
ngoba kuyi consultation day eSt Columbas, esikolo okwakufunda khona abantwababo
ababili. Sesinatha itiye ngaqalisa ke udaba engangilulandile, kodwa
ngangingazimiselanga ukuchasisa okunengi ngenxa yesethembiso sami kugogo. Phela
abafundisi kwesinye isikhathi uyamtshela udaba lwakho uzwe esesenza ireference
ngakho epulpit even though engasoze atsho ibizo.
"Mama lapha ngileproblem, angazi kumbe lingangincenda."
"Mina akukho engingakunceda ngakho Mrs. Dliwayo, uNkulunkulu nguye olamandla
akho konke".
"Liqinisile bakithi, ezami indubo zihlala ziselekana imihla lamalanga".
"Vele khonokho ungaqali ukukukhuluma ngowakho umlomo. Kuthiwa life and death
lies in the power of the tongue, by saying that, you're calling those problems ukuthi
zibuye sibili ziselekana".
"Amen! Ey! Ngiyezwa mama."
Ngilandise udaba lwami lomcimbi ngitsho lokutsho ukuthi isizatho sawo ngisitsheliwe
kodwa angeke ngisilandise ngoba siyimfihlo. Azwisise laye kodwa ame ngokuthi
ngingawenzi umcimbi nxa umzwangedwa wami usala.
"MamuDliwayo, these are things that seem clean but they are not, for example,
kulento le eyokwethesa abantwana inkanda. It seems clean but kulezinto
ezikhulunywayo lapho during the process, kuba luphawu olufakwayo abantu
bengananzeleli. Those words carry a lot of weight, zimlandele umtwana aze abe
lixhegu kumbe isalukazi nxa zingasaqanyulwanga endleleni.
Njengabazalwane kumele sime emthandazweni, because there are so many myths
surrounding onana lapha phandle ngenxa yokuthi babuthakathaka, so by doing all
that kuthiwa its protecting them, but God and Him alone gives life. Kadingi
kuncediswa ngemisizi. As long as you know ukuthi your prayer life is strong qhubeka,
lapho oba weak khona sikhona thina abazalwane siyabambisana, we lift you up
siqhubekeni. Pray for wisdom and strength mtakababa. Lokuthi nje abadala
bakuzwisise ukuthi ingani ungawufuni umcimbi. Konke lokhu kugiqele kuJehova,
ungazihluphi nje langakho."
"Ah! Uyazi it was the best decision ukuthi ngizekhuluma lani ngoba sengisizakele
lobanje uDliwayo esecabanga ukuthi ngaliswa yikuthi mhlawumbe uXolani
asomtanakhe".
"Oh! Nkosiyami! Kodwa he is just a man, and ngicabanga ukuthi it's actually
reasonable ukuthi acabange njalo given the fact yokuthi kubo kuyakhonzwa and
umcimbi has been done forever, kaboni cala kiwo. Umxolele shuwa. Just assure him,
futhi kungakukhathazi lokho ngitsho."
"Mina kungicaphulile sibili ngize ngafisa ukuthi ngabe ngiyamxotsha endlini, kusize
ukubakhona kukagogo, ngihloniphe yena."
"Put yourself in his shoes mamakhe and tell me what you would have done wena
unguye."
Ngicabange okwesikhatshana.
"Yeah liqinisile yazi! Kodwa phela ngabe ungibuze kuhle, hayi ukulahlela nje ingani
ukhuluma lesihlahla."
"Hahahaaaa! Uyakwazi ukuthi thina omama are so loving and tolerant, yikho
lebhayibhilini kwabaseEfesu God instructed only men to love, ngoba kithi its in our
nature to love which in turn makes it easy for us to forgive them even of their
infidelities but bona angake akukhande uhle akwenyanye khonapho khonapho.
Umtshado uyachitheka."
"Hayi badalwe kubi ke! Phela if we were to behave njengabo ngabe akulamtshado
omileyo."
"Very good, you're the backbone of the family Mrs Dliwayo. Mina kodwa into
uNkulunkulu engizafike ngimbuze yona ezulwini yikuthi yindaba wathi amadoda
zinhloko? Hahahaaaa hayi ah! Indoda nxa iyodwa akulanto ehamba ilunge nyanisi! We
are the drivers of our homes, serious".
"Yikho kuthiwa, behind every successful man there is a woman."
"You see?"
" Ngiyabonga shuwa, may God richly bless you for your wisdom, kungasizeluleko zenu
ngabe sengabuyela koBhebhe mina."
"Ahhh! Nc! Okwenzakala ngemva kwemiduli leyi kuyesabeka mamakhe. Yikuthi
abantu nje abakhulumi, sibabona bebahle behleka lapha phandle. Kuyavutha emizini
lapha. Umanqoba ngumthandazo nje zwi."
"Sizaqhubeka siguqa shuwa. Lingadinwa ngathi phela sizabe lokhu sibuya sizobuza
amadirections".
"Two are better than one ntombenhle, anytime. Asikhuleke ungakahambi".
Ngahamba sengisizwa ngcono ngemva komkhuleko opowerful esaba lawo.
Ngasengihlela ukuthi njengoba inyanga ezayo yayisiza nje. Kumele ngibophe ibhanti
ngibhekane lomdali wami ngqo.
I was determined to pray and fast the whole month ngisidla ntambama kuphela. As
much as I was not prepared ukwenza umcimbi womtwana, lami kwakusendleleni
ukuthi yimi engizabe sengiwenza uLizbethi angabhubha. That was a big nooo! Worse
kuthiwa it was an instruction from inyanga. Yikho nje bonke abantwana bakuleyo
family ngitsho lama cousins akhona something was not right. Kutshukuthi it was
emanating from umcimbi lowo. Phela usatane kalanto yamahara, you pay. Ngahamba
ngibadobha one by one engibaziyo scrutinising their lives. UAunt waboCharlie
uStshengisiwe kuthiwa died without any kids, engendanga. Ubabazala wami died
esasemncane before even reaching 40 watshiya uNaCharlie ekhulisa yedwa
abantwana. Ubabomdala kaCharlie wayelabantwana 6 yonke labomama
abehlukeneyo, elokhu engathathanga, yikho indaba yomcimbi yacina iseqela
kuNaCharlie. UThembi nangu, uvala ngesikolo, owathi akufundwa umuntu
esemendweni ngubani? Ubabomncane uEliot uhlupheka okokucina, kwaphela indaba
yeWenela kwabayikho yikho, umfazi wacina esemuka labantwana wabuyela kubo.
UThulani died at such a young age. UCharlie wami laye ungani ubalekelwa zingqondo
sometimes. An intelligent handsome man like him. This curse must be broken. Its for a
reason why kubeyimi engivuleka amehlo ngakho, Xolani is not going to be done and I
will not do it.
Ngafika endlini ngathola uCharlie engakabuyi, wayethe uzadlula ngakunakaLerato
emtshela ukuthi sezaphendukisa abantwana. Ibirthday yabo yesibili yayizaba
ngolwesithathu olulandelayo. With so much going on, it was not going to be
celebrated. Mina into yokusolwa ukuthi uXolani wayesecatshangelwa ukuthi
asowalapho ekhaya ayizange isangihlupha ngoba ngasengibonile ukuthi umkami
kazenzi indlela aye behaver ngayo. Plus I was sure ukuthi angenzanga lutho, nxa
eqhubeka ngensolo zakhe ngangimkhulula ukuthi ayekwenza amapartenity tests
ukuze abelesiqiniseko.
"Gogo litshonenjani namuhla?"
"Sitshonile mtanomtanami laboXolani lapha sitshone sidlala, lina ke Bhebhe?"
"Sitshonile, ukudinwa kuphela salukazi".
"Awu, phepha shuwa Manzinda. Ukungajayeli ukutshona umuntu elandelana
lomthunzi, ngithe ngisithi ngelule inyawo ngaya emagrosa ngibelethe uXolani,
isimanga, kulomunye umakhelwane wethu ekhaya owatshiywa yindoda wasesiza hlala
lomtanakhe edolobheni. Ngimangele ngimbona, ulenqola emsikeni laphana eceleni
kwemagrosa. Uyathengisa, wosa lomumbu."
"Shuwa gogo?"
"Yeeee! Uthi kwamehlula ukuvuka elele wacina ebona kungcono athole okokwenza,
ngithabe okunye ngimbona. Ngimtshelile ukuthi abazukulu bami bahlala eduzane
khonapha, lani liboyamkhulumisa shuwa. Umuzi wakhe wawuthengisa esesele
yedwa."
"Sizamdinga sibili salukazi."
"Angajabula shuwa nkosiyami."
"Gogo. Indaba yomcimbi ngiyicabangisisile, asiweqenini kuXolani".
"MaBhebhe! Ungalibali futhi ukuthi umuzi wonke wakoDliwayo thina singadlula
emhlabeni uyabe ususezandleni zakho?"
""Ye! ngiyalizwa sibili angisoze ngiqhubeke ngokuwenza isikhathi sakhona singafika,
angeke ngikukwanise gogo. Khululekani akulalutho oluzayenzakala, izolo uNeneza
ubesengithonisisa ukuthi umtwana ngowakhe yini yindaba ngisala. Ngimkhululile
ngathi kahambe ayechecker esibhedlela nxa engangikholwa kodwa ngisama
ngamazwi ami ukuthi siweqe."
"Esibhedlela? Bakubona njani khonokho MaBhebhe?"
"Bathatha igazi, amathe kumbe inwele zomtwana loyise besebefaka emtshineni, wona
yiwo osuzatsho ukuthi kuyafanana kumbe hatshi!"
"Ah ah ah! Wena mtwana! Yizinto zesikhiwa shuwa! Thina sakhula kuthiwa ezalelwe
esibayeni ngeyakho, heeeee! Ngabe kwakukhona lokhu kudala, sasizakubona
okukhulu batayi."
"Kuthiwa yi DNA testing gogo, ivele ikhuphe iqiniso lonke."
"Ah! Ungitshelokunye! Asazi ke Bhebhe, angeke ngikulwise, uXolani lo ngumtanakho.
Ngiyakuzwa okutshoyo, lami nginje ngilwela abalala kwesami lesi. Yikho ubona
ngihlala ngidobhana loNaneza."
"Hayi gogo lingabokulwa laye abantu sitshiyene, senza izinto ngokuhlukana."
"Wabalenhlanhla lwana wenda uyisemkhulu kaNeneza esebhubhile, wayengawafuni
amahole, khangela ubabomdala kaTshalisi kalamfazi. Umama womtanakhe wokuqala
wayengowakoNcube, lala ixhegu lathi emzini wakhe akuqalwa, walandela
ngoMaNdlovu kwabayisoleso, wacina ekhalala."
"Hahahahahaaa thina oMaBhebhe sasizangena sigijima".
"Ye wayethi ufuna amaNguni kuphela. Awuboni mina ngangena khoxo! Kusukela
kudala vele labokhokho bakhona babengavumi. Ingani mina ngakithi lami ubaba
wayengeke avume ngendele emaholeni."
"Ah gogo lokho akusebenz..........."
Kwangena uCharlie sisaxoxa ethwele isifuba. Ngaze ngabuza ukuthi kwenzenjani,
ubone umuntu ofileyo yini? Wajikela amakhiye phansi etafuleni wathela amanzi
wankunkuluza wasethatha a deep breath
"ULerato uphumile ngeparole".
"Ah! Charlie, kodwa ngizwile izolo kunews kuthiwa sokugcwele kakhulu emajele,
abalamacala angatheni bazabadedela."

EPISODE TEN BOOK TWO

"Kuyini ipharo bazukulu?"
"Iparole gogo. Yikudedela abantu emajele isikhathi ababesigwetshiwe singakapheli."
"Ah! Manje kutshoni khonokho? Kuhle kumbe kubi?"
Sakhangelana loCharlie, kakho owamphendulayo ugogo.
"Manje wena uzwe ngobani?"
"Ngidlule eflea market, ngathola istand sivaliwe, oseceleni wathi uNaLerato utshayise
masinyane ngoba kufike uLerato, bahle baya endlini, so lami ngasengisiya khona
koNaLerato."
"Umbonile manje wena?"
