“Mihloti, where is breakfast? I can’t go to school without having breakfast,” the spoilt brat said.

She had the nerve!

“Did you come with breakfast here? U nga ni nyangatsi don’t piss me off,” I stopped combing my hair and gave her a dirty, annoyed look.

“But…”

“Get out of my sight, sies,” I said threatening to slap the shit out of her.

I lived to hate that girl. My hate for was the only thing that made me sleep at night. I hated her with every bone, vein and blood that flowed in my body.

“Morning girls,” George greeted. “Mihloti, we will visit your mother when I come back from work,” he said giving me that killer smile.

“Thanks Georgedy,” I said excitedly, giving him a tight squeeze. “Sorry,” I said getting my hands off him.

He had made my day. For that moment I even forgot how much I despised him. At least there’s something he does for /me/, I thought to myself, a little embarrassed from the whole squeezing incident.

George left for work and we had a few minutes to spare. “It’s good to see you giving Georgedy a chance,” Tinyiko said smiling.

“Can’t you keep your opinions to yourself? Speak when you’re spoken to man,” I said meanly as always.

“Sorry, Mihloti, it’s just that I hate the fact that we’re sisters but can’t live like ones,”

“It suits me just fine. So if you have a problem with the situation, deal with it,” I said grabbing my bag and we walked out for school.

“How beautiful your sister is,” Ma’Gumede said complimenting Tinyiko.

“And who ever said that this thing is my sister?” I asked bored.

“There’s no question about it, you are very alike; almost like twins,”

“I’d rather look like a pig than this thing,” I found myself saying.

Just then Khombo came out. “Who’s this girl? She’s beautiful,” another compliment.

Oh please, she’s not even near beautiful, I thought.

“Tinyiko,” she responded shyly to her thousand compliments.

“Mihloti, how is mother?” MaGumede gave me a false concerned look.

“If you cared you wouldn’t have left me all alone when I needed your help,” I replied rudely.

“It’s just that I didn’t know what to do,” she gave me the lamest excuse.

“Oh, please, you just couldn’t wait to spread the news to the neighbourhood even if it meant leaving mother for dead,”

“How can you say such a thing?” she asked touching the side where the heart was, that’s if she even had a heart.

“Whatever,” I said taking off.

“Bye, tati, sister, see you later,” Tinyiko said nicely as she went her own way.

“I’m not your sister, get used to the idea!” I said harshly walking my way.

After a twenty minute minute walk, I got to school.

“Someone is in a good mood; all smiles,” Mbhoni said welcoming me to class.

“I’m doing good, thanks for asking,” I switched her off, in a nice way, and sat down.

“Sorry, it’s just that your smile made me forget my manners, so what’s got you in this good mood? Is it Ntiyiso? Are you guys dating now? Please don’t make me beg,” she asked curiously.

“It’s just that today I’m going to visit my mother,” I said lightening up.

“But you didn’t tell me she was on vacation,”

“No, silly,” I said jesting, “she’s in hospital,” I turned blue; a bit afraid of what I might find when visiting her.

“Huh? What?” she asked with her jaws on the floor, just then Mr Baloyi entered the class.

“Oh and I can always come with you,” she offered.

“Thanks, George will take me,” I said sitting up straight.

“Morning class, tomorrow we’ll be writing our first test for this term,” he announced.

“And what did you mean George will take you? I mean since when does he take you to places? I thought he was dead, buried and forgotten to you,” Mbhoni said as we sat under some tree during break.

“Eish,” I started, “he came back yesterday. With a daughter!”

“No!” she covered her mouth in surprise. “And how does that make you feel?”

“Well, one thing is for sure: I’ll never get along with that thing, I’ll make her life a living hell,” I said certain.

“Don’t do anything you will regret Mihloti,”

“Yeah,” I lied.

The rest of the day went by slowly and I just couldn’t wait to get home. After a century the day was finally over.

“I’m ready!” I said rushing in the house.

“I can always come with,”

“Hey, u ngan nyangatsi, don’t piss me off. You’re going nowhere Tinyiko,” I said changing my school uniform in my room.

“But…” George tried his luck.

“Which part of ‘she’s going nowhere’ don’t you understand?” I asked standing in front of them. “It’s my mom, not our mom, so she ain’t going anyway. That’s final!” I lashed out at them. “Let’s get going, I don’t have all day and besides I have a test to prepare for,” I dragged George and left Tinyiko at home, all by herself.

We drove silently and finally got to hospital.

“No!” I cried out at the door of mother’s ward.

***

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