Maid For Marriage

88

"MaRadebe!" Gogo shouted from the gate. "What are you doing to these children!?" She walked closer. The other wives looked terrified. I had never seen them like this. "MaRadebe we could hear you all the way from home! What do you think you're doing?!" Now all of a sudden she was quiet.

"These children are disrespectful." She started again. "MaRadebe..." Gogo said in disbelief. "Nobody here disrespected you. Did you know they were doing a cleansing? Yes you did. All of us knew."
"Yes, but they made sure I was pushed aside. You and the elders were in attendance. Why couldn't I be? This disrespectful child always forgets who birthed him when it comes to you!" She yelled at Gogo. "We weren't in attendance. We just watched from a distance. MaRadebe what you are doing is wrong. These children have been through too much for their mother to be treating them this way."

"And which 'way' am I treating them?" Even after that she still had an attitude. "I did nothing wrong here!" Wow. "MaRadebe slapped MaBhengu in the face." MaGumede said quickly and took a few steps backwards as if she was getting ready to run. "Shut up! Shut up!"

"MaRadebe! This is your last warning. Do you see these people gathering here to watch us?" I lifted my head and saw a few people watching. "If you don't come with me now I will drag you home purely for their entertainment. You'll be the talk of the town. Senzo, walk your mother home. I just want to have a quick talk with your wives. I'll be there in a minute."

Senzo seemed hesitant but did it anyway. I just knew what this talk was. She was probably going to tell us to respect MaRadebe as our mother-in-law no matter what. I'm trying here. I'm really trying for the sake of peace. Not just peace for everyone but also for myself. "Come." She motioned for us to come closer to her and we did. I did not have the time or energy.

"I just wanted to ask what you guys were cooking for dinner. My daughters' cooking is becoming worse and worse. The last edible thing I ate was scones MaBhengu brought us." The wives laughed in disbelief. "This is not the time for jokes. I'm serious. Organize me a plate please." She was dead serious. "MaKhumalo, I haven't seen you in a while. Usually you bring me something from the city." She winked when she said something. "Gogo it all happened so fast I couldn't even go to a shop." Gogo sighed. "Yoh! I give up. You see your mother-in-law is going to drive us all crazy. I have to go but I'll be coming around for dinner. You don't have to do much. At this point I'll eat anything."

We decided on doing dinner with everyone at MaCele's house. I helped MaCele in the kitchen while the others took care of the kids. MaKhumalo was bored so she drove into town to get Gogo the alcohol she liked and a few other things we requested. Chumisa went with her just to drive in a car that could make noise.

"Are you okay after what just happened? You seem alright but I never know with you." MaCele asked and I laughed a little. "I'm okay."
"Really?"
"Yes. Really. I'm okay."
"Okay great. With the cleansing sorted have you decided on a date for the wedding?" I shook my head. "Not yet. We still have to discuss it." We finished up and set the table.

Gogo joined us, and we all ate together with the kids. Chumisa was still going on about a car. And no, she didn't want a toy car like the one she already has. She wanted an actual car, and she was serious about it.

"To be honest with you, MaRadebe is just lonely and acting out. I don't think she meant anything she said, but she's still going on about money." I sat back in my seat fighting the urge to roll my eyes. "She says when Senzo was in rehab, MaBhengu used his money to buy the apartment she lives in, and she used his money to fund her lifestyle while you were in rehab."

I couldn't fucking believe this. Every single time we move on and became happy someone or something causes us to take five steps back. I can't believe I still have to fight issues my husband and I worked out privately. "That is definitely not what happened. Even if it was why and how does it affect her?" Senzo asked his grandmother. "Senzo, my boy, I'm just the messenger. You have to sit down with your mother and iron things out. You know your mother has an ego problem. She likes feeling important. She's old now. That will never change. I'm not saying feed her ego but the least you can do is spend time with her. I'm glad that your family is finally coming together. It's beautiful to see but don't neglect your mother. Maybe you can include her in family activities now and then so that she doesn't feel lonely."