It Ain't Black And White

109

Argh, I am so fucking angry, I can't believe someone would go this far. It wasn't fucking random, mandla and I both know that.
Hearing a car out the front, I knew it was my parents. "try relax huh" I nodded.
Mandla moved to open the door, while I just sat at the table with a scotch.
"Hi mandla" "Emily and James. Come in. Cora is at the table" "nice place" "thanks".
"Cora" "mom and dad" both of them looked at me then at my drink. "dealing with your anger" "no that poor boy is" mandla smirked "she's good. I understand why she is angry. It was your hard earned money and she lost the photos of her and Ezra" mom and dad both sat down. "the main thing is you are okay. When we were called this morning, none of us knew any details. To see you alive and unhurt that's all that matters" I only gave a slight nod. "do any of you know who would do this?" "No but cora will be living with me from now on" mom and dad both looked at mandla "you want her to live here?" "Yes, we have been living between both so she isn't alone" "you were here last night?" "Yes I was, then I left and seen that. Brought back a lot of memories of Ezra, ebony, Clara and Jillian" "we know. Mandla do you rent this place?" "No I'm paying a mortgage. She will be safe here".
"Mand..oh crap. Ahh hi everyone" "Emily and James this is Malik" "hey. Shit cappuccino. You good?" Mom and dad both laughed "still with that name" "it suits her" "I'm fucking angry" "I bet. You sharing?" "if you make your own" "done".
"Are you okay with living here?" "Yeah it's fine" "good. As long as you are safe. Mandla I hear you work as a junior school sports teacher?" "Yeah I do. One of my boys called me telling me about her house and the head principal let me leave" "good, she needs someone to keep her calm" "Jeremiah tried" "yeah that boy had no hope" I chuckled at malik's comment "Nuh. He just let me go".
Surely Shania, Emmanuel and junior wouldn't go that far would they?. Argh I can't be sitting here, doing nothing. I need to go get some things sorted.
"Cora?" "What?" "Yeah she's out of it" "thinking. I need to go sort some stuff out" "like?" "A new birth certificate, clothes.." "we have your original at home. We will file for a new one" I nodded "clothes I understand. Also speak with your uncle Sam about more photos" I nodded "yeah..he is going to pissed off, he was angry when I told him about the injuries".

"Mandla, damn girl we just heard. Oh hi Emily" "palesa how are you?" "Damn worried about my girl. Yeah I be having another bottle with me. Don't blame ya girl" palesa came over giving me a hug, followed by angel, zari and rhianna. "Glad ya safe, I'd be having to deal with his ass" mom and dad laughed "you two are related right?" "Yeah this boy be my cousin" "well palesa ya need to tell ya damn home boy, to stop acting white".
Hearing my phone ring, I looked at the number. Nuh I ain't answering that call. "give it to me" handing my phone to palesa she shook her head.
"What you want huh..yeah it's palesa...nah my girl is good. Surprised ya caring. lying out of ya damn ass to make her look bad..didn't show it did ya.." oh she is going to feed it to her. "yeah she's good, we be cheering her up.. don't know we haven't chatted..yep bye" "you haven't spoke with Shania?" "No" "that girl be a dick head" I internally grinned. "sorry" "nah don't change because of us, we have heard worse from her mouth" the girls all smirked "not cappuccino. She wouldn't be speaking that way" "have ya damn drink girl".
"These are your girls?" "Damn right we are" "yeah mom" "oi..damn, mandla. Full house" "needing a drink after this morning" seeing nakia come my way he sat on the table right in front of me "that ain't a seat" "stop it" smirking, nakia grinned "keep going" "boy get out of her face" "nah we be having an understanding" sitting back, I kept my eyes on nakias. "Nuh" rolling my eyes he got right in my face "stop the blank face before I tackle you to the damn ground" "it ain't working man" nakia smirked "yeah watch this". Looking at mandla he had a cheeky grin on his face "ya best stop" "I'm good" "nah ya ain't". Feeling water slowly get poured over me mom and dad both had worried looks on their faces "keep going nakia" "does anyone know a nakia?" "Nuh" "shadow cut it out" seeing my shirt was saturated, I internally grinned as nakia walked in front of me "damn, pity it ain't white" "you are going to be dead shadow" "anyone know how to break that face" "yep" nakia looked at mandla "ya want to give me tips?" "Nah watch" I wanted to laugh. Looking at palesa, she started laughing. "boys she's just playing ya" showing a slight nod mandla smirked. "Ready?" "What for?" Mandla put frosting on my face making me laugh "really?" "There ya go nakia" "damn girl" mom and dad laughed "we have been trying to read her for years nakia, good luck is all we have to say" grinning at nakia, he shook his head "damn girl and her blank face" "want a hug shadow?" "No you be wet" "geez I wonder why" hearing everyone laugh, I internally grinned. "Girl we be coming to help you shop" "none of that.." "nah nah we be knowing what you like but it is warming up" "yeah I know".
"Mom and dad do you want a drink?" "A water" "same thanks".
Getting up, I grabbed them both a water and made myself a scotch.
Argh who is calling me now.
Shit it's uncle Sam.
Putting it on loud speaker I spoke "uncle.." "you better be okay" "yeah I was at mandlas when it happened. Uncle I.." "yeah I already know what you are going to say" walking out the back with my phone the tears pooled my eyes. "It's all I had left of him uncle and the bracelet is gone, it was on my dresser" "I'm sorry cora, I know it meant a lot to you. You will have a copy of those photos, I will ask Reagan to get them for you" "yeah.." "cora" looking at mandla he shook his head as he looked at the tears. "I want mandlas address, I'm guessing you are staying there?" "Yeah I am. Seems he got his way in the end" "alright, send it to me. The main thing is you are okay" "devastated, hurt, angry, upset. It's just a mix" "I get that. It was your own place.." "it wasn't mine uncle and it's fine. Mandla said I can stay. I just don't know why someone would do this. That was irreplaceable you know" "yeah I know. Hey we will come see you in the next couple of days" "okay uncle. Love you both" "we love you too. Bye cora" "bye". Keeping my eyes away from mandla, I stared out over the back yard. I need to clear my face before I go back inside.
"You want to tell me what was irreplaceable?" I put my head down shaking it slightly "don't do that" "yeah well I have nothing to say" "what was irreplaceable?" "Ezra's bracelet" "Ezra's?" I nodded. "he gave it to me a week before he passed. It was on my damn dresser, I took it off before I went for a shower and now..now it's gone. Uncle said he will get me copies of the photos but that.. that was irreplaceable. I couldn't give a shit about everything else" mandla pulled me close as his arms sat around my waist. He knows I don't want to face anyone right now. "that's why you are so upset?" "Yeah... Everything else can be replaced but that can't" "you have your memories of him cora, that's what matters most" I nodded. Still pisses me off and upsets me.
"Oi girl, what ya doing out there?" "I was on the phone" "get ya ass back in here. We have drinks to be had and ya parents are stuck with us loud bunch" "coming". Turning around, mandla shook his head "if you ain't up to it cora, don't do it" "no it's fine, they are here to see us and we are out here" "alright, come on then" mandla grabbed my hand as we walked inside. Grabbing another drink, we both walked out. "Sorry.." "you have them anyway" "yeah we guessed Sam rang you?" "Yeah he did. He is coming to see me in the next couple of days. I need to send him the address" "he knows you and mandla are together?" "He sure does".