Thuli waited for her mother, MaNkosi, at the bus station. She had called earlier before asking Thuli to help her with her luggage. MaNkosi lives in the big city, Johannesburg, and one day she’d take her children with her.
She wore her puff jacket with a hoodie and put on headphones with soulful music on. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and released it. A tear shed from her eyes. She thought of what had happened in her relationship with her boyfriend Sandile. She thought of how gentle his kiss was; his voice, his charisma, his smooth ways and what happened the day before. More tears came pouring down her face and she wiped her tears using the sleeve of the polo neck t-shirt she was wearing and looked across the street.
Children were playing skipping rope and she thought of how she had met Sandile and she shed another tear. She was hurt because of how things turned out the previous night when they met after she had told him her two biggest secrets. Sandile went into a rage and slapped her across the face on her left cheek. He stormed out of the veranda of Thuli’s house.
“My baby!” yelled MaNkosi excitedly as she saw her daughter. She quickly crossed over the street with some of her luggage and Thuli went across to fetch the rest. It was December and MaNkosi was off from work for the holidays.
“Ngaze ngothokozela ukukubona mama, I’m so happy to see you mama,” said Thuli as she hugged her mother tightly. Tears dropped as the two embraced and headed home.
As they walked home, Thuli thought of how she was going to tell her mother everything that happened since she last saw her on Easter. But as brave and able to hide feelings as she was, she just smiled and carried a conversation with her mother until they got home. Everyone in the family was happy to see her and Thuli dished up for everyone as they had roasted chicken with gravy and soft pap.
After lunch, she went to her room and called her best friend, Sesethu, and told her everything that had happened. Sesethu felt sorry for her friend and offered to come visit but Thuli quickly brushed off that idea, saying that her family needed time with her mom and to catch up. After that call, she called Sandile and asked him to meet with her the following day after church at McDonald’s. At first, he was resistant but wanted to hear what she had to say.
Thuli prepared her outfit for the next day when she stumbled upon Lungile, her older sister, who had crossed her hands and was standing at the door of their room. Thuli looked as if she was caught stealing sugar!
Tell us: What could be this big secret that Thuli is hiding from everyone?