JOYS OF LIFE -2 [NOT EDITED]

34

XOLISA MUTHOMBENI-MAJOLA

We were woken up very early today by Mah. She ordered us to get ready urgently and pack a couple of clothes. After I got ready, I went downstairs for breakfast and I only found the parents already eating. I greeted them and joined.

Dad: " Did you sleep well babygirl?"

Me: "Yes daddy, thank you." he nods.

Mah: "Have you spoken to your mother lately ?"

Dad: "Letho?"

Mah: "Lizwi, whether we like it or not, Thulile is still her mother and she also deserves to know about the ceremony and what if Xoli wants her to be there?!"

Dad: "Okay, I hear you baby. Xoli, do you want your mother to come to your ceremony?" I mean, she's still my mother.

Me: "Yes."

Dad: "Okay. Your ceremony is on Saturday, let her know." I nod and continue eating. Junior joins us, he greets softly and starts eating.

Me: "You okay?" I whisper to him and he nods.

Dad: "He's grumpy because he was woken up early."

Junior: "I really don't understand why we had to wake up so early though!" The parents just laugh at him.

Mah: "Where's your other sister?!"

Junior: "Sleeping."

Dad: "She will catch a ride with her brothers then." he says getting up.

Mah: "Let's go. Clear the table first and then come to the car."

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On the way I was told that we were going to Richards Bay, dad's hometown. I was really nervous because I was told that I will be meeting my aunt and grandmother. The car parked outside this really big, beautiful house. After a few minutes, the gate opened and dad drove in. We all got off the car as soon as he parked on the driveway.

Dad: "Don't worry about the bags."

Mah: "Let's go." we walk inside the house and find a beautiful girl almost mine and Junior's age, watching tv. She gets up fast as soon as she notices us and throws herself on Mah, hugging her tightly.

Girl: "Mama!!!"

Mah: "Hi baby. I missed you so much." She goes on to hug everyone else including me.

Girl: "Hi, I'm Mahle."

Me: "I'm Xoli."

Mah: "Mahle is your aunt's daughter, Xoli." I nod.

Mahle: "Mah?"

Mah: "Xoli is our last born." Mahle hugs me again before she offers to carry my bag for me.

Mahle: "Where's Swe?"

Me: "She was left behind because she didn't want to wake up early."

Junior: "She will arrive with obhuti."

Mahle: "Okay." We place the bags in one of the bedrooms upstairs and then go back to the lounge. Dad walks in holding a plastic and there's an old lady following behind him.

Old lady: "I won't stand leaving my man alone to come here kwaMajola mina!" she says walking in, everyone laughs when she says that.

Mah: "This is still your house nje mah."

Dad: "And you are a wife layikhaya, your man has never paid anything la!"

Old lady: "I'm not your daughter wena Lizwi."

Dad: "I was just reminding you mah."

Old lady: "Mxm, can i have my kisses boMuntuza baGogo?!" she says looking at our direction. Junior and Mahle go to her, they hug and kiss her.

Old lady: "Mancane, woza nawe." she says looking at me. I blush and also give her a kiss and a hug.

Old lady: "I'm your Gogo, okay?! I birthed your big headed father!" She says pointing at dad who is plating some braai meat and pap.

Mah: "My husband doesn't have a big head mah, aybo!" I laugh at how she said it.

Gogo: "I'm happy to finally meet you babygirl, your dad and your mom told me about you. I want you to know that you are very welcome here, this is your home. We won't ever make you suffer for your mother's choices and past actions."

Me: "Thank you." she kisses my cheeks and then lets me sit next to her.

Gogo: "Where's my Sweswe?!"

Mah: "You know how she loves sleeping mah so we left her behind. She will arrive with her brothers." Right then the brothers walk in.

Gogo: "Haww! Bafana baGogo." she opens her arms and hugs them.

Mah: "Where is your sister?!"

Sqalo: "Swe wasn't home nje so we thought she ended up coming with you guys."

Dad: "I will kill that child yazi."

Gogo: "Calm down wena khanda khulu, call her and find out where is she?" Dad walks out to go make a call.