Tawana, Wandile and Loraine are waiting by the benches when I join them. It was a hustle to carry the bags in but I got help from some lady that was also going in.
“I brought the bags, how is she doing?” I say putting the bags down.
“They took her in and we were asked to wait here,” Tawana replies, “Do you think she will be fine?”
Loraine answers, “She will be fine, you are just not allowed in there because there are other pregnant women. Why did you guys choose a public hospital anyways?”
“Not now, Loraine. We don’t have a mother or close family member to tell us these things. We didn’t know and Uncle Shawn is on his way,” I tell them.
“Did you call him? I forgot to call him,” says Tawana.
I nod, “I called him and he is taking the next flight here.”
“Who is Uncle Shawn?” Loraine asks.
“He is our Uncle and I think you should go home for a couple of days,” Wandile tells her.
Loraine folds her arms, “Are you kicking me out of your house? Are you sick of me already?”
Wandile answers, “Come on, babe you know that is not it. This is my Uncle and he is like a father to us. I haven’t introduced you to him so it will sound like I am disrespecting him. Please go home for now. I promise I will introduce you to him. Anesu can you please drive her home to get her things and then drive her to her house?”
“Why does Anesu have to drive me?” – Loraine.
“Because my brother needs me, Loraine! Can you just go with Anesu, we will talk on the phone,” Wandile replies, sounding slightly annoyed. Loraine is such a pain and she should be happy that Tawana is choosing to stay quiet today.
Loraine and I go to the car then I drive us to Newton West so she can get her stuff. On our way there Loraine says, “From the looks of it, I am now competing for my man’s attention with you and Tawana.”
“No one is competing for anything.”
She scoffs, “Really? Then why does he always choose you guys over me?”
“Loraine you need to understand that there was us before you. Wandile is our older brother and he will always choose us first. Yes, he loves you but if you continue acting like you are doing, he will leave you.”
She claps once, laughing, “He will leave me? So in other words you agree that there is a competition on who gets his attention?”
“It’s not even like that. We are happy that you and Wandile love each other. You are the one that sees us as threats and I don’t know why.”
She answers, “Have you seen how you behave around your brother? He is always hugging and kissing you. No brother and sister do that.”
“Maybe where you come from and how you were raised. My brothers and I have always been like this. It’s not only with Wandile – Tawana treats me the same.”
She says, “I see you are those kinds of people that like to act like white people.”
“You know what, I am going to shut up because everything I say will sound like I am trying to defend myself.”
“Then shut up,” she mumbles, “How long do you think your Uncle will be at your house for?”
“Uncle can stay as long as he wants. Don’t you think your family misses you too?”
“Tired of me already?” she asks.
“Why do you twist everything I say?”
“I am just asking a simple yes or no question. Why do you always get defensive?” she says and I turn on the radio. I am done speaking with her.
“Do you need help getting your stuff?” I ask after parking the car.
“It’s not many things plus I might come back after your uncle leaves,” she makes her way into the house. I am going to wait in the car. I check my messages. I have a text message from Uncle Shawn telling me that I must pick him up at the airport. I still haven’t replied to Brian’s text message so I call him.
Me: Babe!
Brian: Hey, my love. How are you?
Me: I am good, sorry for not replying to your text message. Sharon is in labor and I was getting some stuff for her.
Brian: No problem, is she okay though?
Me: They say she is fine, we are just waiting to meet our new member.
Brian: Tawana must be happy he is going to be a father.
Me: He seems scared that something might happen to Sharon or the baby. Listen I am driving Loraine to her house then I pick up Uncle Shawn from the airport. I will call you tonight so we can talk.
Brian: I think it’s better if we talk in person.
Me: Should I be worried?
Brian: Don’t stress yourself. We will talk when we meet.
Me: It’s a little hard not to. You said we need to talk and that is never good news.
Brian: My love we will talk. For now, be there for your brother then we will talk. I am not going to work tomorrow so we will have time to talk.
Me: Okay…how was church?
Brian: Church was church. I didn’t want to be there so it made it more boring.
Me: I am sorry. Let me drive Loraine, we will talk later.
Brian: I love you.
Me: I love you!
“Who are you talking to?” Loraine gets into the car. She is done putting her things in the boot.
“My boyfriend.”
“I forgot you are obsessed with that boy of yours,” she laughs putting her seatbelt on. I don’t know why she picks on me when she behaves the same with Wandile. At least I have never slept at Brian’s place or insulted his siblings.
From Loraine’s place, I pick up my uncle. I had to wait for almost an hour for him to arrive. I should have grabbed food before driving to the airport. I had forgotten the time he said I must pick him up. How can I not forget with Loraine on my throat?
“Uncle Shawn!” I hug him.
“Look at you all grown. What is your brother feeding you?”
I laugh, “Uncle I am the same as you last saw me.”
“You are not. Any news from your brothers about Sharon?”
“I haven’t asked but we will find out now. Do you want to freshen up first or must I drive straight to the hospital?” I ask and he requests we go straight to the hospital.
We get to the hospital around right pm, we find out that Sharon has already given birth. Unfortunately, it is past visiting hours so we were asked to come back the next day. At least Wandile and Tawana saw the baby. It is a baby girl. I wonder what they are going to name her. As for Sharon, does it mean she was in pain all morning or it started when they came back from lunch?
When we get home, I make food for everyone and then Uncle Shawn is the first to go to bed. He claims to be tired. Tawana also goes to his room so he can talk to his wife.
“I think I also want a baby,” says Wandile, “She looked so cute.”
“You can always have one but keep in mind that those things cry and poop on themselves.”
He laughs, “I will keep that in mind. Let me go and talk to Loraine. I am sure she is angry at me.”
THE FOLLOWING MORNING
I drive to Nketa to pick up Sharon’s mother so she can see her daughter. My brothers, Uncle Shawn and I will see Sharon in the afternoon. We want to give her family time to see her. From the hospital, I drive to Brian’s place. I am very curious about what he wants to talk about.
“Hey baby,” Brian hugs me as soon as he opens the door. He kisses me, “Look at you looking like at hot aunt that you are.”
“You never run out of things to say don’t you?”
He kisses me, “Not when it comes to you. Come in.”
“Hey, Anesu,” Colleen waves at me. His eye is bruised. I wave at him then Brian tells me to wait in his room while he gets us drinks. I go to his room and make myself comfortable on the bed.
“Your drink, my lady,” Brian hands me my drink. He also sits down.
“You said you want us to talk?”
He sits in front of me and holds my hand, “You know I love you right? I love you with all my heart and Anesu you are the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Okay??”
“I received a call from my uncle, Colleen’s father and he got me a job in Tanzania. This is something I have always wanted, this is my dream and I have been begging my uncle since I was in school to get me this opportunity,” he says still holding my hand.
“Wow! So in other words, you have to leave and you are scared to hurt my feelings?”
He answers, “It’s more than that. I love you Anesu but I also want this. I want you to be in my life and this is also a huge opportunity for me.”
“What is it? This opportunity.”
“I am going to be a Skipper it’s a person in charge of a boat or someone that commands a ship. It pays a lot of money and I would be doing something I love,” he answers.
“That sounds like a great opportunity, you should go,” I reply, “I love you too. I can’t imagine life without you but this is a great opportunity. Grab it with both hands.”
