From the two day festivity and all the drama, we return back home on a Sunday
afternoon after we get to Harare late. Having had not cooked, we pass by town to get
some takeaways.
When we get home, we eat, I change the baby, change the linen in my room, and
make sure that Simangaliso's uniforms are ironed, his shoes are polished and all his
books are packed into his bags. The boy has too many things to be packed. He has
instruments to be packed, swimming costumes, sports kits and a hell lot of other
uniforms that he uses during his extra-curricular activities. By the time I finally go
to sleep, I am exhausted that even holding a novel in my hands for a reading session
is a mammoth task.
I wake up at three in the morning to the sound of the crying baby. I attend to her
needs, sing lullabies to her until she finally falls asleep. I then go down to my study
to read. I am engulfed in the world of crime and mystery for almost two hours, until
the five o'clock alarm rings. I rush to my bedroom, brush my teeth, fix my hair,
change into my track suit, take my headphones and I embark on a journey of
exercise.
As my feet constantly hit the tarred road, increasing speed with each step, I am
thinking about how best I can occupy myself during the next three months. I search
my brain for answers but there is absolutely nothing fun and money-generating that
I can come up with.
I get home at five thirty and I take a shower, change into a comfortable dress, wake
up Simangaliso and Cameroon to start bathing. As the boys are still bathing, I
prepare breakfast and by the time they finish running around the house, getting
their things together, I have already finished cooking. The boys eat up and finally
they leave. Cameroon is the one driving Simangaliso to school because I really don't
see the reason why I should continue moving about the whole city, yet I have
absolutely no business in town.
I clean the house, bake some confectioneries and after everything is done, I settle
down to read my novel whilst I drink some tea, the baby sleeping peacefully.
Basically, these days I have become a house wife. Luckily I call my own shots. As I
am still sitting, engulfed in a world of crime, my cell phone rings, disturbing my
concentration. I pick it up in absolute annoyance, not even looking at the caller I.D.
"Hello."
"Red, hie. It's been long." The head pastor's wife says from the other end of the line.
She is sounding over the moon. I wonder what trial she has for me on the table this
time.
"Good afternoon." I respond, rolling my eyes in annoyance.
"What are we fighting over?" she questions.
"We are not fighting over anything. It's just that I have a few challenges that need to
be attended to."
"Don't you think they would be carried better if you shared with other people? You
know I am always here to listen, advice and help out wherever I can." She says.
"Well, the problems are not that big." I reassure.
"Red, why does its sound as if you are hiding something from me?"
"I am not hiding anything from you. Well not really. The thing is, I have a new born
baby who has just been taken out of the house, so I don't think it's a good idea to be
moving around as yet."
"Congratulations on the baby. What gender is the baby" she says.
"It's a girl."
"Well, congratulations. I will drop by to see her. Isn't it it's still the same address?"
"Yeah, it's still the same address." I say.
"So I will drop by tomorrow in the afternoon and maybe that's when we can get the
chance to talk about certain things." The head pastor's wife says, sounding very glad
to get the chance to come to my place.
"Well, please have a good day. See you tomorrow." I say to her after that I hang up.
Great! Now these church people are even following me to the door step of my home.
Let's hope that whatever they came for is really valid and worth coming to my house.
After the phone call, I return back to my reading. As I am still reading, my cell phone
rings yet again.
"Hello."
"And when was I going to know?" a feminine voice questions.
"To know about what in particular?"
"About the existence of the baby. You didn't even tell me you were pregnant. I had to
see all this from your posts on social media."
"I am very sorry. It's just that it just slipped my mind but I am coming home for
Christmas this year, so you will get to see her." I say to the caller on the other end.
"And so, who is the lucky guy?"
"It's still a bit complicated but he is around. Not literally around as in me staying
with him, no. but he sure is around."
"Is he still the same guy with Simangaliso's father?" the caller questions.
"Yes."
"Since I was not told about the baby, I will pretend as if I know nothing. The main
reason I called was to tell you that I am in Harare. I got a job in the city and I have
already started." Shamiso says.
"Well, congratulations. I was really wondering how long you hoped to stay in the rural
areas. So where are you staying so that I could drop by and see you?"
"I got some accommodation at the council flats that are near town but I really don't
intend on staying here for a very long time. The place is noisy and unbearable. I really
regret leaving the rural areas." Shamiso says, causing me to laugh.
"Why then don't you come and stay with me? Its rent free and quiet. All you have to
do is to present yourself and your belongings. This will give us time to talk about a
hell lot of other things that women talk about." I propose.
"And thence we can easily bore easily, fight and rapture our golden relationship. No!
I prefer to keep my distance but I promise to be a constant visitor, that's if I am free."
She responds.
"You're such a party popper!" I protest.
"And a very realistic woman too." She reasons.
"So when are you dropping by to see the baby?"
"Oh, you have a baby? What gender is the baby?" Shamiso asks in dramatic sarcasm.
"Yes, Shamiso, I do have a new born baby. Well not totally new born because I gave
birth to her about a month back. It's a girl and her name is Astrid." I say as I play
along to her game.
"Astrid? What type of name is that? Why didn't you give her a nice indigenous name
like you did with my main man?" She questions in absolute amusement.
"That name was not my idea. I gave up my naming rights to Arnold and Miriam.