"No, I was not interested at all, ngifike ngafonela umamakhe sengisegedini waphuma
sazakhulumela emoteni."
"Neneza kanti unjani sibili umthetho wakho? Indaba eziqakatheke kangaka zake
zakhulunyelwa emoteni? Asikudelela nje khonokhu?"
"Hayi gogo ngiyabengingena ngisiyadingani lapho mina?"
"Heeeeee! Zithulele mtakaMkhwananzi, kuzathiwa usuthe!"
Uthi uCharlie wakhuluma laye uNakaLerato wazwisisa, watshiya ethembise ukuthi
uzabaletha ngesonto ntambama.
Emva kokudla kwakusihlwa singakalali, ugogo wacela indlela ngakusasa ethi
usekhumbula emzini wakhe. Wasicela ukuthi sibovakatsha lathi ekhaya lezizukulwane
zakhe azifundise impilo yemakhaya, hayi ukubonela inkomo lembuzi kubomaTV.
UCharlie wamangaliswa yikuthi ugogo sehamba kulokhu kumnandi kungaliwa phezu
kwendaba yomcimbi engangisala ukuwenza. Wayengafuni ukuyivusa phambi kwakhe,
walinda ukuthi sibesodwa ebedroom.
"MaBhebhe, licine ngani ngendaba yomcimbi logogo?"
"First things first, kumele uyekwenza amatests loXolani, ngoba ama accusations akho
awangiphathanga kuhle neze. Futhi I'm not going to justify or explain myself ngoba
akulanto engiyifihlayo".
"But do you blame me for asking you, ngoba izolo ngithole ugogo esithi nxa umtwana
lo uqinisile ukuthi ngowakoDliwayo walelani, so I quickly added u 2 lo 2 ngaphuma lo
4"
"No no no! You added 2 and 2 waphuma lo 73. Way off the line Charlie, langendlela
ongibuze ngayo, it was appalling. How could you?"
"Ok ok, I get it, I quickly jumped the gun, I was.........
"As always. Always jumping the gun, when are you going to learn ukuthi thinking
comes first before talking or acting? How many times am I going to put up with this?
How many Charlie?"
"Ngiyaxoli....."
"Ukuxolisa kwakho is now beginning to lose its meaning"
"I was confused okay!"
"Uhlala udidekile nje wena! My advise, next time nxa uconfused phuma ubethwe
ngumoya engadini uthi usuphenduka ukuzokhuluma. Mina ngazi ukuthi amadoda
aqala ahluzisise izinto before ekhuluma kumbe esenza, wena uphombukubhudlukela
kuphela. What kind of a man does that?"
Ngathi qaqabu amazwi lawo esephumile emlonyeni wami, that basically implied
ukuthi he was not a man enough. Bad move. I had learnt over the years that men and
their ego, ungadlaleli khona, staying with a man olecrushed ego is far worse than
lokhu engasengikubonile in my marriage. Women tend to talk too much sicine
sesikhuluma izinto ezingayisizo thinking siyalungisa kanti we are actually destroying
and burying our husbands. Ngangiqeda kukhuzwa nguMaMfundisi ngokunaka izinto
eziphuma emlonyeni wami, kodwa nanku ngasengiphinda. Ngazikhuza.
"Ok! Ukuthi wonke umuntu abe free laphekhaya, dinga ilab."
"Its fine Beauty, we dont have to do it, I was only asking based on what I heard
ngalendaba yomcimbi and all came crushing on me".
"Anyway, ugogo uzamhambisa erenkini kusasa?"
"Ungijumile, I have a presentation kusasa ekuseni, ibhasi yakhe ingasikhathi bani?"
"Its okay, ngizamhambisa ke mina, I'll ask uSister Mhlophe to cover for me."
"Akungitshele, ibhunu lakithi leli elingugogo wami ulinikani likuzwisiza kangaka? Phela
ngokumazi kwami ngabe kuchitheke izitshebo ngendaba yomcimbi, kodwa nangu
she's still eating out of your hand".
"Mina logogo singabeskhosini, amanguni phela, amagazi ethu ayawelelalana".
"Asazi! Phela thina simazi ngokubalibhunu elingathintwayo".
"She's a sweetheart"
"Hmmm!"
"Charlie we have to be serious about prayer. I don't how you will take this, but I think
we should engage maybe another couple echurch or better still we look for prayerful
people in your family and we pray".
"Siyakhuleka nsukuzonke nje, sokutheni sokumele sibize ilima?"
"We are breaking a strong cycle of umcimbi here. Do you think usatane uzakujabulela
khonokhu? U 'Our Father' lo 'God bless our food' lowu esimenzayo awusoze
usisendawo, kumele silwe, sizile ukudla. We are in for a warfare".
"Ok, I hear you. Asicele abafundisi, yibo abangagcina lokho njengemfihlo, I don't trust
abanye abantu".
"Kulungile."
Kwalalwa itension isiyehlile koDliwayo lapha. Ukuthathela izinto khatshana
kukaCharlie this time came as a blessing. Into engangiyikhulume ngazikhuza kiyo
wayengayidobhanga.So he was not affected by it, ngoba vele wayengangizwanga.
I can't say things we ok after that. At least we were talking, that was better.
Ngavuka ekuseni ngaya emsebenzini. Ngafika ngamakisa iregister ngasengigijimela
koHyper ukuyadobhela ugogo igrocery. Ngamhambisa erenkini, wahamba ejabulile
okunye ngoba ngimngenele lakoBata ngamdobhela osebele. Ngamthembisa ukubuya
sizovakatsha singathola ithuba.
Ntambama kwafona uNaCharlie esithi uLerato ufikile ezobona abantwana ehamba
lomnawakhe wasecela ukuhamba labo kodwa umncitshile.
"Kanti uLerato uyahlanya sibili, unina kamtshelanga ukuthi ukuthi abantwana
ngizabaletha ngesonto?"
"That's Lerato for you Charlie, sike saphumula idrama yakhe bakithi, angakhohlwa
phela ukuthi ukuParole. One mistake nje bayambisela ngaphakathi".
"Mncm! That will be good riddance, I simply cannot stand the sight of that woman".
Ngenhliziyo ngathi 'ohooooo, kuhlale kunjalo, khathesi uzakubulala okwamaqiniqini'.
Friday ntambama ngahamba ngayalanda amaphahla lempahla zabo zonke. Ngathola
uNaTshali eseluka ikhanda. KuloSisi welayinini owayeseluka kuhle kakhulu, wayefaka
irazor cut. Ngahleka ngedwa ukuthi esimamazala simisana lathi ngezitayila.
"Liyaphila MaBhebhe?"
"Siyaphila mama, unjani umsebenzi?"
"Khonokho".
"Unjani uMaDlie labokhekhe laba?"
"Uyaphila uThembi kakatshayisi, labo uNkazana usabalungisa izikhwama kodwa zona
sezipakitshiwe, zisesitting room. Uthi sizabakhumbula yini!"
"Sizabe sibatshintshana ngamaweekends gogola".
"Kanti shuwa uLerato! Kuyini khonokhuyana MaBhebhe? Ijele uyesabe sibili. Umnyaka
phela awuzange ugoqe ephakathi. Asokuwohloka lokhuyana".
"Shuwa Mama? Kanti vele wafika wathini lapha?"
"Ungani yisalukazi esafelwa yindoda nyakana, esihlala emajokotshokweni emaguswini
khonale. uTshalisi nxa engambona uzazenyanya yena kuqala. Heeeeeee! Lina shuwa!
Lokhuyana okunjeyana angikaze ngikubone".
"Shuwa mama?"
"Angazi ukuthi ungambona njani ukuze ungikholwe. Wafika lapha egoqe umsila ethi
uzebona abantwana, wakhala okuzwayo wasecela ukuthi ahle ahambe labo,
ngamncitsha, kazange alwe lokulwa wabonga wasevalelisa".
"Angihawukeli lokumbona loyo".
Ngangisenga ezimithiyo ke lapho, ngasengifuna ukumbona khathesi more than ever.
Kodwa ngangizaqala ngaphi ukumbona. Ngasengidecider ukufonela umzawami ngoba
amaqhinga ahlala ekhona kuye. Plotting and scheming was her game, mina lapho ke
ngangiyimpumputhe uqobo lwayo.
Bajabula bengibona abantwana, babekuthakazelela lokuvakatsha. In actual fact, they
were happy kids, one couldn't hate them even if they tried. They were angels.
Sebehlezi bazinza emoteni, sengisiya thatha isikhwama sokucina endlini.
"MaBhebhe, kambe susekela ezakwakho zisiyavusa umsindo esikolo. Nxa
engasakhuzwanga nguwe uzakhuzwa ngubani? Phela mina kasangilaleli?"
"Ah, likhuluma ngani manje mama?"
Wangificela ilihlo lesayini yokuthi akukhulumeki ngenxa kamameluka. Lami
ngayidobha.
"Ngiza fona mbayimbayi lingilandisele".
"Kanti kakutshelanga? Ufike ubuze yena, mina ngathi ngimbuza ngakho waphika."
"Lingitshela okunye. Ngizafika ngimbuze angayala ukungitshela ngizalifonela,
angiselankani. Khona vele emalangeni zibamba ziyekela".
"Hahahahaaaa! Ngumtanami ke lowo ngiyamazi, kuzaphela. Kuyabuya kuphinde
kuhambe."
"Manje thina oMaBhebhe siyabe singaphi ngamamoods akhe wonalawa. He must get
his act together mani. By the way ugogo uhambile ekhaya, izolo angisalitshelanga
laphana lize lifone."
"Ah ngizake ngiphefumule, bengilokhu ngihlezi ngesibunu esisodwa, ngisithi
ngizambona esethutshile khonapha eLobengula".
Ngahleka ngaze ngakhala inyembezi.
" Angihlalanga mama ngiyagijima, kufiwe komakhelwane kumele ngiyencedisa
ekuphekeni".
Ngasengivalelisa. UNkazana osebenzayo wayethe uzamgcina, kasoze amekelise
umsebenzi njengoba amatwins esehambile. Ngoba wayesethola isikhathi
sokuphumula laye nxa evela emsebenzini, babezancedisana ukumbhadala beloThembi
as it was also giving her more time with her work and studies, than ukubefika epheka
ewatsha lokuklina.
Ngathola uCharlie esefikile, wayedlala loXolani ebedroom, ngafika ngavalela lalaba
engangibuye labo ngaqonda ekitchen ukuyalungisa ukudla kwantambama. Sasandise
ukupheka inyama yenkukhu le rice every second and last Friday of the month. USazini
lezo vele wayehle abalekele khatshana. Ngangimcele ukuthi angikhiphele inkukhu
ayigezise akhiphe iziboyaboya leziyana ezisalelayo enkukhwini zemafrijini,
abesekhetha lerice ayigezise.
Sesiqedile ukudla abantwana loSazini sebelele. Sasisabukele iTV singajahanga kuyalala
ngenxa yokuthi ngakusasa sasingayindawo kungumgqibelo.
"Kanti Charlie wenzeni esikolo?"
"Esikolo sanga? Uzweni?"
"Ungazibuzisi, umama ungitshelile ukuthi wahamba wayavusa umsindo esikolo."
"I just went to have a man to man chat with that man that's all, utheni umama?"
"Charlie, ezinye izinto liboyekela eqinisweni. Umama ngumuntu omdala, who knows
what is right and wrong. Please focus on your things uhlukane lomama, uzaguga
umncane ngiyakutshela".
"I just did what I had to do, I hope the message was heard".
Ngahleka ngaphakathi nxa ngicabanga ukuthi ngithole uMancree ebusy nge razor cut.
Okwakusobala ukuthi it was far far from irelationship yakhe lomaHead to be over,
ngoba kudala wayengumuntu weFreehand leqhiye.
I had sent Zodwa a message ngimtshela ngensindabaphenduli eyayikade ibatshazwa
nguLizbethi. She just told me to keep some of the clothes zabantwana
besesizihambisa thina phakathi kweviki. That seemed like a clever one.
