insert 39

iFAIRYTALE KaMAGEZA

𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭 39

[NARRATIVE]

Mahlathini is woken up by a strange dream. It's been a while since he dreamt of his father, it's been months actually. And the dreams that include him are always vivid and makes less sense but not this one. He clearly saw his face, the clothes he was wearing and heard everything he said.

"Are you okay" Connie asks sitting up. Mahlathini sighs and burries his face in his hands. Why is it that whenever he's about to walk out of the darkness something always drags him back?

"I just dreamt of my father. I'm not sure what exactly he wants ...I'll have to go to a traditional healer and ask them to connect me with my uncerstors so I can find out what is really going on" Connie nods and wraps her arms around his resting her head on his shoulder. She doesn't have that much knowledge about uncerstors but she knows it's dangerous ignoring them.

"Everything is going to be okay" she assures him.

"It's taking long, instead of moving forward I keep being taken a thousand steps back. I don't want Miracle to arrive to this instability" Connie raises her face to look at him.

"Miracle?" she asks with a smile.

"Yes" he says placing his hand on Connie still flat tummy " ...he survived the impossible. I believe it was only God's Miracle"

"I love it" Connie whispers and kisses him.

"I love you and I can't wait to make you my wife" he says with a smile. If he had the power him and Connie would be married already but it seems he has to be more patient than he is.
"Another thing, I saw Thando's mother at the rank yesterday"

"Ow"

"She doesn't feel any guilt for what she did, Thando is better off without her" Connie doesn't gree. As much as she doesn't want her in their lives she has to think of Thando.

"I think you should live a little space for Thandolwami to decide is she's really better off without her. You don't want her to grow up and blame you for keeping her away from her mother"

"But you're here, she doesn't need Nobuhle"

"I'm not her mother Ngamela. I can play the role really well but find out she still has the space for her real mother. let's not decide for her" Jackson heaves a sigh.

"I hear you"

"Thank you"

"Can I take you out tomorrow after work?" She smiles, it's been awhile since they went out. Problems have been too much that they forget to have some romantic time. it's been quickies here and there, it has to change. He's striving to treat her lik a queen. She should feel how special she is in his life.

"I would love that" he smiles and kisses her.

"Okay, let's sleep" he says and snuggles her.

They both drift away into sleep.

*
*
*

MAHLATHINI

He wakes up early the next morning. He has to go consult kuSkebhe and the man prefers working early before the sun comes up. So he takes a shower and prepares to leave. He's eager to find out what his father really wants. He wants to get it fixed before the lobola negotiations start.

"You won't eat?" Connie asks sitting up on the bed.

"I will eat when I come back" he says and kisses her.

"Okay, be safe"

"I will!" he says walking out.

He peeps into Thando's bedroom, she's still fast asleep. He walks over to her and kisses her forehead. She groans and turns but doesn't wake up. Mahlathini smiles and walks out.

He arrives at Skebhe's homestead just after 06:00. He's asked to take off his shoes and leave them outside indumba.

"Hhhheeeeeeyi!!! khuluma mtomdala" Skebhe he grunts as Mahlathini makes his way in. He sits down on the grass mat "I'm glad you came Mfanwami" Skebhe says. According to him he can see a person's problems before they even arrive here.

"What's happening Mkhulu, what does my father want?" he starts grunting and calling all his ancestors. He asks Mahlathini to blow on the bones, he throws them down and starts reading.

"Heeey!!! I'm seeing a dark cloud. For all your thinks to go well you have to do a ceremony for your grandfather and father. They are the ones blocking your things. If you don't do the ceremonies you will keep having misfortunes. The child that died replaced your life, it was you who was supposed to die that day. There are people after you Mfanwami. People plotting against your life. You need protection. I will help you. Ngozokuqinisa against your enemies that whatever they plan, fail. You will be strong to stand against anything"

"Makhosi" Mahlathini says acknowledging everything Skebhe is saying. He suspected his father might need a ceremony. Nomeva never did it, he's suprised that his grandfather needs one too. It's been so long since he died.

Skebhe asks him to strip all his clothes. He does as he's told. If this is going to help remove the misfortunes he's more than willing to do it.

Skebhestarts doing the retual which includes killing two chickens. White and black. He's asked to drink the blood and spit it. He then starts making small cuts on his skin enough to draw blood, he does this from head to toe every side even on his butt. The things ancestors will make you do!

The retual process goes in until midday. Mahlathini feels so exhausted by the time they finish. His body hurts from everything that was done to it.

Skebhe's price for everything he did is two cows which is R30 000. Mahlathini transfers the money to his back account.

His phone rings as he gets in the car. It's an unknown number. He usually doesn't answer unknown number but something tells him to answer this one.

"Hello" there's silence "Hello?"

"Is this Mahlathini?" the person asks

"Yes"

"Someone is plotting to kill you" Mahlathini is silent for a moment. Skebhe doesn't play, he hasn't even went out of the gate yet and things are already happening.

"Who are you?"

"Vincent Nyathi ...I want 2 million to give you the name" Mahlathini laughs.

"Where have you ever heard such madness"

"I know you have the money"

"So you figured you scam me?

"No, I-"

"Listen. Tell whoever wants to kill me to come, I'll be waiting for them" he clicks his tongue and drops the call.