Sanity

Winnings

"Brother you should have said if you weren't interested in having a party. How many times did we look for you? Where were you? You missed everything. We even sang for you in your absence like the dead. Speaking of dead, Nomsa's husband hasn't been dead for two minutes and she's already trying to replace him with that....."

Mduduzi's mind wandered to Mavis' soft skin and the death grip she'd had on him. He could tell she'd been waiting for that moment for a long time. Finally things were looking up for him. Mavis was hope for a future. Her marshmallow lips left him begging for more but she'd run off at the sound of Sipho drowning himself at the laundry sink. The smell of her clung to his shirt even now which was a great start for the day ahead.

"..... MDUDUZI!? Have you gone deaf?" Tina inquired looking agitated. 

"What?" Mduduzi feingned a hangover headache.

"I said have you seen Mavis?"

His stomach cartwheeled at the music of her name.

"No." He quickly stood, yawning while stretching his muscles to mask the joy that was threatening to parade itself on his face.

At the corner of his eye he caught Mavis slipping into his bedroom, her scent beckoning at him. As he turned into his bedroom the door shut and the key clicked it locked behind him. She was heavenly. The ocean green dress clung to her breasts and spread outward at her waist keeping the secret of the shape of her hips. Although anxious, her dimples were happy to see Mduduzi.

"What happened last night was a mistake, you hear me?" She whispered through gritted teeth.

His face fell.

"You were high and I was lonely that's all. You and I are very different, we cannot be..."

He couldn't resist. He had to kiss her or she would ruin his day, his memory. Her lips were much sweeter, pillowy and welcoming. He'd thought Mary Jane exaggerated everything but with Mavis even the queen of pleasure had fallen short. Her hands were rose petals caressing his head, drawing him deeper into the magic of the moment. He pulled away, dizzy with desire but striving to prove a point. Her long lashes intertwined to deny defeat but Mduduzi was a patient man. When she finally opened her eyes he sank deep into the muddy pools till she whispered a throaty "Yes." 

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" He's not just handsome  Naledi, he is monied. He's a principal of a school in Melmoth so you won't really have to be a wife every single day. He has a 13 room house and four children. The other one doesn't live with him though." MaNgidi explained as she sipped her beer.

" Haibo! Then why isn't he married?" Naledi exclaimed.

"She's dead Naledi. Do I have to spell everything out for you? He's been widowed for at least 10 years now. He has every type of cow you can think of so he'll pay the dowry in no time."

Naledi sucked in the cigarette smoke impressed by her luck to land a guy like Andrew.

"My friend with a potion like the one I gave you, he is probably thinking of you right now. No. He's definitely thinking of you right now. All he needs is to see you again and soon you'll be getting married."

"At my age?!" Naledi chuckled. " My friend your witchdoctor must be powerful!" 

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It was hard for Mduduzi to hide his newfound love from his family but Mavis had insisted and he would light a fire in the ocean for her. With Nkosnathi spending most of his nights in his nurses arms Mduduzi had the room all to himself. Every night, like clockwork, his father and step mother would go to sleep followed by Tina then Mavis and Thandi. Mduduzi would wait half an hour just to be sure Thandi didn't wake up then he'd open and close the main doors loud enough for Mavis to escape into his bedroom undetected. 

Of all his habits with women, he was not in a rush to deflower Mavis because she belonged to him and him to her. He wrapped his arms around her and imagined all the things he could and would protect her from. He slept soundly and woke up to an open space where she'd been. Contrary to her earlier beliefs their relationship helped wake her up earlier, therefore giving her a head start on her duties. Everyone else didn't notice but it bothered Tina to be out-superwomaned. 

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"A letter came in the mail my friend! Your life is about to change!" MaNgidi kicked her feet in the air with excitement.

"You're lying! Let me see it." Naledi shrieked.

  Brother, 

As I write this letter I've taken a week off of school because I can't stop thinking of Naledi. Such exotic beauty is alien to me. No one has ever engaged me in such rivetting conversation since my late wife. You, brother, know more than anyone that I have not been able to so much as look at another woman since her passing. 

I had promised myself that I would remain loyal to her till I joined her in heaven but I'm afraid I have to break my promise. I hope you can appreciate that it's taken all of my courage for me to pour my heart out like this and that you'll keep this letter our secret.

Please find a way to bring Naledi to Nongoma to meet my children and see if she is willing to give up her city life for the love tearing me up inside.  Help me brother, you are the only one that understands city women.

Your brother

Andrew

Naledi sat down amused " Your witchdoctor is indeed powerful maNgidi."