JOYS OF LIFE -2 [NOT EDITED]

21

'SHORT NARRATIVE'

Lizwi has been quietly cuddling his wife as she cried. After a while she finally calms down and sits up, he also follows suit and stares at her worriedly. Letho peck his lips and smile a bit.

Letho: "You okay?" Lizwi frowns.

Lizwi: "Are you ready to talk to me?" she nods.

Letho: "Do you remember bab'Dlamini's last prophecy to us, no, to you actually?"

Lizwi: "Remind me again baby."

Letho: "He said, kuyofika usuku lapho inzalo yakho iyohlangana yodwa. Kuyilapho komele uthathe izinyathelo zokwamukela yonke into." Lizwi keeps quiet looking deep in thoughts for some time before he responds.

Lizwi: "I remember baby."

Letho: "You know the friend your daughter always speaks about?" he nods.

Lizwi: "Yeah?"

Letho: "It's... Thulile's daughter."

Lizwi: "What?"

Letho: "Yeah." he keeps quiet for quite some time so she lets him be. After a long while, he responds.

Lizwi: "You mean to tell me that, that b*tch has been here all this while?!"

Letho: "Yes but that's beside the point Lizwi. The girl was here earlier on and she looks so much like her but now that I think of it she also has your eyes." he looks at her with one eyebrow raised.

Lizwi: "I know what you are trying to do, mnkami." Letho frowns.

Letho: "Ngenzani?!"

Lizwi: "You want me to accept that child."

Letho: "But would it be wrong to do so?! She deserves a father too baby and you always teach your sons about the importance of being a present father to their future kids no matter the circumstances or history's of their relationships." he sighs.

Lizwi: "Angazi, let's talk to the kids first." She nods.

________________

SWELIHLE MAJOLA

Mom and dad luckily joined us for dinner. We were all seated around the dining table. Junior cooked by the way.

Dad: "This is nice."

Me: "Thanks." mom looks at me.

Mom: "Kahle Swe. Everybody knows that you can't cook to save your life." They all laugh.

Me: "Aybo mama. I can cook, I just don't like it."

Mom: "Of course baby." she says rolling her eyes making everyone laugh at me.

Dad: "Junior, whoever will marry you must bring me 500 lions. I'm not about to let such good talent go so easily! I haven't had such good food in so long!" he says while gobbling his plate. Mom smacks his back.

Mom: "Uthini ngami Lizwilenkosi?!" he laughs.

Dad: "Haw baby, uyazi akekho odlula wena. Ngijabulisa ingane nje mnkami."

Mom: "I will make you eat bread until you die, mina Lizwi, don't try me!" dad chuckles and plants a kiss on mom who immediately melts.

Dad: "Ngiyakuthanda ke yezwa?!"

Mom: "Uthandwa yimina."

******
Dad: "Come join us guys, there's something we have to talk to you about."

Junior: "Please, don't tell us y'all are pregnant! We way too old for a baby sibling!"

Mom: "Shut up wena! And what's wrong if I am?! I'm married phela."

Me: "Awungeke mama." she rolls her eyes and points us to the couch opposite them.

Dad: "Your mom and I have something to tell you guys."

Mom: "I'm sorry for scaring you earlier. Did y'all call your friend?"

Me: "We have been trying but she is not answering."

Mom: "Oh?"

Dad: "We can go check on her tomorrow." Mom smiles at him. They turn to us and their faces look serious.

Mom: "Your dad..."

Dad: "It's okay baby. You guys might have a younger sister." I look at Junior who also looks at me.

Mom: "And that sister might be your friend, Swe."

Me: "I kind of figured that when you both ran off like that and dad just confirmed my suspicions."

Junior: "Does this mean you cheated baba?"

Dad: "No, I would never. If I did then y'all wouldn't have grown with a father."

Mom: "It's a long complicated story. It is something that happened years back and in everything it strengthened our marriage."

Me: "Well?"

Dad: "Thulile had me drugged and raped me babygirl. She was plotting against your mother with her mother and sister."

Me: "What?!" I mean that woman looked so good and to think I was that close to her that day only makes me angry.

Mom: "Yeah but I don't want you guys bringing up this to your friend, please."

Dad: "I think I want to have a conversation with her, do y'all have her address?"

Me: "I know where she lives."

Mom: "Lizwi, are you sure going there will be a good idea?!"

Dad: "Yeah, don't worry baby."

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