Sunday ntambama babiselwa kunina abantwana. Again uNaLerato nguye
owabalandayo egedini kuCharlie, uLerato kambonanga. Ngolwesithathu kwakuzaba
yibirthday yaboSpoonky, so Tuesday ekuseni ngafonela uKhazi ngathi ngizadlula
ngimthatha sihambise izigqoko ezasalayo. Before I got to know ukuthi abantwana
bazabiselwa, ngangenzise amakhekhe amabili eHaefelis. Ngahamba ngayawathatha
ngisithi sizawasika ngomgqibelo bangazavakatsha.
As planned sahamba ke ntambama. Nxa sifika egedini singakangeni uZodwa decided
we take one cake with us ukuze kungakhanyi ukuthi sile agenda. It was a brilliant idea.
Sangena
 EPISODE ELEVEN BOOK TWO
Sathi siqoqoda kwavula ubhudi, kumbe ngithi umfana okhulakhulileyo ongaba kubo22,
23 years khonapho. Wayesesabeka engani ngubhinya, amehlo ebomvu gebhu,
lekuhlanzekeni lapha ingani amanzi ayengathandeki. Isihluthu ekhanda, ezikaBob
Marley ngiyakutshela. Wasingenisa esitting room, okuBobo kwathi kungibona
kwabuya kugijima bantu ngakuphakamisa. Sesihlezi phansi wabingelela ubhinya.
"Linjani bo mayisie?"
"Siyaphila singabuza wena?"
"Eh, Lifun 'umasantsho? Kakabuyi eStendini. Kodwa kuloLili, wothini ngilibizele yena
mina lingithole vele ngifunukudla bayibayi".
"Hayi kulungile ungambiza"
Angahambi ukuyambiza unkalakatha amemeze, eqondise ngasemnyango
esasiqondane lawo, kwazise kwakuyibedroom.
"Liliiiii! Kulabantu abafun 'umasalu lapha manje mina ngiyaphuma".
"Ngobani?"
"Ngomayisie abayi2, angibaqavi".
Waqeda waphuma lubhudi sasala siqhwebana lomtaka Aunt salinda ukuthi u'Lili'
aphume lapho ayecatshe khona.
Wathi evula umnyango kwaqala kwaphuma uSpoonky owabuya egijima wafika
wangeqela.
"Mamaaaaaa"
Ngaqhuba uBobo kuZodwa ngathwala inkazanyana eyaseyijabulele lalokhu esasibuye
lakho, isifuna ukuvula ikhekhe because lalivalwe ngetransparent paper leyana ethi
tshwakatshwaka. Ngisakudlaladlalisa wathutsha uLerato, wethuka esibona, wasebuya
wafika wahlala esofeni elali opposite. Wayeqgoke ijean which was meant to be a
skinny kodwa yona isizilengela, wafaka lejesi khonapho kutshisa. Ekhanda idreadlock
lalingasekho. Wena owawumazi uLerato before wawuzakwethuka sibili okwamagama.
Ngakhumbula ngosuku abuya ngalo eMganwini eqwaqwazela ezolanda impahla
zaboSpoonky, efake ilipstick eyi purple. Sengiqathanisa lalomuntu ohlezi phambi
kwami, wawungafunga ukuthi its two different people. Sasiqinisile esiNaCharlie ukuthi
ungani ngesinye isalukazi engingasaziyo. Ngilokhu ngisabalisa enhlizweni ngimangele,
ngaphaphamiswa nguye esebingelela.
"Salibonani".
"Yebo siyaphila besizoletha ikhekhe labantwana lapha, lezigqoko ezasalayo".
"Siyabonga shuwa. Ngingalenzela itiye kumbe ngithele idrin......"
"Ahhhh! Ufuna ukusifakela?"
NguZodwa lowo engahle ngamgudla ngendololwane ngisithi ngiyamthulisa.
"Khazi ungigudlelani? Silande ukuzotshiya lezizinto, nxa ufuna ukufa zinathele wedwa
mina sorry".
"Awu bantu! UCharles ngangingafuni kumbulala, kwakunguzwana mina kuphela
kodwa angisekho lapho. Angazi ngangingenwe yini".
"Yeyi! Uzwanamina wangaphi, if it was an innocent zwanamina wawuzakhuluma
ukuthi wawumthethe ngaphi ecourt, kodwa wayala angithi?"
"Telling was more riskier than keeping quiet so I chose the later".
Wayengasathambanga kanje uLerato. Ngasengize ngimzwela, manje esimzawami
asilakusasa njalo sasingawubambi umtshina.
"Siyabonga itiye kodwa asihlalanga".
Yimi lowo ngikhangela uZodwa ngelokuthi asambe. Lobanje yena wayesafuna
ukuzihlalela.
Sasukuma, sesisemnyango kwakhala okungonkabi kubona ngikutshiya. Kwakhala
unina waze wasukuma waphuma lathi esiphelekezela sazesayangena emoteni.
ULerato isibunu lesiyana ayesithi angagqoka iJean sigcwale phamu, elamathanga
ayizidudla, imigcuma leyi. Kwasokuphephuke konke.
Phela eMlondolozi kulengqwele, kuthiwa kwesinye isikhathi amalanga ayadlula
umuntu engadli ukudla konke kuphiwa ingqwele lezo. Khona yikudla kwangaphi
bakithi?
Sesisukile uZodwa wadubuka ngohleko
"Kambe shuwa amadoda alezibindi. UMzet sekewambona uLili?"
"Zodwa shuwa ungahleki, kuzwisa usizi lokhuyana".
"Lawe uthi ulosizi lokudlalisa. Phela ngimthethe umpikitsha engaboni"
"Ah Zodwaaaaaa!"
"Ngifuna ukuyatshengisa umama ukuthi abone ukuthi umkhwenyana wakhe watshiya
isqabhobho esinjengawe esiya emuntwini onje".
"Khazi shuwa ugangile. Namuhla khona sungiqede ipower. Kanti kodwa yikulunga bani
khonokhuyana?"
"Mncm! Lawe ngokuba nguSkholiwe. 2minutes umuntu selungile? A cheetah never
changes its spots".
"Hahahaa! Uzama ukuthi a leopard Khazi?"
"Ah! A cheetah also has spots mani. She's just faking it, limenemene leliyana Don't
you dare fall for her tricks."
"Mzawami umuntu uyatshintsha uyakwazi? Khangela esiNaCharlie phela
sesingabangane mina laye, who would have thought?"
"Woooooo! Wait! Angithi uyakwazi ukuthi mina angitshayi inja ngifihl 'umphini?, njalo
esami isifuba asigcini doti. Uyakwazi ukuthi ngubani owayeyiproblem phakathi
kwerelationship yakho lonyokozala?"
"Oh Dear! Here it comes. Khuluma ngilalele, ngubani?"
"Mtakamalumami phela wena uyimbulu uyazimaka. You don't want to attach yourself
to people abangasozihlobo zakho. It took years to register engqondweni yakho ukuthi
uThembi, lomamakhe are your family as well. UThuts waze wazifela yet he was
supposed to be your go to person ngoba eyindoda yakho encane".
"Hmmmmm Khazi thats not true, you're exaggerating I'm not like......."
"Give me a list of your friends kusukela usasemncane."
Ngathula ngacabanga.
"See! That alone says is. Mina abami bagcwala iguruzuzu kaSaGugu leyana eyigreen
eyayihlala iphakile opposite langakini, ngingabaqamba bonke ngamabizo
ngesiphangiphangi, i don't need to think like you're doing".
"Ok ok fine! We are not talking about me lapha, sikhuluma ngo granny Lili."
"Lowo yi main topic ake sime ngaye kancane asingene kusub title, ubhinya lwana
esihlangane laye, ngubani?"
"Mayeee! Besengisesaba ukuthi sizatshaywa izikhwama laphana, athi ukunuka isese. I
wonder bahlobene njani loLerato? Nxa engumnawakhe then kuserious phela."
"MaBhe lawe. Ngumnawakhe, awumzwanga esithi umasalu kakabuyi estendini?"
Sisakhuluma indlela sasingayiboni, dukuduku sasesifikile ngakibo kaZodwa. Ngathi
wothi ngingene ngibingelele uAunt engamthola esithi ufuna ukuya emfeni ngale duze
lakoMunyoro.
Phela emalokitshini kukalutshwane ukuthi kungabi lemfa. Kuhlala kufiwe,
kungcwatshwa. Kwesinye isikhathi uthole kubhujwe endaweni ezimbili, abantu baze
baswele ukuthi bayengaphi batshiye ngaphi, kucine kunqoba lowo osukumela abanye
labo nxa befelwe. Esintwini we cry together and we celebrate together.
"Aunt bengithi ngibingelele, ngiyadlula".
"Uyahlanya wena! Ungafuni ukungenzisa into ezilayo, umuntu kangeni endlini
aphume engafakanga lutho emlonyeni, kuyazila akuqalwa".
"Hahahahaaa Zodwa uyezwa? Wena ufike wala amatiye abanye?"
"Yeyi! Ngisafuna ukuphila mina, fana wedwa".
"Kanti likhuluma ngani? Zodwa akumphakulele inkobe lapho, angcono athwale
umphako nxa ejahile".
"Besisemalayinini. Auntie kulezinsuku alisangiphi amacimbi kumbe selifuna lami
ngithenge?"
"Heee! Mtanomnewethu iarthritis le isingihlupha izandla, angisaluki kakhulu amadoyili
ami engangithengisa ngawo, khona eKezi ebengayisiwonje lonyaka,
bengizayithaphuza imali. Kodwa akhona amalutshwane zidingele emgqonyeni ngemva
kwesivalo ekitchen."
"Auntie kodwa liyakwazi ukuthi umgqomo wenu lo wezijumba ngangiwuzonda sikhula.
Ukuzwa nje lisithi hambe mqgonyeni laphana ngangihle ngizonde ngicatshulwa yikuthi
lelolanga kutshetshwa ngomfushwa. Yikho ngangingasabuyi ukuzovakatsha".
"Uyimbulu wena, khathesi ufika lapha nguthole ukhotheme emgqonyeni wami
untshontsha imbhida yami".
"Sengiwuthanda, kodwa sikhula ngangingafuni lakuwubona, vele given a choice
khathedisi, ngabe ngidla okwesintu wayawaya".
"Awubonike! UMaNzinda uqobo. Uyabona kungaba lombhida besekusiba lamaqatha
eceleni, uqedile. Inyama akumelanga ishorte".
Sisakhuluma loAuntie uZodwa was busy efonini yakhe, angazi lokuthi wayekhuluma
lobani. Eseqedile, wajikela umamakhe ifone.
"Mama akubone umkhwenyana wakho, iziga zakhe".
"Zodwa uyahlanya, umkhwenyana wami wangaphi yenalo? Asumfazi lowu?"
"Ye phela yisikomba sikaCharles leso azala laso amatwins".
"Mnxm uyabhuda wena!"
"Angithi sivela khona khathesi, yikho lapho engifike ngala khona ukuthi senzelwe
itiye."
"Beauty, uqinisile uZodwa? Phela yena ngiyamazi."
"Ye liqiniso Auntie"
"Heeeeeee! Amadoda soo! Kambe shuwa! Lokhu yikutshiya ikhekhe endlini le6rooms
umuntu ayekudla amaqebelengwane emkhukhwini. Isalukazi lesi pho?"
"Hahahaaa Auntie ungezwa ngoZodwa umuntu lo yijele emenze so. Wayengenje"
"Uhulumende laye wenzile wabadedela, ubezafela phakathi lowu mama. Kube
wawuke wambona before ahambe ejele ngabe ubabaza into ekhona."
"Hayi! Noma sokuthwa yiJele. Kambe iklwinti elinguTshalisi Dliwayo lalingakhombisa
into enje. Ngiyala mina. Wamhambela kusiwalu."
"Akulasiwalu lapha Aunt wamkhombisa kuhle futhi. Muhle usisi lowu, wothi aqale
ahlambuluke ngizamtshontsha ngefoni lizambona ubuhle".
"Aphu! Ubuhle obudingwayo. Umuntu omuhle lanxa ungamninda ngobulongwe
ubuhle buyakhanya".
