It has been 2 weeks of being back at home and honestly adjusting has been a bit of a challenge, I am back to being a mother full time. My schedule is like that of a booked and busy helper.
I wake up at 6, prepare Athi for school, make breakfast for everyone then walk my princess to school, when I come back, my sister leaves for work and I need to clean the house and take care of Okuhle, then later in the day, I take a stroll to fetch Athi, then cook for the family and that's basically how the past 2 weeks have been, but overall, the best part is having to spend most of my day with my 2 favourite humans, Okuhle has finally remembered who I am and needless to say that we are inseparable.
It's Friday and I just got back from fetching my princess, there's a funeral of an old lady in our neighborhood, it's just a few houses away from home and I see they're already irrecting the tent.
Now if you're from the hood, you know that Friday's are for chopping veggies, this is done by the women in the community, so I'm assuming that my mother will be joining them later.
We get home and I find my mother in the kitchen cooking "hawu, Ma aren't you going kwaMahlangu?" She looks at me briefly "ngikhathele ngempela, hamba uyovela ngizobheka izingane" I sigh, why would she put me on the spot like that, I mean already the entire neighborhood is buzzing about how I'm back home from a failed life, now being in the same space with the very same people won't make this process any better.
"Hlala phansi" she taps the table indicating where I should sit. "Khethelo Mtanam, it doesn't get easier than this, we all start somewhere and people will always talk, what I am trying to teach you here is that we do not run away from our problems, we face them head on, which is something I feel I should have taught you way before, it would've saved you from a lot, I want you to go out there, unyathele ngezitho zakho, walk boldly, own your story, yes ubuyile ekhaya, so what? None of this defines what you're destined for"
One thing about my mum, she has always helped me embrace everything I've always been insecure about, like being chubby and dark skinned, she is definitely my biggest cheerleader. I nod between my soft sobbs, "hamba ke Ntombi before your son starts getting restless" I go to my backroom, well all I currently have in here is a bed, clothing shelves and a chair, I change into a floral maxi dress, I mean it's September after all, then wear a light cardigan to cover my open back and shoulders.
My sister braided me last week, I tie my braids and wrap a doek which covers just part of my braids. I walk back into the house just to take my knife and dish cloth before heading off.
Who knew that at 27, I'd be all dressed up to peel vegetables with other women at a funeral of someone I have not seen in about 5 years?, life is full of surprises indeed.
I walk in, and find that there's already movement, I greet everyone then find a sack of potatoes on one of the tables, I decide to work on that. "Hawu Khethelo!" I look up and lord can the earth open up and swallow me, one of the radio gogo's of the neighborhood. "Yebo ma" she then gives me a fake hug "your dress looks so beautiful, ubekwa yini lana?" I chuckle a bit, out of annoyance honestly "ngizoduduza ma" she looks confused until she remembers that we are actually at a funeral, clearly her question was not phrased correctly.
"Ngibone ingane lapha eskolweni,yaze yafana nawe, eyakho yini?" I nod with a fake smile, she goes on to tell me how grown my kids are and then starts telling me about her son who has recently been appointed as manager at pick 'n pay and how he can help me with a job, clearly the scoop is out and everyone knows about my joblessness.
We are saved by someone clearing their throat, we look behind uMambhele, "sanbona sicela indishi sizofaka inyama" a gentleman with a very deep voice asks, he's way too clean for even the overall that he is wearing. I just focus on the potatoes while MaMbhele leaves followed by that man, I'm assuming she is going to give him the container that he needs.
I finish peeling the sack of potatoes, and I go off to rinse my knife and leave, finally! As I am by the tap, sis' Thandi, daughter of the deceased comes up to me. "Khethelo, how are you?" ,"ngiyaphila ma, ninjani" she sighs, "we actually need more hands for cooking overnight, if you don't mind may you please assist us, your mother always tells us how much of an amazing cook you are"
She looks at me desperately waiting for me to say yes, "I'll have to speak to uMa first, to ask her to take care of the kids for me" , "cha sisi, I had already called her to ask her to assist with the pots but instead she referred me to you" i internally roll my eyes and throw hands a bit in the inside.
"Alright sis' Thandi, I'll help where I can" she reacts as if she has just realized something "actually please take care of the whole cooking process, just direct the ladies on what to do, I don't seem to trust the other ladies, food gets stolen a lot around here when there's events, you're the only one I can trust with this"
I sigh, "I think we should then sit down and discuss what you would like me to cook based on everything you have bought", "just work your magic sisi, we trust you" she taps my shoulder then walks off.
I excuse myself and go home to fetch a warmer jacket, my mother is sitting watching the News, "ma!" She chuckles "I won't say I'm sorry, you need a break Zee" I throw myself on the couch "haiibo Zekhethelo, hamba uyopheka!"
I really just want to cry my eyeballs out right now but I can't! My sister isn't back, she texted me, on the iPhone 6 that she gave me to use, telling me that she is sleeping over at her boyfriend's place, great! Just great! I would have dragged her to come cook with me...
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Zekhethelo: Love redefined.
RomanceAfter a life changing turn of events, Zekhethelo finds herself at rock bottom,having to rebuild her life from humble beginnings, learning how to be a better parent while battling with a recurring addiction. In her late 20s, she has had her fair shar...