BEING A WIFE OF A PRISONER

Chapter 47

BUSISIWE

I close the lid of the pot and hand Junior his food.

Junior: Thank you.

I close my eyes and wait for him to pray.

Junior: God bless our food in Jesus name amen.

Me: Amen.

We dig watching TV.

Me: I spoke to your teacher and you’re going to school tomorrow.

He huffs.

Me: And she gave the whole class a project of growing a bean.

Junior: A bean?

Me: Ewe imbotyi. {Yes, a bean}.

Junior: (confused) Njani? {How}.

Me: The instructions are in your DBE book, on page 67.

He leaps up to his feet and places his food on top of the chair and walks to the wardrobe. He takes out his DBE on his school and pages it then hands it to me. I read the instructions then nod.

Me: Remind me to buy beans in the morning.

He nods and takes back his book. A knock comes on the door.

Me: Who is it?

The knocker doesn’t respond but instead knocks again.

Me: Ngubani? {Who is it?}

The silence again then the knock.

Me: (annoyed) Ungubani? {Who are you?}.

Silence.

Me: Hlala apho phandle ke. {Stay outside then}.

For the umpteenth time the knock comes again. I spit my bone and leap up to my feet and stumbled to the cupboard. I place the plate on top then wipe my hands and walk to the door. My nostrils flare after seeing the knocker. I step back and slam the door on his face. How dare he show up here? How did he find me nogol? Wasn’t he suppose to be dead by now? He was fighting a loosing battle with his breath for goodness sake earlier on. He knocks again and I ignore him. I pick up my plate and walk back to the bed and sit on the edge.

Junior: Mama someone is on the door.

Me: He’s knocking next door.

He furrow his eyebrows and cast his eyes on his plate. Good. That man can stand there until the moon shows up. I didn’t bother him for years so why is he bothering me? Junior jumps to his feet and padded to the door.

Me: Uyaphi? {Where are you going?}

Junior: Kukho umntu emnyango. Ndiyovula. {There’s someone on the door. I’m going to open}.

Me: Hlala phantsi.

Junior: Mama…

I cut him off.

Me: Hlala phantsi.

I sternly muttered jumping to my feet.

Me: Uqale nini ukuqaqadeka ngoku? {Since when are you disobedient?}

I click my tongue and furiously open the door. I push him and step out then close the door.

Me: What do you want?

Kagiso: You know what I want.

Me: And what exactly is that?

Kagiso: I want access to my son.

Me: Excuse me, did you just say son?

I throw my head back and laugh.

Me: A son? You doing have a son kaloku wena.

He breathes out.

Kagiso: I just want access to him.

Me: Yeyi, ndoda ndini sufuna ukundidika ebusuku. Awunamntana wena ngoku ngomphi lo umfunayo? {Don’t annoy me at night. You don’t have a child so which one do you want?}.

Kagiso: I understand you’re angry.

Me: You don’t understand anything.

I seethe out.

Kagiso: Please, I just want to see him.

Me: No.

Kagiso: Please.

Me: (screaming) I said no.

Kagiso: I didn’t mean to upset you.

I click my tongue and march back inside. I open my purse and look for my wallet then walk back inside.

Me: How much do you want?

Kagiso: (confused) What?

Me: How much do you want?

I yell out opening my wallet and take out the notes and throw them on his face.

Me: Is that enough or do you want more?

He swallows hard and cast his eyes on the floor where the notes are before looking at me.

Me: (screaming and crying) What are you waiting for? Just take the damn money and leave us alone.

Kagiso: I just want to know him.

My lips quiver while tears roll down my cheeks.

Me: He doesn’t want to know you.

Kagiso: You can’t speak for him.

He spits out.

Me: I’m his mother and I know what is best for him.

Kagiso: I’m also his father.

Maye! Ndiyalingwa na?... Am I being tested?

Me: I’m his mother and father.

I clap back. He blows out a sigh.

Kagiso: Emotions are high right now and I understand where you’re coming from. I don’t want to take him away from you.

I spit on the ground.

Me: Hell will freeze the day you take him away from me.

Kagiso: You’re angry and I understand that. Our last encounter wasn’t nice. I was rude and-

I cut him off.

Me: I don’t want you and I will never want you. You’re just a one night stand I had on a parking lot so please stay in your lane.

He slides his hands in his pockets and narrowed his eyes at me. My chest bounces up and down. I’m boiling. The door from next door opens and my neighbor peeps his head out.

Neighbor: Makhi, everything okay? I heard some screams and someone crying.

I sniff and wipe my tears.

Me: Everything is fine. He was just leaving.

I spit out and shift my gaze to him daring with my eyes to say more.

Neighbor: Shout if you need help evacuating him.

Kagiso: Ska mphaphela saan. F’tsek.

He hisses at him. The neighbor rushes inside. He heavily sighs and turn to me.

Kagiso: I brought him this.

He picks up the plastic on the floor which I didn’t see when I walk out and hands it to me. I peek inside and find the snacks. I throw the plastic on the floor and stamp on it. Bloody fool. Who is he to bribe my son with snacks?

Me: Leave.

Kagiso: I will go. I just want to see him and say goodnight.

Me: He’s sleeping so leave.

Junior: Baby shark do, do do, do, baby shark. Mommy shark do, do, do, mommy shark.

He sings on the other side of the door throwing me under the bus. Kagiso’s lip curve into a smirk. Jesus you really gave me a child with that one. Can’t I turn him back and find another child in his place?