Oyama: Her Story

CHAPTER 20

I thought that Qhawe and his brother were, gonna join us for Lunch, but their mom said they were gonna eat at the Rank. I still can’t believe how rich they are but they do menial things like play Taxi Marshall.
Lunch was awkward because his parents were giving him a Lecture about lying, then they gave me one, because I let him drive.
I was stunned, because what did I do? I mean yeah I get it, I let him drive, but he looked so cute and innocent. I had to believe him, plus we have gotten close. At least they didn’t ground him or punish him.
At 7pm they walk into the house laughing and bumping each other. Lebohang was teaching me how to play Call of Duty, I thought it was just a silly game, but its actually interesting. You actually die in the game, I have never seen Qhawe die before so it came as a surprise when I actually died in the game over and over again.
When he walks in the first thing he does is kiss my cheek and dap up his younger brother and greets his parents, who were sitting outside on the couch cuddled together. They were laughing and sometime whispering into one another’s ears.
I don’t get it, 30 years of marriage and you are still in the teenage stage like what’s the secret?
“Wanna go home” he asks.
“I brought a bag to stay over” I say, he gives a look that says, ‘So do you, or what?’ “We’ll stay the night again” I say he nods and heads into the kitchen.
“Baba ubantwana bakho bayeza”(Dad, your children are coming) Mogale shouts after he gets off the phone.
“Which ones?” his father asks.
“All of them, they said they gonna eat here”
“OK” their father says and their mother walks in.

“This is gonna be interesting” Lebogang says underneath his breath, I look at him.
“Why?”
“You being officially introduced now, not what happened at the hospital” he says still playing his game.
“Wait, as in all of them are coming?” I ask.
“Yessir” he says.
I don’t like this, Qhawe looks comfortable with all of this. He’s joking with Mogale and Lwandle about what happened at the Rank, the way they talking. I can’t understand, but it seems like there was something that happened, with one of the drivers and passengers. I don’t know why, but this family feels Ghetto, just a little bit.

“Oyama, what are your thoughts on the Treaty of Versailles?” I just freeze because I didn’t even feel him sit down next to me.
“Uhm, it gave an opportunity for a second World War” I say. In High School we had to write an essay, on any peace treaties and this one was the one I chose, got 89% for it. That’s right, I’m a stunna girl.
“Why do you say that?” he asks.
“The conditions, and how it left the German people, it gave way for a lot of hatred. For example; the fact they had to pay reparations on areas they didn’t damage, just because they lost and even when they lost, it wasn’t like they lost entirely, because they were in the wrong, NO. There were more factors that influenced World War 1, so after they signed that treaty, it immediately built the hatred, needed for a second World War” I say, he nods, “Now I must ask you, Who won world war 2?”
“Humble opinion or factual?” he asks.
“Both” I answer.
“Officially The Allies; Opinion; The Axis” he says, I give a confused look, “Stay with me,” he says seeing my confusion, and I smile, “There are many ways to win a war, you wait for the enemy to run out of resources, or you storm their capital” he says, I nod, “But many forget that after the War life must go on, and the Allies are suffering more that the Axis today” I nod, “Look at Economy, the Number One Manufacture of Luxury vehicles is Germany, if we are talking standard vehicles, Japan. Right, the Axis’ is flourishing even though they were in the wrong, so yes the Allies won, but the Axis are suffering from Success”
Lebogang smirks as his father finishes his point, “I’ve been trying to tell these people, but no one listens to me.”
He finally pauses his game, giving me a look like he’s proud of me for keeping up with their dad. Qhawe leans against the kitchen counter, sipping on some juice, clearly listening in but too relaxed to join the conversation.
“Are you saying we should feel sorry for them?” I ask their father, still processing his argument.
He shakes his head, “Not at all, just that we need to look at the long-term consequences of war. We tend to think in terms of immediate victory, but sometimes winning on paper doesn’t mean you’ve won in reality. The ripple effects... they can surprise you.”