insert 57

iFAIRYTALE KaMAGEZA

𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭 57

[NARRATIVE]

It's a beautiful morning, the sun is out and shining. Mahlathini is in the garden watering the flowers while Connie removes the weeds with a small shovel. The flower garden was her idea, this is where she comes whenever she wants to relax and think. Today her man decided to join her.

Mnqobi is lying on the grass on top of a small blue blanket while Thando plays with him, he's laughing at whatever his sister is doing. He'll be turning 4 months in a few days. It feels like yesterday when Connie was at that labour ward cursing and slapping his father. Mnqobi is growing so fast, in fact, time seems to be moving fast which is worrying her a bit.

Whenever things are going great in this family something bad happens. She just wants her wedding to go smooth without glitches.

"The sponsor don't want to pull out" she says getting up and wiping the mud off her knees "Instead, they want us to take their services as a gift"

"A gift?" Jackson looks at her.

"Yep, they are determined"

"More like desparate. They know if they pull out they'll lose the fans they've gained, businesses can't survive without a social media presence these days" Jackson says cutting the horsepipe, he squats down and starts rolling it while his woman watches him. He's wearing shorts and nothing on top. He's looking yummy. After he finishes, she walks over to him and wraps her arms around his waist.

"I know you don't want your life to be laid out there for everyone but we're living in the new age of social media, it's the new way of life. It has its toxicity but there's a good side too-"

"This new way is not our way Connie. As you're saying, it's toxic, I don't want my kids to be exposed into toxicity. The world is bad. I want to live a private life and be able to protect my family. I know you love it but please understand my reasons" Connie sighs

"You're making sense"

"I am, I don't want my kids kidnapped one day because their pictures are all over the media and the whole world knows we have money. I've had my own friend betray me, how much strangers who I have no connection to?"

"I fall in love with you everyday" she says with a smile.

"I'll pull you back when you start drifting to the darkness My Love" he says and kisses her until they are disturbed by someone clearing their throat.

It's Nobuhle.

"Sanibonani" she greets with a nervous smile. Connie starres at her with a blank face. She's not happy with her presence, more than anything, she's irked. The last time she was here she came with the intentions to destroy her relationship with Jackson, where does she get the guts to set her foot here again?
"How are you?" Nobuhle asks.

"We are fine, what can we do for you?" Connie asks

"I want to have a talk with you Sis' Connie" Nobuhle says politely, she's here to humble herself.

"Talk to me about what?"

"I want to apologize. I did mean to disrespect you. I was jealous but I'm not that person anymore. I want to do things right and have with a relationship with my daughter" she says looking at Thando who is playing with Mnqobi. Connie and Jackson share a look.
"I just need one last chance, I promise I will not disappoint or disrespect you" Connie heaves a sigh

She picks up Mnqobi and invites Nobuhle into the house.

*
*
*

Vusi has been trying to call Nokwanda but it seems like he's blocked and all the texts he sent her didn't go through. He's sitting on his bed thinking of what he should do now. He has no choice but to go to her.

He gets up from the bed and blugs the kettle. After the water boils he pours it to the basin and picks a bucket to go fetch the cold one outside. He's about to step out if the door when he almost bumps into Celiwe.

"Celiwe..."

"Hey, can I come in?"

"Umh, sure" he says moving to the side. Celiwe walks in and sits on a chair "I'll be out soon, I'm still trying to find I a job, I promise, just give me a week or two" Vusi pleads.

"No, relax, I'm not here for that" she says and Vusi sighs in relief "You're going somewhere?"
She asks looking at the steaming water in the basin.

"Yeah, I wanted to talk to Nokwanda, she's not answering my calls"

"She went back to her mother KwaNongoma, she left this morning"

"Awu" Vusi says feeling like he's been kicked in the gut. If he can't get Nokwanda to forgive her, he's not going to get his job back.

"Here" Celiwe says handing her an envelope. He takes it and opens it. There's money inside.

