At my house
I stepped on the cigarette bud and popped a chewing gum in my mouth then made my way inside. MaNtuli was chatting to Sami in the kitchen. I politely greeted MaNtuli and made my way to my room. I took my phone and the business cheque book and went out.
MaNtuli: "Sbani about what happened yesterday..."
Me:(sighs) "Ma I'll prefer it if we don't talk about that here and please don't tell anyone about it not even Ntokozo."
MaNtuli: "Ok, are you okay though?"
Me: "Yeah I'm fine. I need to go."
MaNtuli: "Your strings are not tied."
I looked at my waist and tied the strings of my sweatpants properly then covered my waist with the long sleeved shirt I was wearing. I looked at Sami and found her staring at my waistline in a weird way. I cleared my throat and she lifted her eyes faking a smile.
Me: "Is there something wrong?"
Sami: "No....actually yes I lost the previous cheque so I'm kind of behind with my study fees."
Me:(annoyed) "How much?"
Sami: "R12 000."
MaNtuli shot her a look and quickly went back to washing her dishes.
Me: "Go and fetch my cheque book."
Sami: "I thought you're going to transfer it into my bank account."
Me: "Well I'm not."
She sighed and went to fetch it in my room then returned with it.
I signed it then referenced the university and crossed it. I smiled and handed it to her, she smiled and thanked me but her smiled quickly disappeared and she frowned.
Sami: "You crossed it."
I poured milk in a glass drinking it and rinsed the glass and made my way out.
Me: "Yes I did. You're the only who can cash it provided that you bring proof that it's for school or you leave it. It is for school so why are you panicking? See you later."
I walked out and clicked my tongue. Sami is taking me for a fool. I clenched my jaws and reached for my cigarettes in my back pockets and took out one cigarette from the pack lighting it and slid it back into my pocket.
At Simo's apartment
He settled on a high chair and ate his cereal. Now that Sami was not in staying in this apartment was boring to him. He's used to having her around and having someone to clean after him.
His cellphone beeped indicating a message notification and he glanced at the screen and sighed.
'I'm sorry but I think we should end this. Enjoy your life with Siphosami but I'm done with you, you're a dead beat anyway.' Lindiwe
It was crazy but he liked Lindiwe, he was there for him during difficult times before he met Sami and a part of him felt bad when She started sleeping around because of his cheating ways. He deleted it and pressed the power button placing the phone face down on the kitchen counter. He brought the last spoon of kellogs into his mouth and stepped down walking to the sink chewing.
He was going to be late for work their manager was too strict and he made their working environment a hell on earth.
He took his cellphone and his lunchbox bag and walked out after fixing his Clicks uniform.
Sami called him, he smiled and picked up the phone...
Sami: "Hello."
Simo: "Hey babe."
Sami: "How was your night?"
Simo: "Boring and cold, when are you coming back?"
Sami: "Today, Sbani didn't give me the money so I guess there's nothing left for me here."
Simo: "That's not possible, Sbani always gives you money without questioning you. What changed?"
Sami: "He didn't ask me anything.(sighs) He gave me a crossed cheque so I can't cash it in."
Simo: "Why don't you just go to school? What you're doing to your brother is not right."
A small red cressida appeared and he lifted his finger hiking, it stopped and he stepped inside.
Sami: "Oh come on! My brother has a lot of money. He's a farmer, an investor and he's also trading so he'll never run out of money relax. And besides I'm turning 18 years soon and I'll be able to claim my inheritance."
Simo:(sighs) "Babe we'll talk about this tonight I'm on my way to work."
Sami: "Ok Sharp. Love you."
Simo: "Yeah me too."
He disconnected the call and looked at the driver.
Simo: "Sorry for not greeting. Sup?"
Driver: "Sure, no prob."
He nodded and the driver stepped on the accelerator increasing the speed and drove off.
At the cattle post
I scribbled down everything we're going to need and it's estimation costs then gave Ntokozo the cheque to sign.
Ntokozo: "Why aren't you using the bank account?"
Me: "I prefer to use this."
Ntokozo:(handing the cheque book to me) "Ok. Is everything okay with you?"
Me: "Yeah I'm fine why are you asking?"
Ntokozo: "You've been smoking non stop this morning and your veins are erect because of stress."
Me: "Don't worry about me I'll be fine."
Ntokozo: "Sbani bro don't do that. You'll get sick, speaking up is not..."
I walked to the stalls leaving him to speak alone.
Me: "How is it coming along?"
Worker 1: "Two milk tanks are full already so we're going to need more milkers then everything will be fine."
Me: "Ummh. The nursing cow is alright?"
Worker 2:(laughing) "Aah lowo bekashawa yi postpartum depression use right manje."
Me:(chuckles) "If that's the case then you can let her go she's adding more unnecessary work to you."
They led 5 cows to the milking parlour and cleaned the teats with an iodine and water solution then started pumping the milk to the milk tank.
The other workers connected the vacuum pipeline to the milk tank and the milk travelled to the refrigerated storage tank in the other room.
Me: "I'll see you later, don't overwork yourself I don't want grumpy workers around our cattle."
They laughed and said goodbye whilst busy with their work.
I went out and found Ntokozo wearing his gumboots.
Ntokozo: "I'm going to the fields I need to talk to the workers about the unfinished work, they need to put in extra hours."
Me: "It not going to work, working in the fields is too tiring they'll get sick especially because most of them are old, we need to hire more workers."
Ntokozo:(biting his lower lip) "You have a point. I'll see what I can do. See you man."
He jogged out of the gate. I stomped my feet on the rocks then wiped the sole of my shoes then stepped inside the car driving out.
My phone vibrated from my pocket. I slowed down and pressed my phone..
'I'm leaving today. See you next month." Sami.
I sighed and replied with 'okay' and tossed it on the passenger seat increasing the speed. Sami can go to hell for all I care I've done my part. I would say it what happened to her years ago but I once read about a story of a girl named Nonkazimulo Ndunakazi and how her childhood traumatized her adulthood and I got her professional help. She's psychologically healthy even though she got HIV from that pervert but she's okay just plain stupid.
At Lindiwe's apartment
Neliswa tossed her handbag on the couch and shouted Lindiwe's name.
Lindiwe: "Futeg Neli why are you shouting?"
Neliswa: "This card declined. Infact it not working, I looked like a fool infront of people having to return the groceries only because the card was reported 'stolen' nxx you're plain stupid you know that? How can you burn your bridges like this? Now you're going to struggle again."
Lindiwe: "How can that happen? Sbani is not that clever how can he do this to me?"
Neliswa: "I told you to stop underestimating the poor guy look where your stubbornness led you."
Lindiwe: "Stop talking and let me think. I have to call him and make things right this is not happening, especially since I'm facing financial problems. God how can I be so stupid?" She slapped her forehead licking her trembling lips.
She rushed to her bedroom and took her phone calling him and it went straight to voicemail, he blocked her.
She pressed her fingertips on the sides of her head gently massaging it with her eyes closed. She was in a situation, a deep scenario.
TO BE CONTINUED
