*My Gift*
04
My mother has been fussing over me since I come back. I’m now not allowed to do any of the house chores because according to her ran away from the place and I’m still not in good shape to do any form of house chore.
It’s been a week and I have not heard anything from Lwandle. I thought that since I left without saying anything she would wang to come over and check in on how I’m but that has not been the case.
She went to work-my a mother so this gives me the time to walk out of this house. I know that she had bee friend keep a watch out for me but I know my way around without her noticing me.
I used the back gate to go out and now I have to walk to Nandipha’s house. It’s not fair and I’m not in any rush because it’s still in the morning so I have more than five hours before my mother comes back from work.
I knuckles come in contact with the door. I knock a couple of times before she comes to open the door still wearing the clothes she sleeps in.
“Are you not on bed rest wena?”
She asks opening the door further for me to come in.
“I was starting to get tired mina.”
I tell her walking inside and sitting on the bed. She was sleeping which is not something that surprises me because she is lazy.
“I can only imagine but At least you better I was worried.”
She says sitting next to makoti s and I get where she is coming from. I would also be stressed if my friend was bitten by a snake and I could not see her.
“So how was it?”
She asks me and I know that she wants to know everything that happened at the royal house.
“It was fine I spent most of my time in Lwandle’s hut.”
I tell her and she looks confused about who is Lwandle
“The princess.”
I say and she nods her head.
“Did you see any hot guys there phela I heard the guards are stupid hot?”
She says and starts fanning herself as if she has ever seen one of the guards.
“Drama mara those men are way old to be made boyfriend for a young girl like you sisi.”
I tell her and join her in her laughing spree.
“It does not matter phela when we are married no one will care about the age.”
She says and she looks like she is dead serious so I just shake my head.
“She has not gotten back to me.”
I tell her laughing her little trying to hide the hurt that I’m feeling. I have been feeling sad about the fact that she did not even try and find out if I’m fine or if I got home safe. She could have sent one of the royal guards if she was lazy to do it herself.
“I’m sure she is a little busy you know with the ceremony coming up give her time.”
She says and I can see that she is just saying that to make me feel better which is not helping.
“Yah you are right maybe that’s the case. Let’s go fetch firewood or water.”
I tell her not wanting to just sit here and do nothing while feeling sorry for myself.
“Well we do need firewood but you will just walk with me and not do anything.”
She says standing up and going out.
I’m sure she is going to the kitchen to get some water and I’m correct I think in my head as she enters carrying water in a bathing dish and she starts bathing. I have nothing to do I’m just walking around her room and touching here and there.
After some time she is done bathing and we are on our way to the woods. Everywhere we pa-ss everyone is talking about the ceremony that will be held to welcome the princess and I have no interest in it because I’m not going. It will need the traditional wear which I have to buy and it might take time because it seems like everyone is going so it would be ha-rd for the tailors and I don’t want to wear what I wore to the red dance.
“I wish you were going to the ceremony”
She says and I can tell she is disappointed by me not going to the ceremony with her.
“Please don’t do that”
I tell her because I know she is using emotional blackmail and I don’t want that.
“Fine but I’m telling you the truth I would have loved it if you went with me but it’s fine don’t worry about it.”
She says and I just nod my head.
The rest of the way is filled with conversation from both of us and we can not stop laughing. For a second I forget that Lwandle has not made any contact with me.
“You can sit on that log and let me cut the wood.”
She says to me and I just laugh at how she is mothering me right but I have no choice other than to just sit on the log or she will say we should go home.
“This place is calm yazi one could come here to get fresh air.”
I say looking at her.
“Yebo it is best you get bitten by a snake angisho.”
She says and we start laughing at how she says it. I feel like someone is watching me and when I turn to look there is no one. I would love to go and check but I know my other mother would never allow me to go.
“What was that?”
She says looking behind me.
“What was what?”
I ask her because I didn’t hear anything.
“It was like a brunch breaking.”
She says and I just shake my head showing that I did hear a thing and she also nods then goes back to cutting her wood.
……………….
I’m now home because my mother will soon be at home.
I’m sitting outside because I feel like it’s extra hot inside the house. I hear the gate opening and I say a thank you prayer that my mother is back now I will be able to have someone to talk to other than looking at my schools and not studying.
“Sawubona sisi.”
I hear a small voice say beside me and when I look it’s some girl I have never seen before and it’s not that I know a lot of children around our community.
“Yebo nana.”
I say with the biggest smile I can muster.
“They said I should give you this.”
She says giving me a letter that is folded and had my name written on the cover then she runs away. I don’t even have the energy to run after her because I know I won’t catch up.
**I’m sorry for not getting back at you. I have been busy but I sent one of our guards and he says you got home safe.
I will see you tonight at 22:00
Please
Lwandle**
The letter says and I smile to myself a little. I didn’t even see the guard she is talking about but the thought that she did send a guard makes my heart leap for joy.
“Who is it?”
I hear a very familiar voice say next to me and it’s my mother looking at me like she just saw me stealing meat from the pot.
“No one mama. I’m glad you home I was getting bored.”
I tell her following her to the bedroom and watch her as she changes from her work closes to her home clothes.
“I have to start cooking you can come and watch me.”
She tells me to go out of the hut bedroom and I follow her to the kitchen.
“I can help you, Mah.”
I say to her but I know she won’t agree to me helping her out and I wonder when she will stop.
“No, I don’t need help don’t worry about it game wami.”
She says looking at me and smiles then goes back to her cooking.
I have been watching her cook for an hour now and now she is dishing up. I’m not hungry I just want it to be at night so I can go and meet up with Lwandle but I wonder how I will go out without being noticed. I know she will never allow me to go out so late even if it’s meeting up with the princess.
We are done eating and I begged her enough so she let me wipe the dishes and I’m happy with that.
“I’m tired after these dishes I want to go and sleep.”
She tells me and I think this is a great opportunity for me to start my plan.
“Don’t worry I will finish up and it’s just sweeping left.”
I tell her.
“Really? Will you be fine?”
She asks me and I nod my head fast. She is very hesitant as she walks out of the room and I’m happy she does not stop.
I’m now left alone and I’m doing everything I said I would do which is not much it’s just sweeping and packing the dishes. It’s around 20:00 now so I have two hours left before I live and I don’t know what I will do in the meanwhile. Then it hits me that I have a novel I have not finished pride and prejudice so that will keep me busy for the rest of the two hours.
It’s a little while since I have been standing near the gate waiting for Lwandle and it seems like she is not coming anytime soon but I have hope that she won’t let me down that she will come like she said she will.
It’s now getting light and I feel my heartbreak. She didn’t come like she said she would and I don’t know why I stayed till this time.
.
.
Tbc