"I know you don't have food so I thought I should help you out. You're staying at my place, I don't want you to die here of hunger"

"Aw, Thank you so much Sisi. God bless you" Celiwe smiles faintly and stands up. She's about to open the door when Donovan barges in. He sees Vusi and turns red immediately.

"Donovan, what-"

"Are you cheating on me? is that why you've been ignoring my calls? you've moved on?"

"What?" Celiwe is confused.

"I've been trying to call you for days! I went to the Shisanyama and they told me you left, is this what you've been doing?"

"What exactly have I been doing?" Donovan charges for Vusi but doesn't succeed. Vusi grabs him and tosses him on the bed. He gets up and goes for him again.

"Donovan?!" Celiwe yells "Uyahlanya?!" He looks at her fumming "Udakiwe?!" He doesn't answer. Celiwe clicks her tongue and walks out.

Donovan follows behind her "I'm sorry" he tries to hold her.

"Ey! don't touch me! Why the hell would you even think I'm cheating on you? If you don't want to be with me anymore say it! Go back to England and live your life, I will not stop you. One thing I will not accept is being accused of things I didn't do"

"I'm sorry"

"I've been nothing but supportive to you. Your parent dumped you and I was there for you. I helped you up and today you don't even see me. I thought you were genuine, I thought I've finally found a man who will love me but I was just fooling myself. I mean, why would a man like you settle for a woman like me? I have nothing to offer you-"

"Don't talk like that, I love you" he says trying to hold her but she resists. She's crying. She turns around and walks away. Donovan is left kicking the rocks.

"You're stupid" Vusi says behind him.

"And you're not? Fûck you!" Donovan clicks his tongue and hops into his car going after Celiwe. He has made so many mistakes in his life. Celiwe is the best thing to ever happen to him. He will not make the mistake of letting her go.

*
*
*

Donovan's Mom and Lilly are having lunch at
Col'Cacchio salt rock in Ballito. Lilly is on her lunch break, when she received a call from Mrs Scott that she was around the area, she didn't hesitate to come. She very much takes her as her own mother, she's a wonderful woman.

"You know, being a housewife is boring sometimes. Donovan's Dad is out on his golf games. As for Elizabeth, she spends the whole day at Campus. Staying indoor the whole day can drive one crazy, i just had to get out" she says taking a sip of the wine.

"You should find yourself a hobby, something that will get you busy and occupied" Lilly says.

"Hobbies? At my old age?"

"Old? Come on, you're still very much young. You can start Gardening, neating, all those things"

"The only thing I'm waiting for now is for Donovan to have kids. They are the ones who will keep me busy"

"Hopefully they are on the way" Lilly says with a smile.

"I doubt. That girl he's dating is just after his money and holding him back. He's blinded. Right now his father handed him the company but the girl doesn't want him to go. I really wish he had someone like you in his life, someone smart who will push him to success other than pulling him down"

"Well. Love is blind, I'm sure they will work their differences" Mrs Scott shakes her head.

"She's controlling him, until a real woman comes into his life and shows him what real love is, he's still gonna be blinded"

"That's unfortunate" Lilly says and continues eating. Mrs Scott puts down her fork and knife. She looks at Lilly briefly.

"You two click. You can make a wonderful couple" she says. Lilly raises her face to look at her. She doesn't look like she's joking.

"No, I've never seen Donovan with that eye, I take him more like my brother"

"Well. Change your eye sight then. You're no longer kids. You're grown now and Donovan has always liked you" Lilly shakes her head.

"Donova liked Connie, she was the one she always talked about. I'm surprised they didn't work out"

"You're saying I don't know my son?"

"No, I didn't mean it like that"

"Donovan fancies you Lilly. He was so happy to see you. The happiest I've seen him in a long time. You're the only one who can pull him off the claws of that girl. You will have a great life together. You said it yourself, you want someone who you click with, that's Donovan" Lilly shrugs in hesitation "Please, just give it a chance and see how it goes. If it doesn't work at least you would have tried"
Lilly sighs deeply. After a while, she nods.