Easier

Cherry Missions

Its Tuesday evening, I drove straight to Karabo’s house. She called asking that we meet today since she and her husband are going away on Friday. I ordered us meat and salads from Essence Food, and it was delivered 10 minutes ago. Karabo bought rolls and made a small pot of pap for her man and whoever else who will want some. The ice queen just arrived and she’s on my case, it hasn’t even been a minute. “Why did you buy readymade foods? Leago will think we are lazy.” Otsile.
We ignore her and pour our drinks, I text the stranger and blush when he sends me a picture of his upper body, he has a towel on his waist with droplets of water on his shoulder. Karabo snatches my phone, and she runs to the door with it. I take deep breaths; I am not chasing her. Kea follows her when she ululates. “Which gym do you guys go to? I need to join in.” Karabo comments.
“I was thinking that we all go to sun city with the kids for a weekend.” Otsile changes the topic.
“I’m game, let me know how much we pop out.” Kea.
“Me too.” I answer.
“Sbari sam muhle yena, if mama was single, I’d hook her up with his dad did you see how handsome he is?” Kea.
“This is so cute, when did you get that portrait of Lesedi and him?” Karabo.
“Let me see.” Otsile.
“Let me sit down. Khoti babe, how is school?” Kea.
“What you are doing is wrong Refilwe,  you can’t introduce your boyfriends to the baby. You will confuse her. ”Otsile.
“I don’t know, maybe yesterday?”
“You will ignore me because you know it’s wrong. I wonder what dad will say about this.” Otsile.
“Otsile,  what is your problem with me? Like your real problem and don’t lie about boyfriend’s this started when Bongs was alive, what do you want from me?” I ask annoyed.
“I don’t want anything,  now I can’t tell you when you make mistakes?” Otsile.
“What mistakes? Have I not left you alone? I don’t call your child, I don’t call you, I don’t go home because my child breaks your things and she is loud, heck I don’t even have your numbers.”
“It’s  because you are hiding your bitchiness, you are the one with a problem, how can you involve my child in our fight? Do you know how difficult it is for her at the new school? They don’t even have dance. She hates me because of you.” Otsile points my forehead,  she is on her feet leaning forward.
“Is that all?” I ask calmly.
“No that’s not all, you are selfish. I repeat, I wish Mojalefa killed you sies. Therefore, God took Bongani, he saved him from you.” She spits on me.
Karabo pulls her back and I get up from the couch, I get to the bathroom and wash my face. Khoti knocks and opens the door as I wipe my face. “I am so sorry for that.” Khoti.
“Don’t apologize for things you didn’t do.”
“Mama saw everything,  I video called her.” Khoti
“You shouldn’t have. You know she will stress. Come let’s go eat I’m starving.”
“How are you so calm?” Khoti.
“Not, everything people do deserves a reaction. She wanted to fight with me for whatever and I don’t want to get involved in her internal battles, I told you all that she hates me, your parents thought I was dramatic.”
“Fifi are you okay?” Karabo knocks and opens the door.
“Yes, I am hungry. Have you dished up for our man? Oh, konje you need to cook, big sister’s orders.” We all laugh.
“I’m really sorry for her behaviour.” Karabo.
“It’s not your fault.”
We leave the bathroom and meet Leago on the passage.  He gives me a hug. “Cherry ka Mjita wam.” He whispers and I laugh.
“Share the joke.”  Karabo.
“Yho, nna I’m hungry and I need to get home soon I have an early class tomorrow. Let’s eat.” Kea. I look at her and we laugh.
“Otsile, are you going yo eat the pap and milk?” Karabo.
“Yes, take aways are fatting. You need to cook for your husband before he finds a woman who will.” Otsile.
“Eh, did that stop your husband from cheating?” Kea.
“I’m not your age mate wena.” Otsile.
A relevant question, I shake my head. Karabo and Khoti dish up for us. I eat silently listening to them talking. The stranger video calls me and I excuse myself with my plate. “Mjita waka.”
“Your eyes are red were you crying?” He asks.
“No, I washed my face. My parents Llama spat on me.”
“A Llama?” He asks confused.
“Yes, I will tell you about it on Friday."
“Drive safely,  ngyazfela ngawe.” He says.
“Okay, Khwesta later.” He laughs.
I collect the empty plates, Otsile refuses to give me hers. I wash the plates and wipe the counters then I greet Lerumo who is outside watering his plants. Karabo walks Kea and I to the car. “I will talk to her, don’t worry.” Karabo says greeting us.
“Leave it alone.”
“Good night.” Kea and I chant.
I drive to the petrol station where we meet Kea’s boyfriend. I drive home and call the stranger. I sleep after texting Karabo that I am safe. The following morning my mother calls me. I ignore the call and call her back when I arrive at work. “Refilwe, how are you?” mama.
“I’m good and you?”
“I can’t be good when my kids are fighting.” She cries.
“Which kids?”
“You and Otsile, when will this fighting end?” Mama.
“Did you see me fighting? She’s fighting alone.” She remains silent.
“Okay, I need to work mama.”
“Your dad says you must come home this weekend, we need to fix this.” Mama.
“I will be whoring this weekend as your child says maybe next Saturday.”
“Refilwe Mtolo Ngwalane.” She gasps.
“Bye mama, see you next week. I love you.” I laugh.
Nothing much happens at work. I arrive home and cook then start the laundry. “Mjita wa girl.” I answer my phone.
“Cherry yam, how are you?”
“I’m good thanks, you sound like you are driving.”
“Yes, I was asked to fly to Bangui.” The stranger.
“Bangui? Where is that babe?”
“Central African Republic.” The stranger.
“You do know that we had soldiers die in that place a few years ago, right?”
“I do, we will not be staying, it’s an in and out mission. We are  repatriating personal.” The stranger.
“Thata wena mission impossible. Please come back, I already did the losing a partner part of life.”
“I am coming back for iCherry yam. I am on my way to the air force base, I’m not sure about signal, I promise to contact you soon.” The stranger.
“Travel safely. Come back or I am fetching you.”
“I love you too.” We laugh and he hangs up.

Lerato, Lesedi Le Kganya