Mandla

Chapter 13:

"So there I was, next to Dorothy, after I was specifically told that she was seen riding a baboon at odd hours of the night. I began praying and there she was, trying to hold in a fit. Then she started shaking when I started praying in tongues, I didn't know whether to shout fire! Or call an ambulance. It was on another level of spooky I tell you"- Mah says in between spoonfuls

The whole tables ripped with laughter. Dorothy is the black sheep of the village, nobody goes to her house and everybody fears her at church but not my mum, instead she insists on sitting next to her just to prove that she's an "anointed child of God"

"continue like that mama, they will bewitch you!"-I say

"I don't know how many times I've told her sisi. If I didn't know any better ,I'd say they are undercover friends when nobodies watching"-Daisy lets out, in between giggles

"Leave my mother alone ye of little of faith"- Zakhele chimes in by saying

We are all abrupt with laughter when Sphamandla decides to clear his throat but the laughter continues. Mpendulo decides to take matters into his own hands.

He takes his table spoon and hits an empty wine glass with it three times to get our attention so we all turn to face him.

"Sphamandla has an announcement he would like to make"-He says

"It's now or never babe"-He continues

Babe?

"Mum, Zakhele, I'm gay"- He says, then hangs his head in his hands

Everybody is quiet for a while until..

"I knew it!"-Mandla shouts

"You have got to be kidding me, a faggot? In our family? Sies!"-Zakhele scorfs.

Daisy tries to restrain him but his not done

"You know I knew having that boy around you would confuse you. I knew from the very start that he was trouble! You sleep with men now? Yeses what a shame to the Maphumulo name"-He continues

"Enough Zakhele! We are not doing that here, not tonight"-Daisy

"Hay man! This boy is
disgusting and you Mpendulo, why are you here? Is this your home or you are here to rub it in our face that your demonic spirit has won over our little brother?"-Zakhele

"Bhuti you will not talk to him like that, he is my guest, You can direct your questions to me"-Sphamandla sternly says

"Look, he is even talking on his behalf, mah are you honestly not going to say anything?"- Zakhele

Mah is frozen, for the first time in her life, she is speechless.

"Zakhele please, not now"- I let out, I just realised that I too have been silent and in excruciating pain, my abdominal feels like it's on fire!

"then when? He brought it to our attention now, if he wants to talk about it, let's talk"-Zakhele

He is on another level, nobody can say anything to him when he's like this. Poor Mpendulo, he looks defeated and Sphamandla seems to be handling it a lot better than expected. He seems free, like a load has been lifted off of his shoulder. Good for him.

My abdominal pains are not getting any better, they come and go but are much more intense now. Zakheles voice is even fading in the background. I get up to go grab a glass of water, maybe that'll help.

"Yho mama! nango munye, uz'chamele lomuntu! (your other child has pee'd on herself)"-I hear Zakhele shout

I turn back, everybody is facing me now. I look down at my feet, they're wet and so is my dress. What the? The pain gets so intense that I can't take it anymore, my eyes get weary and all of a sudden, I am seeing faint faces surrounding me...what's happening.