“Dad, since Sihle is my brother, why doesn’t he move in with us? I mean after all, he was a winner of Poetic Voices he is now going to stay here in Joburg right?”

Dumisani did not say a word, he just sighed looking like he was in acute pain. Melo took where she left off. “Dad, are you even listening to me?” Melo asked starting to look worried.

Dumisani was no saint and Melo realised that. She and her mother were just too hard on him and it was killing him, she was now worried he will lose his mind or his heart will just stop beating.

What about all the great things he has done for them? Besides a child he abandoned he was an amazing father, an amazing husband. Melokuhle thought to herself.

“I don’t think that will be such a good idea baby.” Dumisani answered after what seemed like a long pause.

“Oh yeah, that won’t be a good idea? I forgot you don’t make rules in this house, mom does. I guess I have to speak to her about this.”

Thembeka snarled as she walked in the lounge where Melokuhle and Dumisani were. But she only caught the last part of Melokuhle’s words.

“Speak to me about what?” The way Thembeka asked, Melokuhle already knew she had better count her words when she answers.

***Else Where ***

Back in KwaZulu Natal, KaMajola had another bad dream. Keeping quiet about it would be foolish, I better give out the warning, KaMajola thought to herself.

She took her cell-phone and went to contacts, scrolled down until she got to Thembeka and pressed the yes button. Luckily this time Thembeka answered quickly, she is usually a busy person so her cell-phone would ring and ring and ring.

“Hello Sisi,” Thembeka answered.

“Hello, how is everything going that side?”

“Bad Sisi, but it’s nothing we can’t handle.”

“You and I know you are strong. Remember what I said to you? Do not be too hard on Melokuhle. I had a bad dream, now I’m telling you this for the last time. Do not be too hard on her.” The call disconnected.

KaMajola must have run out of airtime, Thembeka thought to herself.

But she was not even an inch hard on Melokuhle but she was not as soft as her father was on her. Thembeka sighed and waited for Melokuhle to answer.

“Mom, I want Sihle to move in with us since he is family.” Thembeka was taken aback.

“What? Over my dead body!” shouted Thembeka.

Melo angrily looked at her mother like she was not accepting no for an answer.

***

Tell us what you think: Will Melo do another stupid thing to get Sihle in the house?