CHAPTER 11
THALENTE GASELA

“I love it when you’re home, I get to relax.
Your brothers don’t want to get married so I
can have daughters who will take care of me.
They don’t understand that you’ll find a
husband and belong to him and his people;
who will take care of me then?” mama
complains and I just laugh.
“You should sit them down and ask when they
are planning on getting wives. My fathers
name needs to live on,” she nods in
agreement.
“I have sat them down Thalente, but they all
complain about money,” That’s
understandable. They are all unemployed and
it will be unfair to marry a woman, give her
children and have difficulties providing for
them. I know love is important, but financial
security is also essential in a marriage or a
relationship of any sort.
“I pray to God everyday that their CV’s land in
the right hands. They are my children but it’s
a lot on my shoulders, pension money and the
little you send cannot provide for all of us. I
need their assistance,” somedays I wish I
studied something that didn’t require so much
before I could start working.
My mother was happy and proud to have a
child in university because she though poverty
days are coming to an end, but that wasn’t
the case. She was disappointed but managed
to keep it to herself. I would hear her crying
in her bedroom, asking God why he took sis
Melamina. She was the breadwinner and life
with her was much easier and happier.
“God will shine his light on this family soon,” I
say and she heaves a sigh.
“Please make me a cup of tea,” it’s sad that a
part of her has lost hope.
It’s 100 degree celsius outside and my mother
wants a hot baverage. I will never understand
this woman and her love for five roses. They
should really look into making my mother
their ambassador.
She could be broke but she will always have
money for a small packet of sugar and
teabags. I boil water and take out her favorite
cup, it’s as old as me and the crack is proof.
We have many good cups but she doesn’t
want to get rid of it; one day it will break and
the tea will burn her.
I once threw it out and I got a beating of my
life, after that day I learned to mind my own
business.
I hand her the cup and settle on the kitchen
stool across from her, “Mama, I’d like to talk
to you about something important,” I say and
she narrows her eyes.
“Is everything okay sisi?” she worries very
quickly.
“Yes, everything is great. I just hope what I’m
about to say to you makes you feel better and
that you’ll stop stressing about it,” she places
her cup down after taking a sip.
“Your mother is listening sisi,” I hate that I’m
about to lie to my mother, but some lies are
neccessary. My sister and bhut’Shlobo were in
love and it’s not a bad thing that he wants to
pay for the tombstone. What my mother
doesn’t know won’t kill her. Plus, this will
remove a huge burden on her shoulders.
“Uhm, the bursary has given me some money
for important research for my paper, but it’s a
lot and I honestly don’t need it all for school. I
was thinking that we could use the change to
buy sis’Mela a tombstone and hold a small
unveiling ceremony for the family,” I say and
she’s just staring at me with her lower lip
quivering.
Tears are glistening in her eyes, “Thalente, are
you serious?” her reaction gets me all
emotional.
“Very serious mama. I want to do this for my
sister and you,” she reaches for my hand and
squeezes.
“You are such a good daughter and sister,
Thalente. God and the ancestors will bless
you,” Those blessings should be going to
bhut’Shlobo because he’s the one paying for it
all, but I’ll pray for his blessings later.
“Thank you, mama,” she wipes her tears.
“The money will be in my account soon, we
should find a professional tombstone maker
and choose one that is befitting,”
“We should have this conversation with your
brothers present,” we will do that at dinner
time.
“Okay, let me go start with the pots,” I get up
from the chair and head outside, our kitchen
is a small rondavel.
I’m so happy that my mother is on board, I
know bhut’Shlobo will be over the moon. The
man wasn’t allowed to bury his love and I
hope this gives him some closure so he can be
able to move on with his life. He is a great
person, he deserves all the happiness in the
world. I dial his number as soon as I walk into
the kitchen and he answers at second ring.
“Thale, how are you?”
“I’m very well thanks. How are you?
Nhlagano?” I ask.
“I’m good, just got home from a meeting with
the owner of the football club my son wants
me to buy for him,” I want to be this kind of
parent, I want to make available every
resource that will help my child live his or her
dream. No matter how I personally feel about
it all, “Nhlagano is out with his friends,” he
adds.
“I hope the meeting went well,” he takes a
deep breath.
“I believe it did, but we will know who he is
selling to by Wednesday,” it’s going to be a
stressful couple of days for them.
“I’ll pray that he chooses you,”
“Thank you. So, have you spoken to your
mother?” I peep outside to make sure no one
is eavesdropping.
“Yes, I did. She believed my story and she is
happy that it’s going to happen,” he heaves a
sigh of relief.
“Oh, thank God. I know it must have been
hard to lie to your mother and I’m sorry I
made you do it,” that was very neccesary.
“It’s okay, really,”
“THALENTE!” one of my brothers bellows.
I roll my eyes.
“I have to go, I’ll see you when I’m back in
Durban,” I say briskly.
“Okay, bye.” I hang up the phone and walk out
of the kitchen. It’s my brother, the one I come
after who called for me. He’s standing at the
door of his rondavel.
“Do you need anything?” I ask and he nods.
“I need you to send an email for me,” Haibo!
“To who?” my brother is now some big shot
mos.
“Some hospital in Lusikisiki,” I narrow my
eyes. “I’m applying for a job there,” that’s
good. The department of health often wants
workers, but applications are always either
online or by mail.
“That’s good. Which position?” I’m excited for
him, he never really wants formal work. He
would rather work odd jobs around here or
Port Shepstone.
“They want nurses so I’m trying my luck,”
kahleni bo! He doesn’t even have matric.
“Nkosi, you need to be qualified in order to
apply for nursing jobs,” he shrugs his
shoulders.
“You never know ones luck, don’t undermine
the ancestors.” I don’t know whether to cry or
laugh.

