“You know, you should wear dresses more often,” Mom said to me on the morning of her wedding, as if nothing had happened. “You look absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for making this day special for me, Masego.”

I had never seen my Mom so emotional. She also looked stunning, in her off-white lace dress. She wore a matching hat and very high heels.

Everywhere I went people were remarking on how good she looked.

“You look lovely too by the way,” my cousin Beki said to me. “Why do you always hide behind those old jeans and dark T-shirts you wear?”

“Mind your own business,” I snapped and pinched him on the arm.

“Ouch! That hurts,” he glowered at me.

I hurled insults at him and stalked off.

“My, you’re as pretty as a picture,” Aunty Mavis said, kissing me on the cheek. “You’re turning into quite a beauty, Masego.”

“Doesn’t she look just like her mother?” Uncle Vuyo beamed down at me. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

I was sure there was a conspiracy going on. My mother and Sizwe had put the whole family up to this. Every time I looked around people kept coming up to me and complimenting me on how I looked.

Everybody seemed to be having a good time. Well at least I thought so. My Mom thought otherwise.

“I think this party needs livening up a bit,” she winked at me, when I went to check on her.

Before I could ask her what she intended to do she jumped up on a table and began to sing in her high, soprano voice. She sang ‘I will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston and everybody joined in.

I wanted to crawl under the table and hide. I was so embarrassed. Everybody else was singing along and clapping hands.

“Good on you, Mildred!” the guests were shouting at the top of their voices.

Then just as I thought the worst was over, Mom jumped down from the table and insisted everyone join in a conga line – that she, of course, led.

“Can’t you please stop her?” I asked, cornering Sizwe as he was being conga-ed around the dance floor.

“Nonsense, Masego,” he smiled gently at me. “Your Mom knows how to enjoy herself – thank goodness. The world would be a boring place without her.”

With that he walked up to Mom and took her in his arms for the waltz the band was now playing.

***

Tell us: Do you like Masego’s mother?