On the weekend all of Thulisile’s children besides Doris and her brother Senzo went to manage their mother’s street stall on the corner for her. While there Mrs Mudzi asked, “Where is your mother today?” obviously troubled by her absence. Sizakele replied, “She did not say anything about where she was going to be today.”, Mrs Mudzi then said, “Remind her she must not forget to pay me back!”

That morning Thulisile was trying to silence her child who was moving around on her back while waiting in the queue at the bank. On her way back home Thulisile walked with loud footsteps and was careful to look out for thieves in confined spaces until she reached her gates. Bhekizulu was hiding behind a branch with a black hat on. He kicked the door open and shouted “Thulisile!” Thulisile quickly placed her child onto the bed, Bhekizulu grabbed her by her throat and dragged her up against the wall.

“Don’t push me woman!” he screamed, Doris was crying loudly from the bed while her mother mirrored the baby’s fear. “Where is it?” Bhekizulu asked, “I did not get it today” Thulisile sobbed. Bhekizulu threw her down onto the stone and stood over her until tears blurred her sight. He searched the house until he found the cash that had been hidden under the mattress and left her lying on the floor, before slamming the door behind him.

Senzo did not see his father coming out from the house while he kicked a football outside with his friends, later he left and sneaked over his house gate. When he opened the door and went to his mother’s room he found her lying on her bed covered in blankets, he could see she was in a rage. “Mom could you please give me two rand? I want to go play games with my friends while I’m gone.” said Senzo. His mother did not reply and the silence continued between the two of them. Senzo eventually gave up and closed the door.

After the fight between Bhekizulu and Thulisile, Thulisile went outside to wash her children’s laundry in a basin. Her twins played a cooking game on the wet-ground where the dirty washing water spills over. They played with the ground with old fork and knives and put dry soil into flour containers. Thulisile stood upright when she heard a blast from Joseph’s car which was approaching. When the car stopped Bhekizuma ran to hide behind her mother’s dress, from there she peeped out. Her sister sat still on the ground watching her father getting out of the car. Bhekizulu went inside the house without greeting any of them.

After putting his jacket down he came outside to play and tease his children, he then turned to look at Thulisile and leered at her. “Don’t grow up to be as ugly as your mom. She was not so out of shape when we first met” said Bhekizulu to his daughter. Thulisile ignored his insults and carried on hanging school jerseys onto a wire washing line. Inside the house the baby began to cry, Thulisile wiped her hands on her apron and went inside while thinking dark thoughts about her husband.

Thulisile woke up in the early hours of the morning and got dressed in a white dress with blue flowers, she then wrapped up her baby on her back with brown blankets. It was still early and dark and the moon was still shining bright when they embarked on their journey.  The arrived at her stall just after 4 in the morning with her twins who had helped her to push the trolley. While assisting her customers the sun started to rise and Thulisile was joined by her friend Mrs Mudzi who started to set up her stall. “Morning everyone!” she said with a big smile. “How are you doing today?” asked Thulisile but she kept on looking at her costumers while she spoke. “Good!” said Mrs Mudzi who was looking at Thulisile and thought twice about asking too many questions because of her disheveled appearance this morning.

Later in the afternoon, the four kids came back from school and came to see their mother at her stall. “How was school today?” Thulisile asked, unaware that her children were stealing candy from the baskets behind her. Sizakele gave her mother a hug from behind and said “Mom you never ask that. Why today?” Senzo then said “Mom I got 7/10 today!”, “I’m so proud of you, Senzo” his mother replied, Senzo sneered at his sisters. “Are you proud of me too?”  asked Siphokazi while looking at her mother with loving eyes. “And me?” asked Sanele who gave his mother a cheeky smile. “What about me?” said Sizakele. “I’m proud of you all!” said Thulisile in an amused fashion.

“I’m heading off now. I need you all to look after the stall for me” said Thulisile, everyone was confused about what was happening. “Where are you going?” asked Senzo, “Can I come with you?”. Their mother replied “N0, I will be back soon. I’m just going to the bank to draw some money so I can pay Mrs Mudzi over there” and she got up to get ready to depart. “If she does not come back early I will help you pack up kids. The banks are closing soon so she needs to hurry up.” said Mrs Mudzi with a stern tone in her voice.

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Tell us what do you think: What kind of a mother do you think Thulisile is to her children?