“I don’t understand why you are so frustrated; it’s not my problem you don’t have a job. Some of us have bills to pay, remember?” I asked him feeling annoyed by his behaviour.

It was not my fault that my husband’s employers shut down their firm and ran away with their money. Every time I came home late, he would start lecturing me. He should be looking for another job, instead annoying me with his attitude and speeches.

“Mampho, is that how you choose to talk to me? Do you know what time it is? Twelve o’clock; midnight, and you only just got home?” Derick hissed, the anger simmering in his eyes.

“Oh please, don’t give me that look, you know very well I’m doing what I’m doing for this family. You should be grateful instead of standing there and lecturing me. You are the man of this house; you should be the one to be taking care of this family, pity you failed at it.” I attacked back.

“Wow,” he replied in astonishment. “So now it’s my fault that I lost my job? Wasn’t it I, who introduced you to the owner of Pride Newspaper? Wasn’t I who bought you this fancy house you live in?”

I don’t know why he kept on reminding me of the things he did for me in the past. He might have introduced me to the owner of Pride, but I sure worked my ass to the top, and I had qualifications to back me up. And as for the so called fancy house, I didn’t see it as fancy anymore; a woman of my stature needed something more sophisticated and elegant. After all, I can afford it.

He picked up a pillow and a duvet and headed for the sitting room. He stood at the door and spoke without turning.

“It doesn’t even look like you can hear anything I’m saying anymore. I’m not sleeping in here when you are like this.”

“Sure make yourself comfortable on the couch. I’m too tired to share the bed anyway.”

He shook his head and left.

I woke up early in the morning; I had a meeting with the board and later with my accountant. I wasn’t going to get a chance to see the twins before I left, they had Maria, our maid, to take care of them anyway. They had to understand that mommy was very busy and there was nothing she could do about it.

I took a quick bath, dressed up and prepared for work. I quickly rushed to the kitchen to grab an apple; I had no time for breakfast, the meeting was at seven thirty and it was already seven o’clock. Derick appeared in the kitchen while I washed the apple. Clearly he had something to say, judging by the look in his eyes.

“I really don’t have time for your guilt trips this morning. I have a very important meeting I have to rush to, a meeting I can’t miss.” I said to him, biting my apple and picking up my laptop bag and hand bag on the kitchen table.

He took a step towards to me. I could sense anger in him. He grabbed my wrist.

“You are not going anywhere. Not until you go to the twins’ room and promise them you will come back early and celebrate their big day with them.”

I laughed as I removed my hand from his clutches.

I will create time for my children, when it suits me. I don’t have to be forced to promise them anything. What is this big day you are talking about anyway? Is one of the twins getting married?” I said between laughter and annoyance.

“Fine, be like that, I’m done trying to knock sense in your head. Do as you please, after all you are the man of this house,” he responded with tears in his eyes.

“Honestly, I’d like to stay and listen to your whining. But I really have to go. Kiss the twins for me, would you?” I said grabbing my things and heading towards the door.

***

Tell us: In this day and age, is a manhood defined by status; a job and money? What does it mean to you?