Be Loved

Chapter 3

The smell of rooibos tea brewing on the stove travels throughout the house. Nkgono Tshidi always brews her rooibos on the stove for 10 minutes. She believes the heat brings out the flavour of the tea. As she waits for the tea to be ready, she opens her clear Tupperware to pick Ntate Phiri's favourite biscuits. She took the tray will red flower patterns, and placed two teacups and saucers and their matching teapot. When the tea was ready, she warmed the milk in the microwave and poured the tea into the teapot.

"Here is the tea Ntate" says Nkgono Tshidi as she places the tray on the dining room table. Ntate Phiri puts down his newspaper and joins her at the dining room table. "This smells great. Kea leboga. Is Keeya still sleeping" asked Ntate Phiri. Nkgono Tshidi nods her head in response. As she pours tea for Ntate Phiri, she asks,  "What time is the tent arriving for Keeya's 16th Ntate?"

"In the afternoon. I told them that we have to put that tent up today so that you can do the decorations before tomorrow. I hope Sibanyoni will deliver on time. You know how some of our people are ka di deadline" wonders Ntate Phiri as he sips his tea.

"Does that mean we have to go to see Keeya's mother this morning before things get crazy," asks Ngkono Tshidi. Every year, a day before Keeya's birthday, they go to visit her mother. Before Ntate Phiri could respond to Nkgono Tshidi's question, Keeya enters the room.

"Good morning everyone. What's for breakfast? I'm starving" asks Keeya, who immediately after asking, is glued to her phone.

"How are we going to answer you when you are looking at your phone? This generation mara" responds Ntate Phiri, as he tries to gain Keeya's attention.

"Keeya, get your head out of that phone and go make yourself a sandwich in the kitchen. There is still some rooibos on the stove. We are going to visit your mother, so don't take your time eating. We have a busy day ahead" commands Nkgono Tshidi. Keeya does as she is told, but cannot fully get her head out of her phone. Whatever that was happening on the phone is more engrossing than her hunger. She makes herself a peanut butter and jam sandwich. She did not bother to use a tray to carry her tea, sandwich, and phone. As she tries to juggle the three, she spills some tea on the dining room table.

"Keeya, look what you did! Give me that phone" demands Ntate Phiri.

"Sorry, I'll clean up," says an apologetic Keeya.

"It's fine, I will clean up. Give your phone to your ntatemokgolo. We have to discuss the menu for tomorrow" replies Nkgono Tshidi. Keeya mutters some words under her breath. The menu topic has been divisive for the last couple of weeks.

"You know what I want. I want a pizza party for my 16th. Nothing has changed" says a confident Keeya. She decides that she should make the first move in this family chess game. "But nana, adults cannot be eating pizza here. What about your grandfather's friends? They are men. They expect meat. Pizza doesn't have meat" fires back Nkgono Tshidi.

"We can order meaty pizzas then" adds a laughing Keeya. She knew that her comment was funny.

"You know how your grandfather is. Meat must be connected to the bone, otherwise, it isn't meat. Right Ntate" asks Nkgono Tshidi, making sure that he could see that she expects him to agree with her.

"Very true. You know what. Sixteen years is a milestone. Let us do both. The children can have pizza, the adults will have pap and meat with bones on it. You are only 16 once. Let us make the best of it. I'm going to get the car ready. We leave in 5 minutes" comments Ntate Phiri. He has had enough experience when it comes to being diplomatic when there were disagreements between the two ladies of the house.