Together Again

Teboho removes the empty bowl of soup and places it on the bedside table. He helps his mother to sit up with her back supported by the prettily covered headboard.

“How grown up he looks”, thinks Kelebogile proudly, letting herself lean into him as he gently lifts her. “And his body – no longer so thin but taller, much taller! Muscles, too, and that way his chin seems so determined. No-one messes with him, I’m sure.”

She smiles inwardly. Although she’s aware that there may be other people around, all she sees is her son in the dimly lit room.

“Tell me, Teboho, how is it that I’m home?” she repeats.

Teboho sits himself on her blue blanket, his legs bent and his body towards her. “Remember you told me about Mohau, the stone you gave him? So at school I looked him up on Facebook.” He stops as his mother frowns. “You know, on the internet. I found lots of people called Mohau. You wanted me to look for a mechanic, didn’t you?”

Kelebogile nods. “Yes, I remember, and you thought he might have changed his job?”

“So I downloaded all the photos. What a trip that was – my head buzzing with the thought – is he my dad? Oh no! What about him? So I picked two men and I asked to be their friend on Facebook.”

My clever boy, she thinks, wanting to grab him and kiss him. “How did you feel? Did they respond?”

“Hectic, Ma! Like, who is this dude? I felt so conflicted. Why didn’t he try to find you? Did he even know you were pregnant? Maybe if I meet him he won’t like me? Or I won’t like him?”

“And then…?” she grabs his hand and holds it tightly.

“I found his garage! He was the owner of a string of garages – plus one in Lesotho. I was so tense I nearly bit my lip off! You should’ve seen us – when we met. Oh my God! He looks just like me, Ma! Like it was so, you know, weird. Just us too standing there. Staring at each other. I wanted to run away but my feet were like stuck. Then – ha ke tsebe – but the next second he had his arms around me and he was shaking me and – he was crying Ma! A grown man! He didn’t know he had a son.”

“Mohau,” she whispers, “you found him.”

“But you didn’t tell me you weren’t Pontso. He kept talking about Kelebogile!”

“I was afraid someone would find me and send me back to that horrible man! I’ve been two women – Kelebogile and Pontso.” Leaning forward, she plants a delicate kiss on his forehead. “Ke a le boha! Thank you!”

“It’s okay, it’s okay Ma.” He can feel himself blush. “Oh, and now I’ve got an ID and everything and I can go dance overseas! And also, yes, you were really sick, like almost gone Ma! We rushed to hospital and then Mohau said we had to bring you back to Lesotho once the doctors had given permission for you to travel.” He stops. “Nkekebe ka kgona ho mmitsa Ntate hajwale – I didn’t know if I loved or hated him. Having a father is unreal. For now he’s just Mohau! Anyway, we got permission for me to leave school for a few weeks and bring you back.”

He stops, his eyes anxious, as though she might leave and he’s forgotten something. They sit together saying nothing.

“And Mokgadimetso?” she asks quietly.

“She passed, Ma.”

He waits. “She wrote us a letter.”

She sits up in bed.

“Mme, you will get tired.”

“I think I remember the letter – tell me again?” She sighs as she lies back down.

“So, like, she wrote to your parents and told them what happened to you that night.” He clears his throat, continuing fast. “She said she’d helped you and it all went wrong and about Mohau and the cellphone and, guess what? She’s left me her house! Yes! And your parents…wait, here I’ve got the letter…where is it now?” He rises.

His mother stops him.

“Just stay here Teboho, please.” She reaches out and grasps his wrist then catches her breath. “My bracelet – on your wrist?” Tears well up behind her eyes and pathway down her cheeks.

“Yes Mme, it’s always on me now.” He sits, placing his hand over hers. “I must tell you – your parents were sad and sorry about what they did. But your Mom… Ssh! Please listen! You understood when Kedibone and I broke up. I acted like a crazy guy and got myself into trouble but you helped me when I was in pieces. Kedibone and I are together!”

Kelebogile sniffs, feeling the teardrops curling down her neck. She smiles. Teboho flicks a tissue out of the box on the table and hands it to her.

“Would you like to sit up?”

“Please, my son.”

Putting his arms around her, he lifts her body to a sitting position. Kelebogile blows her nose, wipes her eyes and drops the tissue in the waste-paper basket.

“And now my only child,” with a note of desperation in her voice, “what are you going to do when I’m gone?”

“He’ll be with me, his father,” a deep male voice answers.

“Gotta go!” Teboho jumps up and moves away.

“Mohau?”

Mohau kisses Kelebogile on her cheek. “Hare bua,” he whispers.

And thirty years of longing overwhelm her. She’s back at the river, making love, her warm eyes smiling lazily up at him. She hears herself say, “What if something goes wrong?”

“O a tseba ke a o rata – you know I love you, my Kelebogile.”

The words shower her with stings like a swarm of bees. It hurts! The lonely nights, dark dreams, different men flash by on a movie screen. How could he love her now? After all? Tainted, I’m tainted, she thinks, but he’s here, he’s here! Yes, I see his stone around his neck. He hasn’t changed, oh but he’s changed so much! I can’t breathe! Dear God, Yes, Ke nahana hore hona le Modimo! Just keep me alive for a few minutes more so that we can talk!’

***

Tell us what you think: What will Mohau tell Kelebogile? Will she live or die? What will happen to Teboho and Kedibone?