JOYS OF LIFE -2 [NOT EDITED]

24

SWELIHLE MAJOLA

It is so heartwarming seeing my friend, oh wait no, my little sister so happy about finally building a relationship with dad. She has been staying over for the whole week and slowly but surely, she is finally getting comfortable with my parents.

Xoli: "Swe, baba is calling you."

Me: "Do you know why?" she shrugs while giving me a mischievous smile.

Xoli: "Nope, woza." I follow after her to the lounge where I find dad holding a huge bouquet of flowers with a small gift bag.

Me: "Aww baba, is that mine?"

Dad: "Yes." he responds not laughing or smiling like he usually does.

Me: "Thank you daddy." I try to hug him but he gently pushes me off him.

Dad: "I didn't buy you these." I frown looking at my beautiful flowers in my arms.

Me: "Well?"

Dad: "They're from a Devone Carson." my heart beats faster.

Me: "Oh? That's my friend dad."

Dad: "Really? so your friend calls you pet names?" I chew on my lip looking down.

Dad: "Usuyajola yini Swelihle?" I shake my head.

Mom: "Lizwi, leave my child alone. What if it's a boy that just has a crush on her?" dad just stares at us before he walks off.

Mom: "Don't mind him babygirl, old age is catching up with him." she says after rolling her eyes and walks off.

Xoli: "Open the gift, I want to see it." she says excitedly. I blush opening my gift, it is a small picture of us laughing in his car with a necklace and note. The note reads as follows,

'Every day I wake up, I fall in love with you all over again. Your smile, your laugh, and your love are my greatest treasures. I love you endlessly.'

Xoli: "What does it say?!"

Me: "Nothing." I playfully stick out my tongue at her.

Xoli: "Come on.."

Me: "Nope! Anyways, will go come down with us tomorrow?" Tomorrow we were to be going back home so that we could spend the remaining two weeks there plus the parents had to go back to work.

Xoli: "I don't know." she says shrugging.

Me: "Come on, it will be fun."

Xoli: "Okay."

Me: "When are you telling dad about the beatings? how much your stepfather is abusive towards you?"

Dad: "Uthi what happened Sweswe?" I look at a suddenly nervous Xoli and then turn to dad.

Me: "Her stepfather abuses her baba. Just recently nje he started laying his hands on her. He hits her for no reason nje."

Dad: "Xoli?"

Xoli: "Yebo?" she is still scared of calling him dad.