Leseli was a bright girl at her teens. She was thin and taller than most of her peers, she had a dark brown fair skin, resembling her father's complexion. She had no friends because she was used to being on her own. She was a brilliant and playful girl back home with her aunt and brothers. This was the only place she could be herself.
Thabiso, her eldest cousin was a handsome boy who was the most wanted man in his school and town. He often teased his sister:
"...little sis, I don't know why you had to look so thin. Look at your brother, I'm the closest thing to a president in our town. not because of dad or mum....But....."
"Hey shut up will you!! you brag too much but you are afraid of girls" hissed his second brother Mafa.
"Les, let's leave these two here, they will corrupt our ears," Karabo said taking his sister by the hand and leading her outside.
This was their life. The three boys always fought for their little sister's attention. Her laughter could move the hardest of hearts and melt mountains, but she never gave that often.
She never understood anything about relationships. At seventeen and in her last year at high school, she liked to steal Mafa's phone and go through his photos. She was also a classmate with a girl who dated her cousin. One day she was given a letter by this girl and had to hand it to her brother.
out if curiosity, she bought the same envelope and ran to her room. She wanted to know what love was all about but what she found out shook her to the core. it was written:
Coca-Cola of love
no one could drink it
except you and I.
To the infinity and back, the moon and back, you are my soul mate, my husband and my children's father.
N.B: Sex without love is really a bad thing.
kisses
your beautiful queen.
Les, as she was called couldn't understand the first parts of the letter, but the one about sex scared her. She wanted to know what it meant but had no one to ask. All her brothers were very mature at the time.
She never opened her mouth about this, but decided that indeed relationships were never meant for her. The language used was too foreign and she never wanted to indulge in anything that had "sex" in its midst.
Schools closed and she had to think about going to the university, but before all that stress she couldn't wait to see her dear mother and father. She missed them a lot and had no time to visit them during that year because she was told not to. instead they would visit each time they came to the Capital which was never enough though.
Her aunt looked at her thin nephew and giggled " Les, find time for yourself, try to eat much and not stress when you arrive home." then her face turned serious "you have been a good girl. don't give my little sister a headache. remember to stay away from your relatives, they might take revenge on your parents through you again, especially because your grandfather was released earlier this year."
The little girl gave a little smile."don't worry aunty, I know what to do already. Now I have to go look for my brothers, I need to bit them farewell."
Her brothers were all in the sitting room quarelling about some television nonsense. She hugged them all and told them she was leaving. " this isn't the last time Les, besides next week we will be visiting. you know your aunty and her husband never give us any attention" Karabo said with teary eyes.
Growing up!! Leseli thought as she put her luggage in her aunt's car. She never contemplated, even in her wildest thoughts, that she would suddenly be an adult. She closed her eyes as the car left the house, this was the last time she had to think and act like a kid. next year would be different, she could ....
Bang!!!! she was shaken from her thoughts by the loudest sound, she opened her eyes startled...only to find that a delivery car had a little accident. a wardrobe came down, falling in the middle of the road, followed by a base. fortunately nothing was damaged and nobody was hurt. so Les and her aunt drove past.
She went back to her thoughts and suddenly fell asleep.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Hey Leseli, wake up! we are home already."
her aunt woke her.
The little girl opened her eyes lazily, " uhh! Phomolong village...." She said. "some things never get old. This village looks so peaceful."
"1. Matlo a matle liotloana nana." aunt said. " Touring with you is like being alone. you always drift off to dreamland, I wonder what it is that you are always eager to get back to..."
"hahahahah!! aunty... you know your little doll is still to dumb to think of anything. I just fly off like a butterfly in my meaningless dreams."
"uh, I see. anyway, there is it mother." She said rolling down the window. "Little sis!!" she shouted.
'Mabohlokoa who was at her neighbour's heard a voice and knew who it was instantly. She waved at them: " I hope you two brought some delicacies, else no one is welcome here." with that she left and headed for the house.she opened the gate. Leseli jumped off the car and hugged her mother and gave her a kiss on the cheek " uh mom!! do you ever get old? you look younger than last time."
Her mother laughed at her little girl. She looked at her bright eyes and kissed her forehead, "oh dear!!now that you are here your father won't even look at me."
"Heh you two, stop your games and come here, you can complain later."
"Oh dear sister, come here for a hug" ' Mabohlokoa said twisting her older sister's arm.
The trio entered the house laughing hysterically.
_ _ _ _ _
Francis was with his colleagues at "Khotla" when he received a call. He left without a word, all men did not even notice. They were playing moraba-raba and drinking beer. They were laughing about cows and pastures.
upon his arrival he saw his daughter, tears swelled up in his eyes, "dear God, here she is" he said to himself. "Hello girls" he said poking his head through the door.
"Am I also included in 'girls' brother-in-law?"
"Oh yes!! Remember we are agemates"
"2. Koekoe li tsoha melamu e felile"
"Uncle!!" Leseli said giving her father a hug.
"hahahahah!! 'Mabohlokoa, indeed we need a another child. She even calls me uncle"
"Come on uncle!you know you are my favourite father" Leseli laughed.
Home sweet home....
🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃
1. Sesotho saying same as "don't judge a book by its cover".
2. means "I've grown soft".