RAFAEL NGUBANE

14. A NEW HER

3 WEEKS LATER

LESEGO

MOM: NANA, COME EAT.
ME: IM NOT HUNGRY
MOM: BUT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO EAT. SEGO...

MASEGO STARED OUT THE WINDOW, NOT RESPONDING.

MOM: COME ON NANA, PLEASE DON’T DO THIS. WE WERE MAKING PROGRESS LAST WEEK.
SEGO: (SIGH) IM STILL FULL MA
MOM: YOU LAST ATE LAST NIGHT.

SHE LOOKS AT MOM

SEGO: IM FINE (SMILES)

AND THEN SHE LOOKS AWAY. SHES BEEN SITTING AT THE SAME CORNER SINCE WE CAME BACK HOME. SHE DOES SMALL TALK AND GOES SILENT. I USUALLY WALK IN ON HER CRYING SILENTLY, WIPING HER TEARS. SHES CRUSHED. BEYOND CRUSHED.

PHONE RINGS

WE ALL LOOK AT IT.

ME: (SHAKES HEAD)

RAFAEL HAS BEEN BLOWING UP HER PHONE SINCE. ACCURATELY, 2677 MISSED CALLS. HE CALLS 127× ON A GOOD DAY. IT’S A CYCLE. SHES BEEN BLOCKING EVERY NUMBER BUT STILL. MAYBE THIS IS THE 20TH NUMBER. HE WAS BEING CONSISTENT.

REA

MA: (YELLS) VUKA VUKA

SHE PULLS RAFAEL UP FROM THE COUCH.

RAF: MOM WAIT.
MOM: SHES NOT COMING BACK
RAF: (SHAKES HEAD) ACCOMPANY ME
MOM: YOU ARE NOT LEAVING THIS HOUSE, YOU HEAR ME ?
RAF: MA...
MOM: (RAISES VOICE) YOU HEAR ME ?
RAF: (SOBBING) PLEASE. SHES NOT TAKING MY CALLS.

MY MOM WALKS AWAY

MOM: (WHILE WALKING AWAY) TOO BAD

RIO COMES DOWNSTAIRS

RIO: MORNING
ME: YOU OKAY ?
RIO: YEAH, IM JUST GONNA SIGN THESE AMD GIVE HER WHAT SHE WANTS
ME: THE DIVORCE
RIO: (NODS)(SIPPING ON COFFEE)
ME: OH. OKAY.

HE HAD THE DOCUMENTS IN HIS HAND, GOING THROUGH THE DOCUMENTS.

ME: I WENT THROUGH IT. SHE WANTS NOTHING FROM YOU. JUST A PEACEFUL SEPARATION. THAT’S ALL.
RIO: BUT WE WERE MARRIED UNDER...
ME: SHE DOESN’T WANT ANYTHING
RIO: OH.

HE FINISHED OFF HIS COFFEE AND SIGNS THE DOCUMENTS. HE HANDS THEM TO ME

RIO: THANKS (FAKE SMILE)

HE GETS OFF HIS CHAIR AND WALKS TO THE KITCHEN TO PLACE HIS CUP IN THE SINK. HE PASSES US AND GRABS A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY, HEADING OUTSIDE. RO AND I LOOK AT HIM. I LOOK AT RO.

RO: (SMILES)
ME: YOU DONE. I HAVE TO SUBMIT THE PAPERS.
RO: (SIGH) YEAH.

HE STARES AT THE DOCUMENTS FOR A SECOND AND WALKS TOWARDS ME, HE HANDS ME THE DOCUMENTS.

ME: (SMILES)
RO: PLEASE TELL HER I’M SO SORRY
ME: (NODS) I WILL.
RO: SHE DOESN’T HAVE TO DO THIS.
...: SHE CAN.

IT WAS MY DAD

DAD: MAYBE 1 COULD’VE FUMBLED BUT THE 3 OF YOU FUMBLING GOOD WOMEN AT THE SAME TIME HAS TO BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY YEAR. (CLAPS HANDS)
RO: DAD...
DAD: DON’T DAD ME. MONTHS BOYS. MONTHS. THAT’S NOT HOW THE WORLD WORKS. YOU DON’T JUST HURT GOOD WOMEN AND THINK LIFE IS ABOUT TO BE NICE FOR YOU. IT WON’T. ITS ABOUT TO GET WORSE. YOU ARE GOING TO SUFFER. GOD IS GOING TO MAKE EXAMPLES WITH THE BOTH OF YOU...

CAR HOOTING

I WALK OUTSIDE AND THE GATE OPENS. IT WAS 7 VANS WITH COWS AT THE BACK

DAD: MH.

MY DAD WALKS TOWARDS THE VANS AS THEY PARK.

DAD: BENG’SACELA NINGENE EMUVA. TELL THE GUARD TO OPEN THE GATE FOR YOU, IM COMING.

HE COMES BACK AND WALKS INSIDE.

REA: LET ME GO.

I GET INSIDE AND GO UPSTAIRS TO CHANGE. I GRAB MY CAR KEYS AND LEAVE.


