She had dreams of becoming a social worker from a young age. This passion came from her witnessing her single mother struggling to make ends meet while also taking care of her brother’s child. Her brother hung himself without leaving a letter to perhaps explain why he resorted to taking his own life. And her parents were still married although they were separated.
Ntandoyenkosi, or Ntandozi as her mom called her, was born in an underprivileged village but they relocated to Durban and attended multiracial schools for better education. Simthandile agreed to relocate to after she was retrenched from work and saw it as an opportunity to nurture the young beasts – lion and lioness.
“Sawubona Ma, ng’lambile yazi!” said Ntandoyenkosi. (Hello mum, I am starving.)
“Unjani? Hambokhumula i-uniform phela, because knowing you, you will be doing cartwheels with it on the floor.
Ntandoyenkisi laughed. “Mum, you’re so dramatic.” She walked away rolling her eyes.
Simthandile yelled after her, “Yey wena! I saw that.”
Nathi, Ntando’s cousin, came running in, singing an advertisement theme song. The two were only a year apart in age and were close. Nathi was more of a brother than a blood cousin. Both his parents had passed away when he was really young and he had emotional scars, anger issues. Ntandozi always knew this was because he was robbed of his mother’s love before he could really experience it. Even though Ntandozi’s mom showed him all the love she could, it could never amount to his own mother’s love.
That didn’t stop the family from living a happy, simple life. They knew that as long as they had each other they could make it against all odds.
“Running is the only thing you know my boy,” Simthandile said with a smile, “remember I’m old now, you will make me fall.”
“Sawubona Anti wam,” Nathi greeted. “Please buy me an ice lolly, it’s blazing hot outside.”
“Then you will be barking like dogs from coughing when you catch a cold.” Simthandile had a strange sense of humour.
One time she told Ntandozi she would return her to her mother’s house where she found her trying to carry a heavy beer bottle. Her mother was a drunkard, and she said this because Ntandozi refused to plait her hair.
Ntandoyenkosi smiled. “I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Mum, you’re such a drama queen geez!”
“Your food is ready we zimbuzi,” Simthandile said handing them their food.
Nathi and Ntandoz thanked Simthandile.
***
Tell us: Are you close with your family?
