JOYS OF LIFE -2 [NOT EDITED]

04

Swelihle Majola

It's the next morning and I'm sitting in the lounge with my legs folded, watching cartoons. I'm waiting for dad. Mom walks down the stairs in her gown, she blows me a kiss before proceeding to the kitchen. After a few minutes, she comes to sit next to me with a cup of coffee in hand. I pause my cartoons and sit properly so I can face her.

Me: "I'm in a mess!" she frowns.

Mom: "What do you mean?"

Me: "I think I'm in love."  I tell her with my heart beating rapidly against my chest. She looks at me for some time before chuckling.

Mom: "What do you mean baby?"

Me: "Exactly that, mama."

Mom: "So why are you saying you are in a mess? Or are you in love with someone you can't be in love with?"

Me: "Something like that."

Mom: "Is the person married?" i shake my head no.

mom: "Someone's partner?!"

Me: "No."

Mom: "Then? Is he/she our age?!" I giggle.

Me: "No mama, no!" she giggles

Mom: "Then what is it?!" she slightly shouts.

Me: "He is a tutor... but a young one mama!" I say hesitantly.

Mom: "Is he cute?" I bat my eyelashes for a little while thinking about how actually handsome Devone is.

Me: "Mah! Focus please." that was actually directed to me than her.

Mom: "Sorry baby. Why don't you want to fall for him?!"

Me: "The school policy mama, remember?!"

Mom: "Aybo! Does that policy apply in varsity too?!"

Me: "Probably."

Mom: "Just give yourself some time baby and also talk about this with him first... wait is he even on the same page?"

Me: "Yes."

Dad: "Babygirl, let's go." he says coming down carrying his man business bag. I stand up and grab my own handbag and wait for him while his wife fixes him up. She hands him his flask of coffee and gives him a kiss. This is the kind of love I want for myself.

Dad opens the door for me before placing his bags in the backseat and then goes to his side. He puts his flask in the cup holder and turns on the radio.

Dad: "Today, you will be my personal assistant." he says as he drives away.

Me: "Okay."

Dad: "You know I love you right? You are my pride and joy. My only princess." I smile.

Me: "I love you too babah."

Dad: "I know i can be hard on you guys sometimes but that's just my way of protecting you. You guys are all my life."

Me: "We know dad. You're the best dad a girl could ever wish for."

Dad: "Now let's go work." he says parking his car in the underground parking. We both walk inside the building and the greetings start.

'Morning sir'
'Wonderful morning Mr M'

Some of these women have some sort of look when greeting him and it's irritating me. This is my mom's husband habe! We get to his floor and find a lady already waiting with a few files in hand.

Dad: "Ms Magwaza?"

Lady: "Good morning sir, uhm I just came to hand you the files you asked for yesterday." he nods.

Dad: "Put them on my desk and you can go back to work." he sounds so different here. He sounds more strict and stern.

Dad: "Alright babygirl, set up your small working station in the corner or you can go work in the boardroom next to my office, nobody goes there."

Me: "Yes sir. What will I be working on?"  he points at the files that lady had brought in.

Dad: "You good in accounting so please check if everything is balanced out correctly and if all the figures match all transactions correctly."

Me: "Easy stuff. Right on it sir!" he helps me set up my small working space in the corner and then I get on with the work.

By lunchtime, I'm done with all the files. Mom walks in looking gorgeous as always. She has two big lunch bags in hand.

Mom: "My people." she places the bags on the couches then moves to hug and kiss me then her husband.

Me: "Mr M. I'm done."

Dad: "Come join us for lunch." mom laughs shaking her head.

Mom: "Are you enjoying work baby?"

Me: "Yes, alot." she nods and winks at dad.

Dad: "We're knocking off early though."

Mom: "Oh okay."

Me: "Mah, don't the women here know that you and dad are happily married?!" she chuckles.

Mom: "Why are you asking that baby?"

Me: "Because they keep giving dad doodle eyes."

Mom: "You still think i'm overreacting?" she asks dad smiling.

Dad: "I never said you were overreacting baby."