L_O_V_E...

03

Nkuli checked the time on her smartphone and sighed when she found it was almost time to head home. Being a mother of three teenagers, she did not look forward to going home on most days. If she was not arguing with her twelve year old daughter, she was arguing with her sixteen year old twin sons. Who seemed to be always up to no good. The only one who helped keep her sane was her six year old daughter.

' Really?!'

She exclaimed when she got home and there was a party of boys in her house. The house was dirty and smelled of cigarettes and weed. Music was on blast and no one heard her come till she stood infront if them.

' Olwethu and Lwandile?!'

' Oh hey mom. Sorry about the noise. We invited the boys over for a little after school chill session.'

Olwethu who was the most difficult of her twins replied with his blunt still in his hand but the others had tried to hide theirs as soon as they noticed her.

' My house is a mess and you call this a chill session?!'

' We were going to clean right after mom.'

Lwandile replied while his brother mumbled under his breath that this was not her house. Nkuli heard him and snatched the blunt from his fingers.

' This is my house irregardless of wether your father bought it or not. I worked as hard as your father to make this house a home while he was out working.'

She did not know why she was explaining herself but she was tired of her oldest children always blaming her for her failed marriage. Sure she asked for the separation but they were no longer happy together. Her daughter walked in as the boys started cleaning the kitchen and living room and like usual did not even greet her. Tired of arguing with her about her disrespect, she just let her go into her bedroom and she headed to her own.

' Mommy I'm hungry.'

Her youngest woke her up. The time was seven and she could not remember when she dozed off and in her work clothes.

' Hey, when did you get back?'

She took off her clothes and wrapped herself in her robe.

'Dad dropped me off about an hour ago.'

The house was still a mess when she got downstairs and only the pizza boxes where gone which is what she left them cleaning up when she went into her room.

' Your brother's are going to be the death of me. They make a mess and expect me to clean it up always. This is so Olwethu!'

Minnie ( Minenhle) watched her as she went around cleaning the house after she put her pots on the stove.

' You also should not clean.'

' I can't leave my house looking like this Minnie.'

' Then let's put it in their bedrooms.'

Nkuli laughed she would love to do that but she still would have to be the one who cleans their rooms. Instead she cooked then cleaned the house. Her oldest daughter (Owethu) came down and dished for herself without speaking to her.

Olwethu _ love is ours

Lwandile _ love has intensified

Minenhle _ beautiful day

Nkululeko ( Nkuli) _ freedom

Owethu _ she's ours