Following tradition

Insert 5

Amani
I woke up in my bed in my room with the sun up. I was starving. I sat there for a second.
" i was dreaming? All of that dad marrying me off and meeting the royal family was just a dream?" I got off the bed and started dancing just as mom opened the door got in and closed it. I kept quiet and sorted the bed. I turned to find her still standing there not saying anything.
Me: What have I done?
Mom: Nothing
Me: Than why you standing there?
She kept quiet and I could see she was hiding something..
Mom: There is a man out there with your father.
Me: A man?
Mom: Yes a man.
Me: Am going to shower mom. Dad have friends all over. Why is this person different.
I left her there and went to shower and wore my legging and my big baggy top. I comb my small afro than wore my black sneaker and left the bathroom and mom was still in my room.
Me: Ma
Mom: I think its best you stay here
Me: For what
Mom: Those man came here driving the most luxurious car and if you leave the bedroom you will mess it up with your smart mouth.
Dad: Amani?
I looked at my mom
Me: Ngiyenze njani ke ngoba indoda yakho iyangibiza? ( what must I do cause your husband calling me)
Dad: Amani bo!!!
Mom: I swear if you mess up whatever your dad is doing now. Ill hate you
Me: You hate me vele! I went to the door and opened it than walked out to the lounge and I stopped. There he was sitting on my couch. I wasn't dreaming those things. I really meet him. Right next to him was his brother and his father and The former king.
Dad: Meet the royals from Kwantabazinhle
Me: Zweli???
I slowly walked in and stood next to the wall letting the cool air calm me down. I looked at the coffee table and Iv never seen so much money in my life. Mom walked in and saw the money and dad grinned.
Dad: glad you came. These are the Royals of Kwantabazinhle.
Mom: okay,are they looking for cows? I heard they into farming.
Dad: Better they brought cows.
Mom: Cows?
I walked to the door and there was nothing outside.
Me: Uhm
Dad pointed at the table.
Dad: The cows.
Me: am confused.
Mom: uthini babakhe?
Dad: The royals here are here for our daughter hand in marriage.
Mom: Am confused
I turned to see my mother turning pink. I know that expression from anywhere. I ran to next to her and held her when she fainted.
Me: So this is where I get it from.
Zwakhe laughed more like roar.
Zwakhe: Now this is interesting.
Dad got up to try and help with mom but Zweli helped and we placed her by the couch. She woke up sooner than expected and I gave her sugar water.
Mom: Your dad said they here for your hand in marriage
Me: That what he says
Mom turned and looked at dad.
Mom: The Gwala family?
I looked at dad.
Me: Gwala family?
Dad: Will talk about that later!
King: I think we should leave you guys to go through some stuff.
Zweli: Ill like to invite you for lunch. You and the family as celebration. My family will like to host you
Dad: We will come
They all got up with dad walking them out and We said our goodbye.
The minute they were out of sight a sharp sting,I felt a slap on my cheek and I looked to see my mother fuming. I held my cheek. This is the first time in my life I felt a slap. I looked at her.
Mom: You sneaky bastard.
She hissed at me.
Mom: You went and open your legs and now this? She picked up the money and splashed on my face.
Mom: What are we going to do to bab Gwala? You had one job in you lousy life and that is to marry that Gwala boy and I would have gotten another Spaza shop.
I looked at her shocked.
Me: A spaza?
Mom: oh you ungrateful child.
Dad walked in and looked at me and I saw his eyes change .
Dad: Khabonina!!!
He roared and I looked at him and mom but mom was on fire.
Mom: She will not marry the royals, she will marry the Gwala boy.
Dad: Khabonina!!!
Mom didn't even looked at dad she was staring at me and my two little sisters came in the room.
Lunwabo: Tata
Dad dropped down to her level.
Dad:go bath with your sister. The twins ran towards the bathroom.
Dad: Khabonina did you hit Amani?
Me: She didn't dad I tripped
Dad: Onto 5 fingers?
Mom was quiet.
Mom: You know what fuck both of you.
I looked at mom scared.
Mom: yazi Donald iv seen you choose this child over and over again. The deal was we marry her to the Gwala family...
Dad: I spoke to bab Gwala last night and boy he had a funny story to tell me!!!

Khabonina
I looked at him.
Me: I can explain
Donald: Explain how for the past 20 years you been taking money from me saying you paying Gwala only for me to find out I paid my debt long ago? Explain to me how you have been building a whole house in Ladysmith with my money!!! Explain to me how it was your idea that Gwala offers an arranged marriage to my daughter and lastly explain to my how you took my twins and lied to the Thwala family that it they child. For 12 years that man has been paying maintenance to you thinking that he has kids with  you and you threatening that you will tell the wife of the affair you had?
Explain to me how am I married to a monster!!! And now here you are beating my daughter? My daughter!!!

Amani
I stood there shocked. This is all a mess. Dad fuming and mom looking like she going to lose it.
Mom: You no innocentia yourself Donald. Should I tell her or do you want me to tell your precious jewel who her father is truly???
Me: Dad?
I looked at my dad who looked away. Mom grinned her most devilish smile.
Mom: I didn't think so, so you will forget what Gwala said and we will marry her to the Gwala family not those slimy Royals or else your precious jewel gets a little history lesson!!!......