Happily Ever After?

(11)

"Yazi bhuti I don't understand how you can choose to wear a suit to the mall. I don't understand you bruh." Sandile and Yandisokuhle were buying food for the cookout that Sandile was going to have at his new house. Since Yandisokuhle moved out, Sandile followed by buying his own house thirty minutes away from Yandisokhule and Melokuhle. Ntsika was going to stick around for a few months before moving out as well. Their home would now be a place they visit occasionally. 

Things had gotten a bit bitter over the past couple of years. This was Sandile's way of reaching out to his only sister. He didn't like how things were, and he knew that he needed to try and fix things before they got worse. "I just like my suits Yandisokuhle. You stick with your sundresses, and I stick with my suits." She pulled some snacks into the trolley as he wheeled it through the isles. "My sundresses have an explanation, it's almost springtime and it's hot outside. I don't understand you." He tsked and walked down the wine isle. 

"No alcohol Bhuti." She warned but he didn't mind her. "It's not a housewarming without alcohol." She sighed and went to the next isle that had the candy. "But it's not a housewarming. It's a cookout." She stood in front of the trolley. "You call it a cookout, I call it a housewarming. Either way, its going to have people, meat and alcohol. Typical braai." He hit her with the trolley. "Abuse." He laughed her off and moved to the drinks section. 

"We can agree to disagree to that. Speaking of people..can I invite a few?" 

He looked at her from his peripheral view. "I don't want strangers in my house Yandisokuhle." She nodded, "but they won't be strangers. They are people I know." He looked at her. "Names?" She got closer to him, pulled the cranberry juice out of his hands and placed it in the cart. "Naledi." He raised his eyebrow. "And?" She shook her head no. "Just Naledi." He pulled some more juices and placed them in the cart. "Okay. If it's just one person, it's not a problem." She smiled and went to hug him. He pushed her back gently. "You'll wrinkle my suit." She laughed and brushed him off. 

"Your loss." They went to pay and moved on to the next shop. The butchery. "How much meat are we going to need?" 

"A lot." Was his reply to her question. They spent close to two thousand rands in the butchery by the time they were done. "Do we need to go anywhere else?" Sandile shook his head. "No, anything else will be bought on the day of or the day before." She climbed into the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt. "Who's coming?" She asked him when he got in the car. "We will be having Chumani, Chulu, Kabelo and Nkosi." She nodded, the faces coming to mind as he spoke. "And will they be coming with their hoes?" 

Sandile gave her a look of horror. "What!" She just looked at him. "Don't look so surprised dude. Your friends are whores. I'm surprised you're not like them." He looked offended. "Ha-a bhuti. Don't take it to heart, you'll die young." He laughed out loud and started the car. They drove off to his house in silence. The quiet was nice. When they got there, Ntsika was playing soccer with Melokuhle. Yandisokuhle got out of the car and walked up to the pair. 

"I hope you guys didn't buy the entire mall." Yandisokuhle shrugged her shoulders, not saying anything. She just picked her daughter up to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Did you enjoy spending time with uncle Ntsika?" Melokuhle nodded her head with a smile. "We had chocolate." She turned to look at her brother. "Bhuti-" 

"Oh Sandile uthi uyangidinga? Ngiyeza bafo. (Oh Sandile you want my help? I'm coming brother.)" He walked off before Yandisokuhle could speak her mind. She shook her head and went in the house to make a light lunch. Cebolenkosi was coming over to help Sandile move in. Sure things between them didn't work out but she was still around the family. When Cebo arrived, the rest of the furniture was being delivered. 

"Hi sisi." The ladies hugged and Ntsika gave Cebo a side hug as well. Melokuhle immediately attatched herself to Cebolenkosi and refused to let go. They stood to the side while everyone worked. "Sandile isn't this the furniture I picked out for..." Sandile nodded. "It is. I like it so I decided to buy it." Cebolenkosi nodded and kept quiet. Yandisokuhle could see that something was amiss, but she didn't comment on it.