Everyone was in high spirits and the Majola house was buzzing with excitement. This was the day everyone had been waiting for. Themba and Lerato’s lobola negotiations had been concluded and their ‘engagement’ party was in full swing.

Singing started from somewhere in the yard. Baba couldn’t see who it was amongst all the friends and relatives, it looked like the whole neighbourhood was gathered to wish Themba and Lerato well and join in the festivities. There was laughter, screams from delighted children, and women talking around the big black pots that sat over the fire.

Baba sat with Bra Mike and Ma Ruby against the wall in the shade watching the party unfold.

“I can’t believe Themba is getting married!” Ma Ruby said as they watched Themba sitting with his friends enjoying their beers.

Themba had been a nervous wreck for the weeks leading up to the lobola negotiations. He had worried mostly about money, fretting that he had not saved up enough. Lerato’s family were educated and so was their daughter, and they had requested a high bride price.

“I always knew he would do it,” Bra Mike grinned, picking up a beer from a crate and trying to pop the bottle top open with his teeth.

Ma Ruby winced as she watched him struggle. Maybe when he was younger he was able to show off with this move, but not now. His teeth were not up to the task.

“A man needs to play the field before he finds the one, just like I did,” Bra Mike said, accepting a bottle opener from Ma Ruby and taking a gulp of the now warm beer.

“Oh is that what you were doing, Mike? Playing the field?” asked Ma Ruby.

“Of course not my Sugar Plum! I’ve found my one and only! Thambo lam’ leKentucky – my Kentucky bone,” Bra Mike laughed.

“Haai, suka wena!” Ma Ruby pushed him away playfully. “You’re a mess, nothing like Themba.”

“The boy is now a man. He’s found himself a good girl,” Bra Mike took another gulp of his beer. “I always say a man has simple needs: to work hard, to have a woman who loves him, and a hot plate of food every night.” He winked at Ma Ruby but she playfully swatted him on the head, making him choke on his beer.

Baba laughed.

It was true though, Themba had grown. He was no longer the young boy who was afraid of his own shadow growing up. And now he had Lerato, who was helping him become an even better man. She took care of him, loved him, and always tried to get him to do the responsible thing. She was a good match for him. How Baba wished his Grace were there to see all this; she would have been so proud too.

“Your children are happy, Majola,” Ma Ruby said. She could see the look on Baba’s face and she knew he must be thinking about Grace. “You and Grace have done a wonder raising them. Now you can rest and enjoy retirement,” Ma Ruby added as she gathered the empty bottles from the ground.

“Retirement! So you’re serious about it bafo (brother)?” Bra Mike asked. “You aren’t going to go back to work?”

“Yebo, bafo. That job at the mall was very tiring. I’m too old to be working now. Let the young men do it, I’m happy to be home with my children and nomzukulu (grandchildren).”

“I agree. A man shouldn’t be running around like you were,” said Bra Mike. “Enjoy your retirement, although on a government pension the beers run out quickly! I don’t know how we are meant to get by! That’s why I have my little business on the side.”

“I thought you had given up gambling?” Ma Ruby said sternly.

“Oh Ruby, it’s a wedding, let’s not fight today.” Bra Mike went for a kiss but Ma Ruby ducked and he almost fell over the crate of beers he was sitting on. She took the empties and went into the house.

Baba looked around him. Maybe if things had been different when he was younger, he would have been able to put some money aside for retirement. He sighed as he thought of how Grace and he had dreamed about all the things they would do together when they stopped working.

He looked across the yard to see his eldest daughter, Samke, weaving between the people to reach him. He was proud of her too. From partying all the time and leaving baby Khwezi for the family to look after, she was now running a hair and beauty salon with Josiah and it was starting to make a small profit. But she needed to focus on the future. Samke still only thought about the now. Things could change in an instant in life, Baba knew that. Samke needed to be prepared. Ma Ruby had tried to tell Samke that she should at least get life cover, but Samke had been too busy telling Ma Ruby about the latest hair product she was using to listen.

“Sanibonani,” Samke put her hand on Baba’s shoulder as she greeted him. “Why so serious?”

