Phumi thought their argument was over, but her mom wasn’t done yet. “What planet are you living on, Sipho Mkhize? I know for a fact that by being married to you for 40 years I’m entitled to a lot more than an allowance to live on. For starters, this house would have to be sold and all our assets divided. I may be many things, but I’m not stupid.” Winnie paused and allowed her words to sink in. “I’ll phone Vusi now if you don’t believe me.”
“You’ll do no such thing. If you won’t obey me in this matter I’ll make sure you get nothing.”
“Obey you – like I’ve been doing for years? I’ve allowed you to bully and humiliate me. Do you know you’re nothing but a hypocrite? The big, know-all Sipho Mkhize who considers himself a cut above everybody else. And, for your information, your children detest you. Why do you think they rarely visit when you are here? I know for a fact that Vusi will support me in this. He has a team of lawyers working with him.”
Phumi watched at the door as Sipho Mkhize raised his hand as if to strike her mom.
“If you hit me I’m calling the police immediately.”
Her father stared at his wife long and hard. There was pure malice in his voice. “So the little woman fights back,” he sneered. “Just remember, woman, I’m bigger and stronger than you. If you don’t do as I tell you I’ll see to it that you get nothing.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” her mom challenged him. “Now I suggest you pack a suitcase and get out of here. Better still, I’ll help you.”
Winnie opened his cupboard door where all his clothes were neatly ironed and packed away. Her father was very fond of clothes. He only wore brand names and the more expensive ones at that. Before her father could say or do anything, her mom began pulling clothes out of the cupboard at random.
Phumi could not help smiling to herself at her father’s face. He stood there gaping at his wife as if she had gone mad. Well, in a way, she had. She had finally been pushed over the edge. Before he could move, her mom opened the bedroom window and began throwing handfuls of shirts, T-shirts, trousers, shirts and belts out of the window. Their bedroom faced the street and her father’s face was priceless. If Phumi hadn’t witnessed this with her own eyes she wouldn’t have believed it.
“I hope your new girlfriend can wash and iron,” Winnie laughed. “I hope she can cook too. Now, you better get moving before somebody comes along and steals all your things. I’ll gather the rest of your belongings together and you’ll find them in the driveway by seven tomorrow night.”
“You’re crazy, woman!” he yelled at her.
“Yes, I’ve been crazy to stay with you for so long. Do you know most people have laughed and mocked you behind your back for years? Even your own children make fun of you. And, besides all that, you were a bad lover. Selfish to the core because you only ever thought of yourself.”
“Well, Edna has never …” her father stopped.
Phumi was stunned by her mom’s wrath. But at the same time she was so proud of her. She was also shocked by who her father’s girlfriend was. Edna was the older sister of Lena, a girl at her school. Everyone talked about how Edna was a dropout and had had more boyfriends than you could count. She already had two babies by different fathers who her mom took care of.
***
Tell us: Would you be proud of Phumi’s mom? Why?