ROXXY

AUNT: PLACE IT IN HERE.
ME: OKAY

I CARRY THE JUG AND PLACE IT ON THE TABLE. THE FAMILY LAWYER WAS HOME TO COLLECT THE DOCUMENTS SINCE ME AND LESEGO FILED FOR DIVORCE. WE LOCKED OURSELVES INSIDE BECAUSE OF SHAME, PAIN AND WE COULDN’T REALLY FACE THE COMMUNITY. THEY HAD A THEORY THAT IF YOUR MAN CHEATS, YOU MUST BE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. WE DID GO OUTSIDE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND THE INSENSITIVITY OF PEOPLE WAS SICKENING. THEY WOULD LAUGH AT US AND SOME WENT AROUND SAYING WE CHEATED. LESEGO FELT THE HEAT MORE BECAUSE SHE GOT MARRIED A FEW MONTHS AGO. NOT EVEN 1 YEAR MARRIED AND THEY CHEATED ON HER. SOME SAID THE NGUBANES FOUND OUT SHE WAS BARREN. JUST A BUNCH OF LOWLIFES HAVING SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT A WOMAN’S WOMB. QUITE SAD.

KNOCK

MY MOM OPENS THE DOOR

MOM: (SMILES) REA

SHE MOVES AND REA ENTERS. SHE LOOKS AT ALL OF US AND GREETS US WITH A SMILE.

REA

YHO. IT WAS SO COLD. YOU COULD SENSE THAT THEY ARE NOT OKAY AND IT WAS FUCKED UP THAT I HAD TO WITNESS IT. THEY WERE ALL BACK AT HOME AND I WAS HERE. (CLICKS TONGUE) FUCKING IDIOTS.

MA: (YELLS) SEGO.
“COMING”

I SIT DOWN AND THEY SERVE ME TEA

MA: HOW ARE YOU NANA (SMILES) BA NJANI EKHAYA ?
ME: (SIGH) YHO. ITS BAD MA. ITS BAD. BAPHUZA EVERYDAY AND RAFAEL YENA HE HAS PACKS OF SIM CARDS. KUNINI, HE CALLS SEGO EVERYDAY AND ITS...
...: MA

I LOOK AND ITS MASEGO. GOSH SHE LOOKED CRUSHED. NOSE AND EYES ALL PINK. EYES WERE PUFFY. SHE WAS STILL GORGEOUS THOUGH.

SEGO: (SMILES) HEY MAMA

SHE OPENS HER ARMS WALKING TOWARDS ME AND HUGS ME. I GET UP AND HUG HER. WE HAVE A LONG ASS HUG AND I BREAK IT BECAUSE SHE WAS LITERALLY SHAKING SO BAD. RAFAEL RUINED HER. I LOOK AT HER

SEGO: (SMILES)
ME: IM SO SORRY

I FEEL MY EYES GET WATERY AND I WIPE MY EYES.

MA: DON’T CRY NANA. ITS OKAY

LESEGO AND ROXXY COME AND HUG ME.

ME: (SNIFFING) NO ITS NOT... (SOBBING) THEY ARE A MESS AND IM HERE TO ALSO WITNESS THE MESS THEY MADE. THEY RUINED YOU GUYS. THAT SPARK IS GONE AND IT HURTS ME THAT THEY WANTED THE LOVE YOU GUYS HAD TO OFFER BUT THEY PLAYED WITH YOU IRREGARDLESS.
ROXXY: SIZATHINI ?
SEGO: ITS FINE. ITS DONE. YOU DIDN’T DO ANYTHING. WE STILL LOVE YOU BABY.

THEY HELP ME SORT MYSELF OUT AMD THEN I SIT DOWN AND TAKE OUT THE DOCUMENTS.

ME: THEY SIGNED ALL THE DOCUMENTS TODAY AND THEY DID TELL THEM THEIR SUMMONS.
ROXXY: OKAY

SHE HANDS ME A BAG.

ROXXY: THIS IS ALL THE STUFF HE GAVE ME. FAKE, BLINDING GIFTS.  HE CAN HAVE THEM BACK.
SEGO: ALL OF OURS. THEY CAN SELL IT OR GIVE IT UP TO CHARITY. 
ME: (SIGH) OKAY.
LAWYER: OKAY. I WAS HERE TO COLLECT THE DOCUMENTS.

HE TAKES THE ENVELOPES AND GETS UP.

