Turning Table

Part 143

*** Stranger in my house ***

🌹Lethukuthula 🌹

" Mntungwa,
Mbulaz’omnyama,
Nina bakaBhej’ eseNgome,
Nin’ enadl’umuntu nimyenga ngendaba,
Nin’ enadl’ izimf’ezimbili ikhambi laphuma lilinye,
Lobengula kaMzilikazi,
Mzilikazi kaMashobana, . . . "

" oh,  Makhumalo stop it you making me blush "
My mother bust out and laughed, she stood up and went to hug the mystery man standing in our dining room, he looks like my father but no doubt He was not him, My father was a politician and looked the part, even nude, he would still appear honorable corrupt just like all the other politician, and the funny part is that his appearance most certainly advertised a certain occupational nerdiness, no doubt the glasses were the tipoff of his look.

However the man standing before me had no glasses on, and this alone reminded me of my father’s unlensed face, which we all hardly seen but if I remember correctly, My father’s eyes were bold, his nose was sharp, and his chin jutted out when he had a point to make. He was a tall man with a big man’s bravado. He might have looked fierce, but his supple lips and gappy teeth warmed his smile. The fullness of his face, however, was completed by his glasses. They gave his face corners, and without them, his temples seemed rounded, and his eyes less bright, which at most times shook my girlish assumptions of what a father should look like, and the sight of him without them always rattled me. Unfamiliarity was not the issue there, as anyone’s father has a unique voice, customary habits, and of course, a signature scent, of Old Spice, Lifebuoy, or Brut, Even thore his dead now I forever picture my father, his glasses float like the giant eyes of Tawana Kupe

So the stranger before me, with no glasses on, looks like him but his dark eyes scream that his, not him,

Me: who are you ?"
I mumbled moving forward, he glanced at me and moved his attention to my mother again 
Him:I never thought I will see you wearing these clothes"
He spoke softly to my mother,  looking at her mourning   clothes,
Mom: life is unpredictable bhuti"
"BHUTI?"  Mbali said behind me, 
Me: mama..."

She raised her hand stopping me,
Mama: girls I would like you to meet your Uncle..."
Me: what ?"
" technically im your father ..." The man said
Mbali: YOOOH!?" I clapped once making my mother frown
the stranger laughed and walked closer to me but my impulse made me take a step back, He swallowed and shoved his hands in his pocket looking down

Him: I believe you must be the fearless Lethukuthula, the firstborn... and you ..." He said looking at Mbali "You must be Mbali ezinhle zamantungwa..."
Mbali: that still does not answer the question of who you are!"
"im Mzilikazi "Mzi" Khumalo ...
I say im your father because your father Mtungwa was my  brother..."
Mbali: impossible "
She said taking a closer look at him
Him: I know but ..."
Me: look sir I dont kno Jiw who you are or what you are, but the truth of the matter is my father's family was killed during the outbreak of political violence in the mid-70s..."

" hot-headed like a real Mntungwa Lady I see," he said smiling at me
Me: That you got right...!"
Mama: Lethu!!!"
Me: mama what's going on and who is this man claiming to be our father brother?"

I said pointing my finger at him
mama: LETHU!!!! who the hell do you think you talking to like that ?"
I found myself tucking my invincible tail between my legs, cause I know that this woman before me will not hesitate to put me in my place ... But due to confusion that was driving me crazy I raised my head and found myself talking back to my mother
" we have a bloody impostor in the house mama...a stranger! and you expect me to believe this nonsense, that he my uncle?"

Mama:Lethu!" MaKhumalo apprehended me again, but this time I stood my ground, this was no time for me to be an obedient child.
Mystery man: MaKhumalo calm down, it's okay... I believe the girls need answers "
Mama: I'm sorry but this is not the right way to ask for them"
Men; it's ok, ... I fully understand, may we sit down please so I may explain myself"
Mama: ooh God where are my manners, of cause Bhuti please come this way "
She said walking to the sitting  and showing this guy the way

Me: so what now we hosting this guy ?"
Mbali: I believe there is a clear explanation to all of this, so just calm down "
Me: what?"
Jisha: Mbali is right Lethu "
I turned and looked at Jisha she was still holding her chest, and biting her thumb
Jisha: even though I think I just saw a ghost "

As much as I want to laugh at her terrified face, I found myself rolling my eyes and walking past her, 

"... your father left out the part that only me and him were survivors..." The man was talking to Mbali as I walked into the sitting room  but to my surprise, my ears went deaf thereafter, I could see his mouth moving but I could not hear a word, I shook my head, trying to focus but still nothing,  as I looked around the room, my eyes landed on Mbali who was the only person standing in the room, she had this serious look, the kind of a serious look she normally has when she is about to have a vision or prophecy

I stepped close to her
" Mbali,"  I said softly to her
" his telling the truth ..." Mbali said not looking at me but her eyes and attention fixated on the men
" you gave up your life for our father... " Mbali said cutting the man off from talking
Him: so Mtungwa did tell you about me ?"
Mbali: no ... But the truth is written in your dead eyes"
The man Swallowed and looked down, 

Mbali: "Go, and let the sands give you comfort and serpents and scorpions be your only companions." Those were the last words you said to my father"
As a waterfall of bloodshot tears  seep down your eyes ,
Reaping your  frail neck.
I see a fallen rose in one hand which shared wilted petals and on the  other hand a gun soaking with blood,  through the very ground that your bloody tears have fallen,
Your face now, Its shed waterfalls unseen. You wear the mask that grins and lies, it hides your cheeks and shades your eyes- this debt you had to pay to human deception; with torn and bleeding hearts with a forced smile.

Everything looks foreign in your eyes now, what was once a bloody ground is now Daisies grown in that field,
Alongside fallen white feathers.
Together they huddle in the gleaming sun Of stained sheets and brittle bones,
All concealed by one men's sacrifice...your sacrifice! So tell me why Why did you do it?"

The room was dead quite as much as Mbali has spoken I had no clue what the hell was going on, everything she said was a riddle that only she and this man understood.
my mother let out a loud sigh while the man slowly stood up and said

" excuse me" he walked slowly with his head facing down,  making his way out of the door, I looked at Mbali and Mama, they had an unspoken conversation with their eyes,

"Just when you least expect it, the tables turn... Yo ooh!"
My mother said and clapped once, leaving me confused about what just happened in this room!
Me: Mbali?" I called out for her as she attempted to walk out
Her: Mzi is our Uncle, uBaba omdala wethu"
Me: what ?"
.
.
.
To Be continued