Sisakhuluma kwakhala iphone yami, kwakunguCharlie ebuza ukuthi ngingaphi,
ngamtshela ukuthi bengihambisele oSoonky ikhekhe ngasengidlula kuAunty,
wangicela ukuthi ngibingelele. Sengibikile ukuthi ngikoAunt ngazikhululeka
ngangasajahi,ngazenzela itiye nganathisa ngenkobe engasengizifake ku lunch box
ukuthi ngihambe lazo.
Saxoxa sihleka kumnandi uAuntie waze wakhohlwa ukuthi ubethe ufuna ukuyemfeni.
Lukhale futhi ucingo lukaZodwa, aphumele phandle ukuyakhuluma ngokucaphuka.
Esephandle angisendele imessage athi ngirobhe umamakhe ngiyemdropha emfeni,
okunye uzachasisa mbayimbayi and I must do it fast.
"Aunt wothini ngidlule ngilidropper emfeni, at least liyephombukuthutsha loba
umthandazo usuzaphela".
"Besengidonda, kodwa asiphumisane, ngihle ngiyekuzwa lezimemezelo zomgcwabo
ukuthi uyabekwa nini".
Saphuma sahamba, it wasn't that far, kwakungangale kweMagrosa. I couldn't go
home ngingazi ukuthi kuyini okwasekuphuthuma kangaka kuZodwa, sokuxotshwa
loAunt, ngabuyela. Ngamthola esethwele amehlo pacing up and down.
"And then? Whats going on"
"Khazi, ixhegu leliyana elecentral I'm sure lile girlfriend kwenye indawo manje umfazi
kade wayemsola ukuthi ukhonjiwe, so uca......."
"Manje wena ungena ngaphi khonapho, I hope awuso......."
"Beauty uyahlanya, ngiyalisangaphi ixhegu leliyana mina. Last week ngathi
ngisiyabhadala iaccount yami eEdgars ngatshayisana laye wasengiletha endlini, manje
ngakhohlwa incwadi yakoEdgars phakathi kwemota".
"Mayeee! ile adress.... yikho uthe ngixotshe uAunt."
"Laphana ngiphuma bekufona lona xhegu lelo lisithi umfazi usendleleni ngibaleke
ngiyecatsha, ngoba ngumai sorobhi umfazi wakhona. Uzubone, ibiqhaqhazela efonini
indoda yonke leyana."
"Manje usameleni? Asambe eMganwini".
"Angisogwala mina Beauty, impi yami ngiyayilwela, phela angimkhombanga mina
loyababa. Kabuye siqondane, angimesabi".
"Zodwa phela isandla asikapholi".
Ngisatsho njalo sabona ngemota isithi ntsii! Egedini
 EPISODE TWELVE BOOK TWO
Kwaphuma isibukubuku sikamama, esimhlophe nke! Beautiful make up, nails, hair,
outfit. Mina ngacabanga ukuthi mhlawumbe ayisuye esimlindileyo, lowu ulahlekile as
there was no way isikhukhukazi lesi singaba ngunkosikazi kamdala lowana. Esandleni
lapha kwakuligolide iminwe yonke.
UZodwa wahle wasuphuna isitina kulezi ezazigombolozele amaflawuzi duze lelonini.
Wasibamba, eseready ukugadla.
Wangena lowomama ephethe iphepha esandleni.
"Salibonani! Ngubani uZ. Khumalo phakathi kwenu? Bantu bemalokitshini lani
ukuthanda ukulwa. Sehle wakufonela uSugar Daddy wakho warning you of my coming.
Angilandanga kuzokulwa lapha, I'm not that type, lingikhangele kuhle."
"Manje ulandeni?"
Hawu! Ngowakithi sibili! Wayelukhuma kuhle ulimi futhi engakilizi. Kodwa
asokunyantikana kukamama lokhu, lesitina esasisesandleni sikaZodwa sasingamethusi
ngitsho lakancane.
"I just came to give you a friendly warning in person, ngakhuluma lawe efonini kudala
laphana kukhanya awuzwanga, suzuhamba utshiya ievidence emoteni".
Watsho lokho ejikijela uZodwa nge phepha ayeliphethe.
"Ah wena mama! Angikaze ngikhulume lawe efonini mina".
"Ulamanga lapha, ngakutshela ngathi tshiyana loChimbwido awufuni. Kuyini
okukwehlulayo? He is old enough to be your father. Yangeka mani, awulanhlo........"
"Heee! Mama! Indoda yakho leyi okhuluma ngayo angiyikhombanga, yayingifuna
kodwa he is not my class! Iyisidudla, ilesisu esikhulu, amangwambi wona ke? Please
ngicela ungihambele eyadini yami".
Watsho lokhu uZodwa esejikela istina phansi ngoba ebona ukuthi she is not violent.
"Let me tell you something. Buza abantu ngo MaiChef, akulamuntu ongangaziyo
koBulawayo ukuthi ngibenzani abanjengawe. Umbuze loChimbwido lapho elihlangana
khona ukuthi amawule akhe angaphi khathesi. Qhubeka fanami nxa ufuna ukuthwala
izigqoko ekhanda uhamba uhlabela emgwaqweni. Alingazi ngiyabona sibili".
"Yeye angikwazi futhi angilasifiso sokubakwazi. Nxa uthembe ukuloya, go ahead. Kanti
inyanga yakho ilahlekelwa yinetwork yini? Why ikulayele emuntwini orongo?
Angiyikhombanga indoda yakho futhi angikaze".
"Let this be your last warning. Uyangizwa? Or else abakini bazakulooser".
"We mfazindini! Bophela ixhegu lakho futhi uthakathe nxa ufuna uzamthola
unyanewenu. Tshiyana lami ngingakakusakazi ngesitina lesi ekhanda".
Watsho lokhu edoba isitina uZodwa, emsondelela emsikiza. Ngeqa ngangena phathi
kwabo ngabamba isandla esiphethe isitina ukuthi angaphosi. Ukuba yidrama Queen
kukamzawami, wayesebona esele audience so wayesefuna ukubukwa. OMakhelwane
basebebuthena besiya ngokugcwala egedini.
Watshibilika uMaiChef wazitshikiza ebuyela emoteni engakachithekelwa ligazi. Wafika
watshaya amakhiye emota wahamba.
Sasala simangele lomzawami.
"Zodwa shuwa! What was that?"
"Mnxm! Kangihambele khatshana khonale. Ngiyayenzani inunu yakhe mina. Mzawami,
phela lwana ukuhlangana laye edrobheni ngilala sengiphupha izitandari. What more
ebusuku ngiphaphama elele eceleni kwami. Eweeee! Ngezwa kuhlasimula igazi".
Sisamangele wafika uAunt ehaluzela. Kulomuntu owamfonelayo wathi kagijime
kungakabi lengozi kwakhe.
"Ih! Kwenzakalani?"
"Hawu mama selibizwe ngubani? Iphone yenu phela isechargeni, since izolo."
" Umtwana wekhoneni ufonele unina osemfeni emtshela ngenkemenkeme,
lowomama nguye ongitshelileyo".
"Abantu labo! Akulalalutho. Ngeyinye icustomer engingayithungelanga kuhle ngenxa
yesandla sami lesi, manje ifike yavusa umsindo, ikhanda lakhe alithathi kuhle."
"Zodwa!Zodwa! Ngizwile kuthiwa ubefuna ukukutshayela indoda yakhe".
"Mama! Selilalela oMaMgobhozi belayinini, ayisini elihlala lisithi nginga........."
"Wokheyi ke, khuluma iqiniso ngoba lokhu ongitshela khona okwe customer
kuyaziqandela, angisosithutha mina Zodwa. Beauty khulumani. Lingazozenzisa lapha.
Futhi wena angithi uvalelise kudala usadingani lapha?"
"Besengihamba vele Auntie......"
"Hlala phansi!"
Walandisa ke iqiniso lonke uZodwa. Kazange ayiphathe kodwa eyokuphiwa imali
nguChef, ngoba kwakuzoyenza ukuthi uAunt angamkholwa.
"Zodwa isandla sisalimele asikapholi, khathesi sufuna ukutshaywa utshayelwa indoda?
Khona lapho owabuya ugwazwe khona kwakungotsotsi sibili kumbe yizo zonalezi?"
"Mama, umama lo kangazi, she got her wires crossed, I can never......"
"Lapho okulentuthu khona kulomlilo. Wena vele ukhulumelani lamadoda abantu.
Umuntu nxa ekukhombisa ungamfuni uyabudlalelelani emoteni yakhe? Zodwa shuwa
awudinwa yikulwa, mina angazi ukuthi ufuze bani? Yangenza iNtumbane
ngokungibulalela uyihlo. Ngizakhuza kuze kubenini? Zodwa ukhulile. Nxa kukwehlula
ukuzibamba phuma uyeloja, ngikhathele ngokukhuzana lesalukazi mina. Ngoba nanku
lokwenda awufuni, kodwa ugijimisana labantu babanikazi".
"Hahahaaa! Mama angimkhombanga mina ubaba lowana, shuwa lingambona
lizahleka ukuthi kulomfazi ongahamba elwela umuntu onjeyana. Bakithi selingaze
lingixotshele into engingayenzanga?"
UAuntie wayekhuluma eserious kodwa uZodwa yena vele cala celeni, engelandaba.
"Uzahlala usilwa kuzekubenini? Ayisini elakeladojwa yiSantana lapha lihambe
layatshaya umuntu emsebenzini? Ayisilopholisa lonaleli abafuna ukukutshayela lona
elakukhiphayo? Zodwa uyangiyangayisa. Ufuna abafazi bagodle amadodabo nxa
uthutsha? Hayi mani! Get your act together lapha!"
Ungezwa uAunt esekhuluma ngesikhiwa, wobakwazi ukuthi umcaphulile. Lobanje
wayezichithela isikhathi kumzawami.
Ngacina sengivunyelwe ukuhamba, wangiphelekezela emoteni uKhazi.
"Zodwa kodwa uAuntie userious wena uyadlala, ungenzi so! Uyakwazi ukuthi ule BP,
Izakhwela".
"Ahh wena! Ekamama ihlala ikhwela isehla, uzabaright. Yena angazondela izinto
angazaziyo mina ngimtshela ukuthi angilikhombanga ixhegu lelo."
"Ayi kodwa umfazi omuhle soyana mzawami, yimali kumbe kuyini?"
"Lami phela ngimangele, lokuthi ngumuntu wakithi esintwini. Noma sokuthwa ubuhle
bendoda zinkomo zayo, not that one".
"Ahhhh wena! Ubonwa nguwe ububi, nampa abanye bayamlwela, sebeze
bengabathakathi ngenxa yakhe lobubi bakhe".
"Yena he's generous emalini, yikho lami inumber yakhe ngingayiblocki, uyangivusa nxa
isimo sisibi".
"Yeyi wena, uzakufela khonokho".
Ngahamba ngafika endlini sokuhlwile sibili, uCharlie wayebala inewspaper
esesengutsheni.
"Ha! Babe ebusuku kangaka on a weekday? Suzubuya umtwana selele."
Ngiyiqalise indaba kodwa ngingatsho ukuthi it was my plan loZodwa ukuyabona
uLerato. Ngathi ngihlangane loZodwa edrobheni ngisiyathatha amakhekhe. I gave her
a ride, yikho ukucina sengikoZodwa. Ngathi sengimxoxela ngendaba yomfazi
wepholisa eyayiyiyo engiphuzisileyo. Wafa yikuhleka waze waphosa wavusa umtwana.
He knew about the Cop being friends with Zodwa. Nguye lwana owayesincede
ngesikhathi sisiyavimba uLerato aze abotshwe.
"So uMzet ubesefuna ukuphosa umbhaka vele?"
"Usabala inqindi! Ubethwele istina, ngabona yikho loyamama efike wazenza yena
ongazanga kulwa, olande ukuzomupha iwarning nje qha! Ngoba akade ekutshelwe
efonini yikuthi umuntu uzovusa umsindo. Lanxa uZodwa esezama ukuchaza ukuthi
there's nothing going on phakathi kwakhe loChef, wayezamkholwa njani umuntu
owayese warned about her visit eseready ngezitina".
"Abe careful next time she won't be lucky".
"Uzakhuzwa ngubani ngoba loAuntie nxa emkhuza uyabezihlekela".