ME: (NODS)
LAYWER: I WILL CONTACT BAB NGUBANE THAT I GOT THE DOCUMENTS.
ME: OKAY

I GET UP AND THE GIRLS ACCOMPANY ME OUT. MY JOB HERE WAS DONE EITHER WAY. WE REACH THE CAR AND I HUG ALL OF THEM

SEGO: GREET uMA AND BABA FOR ME.
ME: (SMILES) I WILL. I’M REALLY SORRY GUYS

I LOOK AT ROXXY

ME: HE SAID I SHOULD TELL YOU HES SO SORRY.
ROXXY: (ROLLS EYES) I LOVE YOU GIRL. WE’RE NOT DELETING THE GROUPCHAT RIGHT ?
SEGO: FAWK NO (GIGGLES) WE ARE STILL GOING OUT AND SPENDING TIME TOGETHER.
L: THIS (HAND SIGNALS) IS NOTHING. WE WILL GET OVER IT SOON. GIVE US A MONTH AND WE’LL BE OVER IT. WE’LL KEEP IN TOUCH RIGHT ?
ME: (SMILES) HOW DO YOU GUYS STILL MAINTAIN SUCH A GOOD AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE AFTER ALL THIS.
SEGO: (SMILES) BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE BAE. IN THIS CASE IS HAPPENED TO US, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT. SEEING YOU MADE ME FEEL BETTER. WE DID THE BEST WE COULD SANA AND THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERS.
L: ITS NOT OUR LOSS.
ROXXY: NEVER WAS AND NEVER WILL BE.
SEGO: AND YOU’RE STILL OUR GIRL.
ROXXY: OUR FAVOURITE GIRL

WE GIGGLE

L: IT WOULDN’T BE FAIR FOR US TO HATE YOU WHEN YOU DIDN’T DO NOTHING TO US. YOURE OUR GIRL BAE
ME: THANK YOU. I REALLY DO LOVE YOU GUYS. YOU’RE LITERALLY MY FAMILY.
SEGO: FOREVER BAE. DEATH GON’ SEPARATE US AKERE.
ME: (NODS) YES.

WE GROUP HUG AND SEGO KISSES MY FOREHEAD. I GET INSIDE THE CAR AND START THE ENGINE.

ALL OF THEM: BYE
ME: BYE-BYE
SEGO: GREET MA AND POPS FOR ME
ME: I WILL.

I DRIVE OFF WHILE HOOTING

ME: (SIGH) HAPPY ?

I SPEAK INTO THE MIC

ME: NIZWILE ANGISHO BOYS ?

THEY ANSWER ME THROUGH THE EARPIECE

RO: (SIGH) YEAH
RIO: THANKS SIS.
ME: I’M ON MY WAY

I TAKE IT OFF AND DRIVE OFF.

20 MINUTES LATER

I ARRIVE HOME AND GET OUT OF THE CAR. I ENTER THE CAR AND FIND THEM SITTING IN THE LOUNGE, PLAYING COD.

ME: DON’T EVER ASK ME TO DO SOME DUMB SHIT LIKE THAT AGAIN

THEY LOOK AT ME

ME: YOU FUCKED UP GUYS. THAT HOUSE IS COLDER THAN A GODDAMN MORTUARY.

I LOOK AT RAFAEL

ME: [POINTS AT HIM] YOU FUCKED UP EVEN WORSE. THAT GIRL LOVED THE FUCK OUT OF YOU AND IF YOU SAW HER NOW ? I SWEAR YOU’D HATE YOURSELF. YOURE SHITTY PEOPLE YHO.
RO: REA WE ARE...
ME: TOO (RAISES VOICE) FUCKING LATE. GROW THE FUCK UP. (CLICKS TONGUE)
RIO: REA...
ME: TSEK

I WALK AWAY AS MY PARENTS APPEAR

MOM: YINI ?
ME: WHY DID YOU GUYS SEND ME THERE ? WHY DIDN’T THEY GO ? THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT FUCKED UP.
POPS: REABETW...
ME: YOU LET THEM BE LIKE THIS. NOW THEY ARE HERE, SHITTY ASS BOYS WITH NO BACKBONE. THEY DON’T WANT TO GROW. (TURNS TO THEM) NOT EVERY BITCH YOU MEET CAN REPLACE THEM. THIS L (SHAKES HEAD) THE BIGGEST EVER. I CANT BELIEVE YOU FUMBLED GOOD WOMEN. YHOO. FUCKING IDIOTS.

I LOOK AT MY PARENTS.

ME: (TEARY EYED) I’M LEAVING.
MOM: REA...

I WALK UPSTAIRS

RIO

WE STAND THERE LOOKING AT HER AS SHE CRIES, WALKING UPSTAIRS.

POPS: (SIGH)

HE WALKS UPSTAIRS

MOM: (SHAKES HEAD) I TOLD YOU TO GO BECAUSE SHE LOVED THOSE GIRLS.
RAF: WE COULDN’T FACE THEM.
MOM: “WE”GROW THE FUCK UP NETHA. YOU FUCKED UP. BEFORE I MARRIED YOUR FATHER, I WAS A KHOZA. THE MOTTO FOR THE KHOZA’s WAS AND STILL IS:
“SIYAZ’BASELA, SIZ’CISHELE”
MEANING THAT WHEN WE FUCK UP, WE GET UP AND SORT OUR SHIT OUT. YOU STILL HAVE KHOZA BLOOD IN YOU. GET THE FUCK UP.

SHE STARES AT ALL OF US AND THEN WALKS UPSTAIRS.

RO: (SIGHS)

HE WALKS BACK INTO THE LOUNGE AND CONTINUES PLAYING.

RO: MATCH ENDED
RAF: I FEEL LIKE A LOOSER IM NOT GONNA LIE

WE LOOK AT HIM

RAF: I STARTED THIS. I SHOULD’VE DID THIS SHIT BY MYSELF...

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