His Helper

9

That morning, I noticed the kids hadn't descended from upstairs. Eyeing the cupboards, I sought culinary inspiration, finding a nearly depleted packet of maize meal and rice – a reminder of grocery runs during his parents' visits. Recalling the kids mentioning his penchant for ordering food, I surveyed the refrigerator stocked with petite portions of tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and meats. Shaking my head in disbelief, I swiftly summoned Liyema to join me downstairs. After a quick change into snug attire and stashing my bag in the closet, we ventured out.

Once outside, Liyema quizzically asked, "Where are we headed?" Glancing at my phone to track our Uber, I replied, "The mall – we need a few things. The kitchen's running on fumes." He nodded, and sensing an opening, I continued, "I also wanted to talk to you." Meeting his gaze, I reassured, "Nothing serious. I'm not your mother, but I care about you. What was about to happen couldn't go down on my watch." He attempted to interrupt, but I held my ground. "I know he was wrong, but you can't talk back to your dad. You're not that kind of kid. I pray that the beast within doesn't rear its head. If we all harbored beasts, there'd be destruction. I'm not saying you have it, but if it's there, don't let it take control. Reclaim your power, or it'll snatch it away."

As the Uber arrived, I engaged the driver, seeking guidance to the nearest grocery store upon reaching the mall. Following the entrance number given by the driver, we strolled into the store, securing a shopping cart for our mission. Lost in admiration for the mall's offerings, I moved through aisles, Liyema quietly trailing behind.

In the midst of grocery gathering, seemingly out of nowhere, he asked, "How do I control the beast?" Startled, I turned to face his serious expression. Deciding to share what worked for me, I replied, "Firstly, learn to process words as you seek answers. It may seem slow at first, but over time, your responses will be measured, avoiding unnecessary confrontation." Unsure if he'd heed my advice, I continued, "It's what I did this morning with your dad, not provoking but choosing words carefully or sidestepping the clash." His furrowed brow hinted that he might have overheard our conversation earlier when I asked him to head upstairs.

"He's not accustomed to that," Liyema remarked. I turned to him as he explained, "He's outspoken and unafraid to call people out. I learned from him." Chuckling, I said, "You don't have to force yourself to be him; he might be using it as a coping mechanism." Liyema, seemingly taking this to heart, began gathering baking ingredients, likely for his sister's delight. He enjoyed stealing them while we baked.

Standing by the counter, he mentioned, "He's calling." Encouragingly, I said, "Answer it," but he hesitated, passing the phone to me. Shaking my head, I refused to take it. "Maybe he'll call again. I don't even know what to say," he remarked as the phone stopped ringing. Playfully, I suggested, "How about starting with hello?" As I unloaded groceries for the cashier, Liyema moved to the other side of the counter.

The call came again, and I saw him answering it, walking slowly to the entrance. "Thank you," I said to the cashier when she was done. I pushed my cart to the entrance but away from Liyema, giving him space. Ordering another Uber to take us back, three minutes later, Liyema was already standing next to me as the car stopped in front of us. We helped the driver pack, then I pushed the cart to the side of the store before getting in.

As the car pulled up, Anele was waiting outside the front door. Walking through the artificial grass pathway, I noticed the surroundings for the first time, the sun indicating it was close to noon. After helping with the bags, I lingered, observing a golf course in the same estate from a distance. When they returned for the remaining bags, I walked back myself.

"You should have told me you were going out," Anele remarked as I began packing the fridge. Liyema, grabbing a chocolate slab, headed upstairs. "Where are the kids?" I asked while wiping down the bags' storage spot, then moved on to the pantry. Anele stood in front of me. "Upstairs playing. Aren't you speaking to me?" I had an answer, but a sudden wave of frustration hit. Though I didn't want to talk, I did want to hug him, hoping the feeling would fade. Turning around, I replied, "I do; I just did," continuing to pack.

"Why didn't you go to work?" The question slipped out. "I couldn't," he said, standing in front of me again, starting to irritate me.

Lucky Akhanani came running, asking for her own chocolate, and it seemed she noticed I wasn't in the mood. Handing her the chocolate to share, I said, "I know it's a small packet, but I'll make it up to you. Maybe we could bake tomorrow," winking at her. She smiled, jumping around, and went back upstairs.

I retrieved my jacket from the stool and headed to my bedroom, leaving Anele standing in the kitchen. Once in the room, I sat down, breathing heavily. I prayed, then sat there for a while, meditating on the Word, seeking strength. The day had been emotional, and I needed a moment. Nearly an hour later, when I was sure Anele had left the kitchen, I returned. Liyema was watching music videos on YouTube in the sitting area – the kind I didn't even like.

Opting for headphones, I started cooking, nothing special, just pap and stew with vegetables. I steamed the vegetables, seasoned them, ensuring they'd taste good for the kids. Glancing out the window, I admired the estate's setup. Although I typically wasn't a fan of shared yards, their arrangement felt spacious. By around four, I finished cooking and was ready to lay down for a moment. "It smells nice in here," I heard, as my headphones weren't at a high volume. Turning around, I saw Anele's older son standing next to him.

"If it's okay with you, I'd like to go to my room. You can call me when you're ready for dinner," he said. In unison, Anele and I responded, "We are ready." I laughed because I already knew Liyema loved his food, but I didn't know Anele was the same. "Then you can help me set up the dinner table while I check on the kids," I realized I didn't know where their rooms were. "Uh, Liyema, can you get them after washing up? I haven't been upstairs," he nodded, going up.

I took out the serving dishes from the oven, placing them on the dining table. No longer wearing headphones, I heard, "I'm sorry." I wondered, did Anele, the notorious and ruthless businessman, just apologize to me?

I looked straight at him; he seemed sincere in his apology, and I smiled, making him smile back. I sat down, wearing a knitted dress with boots, which I had taken off when I went to my bedroom before cooking. I had warm slippers. Although I had always respected the dining table tradition from back home, I could adapt it to this family, even though I once shared it with the kids in East London. It was easy for males, but women had to change from trousers to dresses.

Akhanani sat down wearing her dress, and then her father spoke, "And now, why did you have to change?" He looked curious, but she didn't say much, just "Just wanted to check it out, see if it fits." So she took a new dress. No wonder he asked. She turned to me and smiled unconsciously. My hand went to her cheek, pinching it. "You look pretty," I told her. I heard Nelisa say, "I loo pwty," and he made me smile. I did the same as Liyema put him in his chair, saying, "You look pretty too."

"We better pray before Dad starts eating," Liyema said. At least he remembered that we needed to pray before Anele started mumbling something. "Akhanani, please bless the food." We all closed our eyes as she prayed, and after saying amen, everyone focused on their food. As I fed Nelisa, I took my time because I didn't really feel like eating, maybe because I had just cooked the food or I was shy.

"This is nice; one could get used to this," Anele said after moaning after every spoon. "Hire someone like Sis Unako," Akhanani suggested, while Liyema chuckled and said, "A chef." I looked at him. "But I'm not a chef." He shrugged, saying, "Not all nannies cook like you." I was about to say something, but Anele said, "I don't remember hiring a nanny but a helper." Akhanani asked, "So we don't have a nanny?" Shaking his head, Anele replied, "No, just a helper. She helps around the house, so I prefer that, not a nanny." I shook my head and continued feeding Nelisa.

"Can I have seconds?" Liyema asked. "Sure," I said. Anele chimed in, "Me too, if it's okay." On second thought, I suggested, "Why don't you both wait, then have your seconds later so you don't go to bed hangry?" They both nodded.