"NguMzet wami ke lowo, yonkinto kuye ngamandlwane".
Njengoba ngangizisuthele inkobe, angisadlanga ngageza ngasengizilalela.
Amalanga aqhuba kungela mahitches from anyone. We did our prayer and fasting for
a month. Meeting with abafundisi ngamaWednesdays ntambama It was awesome
and beneficial.
Weekends bebuya abantwana, some weekends baye eLobengula. I relationship
kaCharlie lomamakhe yabangcono.
Ngale uLerato took over eflea market, kwaba nguye osebusy ethengisa. Sokumele aye
woda kwabanzima ngoba ekuParole, kodwa she managed to make it happen. Imali
yiyo ekhulumayo. Nxa ulayo akulanto ekuvimbelayo. She knew what people wanted,
sokuwoda yena izinto zasezithengwa okuzwayo. Wayehamba ukuyawoda evele
eselama orders. Things got better sibili, wasecabanga ukubuyela endlini yakhe, wanika
amaloja inotice ye 3months, eyathi iphela wahamba lamaphahla wadinga unkazana
omutsha ngoba lwana ayelaye kuqala refused wathi sokungcono lapho akhona.
ULerato wathi lanxa ezama ukumncenga emtshela ukuthi things have changed. Wala
umuntu.
Imali ayayisenziwa nguLerato estendini yayinengi kulaleyi eyayisenziwa ngunina, so
wayesefuna ukukhonya, esesenza izinto unina engamtsheli. Wayekweredisa impahla
without her mother's consent. It was good because yayimnandi nxa isinengi isibuya
monthend. Ngelinye ilanga wakweredisa omunye umakoti izigqoko zabakhaphi,
sokumele abhadale umakoti wangaziwa ukuthi utshone ngaphi. Kanti wayelandele
indoda egoli. Kwaliwa phakathi kukaLerato lonina. Unina wacina emtshela ukuthi
angasathinti lutho estendini sakhe, kabone okokwenza.
Njengoba unina wayesemkhiphile estendini, ngapha esebuyele endlini yakhe wabona
ukuthi kumele aphume lecebo lokukhanda imali ngoba umsebenzi wayezawuthola
ngaphi with a criminal record?
Ngenye yamalanga kwafika abangane bakhe abangu 4 ayekhule labo ababehlala
eHarare. Babezisebenza bengobusiness men & women. ULerato vele wayengezwa
ekukhuleni kwakhe, le circle of friends yakhe kwakuyilabana abangezwayo,
abomsindo vele.
Babuya bethwele amacrate otshwala, lenyama. Wawungacabanga ukuthi kuleparty.
Kwabaswa umlilo kusosiwa inyama, kunathwa.
Opposite lendlu kaLerato kwakulecouple eyayisanda kuthenga leyondlu. Bathi bebona
kunathwa kukholiswa kudliwa lenyama, ngapha iradio yayisikhutshwelwe phandle.
Bacabanga ukuthi mhlawumbe buyathengiswa utshwala. Yahamba indoda yakhona
isithi iyathenga, bamtshela ukuthi lelolanga bunathwa mahara, bamupha
amabhodlela amabili wabonga wahamba. Kwasokukhuluma utshwala kulondoda
wokuphisana ngotshwala, wakhohlwa ukuthi uyazidlalela.
Kusenzakala konke lokhu uLerato wayebonda isitshwala ekitchen esenza lechakalaka
for her visitors.
Nxa bemtshela ukuthi kulomuntu obecabanga ukuthi yishalast, so ubesezothenga. She
smiled. A very relieved smile.
 EPISODE THIRTEEN BOOK TWO
"Hmmmmm! That smile mngane. Ucabangani?"
"Guys hantsho liyakwazi ukuthi nxa uphume 'college' kuyabe sokumnyama emuva
kunyama laphambili. So Mandla, you just gave me an idea."
"Ahh! Ungaqali, phela ukuparole wena. Bayakubamba nje ekuseni bakubisele phakathi.
Try something else".
Kwatsho uOrpha owayevele ethanda ukuzenza u miss goody two shoes', she always
saw the wrong in the group everytime kodwa she never left. Wayehlala engokhuzayo
kokuphela, but noone paid attention to her.
This group of friends babezibiza iBig 5 besasesikolo. Sebekhulile kwaqala uMandla
ukuya eHarare, ethi life in Bulawayo is too slow bigger opportunities are plenty in the
capital. Kwafika kwamlungela. He was an orphan, etshiyelwe ilifa elizwayo ngabazali
bakhe, plus he was an only child.
Sokumlungele wabiza abangane bakhe abamlandela one by one. ULerato nguye nje
yedwa owayesele, elokhu egijimisana loCharles.
They did not want to leave Zimbabwe, bethi bazafela khona. Babenze ipromise
amongst themselves ukuthi they will forever be friends. Nxa omunye izinto
zingamhambeli kuhle bazahlanganisa bamvuse, noma bangaze bathathe kumbe
bathathwe ifriendship yabo akumelanga ukuthi iphele.
"Orpha, do you think I have a choice? I need something ngoba lemali ebuya ku baby
daddy iphelela ebantwaneni. I think ukuthengisa utshwala might help as I don't need
much money ukuqalisa".
"Lili! In Harare there is business. Woza. Vele ngakutshela ngendaba zakho zema ofisini
ukuthi azisoze zikusebenzele, khangela khathesi suzubuyejele. UGood morning boss is
not for us. We can hook you up uqhubeke ngokuyawoda, khathesi ungathengisi
estendini but uzivulele an upclass boutique."
"I do need help, but eHarare guys? Mina ngeke ngilunge. Angiyithandi mina indawo
leyana. Ngincediseni ngikhonalapha. I already have a customer base khonala."
"Yindaba ungavuli indawo yezitshwala, itshisa nyama kind of business, ufake lotshwala?
Haa! Ngiyakutshela.
You have contacts laphana eCity council bayakutholela indawo chop chop. Talk to me
nxa usu ready. Money is not a problem".
"Okwezitshwala ngumsebenzi, mina ngilivila so. Ishalast at least ngiyabe ngimemeza
usisi nxa ama customer ebiza. I don't have to lift a finger".
"Ndoda wena ukuparole plus ulama hiccups lobaba wabantwana. Bazahlala
bekubophisile".
"Yeah but liqiniso lelo Mandla".
"Wena Lerato umthetho wakho unjani? A few minutes ago I said the same thing,
ngoba bekukhulume thina oOrpha hayi, khathesi sokunguMandla subona kuliqiniso.
Uyamfuna yini uMandla?"
"Hawu hawu! Orpha! Where is this coming from? Ungaqali ukungiqala ngizithulele
please."
ULerato loOrpha babefanana lezelamani. Behlala bedobhana. Kwesinye isikhathi
baxabane okwesikhathi eside bengakhulumisani. So the other friends basebebayekela,
sebediniwe ngabo.
Lerato finally decided on a botique, phakathi edolobheni. Kodwa uhlupho ayezabalalo
ngolwendawo, ngoba lenhloni zokuyemsebenzini zazikhona. Another thing
emsebenzini wayesewalwa phose labobonke ababengamsiza ngamacontact ezindawo.
Kwakuhlala kukhona avusane laye. Things like amakuwa ayemthwalise nzima, ungake
unyeye laye uzangena enkingeni ngoba ezazikhipha, or ehlala exabana labantu
ngezinto ezingelangqondo;
'Yindaba belikhuluma lingikhangela, kutshukuthi belinginyeya?'
'I greeted you wazithulela, are you jealous of me?'
She was always pety hence noone wanted to be close to her.
The time she bought a car. Abangazange bathi congratulations wabatshela ukuthi
balomona lenhliziyo ezimbi.
Its was just amazing ukuthi she managed to keep this group as her friends for such a
long time.
So, for her botique, she was going to start small with taking orders from clients
abesesiya woda, abuye edeliver esadinga ishop.
UMandla yena waye kubusiness yezimota. Waye importer izimota lama car parts
ethengisa. Orpha owned a beautiful preschool. The other two guys babelemitshova,
layo
yayilokhe isanda isibaminengi. So they were all a busy bunch.
Kwasekuyisikhathi bethembisa ukuzabona umngane wabo ngesikhathi ephuma ejele
ithuba babengalitholi. Kwanathwa kwadliwa kukholiswa baze bavalelisa phakathi
kobusuku, bathembisa ukudlula bevalelisa ngakusasa sebebuyela empumalanga.
She was so happy to see her friends and that she was going to finally find something
to do, kwamenza walala obukabhuka, labantwana njengoba babeyekuyise wazivukela
ngabo10, wacleaner endlini ngoba uNkazana wayesemxolisile ngesikhathi unina
emxotsha efleamarket. Okwakwenze abangani bacine besiba serious ngokubuya
yikuthi wacela usizo lwerent ngoba the money ayeyithola kithi yayinganganani.
Kwesinye isikhathi sasimbuluza sihle sithenge konke okudingakalayo okwenyanga
yonke siyekuthi qithi, angatholi yona icent le enukayo. Ngangisithi nxa ngisuggester
ukuthi simuphe imali ayezithengela uCharlie ahle ale, and that she also never
complained lanxa sihambisa sokuthengiwe lami ngayekela ngoba vele I had initially
said amadecisions ngiyazikhipha kiwo.
Ngelanga elilandelayo badlula sebehamba abangane, batshiyela uLerato imali
engange $1500 to start her business of selling clothes bamthengela legrocery
batshiya amakhabothi lefridge kugcwele manya. Mandla promised to find her
okuyiGolf just to start up, ayezayibhadala ibusiness isihamba kuhle
Eseyedwa wacabanga ukuthi unina uzathi sekopa ibusiness yakhe kumbe semthathela
amacustomer.
Since ukuvakatsha ubhodabhoda lamatwins kwakuyiproblem, loNkazana laye
engasekho. She decided to go to town ayekhuluma labantu bemasaloon, instead of
selling clothes athengise ama hair products le
make-up. Wafonela umnawakhe (ubhinya) and she promised to buy him obuyi6,
angazamkhangelela abantwana esaphumile. Lakanye wavuma.
Lerato has always been a charmer, when she wants something she gets it, yikho
loCharlie wawela kalula nje kuye.
Ilanga selisiya tshona wayesethole ama orders omhlaba. Wahle walungiselela
ukuyeBotswana ngolwesihlanu nxa ngingathatha abantwana.
That Friday vele ngathola esemi phandle lesikhwama sakhe, ngathi ngiqukula
abantwana laye esiyagada. Wayesetshombulukile usisi. Lejwabu seliqalisa ukutshelela.
That day she seemed so happy, ngaze ngahawukela ukwazi isizatho.
Ntambam sesisendlini ngasusela uCharlie ngengangikubonile.
"Ndoda phela uLerato namuhla ngithe ngifika ngimthole laye emile okomuntu
olohambo eseze wakhiya legedi emephandle, okokuthi besengimphuzele lokufika,
ethabe!"
"Really?"
"I wonder ubesiyangaphi?"
"Babe, uqalisenini ukuthanda indaba zabantu?"
"Hahahahaaa as if wena awuzithandi lapha?"
"Ahh mina?"
"Ayisuwe ohlala ubuya ungixoxela ngokuthi ubani lobani lokhu lalokhuyana
emsebenzini, asondaba zabantu zonalezo?"
"Okay ke! Kodwa lomthakathi ukuthi wenzani, ngaphi, lobani skhathi bani angilandaba
lakho".
"Hayi mina ngilazo sibili indaba. Usetshwaphulukile lokutshwaphuluka usisi".
Sunday uCharlie wathi ehambisa abantwana wafika wahooter esahooter.
Kwasokuntambama kodwa amalayithi ayecitshile. Njengoba Wayengasacommunicate
loLerato yena, kwawo amanumber akhe wayengelawo. Wathi ephuma endlini
wangitshela ukuthi ngifone ngimtshele ukuthi usendleleni labantwana. Wacina
ephenduka labo ngoba engatholakali uLerato.
"Suphendukile? Kakho kanti uLerato usubuye labo?"
"Ngi hootile, ngatshaya legedi, nothing, kukhanya akulamuntu ngoba kumnyama
lamalayithi acitshile".
