LIFE IMAGINED

06

LIFE IMAGINED
06
#NARRATED
Mrs Green is standing by the door looking so livid, waiting for an explanation as to why she found her husband kissing another man, a garden boy at that.
Mrs Green:John I asked what is going on?! I find you kissing another man in my kitchen?!! What is the meaning of this?
John : Honey I told you that he kissed me forcefully.
Mrs Green put her hands on her waist.
Mrs Green: Is it written fool on my forehead? You expect me to believe that this useless garden boy is the one who kissed you?
Yabatha tried to leave as he thought he would give them space to talk their issues out, but Mrs. Green stopped him before he could leave.
Mrs Green: Where the hell do you think you are going? You are going to stand there as I wait for a reasonable explanation from the both of you. What if our children were the ones who walked into you two? What would they have thought of you as their father John? Did you think of them?
John: Emma, please calm down. I'm telling you the truth he has been making advances on me for weeks and I have been turning him down, I told him that I am his boss. Please you must believe me you know I will never do anything to hurt you like this. Please my love.
He walked over to her and tried to touch but Emma stepped back and shouted, “do not touch me John.”
Emma: I have tolerated your bullshit for years John this is enough. And you *she pointed at Yabatha* I want you out of my house! Get out! That's the thing about you black peasants, a person would try to lift you up and give you a job, and you stab a person at the back. I do not want to see you ever again, and you John you are in a lot of trouble.
She clicked her tongue and went out to Yabatha’s room. She started ransacking around and took his clothes and threw them outside, busy shouting and talking to herself that he does not appreciate being given a job. After she was satisfied, she took a black plastic bag and shoved all his clothes inside. He tossed them outside the gate and went back inside the house breathing fire. She found them still standing in the same position she left them in. She grabbed Yabatha by his shirt and went with him outside. She tossed him outside with his plastic bag.
Emma: Leave my house!
She closed the gate.
John: You didn’t have to chase him out like that.
Emma raised her hand at him and went back inside, not even wanting to hear another word coming from him.
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ZESULWA
They put another bag of cement on his back, and he almost falls but he balances with the wall. Now he sees what Zungu meant when he said he wants strong men, they do hard labour here. This is not a job for the weak like him.  He is tired now; he just wants to rest. They have been working since morning with no breaks. He arrives where he drops off the load of cements on his back and feels relieved.
“You can take a break guys. But after 20 minutes it’s back to work.”
He smiles at that and takes a seat, he takes his bag and takes out his food. MaMdluli made it for him because he did not want him to starve.
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#NARRATED
Yabatha is walking on the road, but he has no idea where he is going, he has no money to even take a taxi back home. He decides to sit down on the side of the road and tries to call his mother, but he has no airtime.  He sends a callback and wait for his mother’s call. She calls after 10 minutes.
Mama: Yabatha, what is wrong? Why are you sending a call back?
He just cries hearing his mother’s voice, he needs her now more than ever.
Yabatha: Mama, I have been fired from my job.
Mama: Why? What did you do?
Yabatha: My boss’s wife found me kissing her husband.
Mama: What?!! Yabatha are you gay?
You can hear the judgement in her voice.
Yabatha: I am not gay mama, that man has been abusing me for months. He forces me to have sex with him and gives me money after that. I do not want to do this mama. I have no feelings for men.
Mama: If he was paying you then why are you complaining?
Yabatha:Mama what do you mean by that?
Mama: You have seen how tough this world is my boy, you have to do what is necessary to take care of your family. You know my husband is no more, which means you’re now the man of the house. It is your responsibility to take care of us and ensure that our needs are taken care of.
Yabatha opens his mouth in shock by what his mother is saying.
Yabatha: Even if it means I have to sleep with another man mama?
Mama: If that is what it takes then yes.
Yabatha: You are always breaking my heart mom, but this is the worst of all things you have ever said to me. You are basically selling me off to this pervert old man.
Mama: Stop being a weakling Yabatha.
A car startles him and he looks who it is.
Yabatha: Mom I will call you later.
He drops the call.
John:Get in.
He gets inside and he drives off.
John: Who were you talking to on the phone?
Yabatha: It was my mother; I was telling her that I am fired.
John: You didn’t tell her about us, right?
Yabatha:No I didn’t.
John: I’m sorry about my wife, she was just angry. I will make sure that you come back to your job.
Yabatha nods but deep down he doesn’t want to go back to that house, it has taken so much from him already. John drives into this beautiful house and they get out of the car.
John: This is one of my houses. You will be staying here in the meantime. I care about you Yabatha, I know I lied and said you are the one who kissed me, but I love my family and this other side of me can never be known by anyone. Now let’s get inside.
Ya drags his plastic bag, and they get inside, they sit on the couch.
John: Are you hungry?
Yabatha:Yes.
John: I will get you something to eat. But first, undress.
Yabatha looks at him blankly, is this man crazy?
Yabatha:But…….
John:No buts Ya, just undress. I am so stressed and I need to see that beautiful body of yours.
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It has been 3 days and Zethe is still undecided about whether to call that mystery man and take his offer or not.
“Zethembiso I thought I told you to go and fetch water.”, says her father.

Zethembiso: I will go dad.
She stands up and goes to her room, she takes the card under her pillow and dials the number written on it. He answers
“Hello”
Zethe:Hi, this is Zethembiso.
“Zethembiso from where?”
Zethe:The girl you gave a lift to the other day.
“Oh now I see you. Have you thought about my offer?”
Zethe: Yes, I am actually calling about that. I will go with you.
She smiles excitedly, thinking of the good life that awaits her.
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To be continued…..