Love And War Season 1

Chapter 9

-GUGULEZWE

Christmas is family time, after that night at the park. I think it's safe to say I'm done with alcohol for now. OK that's a lie.

Sebe spent the whole night with Sabelo, giggling and blushing at whatever he was selling to her. It was annoying but what choice did I have really?

Oh well enough about those festivities, uncle and aunt believe in going to church on Christmas. The whole house has to attend, I don't know how I feel about that but we'll see how it goes.

"Finish up Gugu, you'll be leading the church in a song for the offering and Sakhile will be the one praying for the offering"

Aunt says standing by my door, I chuckle to myself. Yeah right.

"I don't think so aunt"

I say

"Hay andikuceli Gugu, ndiyakuxelela tshini!" (I'm not asking you, I'm telling you)

She tells me walking out of the room. What do I know about gospel? Heck I don't even listen to Gospel. I try and think of the songs mom normally listens to or plays around the house when she cleans and one comes to mind. I just don't know the words to the song. The service is from 8-10am. I go on Google and download the lyrics, I sure hope I remember the song lyrics word for word. I practice while showering, aunty has put me in a tight spot. I get out and lotion then get dressed and head for Breakfast. We gave cereal and go to the car, this thing of leaving with the pastors requires us to go in early as 7. Apparently there's a prayer at 7:15 and then at 7:30 we'll get to practise with the choir. I don't even know how to speak their language, I don't even know how they feel about me singing an English song or Xhosa song in their church. I'm literally a foreigner in their church

. Just as we are driving my uncle stops the car for some old woman. He turns to us

"Make space for gogo Mabuza"

He commands, Sakhile slides next to me and this Mabuza woman. She gets in and thanks my uncle and aunt for the lift.

"And who is this one? I've never seen him around"

She says that talking about me

"He's my nephew Ma"

Aunt says

"He's my brothers son from the Eastern Cape, Mthatha. He just completed his matric too and is visiting us for holidays"

She says sounding really excited

"That's nice. My neighbor and her friend have also just completed matric. She is a very smart girl with a very bright future ahead of her. Wena Gugu are you smart?"

She asks turning to me. In my head I'm thinking 'what's this gotta do with me? Why's she talking about her neighbor and then me?'. I chuckle

"Uhm... I don't know how to answer that question ma, but I think I might be going to varsity next year"

I say, Sakhile nudges me and soon a text pops up on my screen. Its him alerting me that this grandma is Sebe's neighbor. It doesn't explain anything though because she doesn't know me. My uncle parks his car and Sakhile and I are the first one's off the car.

"What's her story?"

I ask as we make our way into the auditorium

"She's the neighborhood spiritual whatever. She's been called many names around here, some believe she's a witch but dad believes the woman is sent by God to do his work. Dad believes that God speaks through her"

I nod a little confused

"And what do you believe?"

I ask as we take our seats at the back of the auditorium