"How was your trip?"I ask my dad who decides to show up early on a monday whoof,the drama that is about to unfold
"It was okay but where is your mom?"He asks while busy looking around for his precious pearl
"She went out with Stacy,"i say ready to explain the demoralising lady's behaviour
"And what about you?"He asks
"She said i should cook nsima,"I say while desperately wanting to smirk
"Why would she do that?"He asks me
"I don't know,"i answer
"And they went there yesterday?"He asks me,"and left you all alone in this house?"
"Yes and uhm i am kinda running late for school,"i tell him
"Okay where is your aunt?"He asks
"She was actually fired,"i say
"Why?"He asks
"I have no complete or incomplete idea,"i lie knowing fully well that it was for me to suffer
"What kind of woman is she?"He murmers to himself
"I will be late for school dad since i was told to walk to school,"i say while beamingly and transparently shining a very huge smile on this my pimpled face
"Tell the driver to drop you off,"he says
"Okay love you dad,"i say
"Me more,"he says
Knock!Knock!And boom!I wake up from what seemed to be a reality,what an amazing dream that was.
"Wake up you lazy swine,"she is still here and she has arisen from the land of the wicked
"I am tired,can't Stacy work?"I say while turning to the other side only for her to be facing my back
Swoosh!What brutality!She has poured cold water on me as if i am a dying fish that needed water instantly and she pours it with no hesitation.
"You don't speak to me like that and there is no one to do the chores here so you better wake up from that slumber,"she says such to my face so cruely and then she decides to aim at the door ready for a proud take off,"oh and i should never hear you tell me on how i can raise my daughter,you have no authority or audacity for such an action,"she turns her head at an angle of 180 degrees just to tell me.
Tears run down my soft cheeks as i recall how my dad's arrogance caused all of this. And then i remember the words of my mother,"No matter what,work hard," the no matter what i guess also includes this,i believe that she knew that this time would eventually come and she was preparing me for the worst,how i miss my mother.And to even think of it,her vocabulary has changed so now it is even going to get worse than before.
"Princess i am back home,"dad shouts as he closes the door behind him
"Babe you're back?"She shouts as she stands up from the chair that she was comfortably lounging on
"Yes i am,"he says as he comfortably welcomes her into his arms
"How is Dali doing?"He asks while he is basking in warmth in her arms
"Ehhh have you even forgotten about Stacy?"She asks as she now finds her way out of his arms,"i mean she seems to be missing in your sentence."
"Oh yeah and her too,"he says without any tone of care in his words
"Dalitso,i am back home,"he shouts again
I ran downstairs as i have finished cleaning her majesty's bedroom to hug my caring and proud father.
"Dad!"I shout as now tears,without notice nor permission,start to flood my cheeks
"Princess,"he says as he hugs me
She stands there watching but i can sense jelousy all over her.
"Why are you crying?"He asks me looking worried as he now looks at my face
"I miss mom,"i say while now my voice is fading and being swallowed deeper by grief as my throat starts to sour
"Is she dead?"He seriously asks while proving a point
"No,"i answer starting to get his point but still letting it out
"Then why are you crying?"He asks,"i told you about that woman and you still want to continue with that?"He asks
"I want to see her,"i say
"I will see what i will do but don't you dare cry again as if you are a little baby,"he says while he wipes my tears away
"You treat this child like a baby,"she finally says
"You don't pay anything in this house,tell me that when you start paying the bills,"he says while looking at her and then leaves.
I smile,almost laugh,but she could sense it and she immediately stared me.
"I will go and preapre breakfast,excuse me,"I say to leave the wounded beast alone hahaha
"Have you prepared breakfast yet?"He asks as he is coming downstairs,"and where is aunt i don't see her around?"
"She fired her and breakfast is already prepared,"i say while immensely smiling
"why is that?"He asks as he respectfully takes his seat and folds his sleeves
"I don't know but i am going to be late for school,i have to take my leave,"i say while giving him a kiss on the cheek
"Okay tell the driver to be fast on it,"he says
"I sure will,"i say as i beamingly and enlargingly produce a radiant smile.
"Desho the exams are just next week and you have already started to skip the morning classes,what up?
