Sanity

Mavis

The familiar smell of banana bread tugged Mduduzi out of bed. No one made banana bread quite like Tina. Come to think of it no one did anything quite like Tina did.

After opening several doors he finally walked into the bathroom to get ready for breakfast. He could still hear Nkosnathi snoring and Thandi talking to herself as she played with her rag dolls. His reflection smirked at the thought of him having such a young sister, she could pass as his child.

"Here's your breakfast brother. Please tell auntie that I made breakfast for everyone and I've washed the laundry, all she has to do is hang it."

"Wow! This looks amazing. Thank you Tina. Who is auntie?"

"Brother you're a smart man, she'll be the only person you've never met in this house. And please don't put your feet up on the coffee table like that, it's disgusting."

She grabbed her purse and rushed out to catch a taxi. She was quickly followed by a flustered Auntie.

"Let's go and take a bath Nana."

She lifted up Thandi to her hip and crossed the hall to the bathroom. Mduduzi hadn't seen her face but he'd never seen a woman with such beautiful legs and hips. He gulped up his breakfast and cleared his dishes to await her return. He dusted any crumbs from his mouth when he heard the bathroom door reopen and fixed his collar ready to greet Auntie.

"Why are you awake so damn early?" Croaked his step mother's voice. " This isn't the farms you know, there are no cows to milk."

" I enjoy being up early." He didn't try to hide his disappointment at her entry.

She lit her Marlboro and inhaled her courage " When are you leaving?"

"Look mama I'm squeeky clean! Now we can have breakfast!" Squeeled Thandi as she wriggled out of Aunties arms to her mother's lap.

"Where is the breakfast Mavis!?" She demanded at Auntie. Mavis scurried to the kitchen with Mduduzi at her heels.

"Tina already made breakfast, I think it's in the oven. Do you need some help setting up the table?"

She frowned "Thank you. No one eats at this table so I'm ok."

He watched her dance through the kitchen swiftly, gracefully. He was spellbound by her beauty almost aching when she served breakfast in the living room away from him. She sped between the kitchen and the living room like a yoyo till breakfast was finally over. He washed the dishes so she could have a chance to clean the bedrooms before the dragon lady awoke from her food coma.

In no time she'd hung up all the laundry and was back in the kitchen to prepare lunch and charm Mduduzi. Mavis' stewed cherry dress dipped at her lower back accentuating her wide hips and tiny waist. Her chest was filled as much as her plump pink lips. The midnight of her afro highlighted her creamy skin, glistening the muddy pools that were her eyes.

Watching her and enjoying the music of her voice became his religion. He lived to be her servant much to his step mother's vexation.

"Why do you follow this girl around like a lovesick puppy? She's uneducated and desolate. What could you possibly want with such garbage?" She grimaced through a thick cloud of marijuana smoke.

" I think what your mother is trying to say-"

"Step mother, father. She's my step mother."

"What she's trying to say is that there are much better women out there for you. Durban is a city filled with beautiful educated women." His father sugar-coated with a daft smile.

"No- " a dry cough convulsed her entire body "I meant exact what I said , exactly the way I said it."

How did his father fall for such a vile tadpole?

"Nkosnathi!" She crooned " Now there's a man who knows how to choose a wife."

Her lanky arms almost sank into his cushiony back fat.

"I think Mavis is a beautiful smart woman Mdu. Have you told her how you feel because I'm certain she's smitten with you too."

Nkosnathi pushed past his stepmother and came too close to stare at Mduduzi. He was always polite but he stood up for what he believed in no matter whose toes he trampled.

"Nkosinathi's girlfriend is a nurse at King Edward Hospital. She even knows how to drive. All your Mavis can do is drive me crazy."

"I'm just going to approach her." Mduduzi stood. " Anything must be better than for her to be stuck with your step mother."

Mavis tip-toed out of the kitchen to pretend to pick up papers along the fence trying to suppress the joy that was bubbling inside. She caught a glimpse of Mduduzi strolling towards her and had to fight the urge to run away and hide.

"Mavis."

"Brother."

He frowned at the idea that his feelings may be misplaced on a woman that could potentially be his sister.

"What is your mother's maiden name?"

"Mthembu. Why?"

"I keep asking myself who you are and what mother would let such a beauty out of her sight."

"A dead one."

The words slapped his brain blank and tugged at his heart.

" You mean to say your father is the one who trained you so well in your duties?"

"Mabaso died with his wife Mduduzi. I am an orphan with no siblings. Poverty trained me in my duties. Do you have any more questions? I have a lifetime's worth of work to do and your questions are not leading to anything fruitful so if you don't mind I would like to get back to it." Her voice cracked as she looked away exposing her crimson ears.

"I'm sorry. " He whispered walking away.

His step mother cackled " I told you she's just garbage! Get back in the damn house and make dinner Mavis."