It was raining cats and dogs, but there I was running in the rain with heavy bags. Finally, I got home, the door was open so I just barged in. I dropped my bags on the floor when I saw my mother crying.
“Ukhalela ntoni mama? (Why are you crying mother?),” I asked.
“How did you get here Funeka? Why are you here anyway?” she asked wiping me with a towel since I was wet.
“I was not allowed to write exams mama. I tried to elaborate my situation to the dean but he said ‘RULES ARE RULES FUNEKA NJOLI’.”
“I will sell the taxi so that we can get the money to pay for your fees,” said my mother.
“No mama! That taxi is our source of income. Forget about school, I can always go back next year. In the meantime I will get a job.”
A loud knock from the kitchen door disturbed our conversation.
“Ngena bhuti (come in brother ),” my mother said politely.
It was my late father’s brother, Malume Mvelo.
“Oh I am glad that I found you here too, Funeka. I came to ask you to leave my brother’s house tonight. Tomorrow I want to move in.”
“Hayibo Malume sizoya phi (Where are we gonna go?),” asked my poor mother.
“To that dog house my brother found you in,” he said walking out of the house.
We couldn’t do anything because my mother was not married to Mr Mdluli and I was also not his biological daughter. But he raised me like his own daughter, with tender love and care. He was always there for me.
“Perhaps we can go to your home mama. The place where you grew up, I can finally meet your family,” I said.
“We are not going there Funeka! If you have nothing to say then just shut up,” she said angrily.
After a long time of silence in the house she said, “It is still raining outside and it’s not about to stop. We will sleep here tonight and I will figure something out tomorrow. For now we can continue with packing our stuff.”
Early in the morning we took our clothes and went to Sis’ Thami. Sis Thami was my mother’s cousin, she lived in a shack with her two young daughters in a location called Marikana.
“Ngena Sisi, kunini ndini lindile (Come in sister, I’ve been waiting for you),” said Sis’ Thami politely.
We squeezed in our bags. My mother was going to sleep with Sis’ Thami and I was going to sleep with her daughters on the kitchen floor. I was very grateful that we had a roof over our heads.
Later that day I was taking tea to their room when I overhead them having an interesting conversation.
“Dora, I think we should go home and make peace.”
“You were there 23 years ago, Thami. You saw it happening. I’m grateful that you’ve always been there for me but I can’t go back there,” said my mother.
“I know that it still hurts like yesterday Sisi but please think about it,” said Sis’ Thami
“There’s nothing to think about Sisi. That man ruined my life and you know what’s the saddest part? I never really healed Thami! 23 years of pain and anger. My life changed for the worse Thami,” my mother said angrily.
After a few minutes I walked in and gave them tea.
Tell us: What do you think happened to Funeka’s mother?