JIMMY KHAMBULE

“Are you insane?” my sister screams and I
close my eyes. I knew she was going to lose
her mind when we told her, this is not
surprising to me at all.
“Thuli, are you seriously okay with this
nonsense?”
“It’s the only way to save my marriage,”
Khabo laughs out loud then claps once. Trust
me, she’s not laughing because she finds this
funny. She’s laughing because she’s in
disbelief.
“I know you love my brother but don’t do this
to yourself, love yourself enough to walk
away. Jimmy has been hurting and
humiliating you, don’t allow it to go any
further,” she says with tears streaming down
her face.
They are very close, my own sister would
choose to save Thuli’s life over mine and I’ve
accepted that.
“Khabo, I hate that I’ve hurt her when she
only loved and cared for me. I wanted a
divorce so I could freely persue Naledi but
Thuli suggested polygamy,” she’s pacing up
and down, I hope she doesn’t throw things at
me. She can be unstable at times.
“Fix things with your wife, Jimmy. Forget this
little tart!” I clench my jaw.
She cannot insult Naledi like that. She knows
absolutely nothing about her.
“Khabo, he loves her. That’s not going to
change. Help us get Naledi on board with this
polygamy situation and I will be happy again.
Jimmy promised to give his all into fixing
things once everything is set,” Khabo has both
hands on her head, she’s horrified by what
Thulisile just said.
“I can never help Jimmy hurt you, I will not
help him destroy the family you two built,” I
told Thuli that my sister was going to refuse
but she pushed, saying it will be easy to
convince Naledi if an elder family member is
on board too. She said Naledi will feel
accepted and all fear of monsters in-law will
vanish.
“Khabo, I’m begging you. Please help us, I ask
you to please help me make my marriage
work,” Thuli goes on her knees and Khabo’s
eyes threaten to fall off.
She looks at me, “Can’t you see how much
this woman loves you? What lengths she
would go to for you and your happiness? Why
are you hurting her?” I take a deep breath.
“Khabo, this is not my idea,” why can’t she
understand this? I accepted it so I don’t hurt
her any further.
“Please, do this one thing for me and I’ll never
ask anything from you again. Khabonina, I will
forever be indebted to you if you help me save
my marriage and family. Jimmy and our life is
all I know, all I need,” my sister goes on her
knees and hugs Thuli.
“I love Naledi, I’m sorry I do. I will keep my
promise and make things work with Thuli, I
won’t pretend. I will give it my all and make
her and the kids happy again. Naledi will not
be a problem, she’s not the type of girl to
cause drama. They won’t even have to meet
or be friends.”
“You know I love you Thuli and I want to see
you happy. Jimmy has failed as a man and you
deserve better, but you love him and I’ll give
you what you want. I will help you with this
thing, but once it’s done I’m out. I won’t
attend the wedding, see their children or
accept them if they have any. I will pray
everyday and ask God to give you the
strength to leave him,” Thuli hugs her tighter
and I lean back on my chair. I hope together
they can convince Naledi to give me another
shot and this time as her husband.
.
.
.
I’m driving us to the house and Thuli is in the
back seat crying, it’s not nice seeing her like
this and if I could talk my heart out of loving
Naledi I would. I never wanted to find myself
in the middle of such drama but life happened
and here we are.
I decide to park the car on the side of the
road and climb out to go comfort Thuli, I’m
not the devil, I couldn’t ignore her painful
sobs. I take her into my arms and cradle her
as she cries, she’s clutching at my t-shirt.
After 15 minutes or so she break free from
me and wipes her face, looking out the
window. I climb out again and go back to my
driver’s side and start the engine.
The silence is uncomfortable but I let it be, we
will discuss this some more when she has
calmed down.
We get to the house and she leaves me in the
car, I’m parked in the driveway. I unfasten the
seat belt then recline the chair back. I’m not
ready to walk inside and have my children
look at me like the devil. They haven’t been
talking to me since they saw the video of
their mother and Naledi. I know things are
going to get worse once they find out about
the polygamy situation, but I will work hard
to get them back on my side. Making things
work with their mother will earn me points
hopefully.