After breakfast we got dressed in basic jeans and t-shirts then we packed up everything that we had at the hotel with us then made our way to Toti, my in laws house. Upon our arrival I noticed a few familiar cars, it would seem, my whole family was here. We went inside and everyone was happy to see us, with my mom ululating and Stephanie rushing to hug us, you would swear we had been gone for years. After everyone hugged us, we sat down in the back yard by the pool and we just engaged in meaningless banter, they were having a braai, celebrating our marriage without us.
Me: How are you guys celebrating our marriage without us? I mean, you guys didnt know we would be coming back today.
Bradley: You make a good point my Starr, how could you guys exclude us?
Uncle Mpilo: We are not celebrating your marriage, we are celebrating the union of 2 families.
Me: There wouldnt be any union of 2 families if it wasnt for us, so you are celebrating us.
Andre: No, this is not about you 2, do not make it about you.
Bradley: Let us have it.
Mom: Okay fine, we are celebrating you 2, are you happy?
Bradley: Finally, you guys finally admitted it.
We laughed at that, but it died down soon, then we carried on conversing until Smith and I decided to go to his room, sorry I meant our room, to start opening our gifts. There were so many of them, you couldnt even see the bed. We opened them and there was mostly small linen, towel sets and crockery. My parents in law got us Smeg appliances, I mean, they got us a kettle, toaster, a kitchen combo and a blender. This is putting a lot of pressure on us for when we have to buy the rest of the appliances. Anyways, my parents got us Le Creuset 16 piece cookware set as well as the 5 piece stainless steel set, also from Le Creuset, I have always spoken about how I love these and I always thought I would buy them for myself, but I guess my parents always listened to me when I spoke about what I would do in the future and what I loved. We had opened almost all our gifts when Blake knocked and told us that food was being served and our presence was requested. We went to the back yard and found everyone gathered around an oversized table, there were 2 seats left vacant for my husband and I so we went there and sat down, grace was said then we all started plating and eating.
Dad: When is your drivers test Ledi?
Me: It is on Tuesday, why?
Dad: No I was just asking.
Then he turned to my mom and they started whispering amongst themselves. After eating, Scott, Bradleys grandad stood up and said he needed to say a few words.
Scott: As we all know, the way this marriage came about was not the regular boy meets girl, story but I think we have all seen how much these kids love each other and I think we should out all disapproval behind us and rejoice. Bradley and Naledi, I am very happy for you guys and may the Lord bless your union. Without wasting anymore time, I just wanted to personally give you my gift.
He took out a box from his pocket and extended his hand to me and further said.
Scott: This is for you and your husband, consider it, your very first child together.
I opened the box and almost fell off the chair, I quickly shut the box and looked up at him.
Bradley: What is it babe?
Me: What?
He pushed his chair back and started walking.
Scott: Follow me.
We all followed him and we couldnt believe it when we reached a white Hyundai Venue with a big red bow on it. Had I known that all I needed to do in order to get my hearts desires was to get married, I would have long done this because WOW!!!
Scott: I would have gotten you guys something bigger, but I figured, since you are young, this is the best option for a young newly wed couple.
In the box that Scott handed me, was a Hyundai car key as you had already guessed. Smith took my hand and lead me to the drivers seat and opened the door for me. He then went to the passenger seat. I started the car and opened my window.
Me: We will be back soon, we are taking our baby for a spin.
After that I drove off and drove around the Amanzimtoti for about 30 minutes, then we went back home where we found the family gathered around a bon fire in the garden, they were laughing and drinking, they all looked so happy. We joined them with our juice and listened to the stories they were sharing, until they started sharing our childhood stories.
Stephanie: Bradley once asked me where babies came from and when I told him that they were delivered by Santa, he said, you are such a liar mommy. Then he walked away as if he had just dropped the mic, I have never been so confused in my life.
Andre: Steph told me about that encounter and I then realized that I fucked up. I was the one who told 6 year old Bradley the truth about where babies came from.
I died there and then, I am no parent, but even I know that 6 year olds should not know how babies are made and born, but hey what can we say, men SMH. Stephanie smacked Andres head.
Stephanie: For 12 almost 13 years, you hid this from me? Why did you tell him that?
Andre: How was I supposed to know that I was supposed to lie?
We all laughed at that.
Dad: At 5, we asked Ledi what she wanted to be when she grows up and we were never ready for the response we received.
Mom: She said: Oh thats easy, I want to be a lesbian. Then she carried on eating her veggies.
Me: What? I never said that.
I said in disbelief, I couldnt have known about sexuality at 5 right? Yeah I couldnt have.
Bradley: She couldnt have known anything about sexuality at that age.
Mom: She didnt know about the details of sexuality, she just knew my late sister who was lesbian, when we later asked her why she wanted to be a lesbian, she said wanted to be just like her aunt Owami.
Makes sense, anyways the conversation continued and later in the evening my grandparents left along with my parents, brothers and Brian, Bradleys older brother. We continued sitting around the fire even after Bradleys grandparents went to sleep. We were left there with Blake, Stephanie, Andre, Uncle Mpilo and Emily, Stephanies sister.
Stephanie: Do you guys need help with moving tomorrow?
Me: Not really, because we are just moving to the commune for now so we just need to go buy a bed and linen in the morning then get our clothes.
Andre: Here take this and get everything you will need.
He said giving Smith his credit card. Smith stood up to take it and then they shook hands.
Bradley: Thank you dad.
Me: Thank you guys for everything.
Bradley: Also, can we keep most of our gifts here until we move to our apartment because we wont have enough space at the commune.
Me: And I am not about to have my pots and appliances being used by just anyone in a commune.
That conversation lasted a further 15 minutes or so, then everyone went to sleep, whilst I walked Uncle Mpilo out to his car.
Uncle Mpilo: Ledi, you know you can ask me for anything, anything you need right?
Me: Yes, whats up? Wanna give me money?
Uncle Mpilo: No, I just wanted to make sure that you know I would do anything for you.
Me: I know, and I will never forget that.
