The dogs bark early in the morning, waking Xolile up. She quickly makes her bed and cleans it using a mop. She takes a bath and dresses in her yellow floral dress. She heads to the kitchen and finds Granny drinking tea.

“You’re up early today Granny?” she asks.

“Child I wanted to take my medicine so I wanted tea first,” she pours the hot tea on a saucer and drinks from it.

“I want to bake and do laundry today,” she says, taking the ingredients from the cupboard.

“You are a good girl, I love you so much. What about school?” she asks curiously.

“I don’t have lessons but will go to the library later at noon,” she replies.

“A good woman balances her time and makes sure all chores are done… The man who will marry you will be the happiest man,” she chuckles.

Xolile doesn’t want to get married yet. Yes, she wants to date but her course is taking too much of her time. There is a guy who made a move on her but she is scared. She’s never been in love but she wants to try. On the other hand she doesn’t want to disappoint her granny. Being in a relationship will affect her education, maybe one day the time will come, she thinks.

She beat eggs in a bowl, mixing them with floor. Granny inhales deeply and walks to sit on the sofa to relax. Xolile gives her a glass of water and she sips once and inhales slowly.

“Let me continue the story,” she breathes slowly.

“In two weeks Mahlatsi sent for negotiations and he was given a date. Everything went smoothly. Brenda had paid R12 000 for the car. She was over the moon, finally her dream was coming true and her enemies would be shamed. Mahlatsi’s uncles paid R10 000 for lobola, the price was R20 000 and the uncles begged to pay it later when they have it.

“Brenda’s mother was happy, little did she know her daughter paid her own lobola. A feast was made. Delicious food was served and Brenda was accompanied to her new home at Mahlatsi’s parents’ home. Brenda’s family didn’t like to see what they saw. Mahlatsi had been lying all along. He told them he had a business and made R50 000 – R80 000 a month but he had nothing, not even a house for himself. His parents were struggling and couldn’t afford to feed another month. Brenda’s family returned back, leaving Brenda there and told her mother.

***

Tell us: What do you think will happen to Brenda now?