"Nothing it's just a small issue nothing serious,"i say
"Are you ready for the exams?"She asks
"Yep i guess so but i should be the one to ask you that since you have been busy collecting all the latest and hottest gist,"i say while now looking at her seriously
"Iiiiii desho i have you by my side and besides one week is enough for me to recover you know,"she says confidently but with a tone of doubt
"Recover from a self-inflicted disease that is,"i say
"Mmmmmm nanu a desho must you mock me like that?"She asks now sound offended
"Sorry,i will be revising agriculture pa lunch,wanna join?"I ask now trying to be supportive
"Ofcourse,"she says while smiling and then taking her sea
I have reached home only to hear the voice that has shattered my inner pride.....she is still here!I don't want to it sound like i am being disrespectful but i wonder how my dad could have fallen for her tricks and lies so stupidly idiotic.....i thought i was done with her but instead i have now realised that i am the one who is done for.
"Welcome,"she says with such a beautiful fake smile as she looks towards my way.
"Thanks,"i say while giving back a very fake smile
"I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to Dalitso because of my despicable treatment,"she says while making a very'i am truly sorry'face
These words from such a very unpredictable person leaves my sppon stranded in mid-air failing to drop the goods it is carrying because the carrier of this spoon is left dumbfounded.What made her say these words because these very same words are like a total contradiction to what she would really like to say to me right now.
".....,"i just smile back failing to contemplate what the next move of this woman may actually be
"Won't you say something back?"Dad asks me while looking so proud of his unmarried wife
"You are forgiven,"i tell her while looking at her plate but failing to smile as acting in this kind of situation would only make it worse for me
"Dalitso,"dad now seems to start something
"Yes dad,i answer back while looking at him in the eyes
"I was able to track your mom down and it turns out she is still in town but not this part of town,"he says.
"Where exactly is she if i may ask?"I curiously ask
"I don't know but what i am wondering is why you are so curious to know i mean like what are you going to gain from her?What does she have to offer?She is poor and helpless and she can't even afford your transport fare let alone your fees,she is very useless and you are going to gain nothing from her haven't you seen it? She is helpless and she will offer you nothing,"he proudly says,"you have a new mom now,one that can teach you values respectfully that are good but you are always busy worried about a woman that simply can't do anything valuable in your life,she can't even leave a mark in your life."
As i am sitting down digesting all of this mockery,tears run down my soft chicks like a waterfall,i am swallowed by pity,sadness has completly taken over my space,anger is boiling in my veins,definite sadness and sorrow has completely devoured me in it's merciless stomach.
Emptiness is what i feel inside and there is nothing i can do which is only accelerating the pain and guilt in my heart...i feel like an arrow has been released at me and it has just hit the real target...my heart is aching and i feel like it has shattered into pieces that can not be put back together.
How can he speak so ill mannered of the one that was with him through thick and thin?How can he forget all that support that he got when he went through turmoils and uncontrollable storms in his life?Why has he forgotten who stood beside him when he was as poor as a church rat with nowhere to run to for help in his youth and his young-sadult days?Where has he gotten this confidence from to mock the only support that he had?Why is he so arrogant and so full of him,slef when he very well knows that not always shall the wise earn a living?Riches fade but it has completely evacuated his mind...i am fully sad and confused and angry but what can i do?I am also helpless,i can't say i would like to go and live with my mom because i need his financial assistance.I can't rebell against him because i need his financial support through this crucial time.I can't bite the hands that are feeding me and that will definitely be feeding me for some time.
I feel so helpless and so guilty that i can't even help ,my mom let alone give her a hug because i know it would only fuel my dad's nonsensicle anger that he has at the moment.
With a sour throat and fading hope,i decide to only excuse myself.
"If you may excuse me,"i say while about to stand on my shaking feet.
"Why are you crying for that woman Dali?"He asks as he hands me his handkerchief,"wipe your tears my princess i am her for you."
"I am your mother as well you can come to me whenever ypou are in trouble,"she says while showing of her smile full of daggers
"Excuse me,"i say.How i wish i would just tell her to her face how much she resembles a witch to me but no i have to respect my dad.
"She is right,she is her for you as much as i am here for you my princess,"he says while beaming a smile to me.