Jonathan parked his land rover front of the garage. He’s old home where he grew up. My old house. Myself and Elizabeth were so excited for moving in our space. It was a quiet suburban area, far away from the township at our home birth. He hopped out of his car and noticed the garden was overgrown, covered with a lot of untidy plants. He remembered when Elizabeth called asking him to find her a new gardener because she had fired the old one for not doing a good job. Totally forgotten as his mind was reeled up about the businesses.

“Mom,” Jonathan called out as the door wasn’t locked. The front room was disordered, clothes strewn all over the floor. In the kitchen food splattered all over the microwave and crumbs all over the counter. I didn’t recall my Elizabeth liked being a filth, and Jonathan recalled when he was young being scolded if he left the kitchen in a mess like that. 

“Sorry for the mess,” said Elizabeth coming out from the restroom. She was aging. The facial wrinkles and creases started to make their appearances. The hair began to become grey and salt and pepper. “My helper is on sick leave and I have no replacement for her. I don’t move enough anymore so my body gets creaky. Bloody muscles are weak and achy joint are snapping and popping. My strength had decreased. And I’m still waiting for you to find me a new gardener.”

“I’m sorry, Mom. I’ve been preoccupied I didn’t have time to look one up,” said Jonathan.

“Oh I know exactly what have been keeping you preoccupied,” said Elizabeth, and Jonathan was a little astonished.

“What? You think because I hardly use social media I don’t know what’s going on,” She continued, resentful towards the situation. “How could you be so stupid my boy?”

“Mom, I can explain everything,” said Jonathan as they sat in the front room. Nervous and unable to relax. “I didn’t realise that I was spending on the business money.”

“Yes you did!” Elizabeth was easily irritated. “I may be turning into a coffin-dodger but I’m not stupid like you. All those bloody vacations with your family around the world you were using the business money. I assumed you knew what you were doing. I ignored it because a lot of money came in every day. I’ve been watching you since you took over. You’ve made some bad decisions. Your intelligence is not like your father’s. Not like mines. Or is that Athandwe controlling you? She’s the one who’s been pulling your nose?”

“Athandwe has nothing to do with this mom. She didn’t know I was using the business money over our vacations,” Jonathan was overwhelmed but calm. “Mom, I can still save the businesses. I can get them back regenerating even more money than they ever made. All I need is just a little cash flow to save them from selling. I was really hoping you can help m-“

“You’re not getting a cent from me!” Elizabeth couldn’t control her temper. She felt like a red mist is coming over and seeing red. I had once tried to put relaxation skills on her. Practice deep-breathing exercises and to imagine a relaxing scenes, but sadly it had never worked for her. Whenever when her temper flared she’d lose control and explored. “Sell all those cars and properties you bought. Surely they’ll be enough money to help your stupidity.”

“I’d have did that already mom. But those cars had been repossessed. And to sell the properties is going take a while. I really need the money as in yesterday.”

“Your father is turning his grave for having a failure son. Get out.”

Jonathan is jolted. He did expect her to be upset, but didn’t anticipate she’d refuse to help him, especially since she loved the businesses. He was screwed, seeing stars of reality that he was going to lose his inheritance. His daughters weren’t going to have the pleasure of inheritance. A legacy to leave behind for their own children.

“Mom, please,” he pleaded.

“I said get… Out! Don’t ever come back in this house until you sort out your mess. If you don’t, I wish you’d burn alive in hell,” Elizabeth stood up from the sofa. “Now out!”

Couple of hours later, Jonathan was drowning himself in cognac in a sport bar. His vacation to his mother was damned. Other customers were watching Proteas victory over India on large television screens. Waiters serving food and pals competing over darts arcade games and pool tables. Athandwe had been trying to call him as it was getting late; he was ignoring her calls.

Realizing he was drunk. He paid his bill and walked out to the parking lot. He took a piss next to his rover. There was a shadow standing behind it.

“Get away from my car,” said Jonathan, but the Shadow wasn’t moving. He finished taking a piss, pulled up his zip and confronts the stranger.

There was no stranger. It was a shadow alone. While Jonathan was confused and drunk, the shadow stretched out the hand and he felt a grip on his neck. He was staggering as the grip squeezed his neck, until he fell on the concrete ground. Unable to remove the grip, he felt the grip heating on his skin, burning him. He tried to scream, but he was losing air. The time he was free from the deadly grip, his body was ablazing. The shadow stood there as he ran around the parking lot screaming as his skin was burning. When the customers came out from the bar, Jonathan was already a charred corpse.

The day of my son’s funeral was icey and rainy, yet family and close friends displayed an abundance attandace. Elizabeth and Athandwe showed strength of forbidding emotionalism. The children didn’t, crying over their father when the coffin was slowly dragging down to the grave. When the funeral was over, with everybody leaving, Athandwe was approached by a woman she’d never met, who was also at the funeral.

“Athandwe,” said the woman. “I’m sorry to talk to you at a time like this but you need to make sure your children stay far away from their grandmother.”

“Excuse me?” Athandwe was amplified. “Who are you?

“I’m Doris Mnguni. An old friend of the family. I thought this might never happened again but it did. I’m afraid one of your daughters might be next. Or even you,”

“What are you talking about lady?”

“There’s a demon in MaNdwandwe. If you care for your life and your children’s you need to stay far away from her.”