KGOMOTSO: HIS FIRST

Chapter 14

SIMPHIWE

Ululations all over the room. This is really the day my father wanted. This morning I was thinking about how my grandmother would've wanted to witness her son get married... again. I'm sure Gcinile would've liked Nomasonto. She's kinda cool and kind and also humble. I really feel so bad for treating her the way I did the first 9 months I knew her, but I guess it comes with the attitude of acceptance that you see the person for who they truly are. We're ready to go and fetch our makoti!

I'm seated in V-Class with my dad who looks really nervous. I've never seen my father this nervous for anything before.

Simphiwe: "Baba."

Baba: "Hm?"

Simphiwe: "Can you please relax, 'cause you're making me nervous too." I'm lying.

Actually I've been calm since I arrived yesterday. I look in front of me and I see Mandla and Sihle who look extremely tired. They drank the whole night. I look at my father, who's looking at them.

Baba: "Boys. Are you guys okay?"

There's no way Sihle can lie to his malume who has a face like he's going to kill them.

Sihle: "Eish, malume... it's just a headache that's hurting me."

Baba: "Headache?"

Mandla: "Yah, because you know, of the noise that was made last night." I want to laugh this instant!

Baba: "Mm. Let's hope by the time we get there, you'll be better."

My father didn't want a white wedding. He never had a white wedding with Ma even. I never understood why. I really thought this time he'd have a white wedding but I guess not.

__________

Simphiwe: "The wedding was beautiful, actually."

Kgomotso: "So she's officially Mrs Pholoba. How do you feel about it?" I sigh.

Simphiwe: "I'm okay with it. I'm just happy that my father is happy."

Kgomotso: "I miss you and it's a pity I won't get to see you until the finals."

I miss her too. I've been missing her so much.

Simphiwe: "Tell you what, Monday I'll come by and spend time with Mr Scholtz and I'll also see you. Is that fine?"

Kgomotso: "Perfect!" I smile.

A sudden thought hits me. This whole matric dance date issue. I told her that Thuli would be my date and she was okay, but now something happened. Maybe I shouldn't go since they wouldn't allow Kgomotso since she's not in matric. I decide not to tell her and end the call. Plus it's 21:56 and it would be lights out soon that side.

NTOMBELE

I'm uncomfortable with this whole church thing. The last time I went to church was when I was 15 years old and I never understood anything at all. I never understood why they'd praise a white man who died and apparently rose from the dead which is impossible. Once you're dead, you're dead. All I ever remembered were those aunties dressed in church uniform who would judge my mother because she had me when she was a teenager and was accused of killing the man who made me the product of rape.

She was raped at 15. After I became a product of rape, she married the very same man who raped her. When I was 8, Velephi was born from the same man. After Velephi was born he died. Those very same people from that building that this invisible God lived in accused my mom of killing that man. If church people are that judgemental, imagine the God that they serve. You think I'd serve a God that judges people knowing that they are victims too?