A Parent's Sacrifice

06: Settling In

SOTC- Shawn Mendes- Treat You Better. 

I heard a knock on my door and lifted my head. It was 07:40. I ended up crying on the floor and I slept there. I have to talk with my father and tell him what happened. I made a promise to myself, I will never be a victim of gender based violence. Once a man lays his hand on you once it never stops, its a continuous cycle. 

I opened the door, still wearing yesterday's dress with makeup running down my face. It was Sis Thandi. 

"Hey uhm, Mrs Gumede." she greeted awkwardly, taking in my appearance. 

"Hey Sis Thandi, how can I help?" I asked leaning on the door frame. 

"Mr Gumede said you'll drive the kids to school cause he had an early day but I'm looking at the time and Ms Nomfundo is not in the house."

"What time do they leave sisi?" I asked

"Sbani usually leaves at 07:00 because his school is about twenty minutes away." she said .

My first instinct was to call an Uber because it will be much faster but I know that Wandile will kill me if it comes to his kids. I quickly rummaged through my suitcase and took out my gown. I went down the stairs  and found Sbani waiting by the door with his backpack on. 

"Where is Lizalise?" I asked, grabbing my car keys. 

"Only daddy and mommy know how to wake him up." he said. I just rolled my eyes and we headed towards the garage. There was a black Mini Cooper Countryman parked. 

"Who's car is this?" I asked as I grabbed the keys that were on the vase.

"Daddy bought it for mommy. She has two cars like daddy." Lapho mina I don't even own a bicycle. 

I started the ignition and on the display I saw that today was Saturday. What on Earth? Who even goes to school on a Saturday. As I backed out of the garage, I looked at Sbani from the rearview mirror, 

"Why are you going to school on a weekend?" I asked him 

"I have sports practice. Monday we're going to be competing with another school." he said

He directed me to his school and we arrived after 08:00. I was busy overtaking cars on the road but we were not too late. I could not step out of the house because I was wearing a gown. 

"Who'll you fetch you after school baby?" I asked rolling down the window.

"The school taxi will drop me off, don't worry ncane." with that said, he took off and ran towards the gate. 

I made a stop at the McDonald's drive-thru on my way back to the house and decided to get a cup of cappuccino and chicken tenders to snack on while I drive back. 

My phone rang while I was driving back and I placed it on my lap and turned on the speaker. I did not have time to connect it via Bluetooth because we were late in the morning. It was Thandiswa on the call. 

"Hello?" I answered, as I took a bite of the chicken tender. 

"I'm glad I caught you chom, I thought you'd be in the bhundus now playing house house with your man." she laughed. 

"Bhundus? What do you mean?" I asked,

"I read the note you left on the fridge. Aren't you supposed to be at that cousin's memulo by 12:00."

SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT 

"How could I forget that?" I cursed further into the call. 

"Hayibo girl. Do you even have an attire ke?" she asked