Sanity

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The toffee aroma of malva pudding filled the morning air. Though unconventional, Uncle Andrew wore the apron on some Sundays in honour of his late wife. He'd wake up at the crack of dawn and boil potatoes turning them into puffy clouds of mash. He was careful to drizzle only a small amount of the golden honey, reserved only for such meals, on the pork belly right before finishing it off in the coal oven. His late wife had been such a skillful cook he couldn't help but be hypnotized by the magic of it.

When he'd heard Smanga and Mduduzi sneak into the kitchen anxiety held him prisoner with only a ransom of busyness. Relief had engulfed him at the sound of Smanga's dragging foot steps while fury required the sacrifice of his sleep.

3am. An ungodly hour to start cooking such heavenly food.

He smiled at the glimmer of dawn beaming on the special cutlery he'd polished as he returned his wedding cake knife into the briefcase and clicked it closed. He worried he was spoiling these children with his elaborate emulation of hotel settings but remembered his duty of refining their tastes.

The milk porridge bubbled over as Busisiwe walked into the kitchen for her turn to make breakfast.

"Goodmorning baba. What can I help you with?" She inquired of her father slurping up drool at the different aromas that flooded her nostrils.

"Go and fetch the cinnamon in your mother's kist then dish up for everyone."

She almost ran to her father's bedroom then remembered his strict rules. As soon as she dished up all the bowls of hot porridge and sprinkled cinnamon over the crust of sugar melting in the butter the kitchen was overfilled with silently over excited siblings.

Once everyone was snuggling their bowls they eagerly awaited their father to lead them in prayer...but nothing. He waited. Mduduzi strolled into the kitchen grinning from ear to ear, greeted everyone and waited knowingly.

The shuffle of Smanga's headress startled the children keeping them tentatively ready to flee. As the dark savagery of his outfit appeared the children jumped,collecting to the kitchen sink clinging to their bowls.

"Goodmorning." He croaked.

"Smanga you can't possibly think I'll allow you to eat in my kitchen dressed like that with that revolting cloud of skunk following you. Go and get ready to eat with your family."

"You are offending those that walk with me Andrew!" He barked baring his teeth ready to fight.

"Andrew? They taught you to disrespect me in my house-"

"Shut up! They are speaking!" Smanga flayed his arms hysterically, eyes bulging but still hollow from starvation and maybe abuse.

His father stood up and examined him as he muttered gibberish then decided to introduce Smanga to the full force of his law. He stretched his arm to last week ready to launch him to the following year in a thunderous back handed slap. At the lightning of it Smanga was hurtled onto his bottom into the living and back to reality.

"No son of mine dares disrespect me in my house! No child of mine will be a witchdoctor! I am your earthly god as long you live under this roof!  Do I make myself clear?!"

"Yes father."

The roar of his rage rippled through the house commanding everyone into their duties at the speed of light. By 9am everyone was in their Sunday best, quietly waiting for their father to lead them to church. With every amen their father seemed to forget their morning blow up. Their walk home was also much lighter with their father almost skipping home.

As he settled into his couch he sent Gigigi next door to their aunt for a bottle of whiskey. Just as he was about to take a nap Mduduzi knelt infront of him wringing his hands, eyes downcast. Smanga crept behind him, bony in his vest and pants. Mduduzi interceded on behalf of Smanga covering him in his brotherly protection till his uncle relented.

By the time they gathered around the table they were a unit. Uncle Andrew shared his whiskey with Smanga and Mduduzi and gave a tot to Gigigi. They told stories and laughed till late afternoon. The girls cleared the table and Gigigi scurried for another bottle of liquor. Uncle Andrew was a rigid man but once in a while he let go and told tales of his travels when looking for students to fill his school. Liquid courage kept Smanga and Mduduzi listening and probing for more stories.

With the liqour flowing and everyone's spirits lifted Mduduzi momentarily felt a pang of guilt at the amount of time he'd spent away from his brother Nkosinathi. As though reading his mind uncle Andrew chirped

"You look just like your brother when you're musing."

"I miss him terribly-" He confessed, pouring more liqour than cola "- I think I'll go home tomorrow."

"Busisiwe! Catch a fat chicken outside and roast it for your brother. Make extra dumplings and tell your sister to do his laundry."

"Thank you uncle."

"Gigigi! Tell the other boys to slaughter a fat pig while you make a fire,a man is leaving us tomorrow."

His suitcase of food made a mockery of his overstuffed backpack of clothes. He stuffed the suitcase into the belly of the bus and climbed to the backseat. His uncle reappeared at the window with a steaming newspaper of corn; a substitute for the breakfast they'd missed in the hurry to catch the last bus to Durban. He and his uncle batted their  eyes as a ball of sadness pressed up their throats finally being freed by the roaring of the bus as it crawled out of the rank.

He'd fallen asleep through the entire ride and woke up to a dimly lit, busy Market Street. He pushed his way to the exit,grabbed his suitcase and gulped the sour garbage stench of the city. Rural life had spoiled him with fresh air and peaceful walkways. Though the buildings had grown unfamiliar his feet carried him to the right rank just in time for the last taxi to Umlazi.

" Your luck never ceases to amaze me Mduduzi." A deep familiar voice greeted him.

" Sister! What are you doing in town so late at night?"

"I went to buy stock for my boutique. And to think I didn't want to even go into town today. Do you know we've moved to D section now? If you hadn't come right then you would have searched all night for your family."

"I've never been so glad to see you Tina!"chuckled Mduduzi.

"Have you ever been glad? Why do you smell like chicken? Where is uncle Andrew? How are your cousins? Are you going to be home longer this time?-"

He rolled his eyes dramatically, remembering that Tina had the ability to quizz a person inside out.

"Let's wait till we get home Tina."