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Chapter Forty One.

Chapter Forty One.

"But if you're gonna dine with them cannibals sooner or later, darling, you're gonna get eaten..." x NICK CAVE.

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"Mama...mama..." I lightly tapped on her shoulder and that's when it seemed like she was drawn back to this earth.
"Zano," she breathed out and forced a smile on her face. I don't know why she was even faking it when I loved the wrinkles it forms on the outer corners of her eyes. "Senibuyile eskolweni? (You're back from school?)"
"Yes mama, and guess what?" I'm excited again before I dropped my schoolbag on the table and unzipped my backpack.

"Yini? Kune trip futhi eskolweni senu? (What? Is there another trip at your school?)" She shook her head before folding her arms in front of her chest, surely calculating how much money she had to deduct from her savings for this month already.

I pulled out the piece of paper and put it in front of her, bringing her out of her worry almost immediately.

"Ngipassile! (I passed)" I beamed and squealed before she finally joined me in jubilation. A happy moment I'll never forget. She took me in a bone crushing hug before letting me go. She even had tears in her eyes.

"You even passed with great marks!"

"My teacher said if I continue like this I'll even be eligible to apply for bursaries, so you don't have to worry about a cent mama," I said.

Her face dropped immediately after I said that.

"I never wanted any of my children to go through the burden of poverty Zano. You're only 15, you should be worrying about teenage stuff. Things like the bold and the beautiful, boyfriends and sneaking out. Not money."

She and I both knew that was not my cup of tea but I knew what she meant. A child shouldn't be exposed to those types of hardships cause they'll end up feeling like it's their fault. They'll feel like their a burden and the reason why they can't afford the nice things in life...

Maybe even make you feel like you were a mistake. A failed pull out. A condom dodger. Yes Nyiso and I talked a lot about these things especially during break time.

"Tell you what, umamakho will buy you a new school skirt cause this one has run it's course. Plus...it's too short now," her eyes popped out as she attempted to measure it's length.

"Haybo mama!" I laughed and backed away. "This is very long compared to other girls I'm in school with. Others, you even see iybunu kahle nje mebagoba. (...the butt when they bow.)"

She shook her head and folded the report card in half before the front door got occupied by a shadow. He took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his forehead then proceeded to greeting afterwards.

Only I greeted.

Mama, looked like she had just had a bag of lemons. Really bitter ones.

"Noma?" Him.

My mother clicked her tongue before she turned to walk away off to their bedroom. I heard the door shut. It became silent.

"Umawakho usathukuthele? (Your mother is still angry?)"
"Why would she be angry?"
"Oh hayi, lutho Nonozi, (oh, no it's nothing Nonozi)" he walked in. "Bakephi oNobuhle nalomfana...u...uKhaya? (Where is Nobuhle and that boy...uh...Khaya?) "
"Nextdoor."
"Oho."

"Baba...ngiphasile," I beamed.
"Oh, okay."

Oh okay?

Just that?

I felt small. I zipped my bag as a distraction. I'll be in the room I share with Zonke.

"Kanti akunakudla kulomuzi? Umawakho akathengangi isishebo? (There's not food in this house? Didn't your mom buy meat?)"