Once upon a time in Merryland

ONE

Leaves rattled, dust soar as Muhle stomped the ground hasting home to his beloved grandma. The day had seemed so long for him to get back home. Along the way he was in a universe of his own; the wind was giving him a little push at the back, the birds filled the air with jolly melodies, the trees sang in accordance to the tune played by the birds in the sky, the ground echoed in response. All the marvelous notions the nature around him was doing gave him the energy and strength he need to race home. A cool breeze just swept his face and a sweet scent spiraled through his nostrils. At that moment he knew he was almost home. He let out a huge sigh, stopped hasting and had some air. A grin filled his face for he knew it was a matter of some minutes before he could see his grandma. Before he could proceed home, he took an inspection of his clothes. His grandma had warned him about getting himself dirty and promised some beating if he happened to get dirty. Upon getting satisfied he was absolute clean, he drew in a huge amount of air then galloped home. 
Muhle has been living with his grandma since he was born. His father passed away when he was about two years old and his mother had a few issues with his father so she abandoned him a month after he was born. He was raised by his grandma ever since then. He grew up to know his grandma to be the closest person he could ever have. Freda loves her grandson and treats him like his own kid, which he practically was. She swore to herself she will bring the best out of him in whatever it takes.
 
Just as she finished cooking, Freda took out her phone to look at the time, it was 1405hrs. As she was putting it back the door cracked open, it was her grandson. With a smile she rushed to the door and kissed him in the forehead pulling him up by the head with a few bones snapping. It's something she usually does when Muhle has done something maturely. Before she could let him in she gave him an inspection on his clothes. “Well it seems like going to school works in my favor, somebody has learned to stay clean now” she declared. “Make sure you neatly put the clothes in your closet, I am not ironing any clothes in the morning” Freda yelled at Muhle who was racing into his room. Muhle knew he had to wash his socks and polish his shoes before he could eat but today he could use a meal first. “Grandma! Can I please eat first today before I wash?”
“I don’t want to see you glued on TV, you seat down eat then go wash are we clear?”. Freda could not get even a yes Muhle was already stuffing stambu into his mouth. “Those hands are not washed are they!” Freda scolded.
Muhle gazed at his dusty shoes with a little bit of sympathy. It’s a pair of toughees her aunt Busi gave him on his sixth birthday celebration two weeks ago. He loved them since they were still new hence he served justice when polishing them. When it comes to washing clothes he made sure even the last of dirt is removed. He would rinse the clothes a couple of times until no stain of either dirt or that of the soap is drenching from the clothes, only clean water.
Freda caught his grandson staring at the portrait of the man he had always been told to be his father. A short, fat, light skinned man with a bushy beard whose eyes in the picture popped like he was caught off guard by the flashlight of the camera.
Jabulane passed away on the 12th of March 2008. Freda marked that date on her calendar because that was the day her only son was taken from her by death. Every year on that day the family gathers to have an evening dinner in his remembrance. They would light candles, sing songs and Muhle's aunts; Busi and Nomsa, would share childhood stories of them and his father. That helped Muhle understood what his father was as well as helped the sisters never forget about their brother. Freda would listen and smile now and then as the girls narrated to Muhle how she would whip them. She would eventually fall asleep in the process; it is what she does every year. 

Freda walked over to her grandson and patted him on the shoulders, “He loved you, you know! You were the best thing that ever happened to him” she said kissing him on the head. “I want to grow up and be like him, have a big beard” Muhle softly said as he turned to cuddle up around his grandma. “Of course you will.” Freda smiled and embraced her poor grandson who thought having a bushy beard meant something.

At 1900hrs, Freda came to the living with her grandson and rolled over emacansi to pray. She then told Muhle to bring up his books so they could together look over what he did at school for the last time. She was very determined to make sure whatever her grandson learnt at school was committed to his memory. It always ended up with Freda carrying Muhle to bed. Before she could turn off the light, Freda took one glance at her peacefully sleeping grandson, smiled then off she went.