"I tried to call you ngutshela ukuthi iphone yakhe ioff, awubambanga".
"Iphone bengiyitshiyile MaBhe."
"Sorry ukuthi uhambele amahara ndoda, kutshukuthi kakaphenduki lapho ayekhona".
ULerato wayengatshelanga ngitsho lonina ukuthi uyangaphi just incase angaphenduki
on time, esesaba ukuthi sasizafonela umamakhe, singabakwazi ukuthi uyaphuma
elizweni besesimreporter. Laphana esathengisela umamakhe kwakungcono ngoba
sasingadingi yena, sasivele sifonele umamakhe ngabantwana.
Wabamba amalift uLerato, imota ayeyigadile yafa endleleni besanda kuchapha
iborder eplumtree. Balinda umakanika waze wabona ukuthi kungcono yena adinge
enye itransport, layo wayithola late. Kwabakubi ngoba shops close early on Saturdays,
wasedinga indawo yokulala until Monday lapho ayezavuka aye stocker khona. Waze
wafika koBulawayo phakathi kobusuku bangeMonday kuzavuka kungolwesibili.
Wacabanga ukufona ukuthi sibise abantwana wasebona kungcono ukuthi aqale aye
deliver ama orders abantu. Ilanga lathi lisiyatshona elangolwesibili edinwe eyinkukhu.
Wangasifoneli waze wasidinga ngelanga elilandelayo esephumulile.
"Hallo Beauty".
"Yebo".
"Sorry I was not around for the past two days, I hope I did not inconvenience you
ngabantwana?"
"That's so irresponsible of you, wacitsha lefoni no communication at all".
"Some of us don't have husbands, we have to make a living and make ends meet you
know. So ubaletha nini abantwabami?"
Ngathula so ngazibamba. Wayeqinisile uZodwa esithi a 'cheetah' will never change its
spots. So much for thinking that a person like Lerato can ever change. Its not even a
year ephumile ubumbulu bakhe sobuqalisa. I wondered ukuthi what triggered that
attitude.
Usisi wayezenza osetshintshile ngoba efuna uncedo lwethu and mina ngasengikholiwe
sibili uthi she has changed. Kwasokusenza ukuthi lanxa inyanga ingakapheli angacelani
okwabantwana ngimgijimisele. Ngangizitshela ukuthi she made a mistake and she
learnt from it, pointless ukutshona ngileqhubu. Plus staying angry at her
kwakungangisi ndawo ekukholweni kwami. Kwakusasalele uCharlie ngoba
wayengafuni kuzwa.
"Abantwana uzabathola ngeSunday, asisoze sigijinyiswe nguwe thina".
"Ok! Suit yourself".
She dropped the phone ngasala ngikhamisile. Ngathi ngifonela uCharlie ngimtshela
wathi ngenze kuhle, uyadelela.
Ntambama ngifika endlini ngathola bonke beselonini bedlala loSazini. Umtanami
wayekholisa okunye nxa elabafowabo, kwasokukhuliwe bengasahluphi njengalaphana
besasebancane. Amatwins ayesekwazi ukuziyela etoilet, lokudla babengasafunzwa
funzwa. Wawusithi ungaqeda ukubagezisa badle, uyafaka opopayi kuTV wenze
okwenzayo uze uqede. So uSazini akuzange kumkhalise kangako ukubakhona kwabo
kuleyoviki
"NaXolani! UXoxo ngani kezwa kuhle, ngike ngamnika ama cafenol, ngiyambona nje
lokudlala wenziwa ngoBobo. Emini ukewahlanza."
"Awu? Mbise lapha. Ukuphumela ke?"
"Amaphumelo akhe ebengamanzi, uphumele kathathu."
"Yindaba ungangifonelanga kodwa Sazie?"
Ngimbambe esiphaqeni ngizwe ukuthi itemperature yakhe iphezulu. Ngihle
ngiyengena laye ebedroom, ngitshiye laba bedlala. Ngabopha ngomthandazo hayi
okokudlala wayesesiya ku2 years lumuntu. Ngangingakhohlwanga engangikutshelwe
nguMamkhwa. Izinga lethu lokukhuleka kulelikhaya laselikwenye ilevel, sobabili
loCharlie, sasiwubamba umthandazo lapha kubengokunye. Ngesikhatshana wafika
loCharlie, wangithola ngiphakathi, katshonanga esithini, he joined in. Sesiqedile
ngamtshela ukuthi uSazie utheni. Wethuka kancane kodwa umthandazo esasiqeda
kuwenza wawusipha amandla, wasephuma wayazithelela iMazoe wasesiyadlala
labantwana ebedroom yabo.
Xolani slept early that night umtanami. He only managed to eat yoghurt wanatha
lerooibos yabantwana.
Phakathi kobusuku waqalisa ukukhala, ekhala lokhuyana okungelampilo.
Ngangimzwela ebuthongweni kwakungani ngiyaphupha. Ngaze nganyikinyizwa
nguCharlie laye owayekhulumela ebuthongweni.
"Babe, Babe, nguXoxo lo okhalayo?"
Ngeqa ngathi ngisithi ngiyamdobha, usehlanzile uginqile umtanami, ngapha
ngamaphumelo asepuntshukile kunappy. Nxa ngithi ngiyambamba ukuthi ngimkhulule
izigqoko, wakhala kakhulu ingani ngiyamthunuka

EPISODE FOURTEEN BOOK TWO

Ngethuka ngengangikubona ngavusa uCharlie.
"Charlie! Vuka ufonele iambulance".
Ngamphakamisa umntwana konke lengubo ngaqonda ebathroom. UCharlie wadobha
ifoni yakhe engilandela dialing inumber zeAmbulance.
"What's going on Beauty?"
"His temperature is high, iyoghurt leyana ayidlileyo uyihlanzile yonke. Khangela
amaphumelo akhe angamanzi njani?"
"Manje iambulance izabuya skhathi bani? Ngcono simgijimise ngemota".
"Yeah! You're right, let me clean him up first. Ulalamaqhubuqhubu emzimbeni, his
neck has gone stiff".
Aphume ebathroom uCharlie mina ngasala ngigezisa uXolani ngamanzi aqandayo
kuyikuzama ukucontroller itemperature yakhe. Ngaqeda ngaphosela lezo
ezingcolileyo ebhavini ngasengisiyamgoqela ngokuyingubo okulula, ngamqhubela
uCharlie owayesegqokile, lami ngasengikhupha inight dress ngadobha okuseduze
ngagqoka, sasesiphuma sigijima.
Sathi sifika eUBH bahle bamemukela, bagijima laye besiyamkhangela ukuthi
kwenzakalani.
Phakathi kwami loCharlie, I have always been the level headed one, othatha izinto
soft. Umkami iphaphu vele alikaze libe khona kuye, but now, mina ngasengi double
ukudlula uCharlie. In my entire life,I had never been that scared. Being a nurse and a
prayerful woman kwasokuphume kweqa ngewindi, ngasengizicabangela ugogo
uMaMkhwa, my faith was in for a big test. Nxa ngithi ngiyakhamisa umlomo ukuthi
ngikhuleke ngizwe kulebhundu emphinjeni, ngikhangele uCharlie, wayesefake inqindi
yakhe emlonyeni elokhu eziluma luma.
Ngamlanda ngafika ngeyama kuye, inyembezi ziwohloka uncontrollably, watshedela
emuva.
"Charlie, we have to pray".
Kangiphendulanga wangitshiya ngimile wahamba wayahlala phansi esitulweni. Nxa
ngisondela eduze ngimuzwe uyangunguna, wayethandaza. We were in a public kind
of place so kwakungathandazeki ngokukhululeka. Ngasondela ngahlala eceleni
kwakhe, wasukuma waya emoteni. He was shutting me out.
Ngafonela umamfundisi ngamazisa ngokugula komntwana, she gave me encouraging
words wathi sevusa umfundisi, bazakulwa ngomthandazo, ngabonga. Emva
kwesikhathi athutshe uCharles amehlo esebomvu. Wayekade ekhala.
"Awukezwa lutho?"
"Nothing".
"I hope its not what I think it is ngoba I will not forgive you if anything was to happen
to my son, Beauty tell me........"
"We just have to keep the faith, this is a test Babe, kumele siqine in prayer, ngicela
singavumeli usatane esixabanisa, as his parents kumele senze loku ngokubambana,
otherwise sizavulela usatane intuba yokungena."
Ngangikhuluma kodwa uvalo lwalungisakaza. Suke wakhuluma into ngomlomo kodwa
ingqondo lenhliziyo kuphikisana lalokhu okukhulumayo? Angifuni kukhuluma amanga,
I was scared, loCharlie laye ngokunjalo, yikho waphuma wayakhala phandle.
Ngemva kwesikhathi kwaphuma unurse wathi sebe stabilise itemperature yakhe
bamupha lokokumlalisa. Nxa ngibuza ukuthi yini, wathi they took some tests, plus u
doctor uzafika ekuseni ngabo6, that is when we'll know for sure ukuthi iproblem
ingaphi. Sacela ukumbona basivumela.
Wayeselele, efakwe idrip bakithi, uCharlie wamkhangela, wachiphiza inyembezi,
wangikhangela. Lami ngasengikhala ngibona usana lwami luhawulisa embhedeni.
Siyakhala nje kakho okhulumayo. Ngesikhathi ephandle uCharlie wayefonele
uMamakhe loThembi, bahle basukumela phezulu. Bangena bethwele amehlo babuza
ukuthi kuthwani, ngazama ukubalandisela, umamazala wasecela ukukhuluma lami
sisodwa phandle.
"MaBhebhe, ungangithathi kubi mtanami, kodwa isimo lesi siyazi ukuthi sivela ngaphi.
Please, thambisa inhliziyo yakho. Fonelani ugogo uMaMkhwananzi ahle agade kusasa
ekuseni".
"Mama, phela uXolani sele 2years lokho akusoze kusasebenza, all we have to do is
pray."
"MaBhebhe, MaBhebhe. Fonela ugogo njengoba ngisitsho. Mhlawumbe uzabakwazi
ukuthi kwenziweni, yizinto zakoDliwayo lezi sisi. Kumbe ufuna ukungcwaba umzukulu
wami?"
Sengisizwa elokungcwaba ngakhala kakhulu waze wangigona.
"Sonke siyakhonza ntombendala, kodwa lokhu lisiko, noma singazi ukuthi ngelani
livelela ngaphi kumele lenziwe. Uyangizwa Bhebhe? Its our culture and God knows
that".
EsinaCharlie sasingakwazi ukuthi isiko leli laqalisa kutheni. Wayeyabezabuza bani
bakithi ngoba lesininazala sasingeke simncwebe lendlebe. She convinced me lami
ngaze ngabona kungcono kulokufelwa ngumntwana. Ngacina ngivumile ukuthi
ngizafona ekuseniseni. Sasesibuyela phakathi sathola uCharlie still crying uMaDlie
eseze wamgona.
"Tshalisi musukukhala ingani kukhona osekwenzakele. Uyaphila umtwana.
Sengikhulumile laye uMaBhebhe, kumele lifonele ugogowakho ekuseni, angithi
uyamazi ukuthi vele uvuka ngovivi. Ahle adobhe ama transport abuye kungakabi
kubi".
"Mama uXolani is 2years manje......."
"Fonanini lina kuphela."
Angikhangele uCharles with so much anger, ngivele nginqekuze ikhanda.
"This should have been avoided had it not been for ........"
"Tshalisi, Tshalisi! This is not the time mtanami. Ukukhombana ngeminwe akusoze
kusincede, logogo uzabuya lapha efuna ukusidla sonke. So asibambanenini sikhuleke
ukuthi umcimbi usebenze. Amaphahla enziwa inyanga eziyisithupha zisanda kwedlula
angithi? Ithemba lisasekhona bantwabami. Asiqhubekeni sikhuleka".
There was no doubt that all the blame will be on me if anything was to happen to my
son. Nxa ukhule kuthiwa intolwane lesihaqa ngumuthi ungathinti, laloba uzigebhele
wena egangeni. What more lokhu okuyi instruction yenyanga? Ngasengivumile kodwa
umzwangedwa wami wawulwisana lami.
