Grandpa held the boy’s warm cheeks and gave him a smile that smelled of weed. The boy was used to it, though. “I think it’s time I taught you how it’s done,” grandpa said.

Mfundo still looked down and frowned.

“Don’t worry. Fear is common, even for grown men. I was once young like you,” mkhulu said.

From then on he taught the boy how to woo girls. The shine on Mfundo’s eyes and smile meant grandpa was doing a good job, the boy is learning. And if things go alright, he won’t grow up to become a weak man like Ntsika, grandpa’s one and only son.

Of course grandpa was proud when Ntsika finally obtained his medical degree but for the old man it wasn’t enough. A fancy qualification doesn’t make a man.

Ntsika was so unlike him, even grandpa doubted if Ntsika was his son. Ntsika was too weak; women took advantage of him throughout the years and that’s what grandpa detested. Whereas he in his younger days was a casanova who was worshipped by women, his very own son would be played by them. Grandpa could see that Nambitha was the one who wore the pants in the house; wore them and gave orders while Ntsika only worked and listened. How is it that everything in this house is decided by her? Didn’t Ntsika have his own opinions to voice?

Grandpa could not bear it, but when he checked Mfundo’s book one day–checking to see if the boy really did his homework– he noticed something else in the pages. Drawn hearts around the written name Mampho. That’s when the old man saw to it, the opportunity of correcting the mistakes he did with Ntsika, the mistakes of not offering him proper guidance. So grandpa would make up for that by mouldering little Mfundo into becoming the solid Mooi man he, grandpa was, the solid Mooi man Ntsika failed to be. Or else Mfundo will marry one day and only play the husband role in the bedroom. So the basics needed to be covered.

Tell us: Is it possible for a wife to control the husband in their household?