Oyama: Her Story

CHAPTER 38

Which brings us to today like I said, 4 months later its April and its Lwandle’s birthday in a few weeks and it also marks the beginning of the Rugby season. Just like in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Free State, rugby is taken extremely serious. I mean Lebohang is the only one of all the boys who played Rugby, Thapelo, Mzi, Mazwi, and Mandla played Football in Highschool and, I have seen them play 2 on 2 in the yard with their dads including and these are something special, every time they touched the ball, they just danced, makes you wonder why Moqhaka didn’t play football. I know the seasons are clashing but still you know. Lwandle apart from Martial Arts also played Tennis as well as Lethabo.
Who was actually interesting was, Kagiso, Kagiso is a swimmer and a good one, won 1st place at a Provincial Level.
Qhawe and Mogale as you all know where competing in Martial Arts such as Taekwondo, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu at a National Level and least but finally not least, the baby of the family, Moqhaka plays cricket.
One thing I have seen from all of them, when it comes to sports whether its football or their respective sport they are massively competitive, but after insulting one another, they go and sit down and have lunch or dinner like nothing happened.
So you all know, how Qhawe’s family house in Morningside has a Martial Arts gym, with punching bags and a ring, well Mzi’s family house in Bryanston has an indoor football court, you could hear them shouting for the ball to passed to them before it hits the wall. Kagiso’s family house in Bryanston has not only an Indoor but an outdoor pool.

Today is actually the first game of the season for St. Stithians College and I’m going to watch it because, Lebohang invited me. Yep can still remember the first time I saw him in his uniform and he invited me to his games.
This morning he didn’t seem like himself, I think he was worried about the game cause he wasn’t talking how he usually would, or driving. He insisted that I drive today which was a bit weird but hey man kid drives all the time when he’s with me so I can’t blame him for wanting a little time to himself. Game starts at 4pm and its half past 3, I’m on my way to the school, but there’s traffic, because, like I said, IT’S A BIG DEAL.
I’m sure after today nobody will care until they reach the semi-finals or finals. Apparently last year they didn’t even make it to the Quarter finals, and its been 5 years since they won a title. I can see why he was stressed as Captain, the duty of getting your team to the finals falls upon you. He has big shoes to fill, but I have faith in him, he’s tougher and stronger than what he looks.
I finally make it into the grounds, I drive around the place till, I notice Mzi, Mogale and Kagiso having a smoke. Lwandle is also here, he’s been in Cape Town for a month spending time with Olwethu, his brothers have been pressuring him to try and convince Olwethu to try and move to Gauteng closer to everyone.
She has brought it up to me, that she has some concerns about moving her business from Cape Town to Sandton. I didn’t wanna be that girl who just says, follow your man girl, so I told her to do what feels right to her. I know she’s really considering it, because she was talking about expanding, and I told her, she should talk to Lwandle about such, because business isn’t really my strong suit.

They notice the car and Lwandle waves me down, I slow down.
“Hey you” I greet.
“Hey” he responds, “Let me park it for you” he offers.
I grab my handbag and step out of the car, he steps in and drives off, “Cigarettes are bad for yall” I say to the boys.
“These aren’t cigarettes they are cigars” says Mogale.
“Same thing smoke in the mouth and lungs causes Lung Cancer and Lung Inflammatory diseases” I say.
“Mama, we can run 5 kilos like its nothing, I’m sure we’ll be fine” says Mzi.
I shake my head, “Where yall seated?” I ask.
“Just the first row, next to the barricade” answers Mogale.

I walk down the tunnel to a different atmosphere, the school boys and girls with face paints and the school’s flag waving high. Parents chanting and shouting as another team plays. But we all know, we are waiting for the first XV to take the field in about 15 minutes. I walk down the row and Qhawe finds me first, wearing, Black slacks, white fit t-shirt and Cartier sunglasses and kisses me then hugs me.
“How are you?” he asks.
“Good, just excited to see how he plays” I say.
“Don’t worry just like our clan name, my little brother is a boar on the field” he says ushering me to the seats.
Oh Max is also here, my little terrorist with his tongue hanging out. I got new pillows for the couch and he tore them up and did that twice, until I learnt he doesn’t like change at all. I pick him up and he licks my face, such a cute bulldog, I have always wondered where he got him. I greet his parents who are dressed beautifully, his mother’s wearing, black pants suit with Cartier sunglasses, his father wearing blue slacks with white shirt, brown oxfords and Cartier glasses, he smiles at me when I greet him. He always smiles.