I can’t believe he would do this to his wife. Mrs Dlamini is such a lovely woman I mean the woman bakes cupcakes for the entire congregation every Sunday – the entire congregation! Who does that? But worry not Mrs Dlamini I will catch him. Tonight is the night.

It was Tuesday night last week, I couldn’t sleep. I thought I could stretch my legs around my bedroom when a bright flash went past the curtains. I rushed to the window and slowly pulled the curtain away, just enough for my eyes to see the view from the window gave a direct view to the front of my neighbour’s house.

Mr Dlamini was standing outside in his yard even in the dark I could see that horrible smile of his plastered all over his face.

I had never seen the young woman who got out of the car. At first, I didn’t think much of it until I remembered my mother telling me that Mrs Dlamini wouldn’t be at church this Sunday, something about a work trip.

Why was this lady visiting her husband at this time of the night? The visits continued throughout the whole week. You should have heard the loud giggling that came from that house.

“Men are no good my child … all of them!” I guess my aunt was right after all…

It was a Friday night and I was stationed by the window with doughnuts, and coffee in hand. The Dlamini stakeout was in full operation.

On cue, Mr Dlamini stepped out of the house the second that woman’s car pulled in. I grabbed my camera and zoomed in just in time to catch them hugging. The camera flashed and they looked up. I quickly ducked, bumping my head against the side table all the coffee fell right on top of me everything else came crashing on the floor.

“Thina! What are you doing in that room? Didn’t you say you were tired?” my mother shouted from downstairs.

“Nothing Ma!” I answered.

I stood up and peeped through the curtain. I saw Mr Dlamini taking bags out of the boot. She must be staying over for the night. Perfect. One picture was not enough I had to get more evidence.

When he went in with the last of the bags, I climbed out of the window hanging onto the ledge, I could feel goosebumps form under the wet patch on my jeans. I swung my leg over to the tree and landed I managing to get the rest of my body over. I jumped down on the ground. I better get extra cakes for this, I thought.
I carefully opened the gate. The street was so dark, the only streetlight that was working was at the end of the street. I ran over to the fence and that’s when I realised that I had left my camera and phone. I can’t go back now, I thought, I guess I’ll have to catch them in the act.

Jumping over the Dlamini fence wasn’t going to be a walk in a park. Iet was too high, and the barbed wire would surely tear me apart. The gate .. maybe I could open the gate. With a push it swung open.

Taking one step at a time I moved closer to the house, the lights were on I could hear them giggling. Moving closer to the windows I was able to hear everything, how I wish I had my phone!

“It has been lovely Johnnie but I’m afraid I have to leave now… we wouldn’t want your wife finding me here,” the woman said. I couldn’t believe my ears! Finally, I had caught them.

“Thank you for the lovely evening Ruth … I hope she doesn’t take the surprise too bad… let me walk you out”.”

“Aha! I got you … mmh you should be ashamed of yourself MR DLAMINI!”

They both jumped back they eyes wide open little Ms Ruth had to hold onto the door

“Hayi who are y…? Thina is that you, you nearly gave us heart attacks! What are you doing here at this time? Hiding out in the dark? Were you trying to break in?”

“No, no, Mr Dlamini or should I say ‘Johnnie’. You don’t get to ask questions. If I were you I would be thinking of excuses to give Mrs Dlamini because I heard everything and I am going to tell her.”

“Thina do you realise what time it is? What are you speaking about? Actually, let us go to your house and let us hear what your mother has to say about you breaking into people homes.” He grabbed my hand dragging me to the gate.

“Yes let us go, so I can tell her you are cheating on Mrs Dlamini.”

He stopped quickly turning around the light from the open door shining on his directly on his face.

“What?!”

“Yes, I’ve been watching you and Ruth over there. I can’t believe you would do your wife like that… she is such a wonderful lady!”

He looked at me and then looked to Ruth and then they both burst out laughing. They were laughing so hard Mr Dlamini was clutching his chest.

“Ahh Thina you are very funny. Ruth, over there is my wife younger sister and I’m definitely not cheating on my wife!”

” But… I saw you… I heard you… what is the ‘news’ that you were just talking about mmh? Explain that!”

“Not that I have to explain myself to a nosy child but our anniversary is coming up and Ruth has been helping me plan my surprise for my wife. She can only come at night because during the day she is at work.”

***

Tell us: What do you think of this story?