"Just so you know. If anything happens to my son, uzangibona kuhle Beauty. I am also
prayerful but there's nothing wrong with umcimbi, as I told you ukuthi sakhula
sikwenza futhi sihamba lesontweni, kodwa wena wadaza inkani".
"Charlie, a few months ago ubungincoma ngefaith yami, usithi ukutshaya kwami
isicathulo phansi ngisithi no mcimbi showed you that there is a God in heaven.
Sokutshintsheni khathesi?"
"My son is lying on the hospital bed for crying out loud. Beauty wake up mani!"
"He is also my son"!
"Hayi hayi! Yekelani ukulwa. Lingihlolelani kanti?"
I started crying, kwasozakusa, I had sent my side of the family messages ngibatshela
ukuthi uXoxo usesibhedlela, ubaba wayesemaplazini, uZodwa loAunt imessage
bayibona ekuseni uAunt esithi uthanyela iyard, bathembisa ukubuya emini.
Charlie decided to call uMaMkhwananzi, Her phone was off. Wasethumela imessage
emtshela ukuthi agade masinyane abuye edrobheni.
Ekuseni udokotela wafika wamchecker. Kwathwa ule Chicken pox, he prescribed
something for pain relief lokugcoba, bamdischarger. Sakhangelana sonke esasilapho,
there was some kind of relief kimi ukuthi its just mere chicken pox, but we were not
convinced, ngoba emakhanda ethu kwakugcwele umcimbi. Lami as a nurse, ngathi
nginakanisisa, for sure kwakuyiyo, even though it was hard to take it kunjengoba
kunjalo.
Ngesikhathi amaphahla esesibhedlela eguliswa ngumcimbi, odokotela babethethe
amatests kodwa bangaboni lutho. Lapha lami I should have seen ukuthi its chicken
pox, because layo ingafuna ukuzibonakalisa, imbi shame. Ebantwini abadala iyabulala
lokubulala. Khathesi amaqhubu ayesemanengi sibili. Kwathwa simvalele angahlangani
labantu because its contagious. Mina ngacabanga amaphahla asendlini. Thina
ebadaleni sasesayigula sonke ngaphandle kukaCharlie loThembi.
Ngacela uCharlie ukuthi ahambise abantwana kuLerato ngemota yami ngoba le
eyakhe ngangingasayithembi nge virus. I was hoping ukuthi bebengayibambanga, on
the other hand better ukuyigula umncane ngoba nxa usumdala ibuhlungu kakhulu.
Wayelokhu engathabanga umtanami kodwa esengcono kulokwasebusuku.
Imedication yanceda sibili ngoba wayengasakhali nxa ngimbamba, phela nxa isaqalisa
uyabe usizwa angani kulomuntu okuqunge ngamanzi abilayo, umzimba wonke uyabe
ubuhlungu ungathinteki.
I phoned uLerato ngifuna ukumtshela ukuthi uCharlie uzaletha abantwana.
"Hallo Beauty".
"UCharles usendleleni uletha abantwana".
"Ah ah! Kanti koDliwayo namuhla yiSunday?"
"Please, I don't have time for games, uXolani has chicken pox, so we don't want them
getting sick as well".
"I'm off to Harare ntambama, sengibookile le bus. Bahambise kunyokozala".
"Kanti Lerato ngabantwana bakabani bonalabo? Ayisibobakho? Why usufuna
ukubenza iproblem yami, mina ngizama ukubavikela?"
"Is it my fault ukuthi uPrince ubanjwe yichicken pox. UCharles is also the twins'daddy
kabone iplan mina ngilohambo".
Ngavele ngafikelwa lulaka, ngakhatha ucingo. Angisafonelanga lo Charles ukuthi
ngimuphe iheads up ngathi bazazibona phambili, I did not have the energy.
Wathi efika khonangale uCharles wa hooter, waphuma uLerato wafika wama egedini
wangavuli.
"Kanti uQueen kakutshelanga ukuthi ngithe ubone iplan ngabantwana mina angikho,
I'm on my way to Harare, coming back on Sunday."
"Cancel your trip because uXolani uleChicken pox so asifuni ukuthi athelele
oSpoonky".
"Charles angithi there is Lobengula komamakho why ungabahambisi khona, bona
iplan njengendoda."
"Lerato, these are your kids, on Sunday you disappeared waze wathutsha nge
Wednesday, khathesi subuya lezitori, what are you on about?."
"You can come in for a cup of tea nxa ufuna ukwazi ukuthi ngiphezu kwani?"
"Mncm! Give me more clothes, ngizabona okokwenza, I think I have to file for full
custody ngoba wena ungani awulasikhathi sabantwabakho".
"Ungakhohlwa ukuthi silinde amalobolo?"
Watsho lokho etshibilika esiyathatha isikhwama sezigqoko zabantwana.
uCharlie waseqonda eLobengula, wathola umamakhe eselungiselela ukuya esikolo.
"Hawu mama! Lizakwanisa ukufundisa lina lilele esibhedlela?"
"Ah Charlie angilachoice, kubhalwa amatest kulezinsuku, imarking ingihlezi eqolo,
ngingalova kungangibulala".
"Ah kulungile, bengicela ukutshiya oBobo lapha uLerato uyambuluza ukubathatha
manje siyesaba ukuthi bazathatha ichicken pox kaXolani".
"Kambe ukuthi yichicken pox Tshalisi?"
"Hawu mama angithi udokotela utshonjalo, ngabe yilokhuyana ubengeke abone
ukuthi yini, liyakhumbula laba bahlala how many days kungaziwa iproblem?"
"Mhlawumbe kodwa mina ngiyasola. Mina nje kodwa ngangitshilo. Ngicela
ugogowakho angafika esethetha litsho ukuthi lazalela, angifuni msindo mina."
"Eish mama! Angithi nguMaBhebhe wonke. Mina........"
"Ungaqali ukusulela uMaBhebhe lapha, wawuhlezi kuleliyasofa, utanasa usithi nywe
nywe nywe. Sukhohliwe ukuthi wawukhuluma lami? Mina I blame you as the man of
the house. Tshalisi umuzi ngowakho. Uyawazi ama implications wokweqa umcimbi,
uwazi kuhle. Buza uyihlomncane uEliot".
"Mama mina I was tired of fighting so........"
"Mayeeee sengilate. Sisiii wozothatha izipemperegwana zami lezi, uzicatshise
zingasikhaleli, Charlie ngicela uyengibeka emsebenzini, insimbi yabangena emini
isizakhala".
Mina ngafonela abafundisi ngabazisa ngokuthi udokotela utheni. UMaMfundisi
wangitshela ukuthi I must not relax in prayer as the devil is there to kill, steal and
destroy, lokuthi ulinde ukuthi sithandabuze amandla kaJehova abesengena. She
assured me ukuthi usatane is just fighting a losing battle akulalutho. Sesiqedile
ukukhuluma ngazibona ubuthutha, ngakhala kuJehova ngixolisa. Later on uCharlie
wafika, ngathi kuye kafonele ugogo amtshele ukuthi angasabuyi, it was a false alarm,
yichicken pox asolutho olutheni.
"But Mabhebhe ulesiqiniseko sokuthi we are safe ngoba mina honestly, I'm thinking
we do it coz what I felt izolo was beyond pain, besengizibona ngingcwaba umtanami.
So I cannot take the risk".
"I am saying no! Uyakwazi ukuthi why kusenziwa leyonto, ukuthi kwakutheni?"
"Is seems like wena you're an ancient make with all the information. You were there
when it all started. So tell me ngoba mina angazi, enlighten me. UsungowakoDliwayo
wena angithi? Why are you like this? You want to kill my son Beauty? If anything
happens to uXoxo angiboni ukuthi mina lawe sizaphilisana......."
"Excuse me...........!"
Sasesisilwa okuzwayo, I'm sure laboMakhelwane basizwa, ngingasabali uSazini.
"Kukhanya ukubakoDliwayo kuyakuhlupha, angithi thina siyaloya. Take your things
and go, buyela koBhebhe, utshiye umtanami.

EPISODE FIFTEEN BOOK TWO

Kwasokuphoselwana amazwi lapha sokunzima, kodwa uthe esengixotsha kulokuthi
ngikhale kumbe ngitshinge ngadubuka ngokuhleka.
"Hamba wena nxa usufuna kuhlukanwe, mina I'm not going anywhere, umntwana
libhanti likanina, angehlukani lomtanami mina, phuma uhambe wena nxa sokukuluma
ukuhlala lami, angithi owakho umama uyaphila hamba kuye. Heeee! Charlie I cannot
believe you. Its not like I forced this thing on you, I suggested and you agreed,
khathesi susenza ingani ngakubamba ngamakhala? Hayi surrend!"
"You know what, I'm going to pretend like I didn't hear a word you said".
Waphuma wayavula ishower, edlalisa amanzi njengaleliyana langa. Surprisingly, I was
not scared anymore, more reason for me to see ukuthi this was just a ploy of the devil,
ukuthi sitshintshe iconfession, singaqalisa ukulwa, after that akusathandazeki, then its
done.
Eventually, I felt uplifted ngakhangela uXoxo, lamehlo ayesehlakaniphile sibili,
nganxapha ngathi satane ufike wrongo, not emtwaneni wami, ngakudobha ngagadla
ngomthandazo.
Nxa ngisithi Amen kungene imessage efonini, kwakunguZodwa ebuza ukuthi sikuward
yiphi, basebelungiselela ukuphuma endlini loAunt, ngangikhohliwe lokuba updater,
ngangilokhe ngicine ngesikhathi ngibazisa ngokuthi umtwana sesimthwalele
esbhedlela. Inhlanhla babengakagadi lomtshova, basebesithi sebebuya ukuzombona
endlini. Kwabanzimba ukuthi ngibavale njani ukuthi bangabuyi ngenxa ye feud
eyayiphakathi kwami loCharles.
Wageza isikhathi eside engaphumi, oAunt baze bafika elokhu esebathroom, wathi
ephuma wathola sizihlalele sixoxa. Wadlula wayagqoka wasephenduka.
"Salibonani Aunt, Mzet! Uyaphila?"
"Yebo SaXolani, linjani bakithi Dliwayo?"
"Siyaphila thina, umfana selala etshisa lapha sesiphenduke lesibhedlela."
"Awu! Bakithi. Yikukhula, sonke sadlula khona. Kuhle ngoba bahle bamkhipha,
okutshokhona ukuthi akukubanga kangako".
"Ye, yena sengcono, ubugwala umfana wakho Aunt! Izolo ubengani uzasitshiya".
"Ahh Mzet ichicken pox ibuhlungu phela mina yangitshaya khathesi sengimdala, a few
years back. Ubuhlungu bakhona. Ngasengilayela, umama manje wayengithethisa
esithi ngiyadedesa."
"Zodwa okwakho kwasokweqele, angithi wawusuthole i chance yokubelokhu
uthumana lami".
Sahleka, sihlekiswa ngu Aunt loKhazi abasebephikisana. Ngangilokhu ngisukuma
ngisiya khangela uXolani owayekade elele, kwazise kwakuyi medication.
UCharlie wakhala ngokudinwa wathi usayacambalala ihour nje uzathi esephenduka.
Wathi efika ebedroom waqala ukufonela all the relevant people ebatshela ngokuthi
kulomcimbi nge Saturday, wasecela uThembi ukuthi abuye azoncedisa ngokupheka.
Ngale ekhaya ugogo uMamkhwananzi wayeyibonile imessage waboleka iphone
kamakhelwana waphendula ngokuthi uzabuya ngelanga elilandelayo. Wayengela
airtime, loCharlie laye ngokungafuni ukuthethiswa efonini wathi nxa kuzaliwa angcono
ku be yiface to face.
Kwafona ubaba echecker ukuthi umtwana usenjani ngamlandisela ukuthi
usekhitshiwe bathe yichicken pox, wasekhuluma lodadewabo, bebuzana impilo.
UXolani wavuka wakhala ngamnathisa umuthi ngasengimzama I porridge. Appetite
yayingekho and that was normal. Ngamekela ngasengiqina ngamanzi ukuthi angabi
dehydrated.
