Scarlett Ngcobo

Chapter 1

It's Monday morning and I'm already late judging by my mom's persistent knocking, which means I won't be able to go for my morning jog again.

“Scarlett Ngcobo!” she shouted, as she kept on knocking on my door.
“Mom, I'm awake.”

At 25 I still stay with my parents, I felt that I would save a lot by staying with my parents instead of getting my own apartment. I'm really not that late but my mom can be a little bit too much. She feels like I'm not taking anything in life seriously, you never know what's going on in that woman's head to be honest but nonetheless I love my mom, she's one in a million. Life would be so much easier only if Angelique Ngcobo understood that life has no manual.
I'm glad my dad is totally the opposite of my mom, for a Zulu man he is very chilled. He never puts us under unnecessary pressure but mom feels that he is like that because I'm the last born. You would swear that I'm spoon fed by my parents, which is not the case. I'm not doing bad for a 25 year old. After matric I went and studied HR management, but halfway through my second year I dropped out because it wasn't the course for me. My mom was definitely not impressed with my decision but tough luck for her because, I am stubborn just like her so she couldn't persuade me into finishing the course.
Since I left my course halfway through the year, I freelanced at one of dad's businesses to avoid being stuck at home doing nothing and my mom breathing down my neck. I knew I couldn't freelance forever so I applied for a Finance course for the following year. I surprised my mom and myself by actually finishing the course this time around. My graduation was very memorable because my siblings managed to come and celebrate the day with me since everyone has their own lives to live and responsibilities to do. As much as my siblings lived away from home we still made time to celebrate achievements, and have dinner dates as a family, every now and then.
After graduating, I struggled to find a job.
Someone tell me why we go to varsity to study if it's going to be so damn hard to find a job afterwards?
I lost count of the amount of jobs I applied for. Job hunting is really draining, with or without a qualification! I got so exhausted of hearing the same chorus all the time, “you do not have experience.”
Duh!
I know I don't have experience but if you gave me a chance than I would gain that experience right?
After a month of just sitting at home and sending job applications my mom asked me to help her out since her PA would be soon going on maternity leave. My mom is an interior designer. She is her own boss! On weekends though she does not touch anything that has to do with interior designing, she has an art gallery as well so on weekends she's there.
I know nothing about interior designing, all I know is that my mom does a good job at what she does and her having an art gallery is a bonus.
I wasn't getting paid millions but I made enough, for someone “who does not have experience”. So I had to travel with my mom to this fancy house in Cape Town, I say house because it definitely didn't have that homely atmosphere, it was just a massive house with lots of space and art pieces here and there. So we had to go there so she could see how it looks like before she gave it the Angelique touch. I must say, that house had a lot going on, everything just seemed out of place. I might not be an interior designer but I know a mess when I see one and that place was definitely the definition of mess. Being her PA I had to make sure everything that she ordered arrived on time and not broken as well. A few weeks later I nearly didn't recognise the inside of that house, well now I can call it a home. I have to give it to my mom, she's the interior designer she thinks she is. That place had class and made sense as soon as she was done with it.
I definitely enjoyed working with my mom but one evening as I was perusing my emails, it looked like my ancestors were finally smelling the coffee and doing what other ancestors do for their kids. I had three interviews to go to the following week and hoped for the best.
On Saturday I had to go to the salon to get my hair done, I'm not a fan of salons because of one reason, the hairdryer. Seeing that my daddy went for a white woman, I had the most beautiful natural hair. I preferred doing my own hair but this time I had no choice but to allow them to use heat on my hair so I could plait it.
Sunday's are always the same, we go to church and come back home to your usual “Sondag kos” and if we lucky we might get malva pudding. On Monday morning by 06h00 I was up and ready to tackle my interviews, I actually surprised myself to be up and ready by that time, and I was not the only one surprised even my parents were surprised that I was up. I even made breakfast on that day, lucky them. My first interview was at 08h30 so by 07h00 I left to avoid the Johannesburg traffic. Trust Johannesburg traffic to piss you off, don't get me started on the taxi drivers, they drive as if it's their street. Nonetheless I made it on time but the interview was a total waste of time and petrol. So by the time I had to drive to my second interview my spirits were already low, I just wanted my bed and ice cream. As I was about to enter the boardroom for my interview, another lady came out rushing nearly bumping into me. Talk about ill-mannered people! Not even a sorry! As I went in, a gentleman in a powder blue suit said I could take a seat. There was something unsettling about him, he just gave off bad vibes the second I entered. I prayed that this interview goes well unlike the first one, but it looks like my prayers are still doing pushups.
Firstly this gentleman touched my thigh as if that is okay and he looked me straight in the eyes and asked me, “how badly do you want this job?” still shocked by that, he touched my breasts and said; “the job is yours if you do me one tiny thing, just get on your knees and suck my penis.”
I don't remember much,I honestly don't! I don't know if I slapped him immediately or I walked out than returned to slap him. The nerve of him! Now it makes sense why that poor lady came out of that room running as if she had seen the devil himself, well she actually did. I sat in my car crying, trying to figure out whether I should go to my third interview or not. Before I could go I decided to call my brother, Msizi.

“Hello” Him
“Khanyi, hello”
I couldn't hold it in I just let it all out. I tried telling him what's wrong through the hiccups but I failed.
“Khanyi, talk to me mntaka ma.”
“What's going on?”
“Haibo Khanyisile, khuluma phela”

I dropped the call and texted him instead because I knew he was going to call again demanding answers.

I'm going to my third interview, I will call you later and tell you everything. Don't be alarmed, I'm okay .
Khanyi.

Here I am driving to my third interview already expecting the worst. I was not even excited anymore but I had to put a smile on my face as I approached the receptionist to enquire about where I should go for the interview. She seemed nice, even took me to the boardroom herself. This place was not massive like the other two, but it looked cosy, it felt right to be here.
I knocked and was told to enter. God give me strength! I  was going to be interviewed by a male species again! I took a seat and waited for the worst but it never came. He was professional, asked me questions one should expect in an interview. Asked me about the company, where I see myself in 5 years time, what I'm bringing that other candidates are not bringing. I started relaxing for a change and answered confidently and gave it my all.
After that interview I went to Checkers, bought myself wine, I deserved it especially after the day I had. As soon as I got home I took a quick shower, put on a loose dress and enjoyed my wine with last night's leftovers. Than I decided to call my brother to tell him what happened.

“Khanyi khuluma” Him
“Not even a hello, Mapholoba?”
“Khanyisile Ngcobo!”
“Okay.. okay.” I took in a deep breath and narrated the story to him. He was mad, I could hear from how he was taking deep breaths as well.
“Did you report that dog, Khanyi?”
“What's the point bhuti, the case won't go anywhere.”
“Udakwa yini emini wena Khanyisile?”
“The case won't go anywhere, how do you know? Wazelaphi wena ngani ka Gatsha?”
“Bhuti, uyazi nawe money talks in South Africa, so let it go I'm okay.”
“Money talks my black ass!”
Just like that he cut the call as if he is the one who called. I hope he doesn't tell the parents, I'm not in the mood to fight with them.
A week later I received an email telling me that I got the job. I kept on reading that message over and over again not believing that me, khanyisile Scarlett Ngcobo found a job.

Dear Ms Ngcobo
It is with great pleasure to inform you that your interview was a success and it would be a pleasure working with you. Please reply within two days.
Kind regards
HR