Baba smiled and gave Samke a hug.

“Yebo, Samke. Kanti, where do you come from?” Bra Mike asked.

“I was finishing up at the salon,” she said looking around.

“But it’s your brother’s party, Samke. Why are you still working?”

“Hau, malume, a friend came in desperate. She has a date tonight. I couldn’t say no.”

“Oh ngani yami, you shouldn’t work too much. You should find yourself a rich man who can take care of you and Khwezi,” Bra Mike offered.

“Cha, cha, cha, no malume! I don’t need a man to take care of me. I’ve got my own business.”

“Ha! And is that business going to keep you warm every night?”

“Bra Mike!” Baba warned him.

Mike was fun and Baba enjoyed his company, some of the time. But sometimes he just didn’t know when to stop talking.

“Awu, Jola. I’m only saying that Samke needs to spend time with her son, especially since he doesn’t have a father,” he mumbled the last bit and stuck a bottle in his mouth. But the beer had run out.

“Don’t worry, malume, I’m hiring extra hands to help me out. And I’ll be able to spend more time with Khwezi,” Samke said. “Baba you won’t have to take Khwezi to crèche all the time. You can start to really enjoy your retirement.”

“I don’t mind. I enjoy spending time with Khwezi. He’s a really smart boy.”

“Ngiyabonga, Baba,” Samke gave her dad a kiss on the forehead.

“My girl. Can you bring me another beer toe?” Bra Mike asked. “And a cushion, yhooo.” He got up and rubbed his bum, giving it some relief from sitting on the crate.

Samke smiled and walked inside the house as Ma Ruby returned with a plate of meat.

“Bamba Jola, here you go,” she handed the plate to Baba, but Bra Mike reached for it first and started eating.

“Is it Khwezi you enjoy spending time with,” Ma Ruby teased Baba, “or is it a beautiful widow who owns the crèche?”

“He wena Jola! I knew it!” said Bra Mike with his mouth full.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Baba reached for a piece of meat, hiding the grin that was spreading on his face at the mention of Stella.

“You and Stella. I’ve seen how you two chat for long. And do you need to put on all that cologne when you go there?” Ma Ruby teased.

“Just because I’m retired doesn’t mean I shouldn’t bath and look nice,” said Baba. “I can’t be dating anyone right now.”

“Uh-huh,” Ma Ruby got up and returned to the house. She found Lerato confined in one of the bedrooms with the women. They were giving her advice on marriage and how to keep a man happy. They also talked about how quickly Lerato should have a baby.

Ma Ruby didn’t want to stay, she didn’t want to get into any arguments with them. As much as she was respected in the community, some women were still suspicious of her because she had never married and they feared she would take their men. But Ma Ruby didn’t pay them any attention. She knew what was important to her and minded her own business. She also knew that Lerato was strong and would fight for what she wanted in life and would not be bullied.

Ma Ruby smiled as she thought of the party they had thrown when Lerato had graduated with her BCom from Unisa. She was a woman after Ma Ruby’s heart. Smart at business and ambitious. Lerato had left the bank to climb the ladder and had taken a job with a small start-up finance company. Ma Ruby could see Lerato as a CEO one day. But none of these women would understand that.

“All we’re saying, Lerato, is be careful. There are women out there who would kill to have a man like Themba,” the women warned her.

“And men aren’t designed to raise babies. How will you build a family when you’re spending all your hours at work?”

“Lerato, don’t let this education fool you. Don’t be too educated to take care of your man.”

Lerato was tired of hearing their stories. Had they never dreamt of anything but to be wives? She needed some air and went outside, leaving the women to gossip.

At least her sisters-in-law understood her. Samke and Busi knew what it was like to go after the things you wanted in life. She knew she would have the support she needed from them.

Lerato looked around and saw Samke talking to Baba. But where was Busi? Just as Lerato started to search the party for Busi, she saw her sister-in-law rush into the yard still in her work clothes.

Lerato smiled to herself – nothing would stop the Majola women, she thought. Then she felt the arms of her fiancé around her. She leant back as he whispered something in her ear and she smiled.