UThembi lomamakhe sent messages bebuza nge progress yakhe ngabakhulula
ngokuthi usengcono kakhulu. Ngamangaliswa nguThembi owathi ucela ilist of the
things esizazipheka ngomqgibelo, ngahle ngabakwazi ukuthi uCharlie is still going
ahead ngomcimbi. Kwakungayenzi ukuthi ngivuse umsindo ngenxa kaAunt loZodwa,
ngalinda ukuthi bahambe, sibesesiqala lapho ekade sicine khona.
"Kanti MaBhebhe subusy efonini, susixotsha yini sizihambele?"
"Ngitsho Aunt, bengisaphendula umama loAunt kaXolani babuza ngomtwana,
besilabo esibhedlela ebusuku."
"Sengumuntu unyokozala angithi? Yikho okumele akwenze. Kuhle mtanomnewethu".
"Ah! Okwangaphi lawe mama, hantsho uselalaba".
Atsho lokhu umzawami ebamba isilevu sakhe. Besebesifa loAunt ngohleko, mina vele
sengithalaza ngasebedroom ukuthi umtakamamazala kazwanga.
"Shhhhh! Zodwa yekela ukuphapha ezinye izinto ngezokuxoxwa siseNkulumane hayi
lapha, kanti unjani?"
"Hawu! Kuyafihlwa kanti khazi? Its okay ukuthi akhiphe isizungu, akwalelwa.
Ubukhwele bukaCharlie yikuzenzisa. Katshiyane lonina akholise".
"Zodwaaa, akuthule mani! Ukuzala okunye lakho?"
"Uyabona MaBhe dingela uAunt wakho laye engxenye ulaka lolu lungaphela".
Wakhipha ithenisi uAunt wajikijela uZodwa, mina ngasengifile yikuhleka. My family
was so fun to be with, ngasengize ngikhohliwe ngendubo zami. Bavalelisa, uCharlie
wahamba wayaba dropper eNkulumane. Esephenduka wayengekho ku mood
yokukhuluma but I needed answers.
"Charlie, uyakhumbula ukuthi ngesikhathi kumele kwenzelwe amatwins umcimbi
kwathwa kumele ngibe ngivumile ukuthi wenziwe njengomkakho otherwise
kwakungasoze kuhambe kuhle?"
Wazithulela wangangiphenduli, waqhubeka ngayekwenza, ngaze ngaqonda
okokumnyikinyisa.
"Charles ngikhuluma lawe".
"Where are you going with this?"
"Suhlela umcimbi singavumelananga emveni kokuthi ngith........"
"Beauty, angithi wena awufuni ukwenza izinto zangakithi, wenda wena la, ayisimi
engendela kuwe, so wena kumele wenze okwenziwa la. Nxa ungafuni, the door is
open angisoze ngifelwe ngumtwana ngenxa yakho lenkani yakho".
"So manje uyabe ukhulekelani nxa ungamkholwa yenalowu okhuleka kuye? I know
lami ngiphose ngakholwa ukuthi surely umtwana ubeguliswa zindaba zomcimbi. I
nearly agreed to do it, actually besengivumile vele, but that's admitting defeat and
saying God is not able, manje i'm not going to do that. My God is greater than any
sickness. I'm not going to bow. Angivumi for this thing to go on. Charlie, mina
angisomuntu okhalalayo, no matter sokunjani. Look at you, ngakubekezelela, ngama
lawe lamanyala akho. A few women would have done that. So ucabanga ukuthi now
ngizaphombukwekela? Never! This has actually strengthened my faith."
"Zwana sisi, we will do it, with or without your consent uyangizwa?"
"We shall see".
Ngasengibizwa sisi, kwasokukubi. We had fought in our marriage but this was the
biggest fight sokuthenjiswana lokuhlukanwa. Kwakungasancengwana lapho, kakho
owayefuna ukugoba alalele omunye, and that was exactly what the devil wanted. His
mission was getting accomplished, and I was not going to let satan win. I was going to
protect and fight for my family, laye loNeneza ngangibona ukuthi kazenzi, ngathi
ngiqeda ukupikla uXolani nge calamine lotion ngamtshiya loyise ngayaceba kuJehova
etoilet, ngacela amandla lecourage to stand. Losatane ngamtshela akudla ngesikhathi
sendlala, ecalvary.
Kwalalwa omunye ubaba umlomo ukhonale ezonde efile. Ngamekela. UXolani walala
that night kodwa wayephaphama eselunywa ngamaqhuqhubu ayesemzimbeni.
Kodwa it wasn't that bad.
Friday morning uCharlie wavuka esiya emsebenzini, mina ngangizaqhubeka
ngimonitor umtwana besengihamba ka one ngeMonday. UThembi ngangimthembise
ukuthi ngizabuye ngimfonele ngendaba yegrocery. Wayethe ufuna ukuthenga that
day emini. Ngangilokhe ngingamtshelanga lutho.
Umtanami kungasi rash eyayiluma, wayeseqinaqinile. That morning wadla sibili
iporridge eliledobi waphosa waqeda umganu, kwangithabisa lokhu ngoba wayelokhu
ecine ngedrip esbhedlela, ilanga lonke ngayizolo wayetshone esala ukudla.
Wayenatha amanzi, leMazoe orange ukuthi athole ienergy kodwa lokhu.
uMamkhwananzi, watheleka ngemva kwemini yekuseni, emangele ukuthi ubizelwani
ngesiphangiphangi esingaka. Wayesukume egijima ecabanga ukuthi ngunaCharlie
leTshamari yakhe, engxenye umnikazi wendoda sebuye wafika wavusa umsindo
mhlawumbe sebizelwa ukuzakhuza, kumbe wayesephindile ukungenisa indoda endlini,
uNeneza wabakhanda futhi, mhlawumbe njalo leyondoda yakhona isithuthele
eLobengula lempahla zayo? Wayezibuza yonke leyo mbuzo engelampendulo.
"Kanti sengibizwa ubuthumuthumu obungaka sokutheni MaBhebhe"?
Ngisathi ngiyalandisa ukuthi kuqalise ngaphi, wangena UCharlie ephethe uchago
lesinkwa. Wayehambe wayathatha ugogo erenkini. Manje.kwakulabanye abantu
emoteni ababebanike ilift, so kwakungakhulumeki. Wahle wabuya wahlala phansi
kwaba nguye ophendulayo hlezi mina ngiphambanise izinto.
"Gogo, uXolani ubegula lapha, kuzavuka kuyizolo silele esibhedlela. Manje njengoba
sasingenzanga isintu sakoDliwayo bengicabanga ukuthi sisenze kusasa, abanye
sengibazisile".
"Ah ah ah! Lina bantwana? Lifuna ukungenzisani. Neneza sokuliguqa phela leli.
Akukaze kwenzakale ukuthi umtwana aze abengaka aphile saka singenziwanga isintu.
MaBhebhe uyakhumbula ngikubuza sisodwa ukuthi uleshuwa ukuthi ngumtwana
walapha ekhaya, wathi wena ulesiqinisiko futhi kulomtshina okwanisa ukukubona
khonokho esibhedlela nxa kulensolo?"
"Ye gogo ngiyakhumbula".
"Ngangibuza ngoba umtwana waziwa ngunina, futhi akwethusi lokho nxa kukhona
owakwenzayo, lakudala lakudala kwakukhona".
"Hayi gogo. Lakhathesi ngisatsho, ngowalapha ekhaya."
"Ngizalitshela eyinye indaba. Neneza, kuloyihlomdala wakoDliwayo owayezalwa
ngukhulu wakho omdala, labana abathuthela eSigodini, wawusemncane kakhulu
wena ngalesosikhathi vele angiboni ukuthi uyabazi. Wayexotshe umfazi esithi
yinyumba sefuna ukuthatha umuntu owayezamzalela indlalifa, wayevele esekhonjiwe
ngomunye. Lo ayemxotsha uhamba nje kanti wayesezithwele, kodwa engazi.
Wabeletha umtwana ongumfana, manje ngenxa yendlela ayexotshwe ngayo
lokuhlukumezeka akuzwayo kulowomuzi, esezephiwe lamabizo asabekayo, wakhetha
ukufihla, wathi kabuyeli, bazaphela bathi ngumabuyekwendeni.
Lo owesibili wafika wazala amankazana amabili elandelana ngesikhatshanyana
esincane, bamunyiselana abatwabakhe. UDliwayondini wasesizwa ngabasiki bebunda
ukuthi umfazi lo amxotshayo wazala umfana ngesikhathi esanda kusuka, wahamba
wayamdinga ehamba ledombo ukuyaxolisa. Bathe befika lapho bathola ekhona sibili
umfana kodwa wayengani yisiyingayinga, upungene, kwasokuleminyaka emihlanu
okutwana kwakhona. Babezamile abakubo kanina ukukuhambisa ebantwini, ngoba
vele kwakungelampilo kulaleziyifayifa."
"So gogo waphila umtwana lowu engenziwanga umcimbi?"
"Wayehlala egulagula Tshalisi, kwesinye isikhathi ake abangwe lezibi. Wayephila
ngezihlahla ayeziphiwa ngeyinye inyanga khonale. Isibaya sasesiphele du ngakibo
kanina bezama ukumelaphisa".
"Gogo ukuthi alethe umtwana kubo azolungiswa ke, surely wayeseke wa attender nxa
kusenziwa ababanye abantwana?"
"Nxa wayesitsho yena mfazi lowo, wathi izinyanga zazimtshela zingatshaya
amathambo ukuthi kumele umtwana asiwe kubo kodwa lazo ziyakwanisa ukusiza,
kanti zazizifunela imali nje kuphela.
Ngemva kokulabhela kukaDliwayo wacina exola lowomfazi wabuyela emzini wakhe.
Wenzelwa um.........."
"Kutshukuthi lathi asikho late. UXoxo usangenziwa! Phew! Ngaze ngakhulukela".
"Mana ukukhululeka. Wathathwa lowomtwana walethwa ekhaya, kodwa kwathwa
angenziwa ngumamazala okwakunguye owayesenza umcimbi ngalesosikhathi,
kwathwa ngoba angahle amqedisele, kumele kuyiwe enyangeni ezafika imenze
imithanithani yakhona eminenginengi, waphila yena kodwa ingqondo
zazingahlangana, wayelokuyahlala ezintabeni kwesinye isikhathi engaziwa lokuthi
ungaphi ".
"Enyangeni futhi gogo? Kanti ngakithi kuyahanjwa enyangeni"?
"Ah wena! Kunengi ongakwaziyo, uXolani lo! Nxa selifuna enziwe, kumele ahanjiswe
sibili enyangeni, ngoba angifuni macala mina."
"Gogo, ayikho enye indlela mhlawumbe angazi......"
"Neneza! Mina ngangisithi livumelene lonkosikazi wakho ukuthi lizakhuleka? Hantsho
selingena isonto lezi ezibonayo, ezomoya, ezileziwatsho lamakhandlela. Asosembatho
engasibona sitshukwa nguSazini lapha, esimhlophe lesiphambano esincane esilombala
oluhlaza. Yikho nje ngingazange ngilwise. Angithi laphuma eAnglican lisithi
akulaMoya?"
"Hayi gogo singena eBrathani. Kodwa ukungasitsheli zonke lezizinto gogo? Mina
ngiyalisola sibili ngoba khathesi selingethusa, kumele lathi sitshelwe singabantwana
ingozi zonke zonalezi."
"Neneza umcimbi wenziwa umtwana engakabi lenyanga eziyisithupha, kungadlula,
eyesi8 ayifiki ephila. Yikho engakutshelwayo ngiqalisa ukwenza lento, manje lo owenu,
uyisimanga, ngihlala ngicabanga ngaye, ngikhuleka ubusuku lemini, ukuthi
uNkulunkulu amkhangele zingabhodi ekhanda. Ngihlala ngisevalweni. Pho nxa lisithi
ulethusile. Ah lami angazi, angcono lidinge uSiwalu oqinileyo, futhi kumele kube
kuyinyanga ethembekileyo engasoze ilidle imali yenu, ibengeyaziwayo futhi..........."
"Ah gogo!"
NguCharlie lowo, wayesevule amehlo.....