Beckoned Through The Dark

21 // Lesego // Guests

My mother kept whispering sweet words to me, calming me down, and Dineo brought my asthma spray; and then my mom helped me with inhaling.

After a while, my breathing came back to normal, and I just lied in her chest, while she continued soothing me.

Dineo, Duncan, and Jack were sitting on the floor, right across my mother and me. "It's okay," my mom whispered.

"It is not okay." I whispered back. "I'm scared." I cried.

"There's no need to be scared, we are here to protect you, hmm?" She said and kissed my head.

"Like you said: there are some things in this world that you can't protect me from." I felt her tense under my body.

I was not saying this to spite her, but she was right, she couldn't protect me from myself. I usually cut myself, not with the intention to kill myself, but to feel pain; because pain helps me to forget about my problems.

However, I didn't remember anything from the previous night. I don't remember cutting myself. Why would I want to kill myself? "Sweetheart, I know this must be hard for you; but you need to be strong, okay?" Mom said, planting kisses on my head; something she had never done.

I nodded my head, and pulled away from her, but I couldn't look her in the face because I was afraid that her eyes would contradict her actions and betray her intentions.

"Would you please help me to prepare dinner? I know I should have cancelled, but I haven't had the chance to speak to Mrs Dube..."

"Aunt Nomalanga!" The three of us sang; and for the first time ever, we shared a laugh.

"Okay, okay; how about we prepare dinner together as a family?" Mom suggested.

"Okay." I said.

"Fine by me." Dineo said.

"I'll be happy to help." Jack said, and we all turned to look at Duncan.

"Do I have a choice?" He sighed, and we all laughed. I could get used to this.

Preparing dinner was fun, we talked and laughed a lot. Even Duncan who looked a little resilient about cooking together, seemed to have been enjoying himself.

We made a variety of salads, meat, rice, pap, and Dineo even baked some muffins.

After preparing the food, we set the table, and placed everything there. It was perfect.

"Wow!" Mom gasped. "This is..."

"Too much." Duncan chirped in.

"Hey!" I gave his shoulder a gentle slap; to which he laughed.

"Jeez! I'm just joking, it looks perfect, mom." He said.

It was 6p.m., and the Dubes were coming at 7p.m. The only thing left for us now, was to bath.

"Everything is set; all we need now us to get ready." Mom said, she looked a bit nervous.

We all agreed, and took turns to shower, and then by 6:50p.m., we were ready.

Mom and I did a few touch-ups; we made sure that there were enough chairs, enough cutleries, enough juice, and dessert.

Everything looked perfect.

Ten minutes went so fast, that by the time the Dubes arrived, I could have used another ten minutes.

When they suddenly knocked at the door, everyone started to panic.

"Do I look okay?" Dineo asked.

"Are the boys nice?" Like we were supposed to know, Duncan had asked.

"Lesego, do we have everything?" Mom asked.

"Guys!" Jack called, and everyone stopped what they were doing. "Calm down. Take deep breaths." It was so funny watching Jack try to calm them down. "Dineo, you look perfect. Duncan, why don't you try to get to know them; I'm sure they are good boys." He said to the kids, and they relaxed a bit, although Duncan still looked a nervous mess. "And, sweetheart, you did very well; the food looks delicious, and the sitting room looks beautiful. You have nothing to worry about, okay?" Mom nodded, and they hugged.

"They are standing right outside the door." I said, breaking off 'the moment.'

Everyone gathered at the door, and we welcomed the Dubes.

"Good evening, Nomalanga." Mom greeted and hugged the humongous woman at the door.

"Good evening, Betty." She greeted back.

"I'm glad you could make it to dinner tonight, thank you." Mom said.

"Oh no, thank you for the invitation. Kids, you can come in." Aunt Nomalanga said to her kids.

Her two boys walked in first; the eldest boy, Siphiwe, was Duncan's age and height, he was wearing a white T-shirt and black skinny jeans, while the last born, Andile; wore a black T-shirt and blacks shorts.

"Hello," they greeted, and walked past us to Duncan. They did some handshake, and I saw Duncan's previously tense muscles, relax.

Thirdly, her third born daughter, Samkelo, walked in. She was not as bad as I had expected; I thought she was a snobby brat, but instead, she was shy. She was wearing a short white summer dress with pink flowers, and white heels. "Hello." She greeted.

"Hello, Samkelo."

"Uhm, I hope you don't mind, but I came with my first-born daughter." For a second, my mother looked worried, but she covered it up.

"Oh no, it is fine, where is she?" Mom asked, looking over Nomalanga's shoulders.

"Oh, she said she forgot her phone in the car, she will be here just now." Nomalanga explained, and mom replied with a nod.

"Uhm...why don't you come in so long." I said, and she smiled at me before she came in. "And please, sit down, while I get an extra chair for your daughter." I said to the present Dubes. "Dineo, please add another plate, and glass."

My family and the four Dubes sat down at the dinner table. "Hmm...smells delicious." Nomalanga said. Dineo and I shared a look before we went our separate ways; Dineo went to the kitchen, and I went upstairs to my room.

I got my chair and went back downstairs; and by the time I arrived, there was a new face at the table.

"Lesego, I'm glad that you are back; this is Nomalanga's daughter, Abigail. Abigail, meet my daughter, Lesego."