Arnold came up with the name Astrid and Miriam came up with the name Amari."
"Amari! Eeeh! The names you give your children! The name Amari is very closely
related to the name Ammara. You guys should have just named her after the singer
Ammara Brown."
"Well, unfortunately, I gave up my naming rights, so I have absolutely no say
whatsoever."
"Here is my two cents, change the name Amari to Ammara. I know you haven't gotten
a birth certificate yet." Shamiso says.
"Do you want to get me killed by Miriam? We just reconciled and me letting her name
the baby, shows that our relationship has been revived." I say to Shamiso.
"In the very first place, why the hell where the two of you fighting? I have been
meaning to ask but it always slips my mind."
"Well, that's a very long story that dates back to when we were sixteen."
"That one needs me to visit. We will talk about this when I come to visit the baby.
Right now I have to prepare for work. I have taken the night duty" Shamiso says.
"Well then, have a good day and don't sleep at work and end up getting fired. There
is still one hella life to be lived in Harare."
"I really regret ever praying for a job in Harare. Everything in this town is just too
fast and there is one hell of a population. If all goes well, I am transferring to
Bulawayo, where everything is nice'n easy."
"Now that's laziness speaking through you. Anyway, please have a good day and
please do visit. I am really looking forward to your visit."
"I will surely visit. Now have yourself a good one too. Love you lots." She says and
she hangs up. The joy that I feel whenever I speak to Shamiso is indescribable. You'd
swear that we are sisters, yet in actual sense we are just cousins.
The day goes by pretty well with everything predictable and very mundane. It sure is
boring to sit at home and nurse children. You peruse through the pages of books
until you get tired of reading, listen to music, change channels like an indecisive little
child and still there is absolutely nothing that can keep your mind busy enough to
ward off the boredom.
Today, I am expecting the head pastor's wife over to come and discuss whatever she
says she wants to discuss with me. So I wake up early in the morning and I go
through the usual daily routines, when the boys are gone, I get down to baking. I
bake a few confectioneries and after that I get down to cleaning. After everything is
set and done, I rush upstairs to shower and change. In no time, there is some hooting
at the gate. It's most probably the head pastor's wife announcing her arrival, so I
open the gate for her and I wait for her by the door.
"Good day." I say to her as she approaches me, dressed in a two piece suit, stockings
and a fancy hat. She is carrying her hand bag and a small gift bag.
"Red, how are you? You know it's been very long. You look amazing."
"Thank you. Please do come in." I say as I gesture her to the interior of the house.
"You have a nice place here. Convenient and very homely."
"Thank you. Well, have a seat whilst I prepare some tea." I say to her and I disappear
to the kitchen to get the tea set that I had already set and also some water to wash
hands and after that I set to the task of serving her the tea.
"So, how have things been at the church? It's been long since I visited. I really had a
lot in my plate. Most of the times I was out of town." I say
"Well, things have been stable with the other side of the church but not with the
women's club. See, Ruth is a joyous and very willing woman but from my evaluation,
she is failing to meet the expected standards. Of course, she can counsel and advise
the younger girls but she is failing to get the projects to take off. And that's a major
set-back to the goals of the women's club." The head pastor's wife points out.
"Connecting the dots, I would conclude that I am needed as soon as possible to come
and assist with the projects?" I question.
"Yes. Well sort off, that's if you still want to be part of the women's club. One thing
for sure, I don't want it to be a forced decision but more of a choice. That way, one
can work whole heartedly and the board might confidently question every poor
decision taken by the individual." She says.
"Well, I don't have a problem with starting the projects. However what if, Ruth feels
like she is entitled to control both wings of the female youth project? I mean, one
thing for sure, I have been away for far too long." I point out.
"Red, she might feel that way but rest assured, her feelings won't produce results
and they most definitely won't help the youths in anyway. And besides, when I
allocated her the post to control the female youth project, it wasn't because she was
worth it or she was my first preference, no. it was all because she was with you and
singling you out would have seemed unfair. I wanted you take the post and control
both wings of the female youth."
"Okay…. So when can I start? Because one thing for sure these projects seem like
something that should have taken off as of yesterday."
"Yeah. They really are. I will give you the women's club's budget that best allows you
to spread your wings and venture into as many income-generating projects as
possible. I will also accord you the keys to the piece of land that the church bought
for the projects. The land is not that far from the church and it has everything,
ranging from the chicken runs, boreholes and other things that might be needed for
projects. However, the place has been laying dormant for a very long time so I will
get some youths to take care of the clearing and I will look into getting the rusty and
not-so-in-good-condition things fixed or repaired."
"Okay. I guess, I will submit the projects to you this Saturday when I come for the
women's club meeting."
"It's okay with me. I am really glad that you agreed to work with the church in all
this. I have been praying all week that God speaks to you about this because I really
need you in that project." The head pastor's wife says after a long heavy sigh. There
is a brief silence between the two of us as we drink our tea.
"Oh, I had almost forgotten. Brought you a small present for the little mistress." The
head pastor says as she hands me the small gift bag.
"Thank you very much, but you didn't have to trouble yourself." I reassure her.
"Don't be silly. It's very, very rude in African custom for one to come empty handed
when they come to see a new born baby. That's how I was raised." She says, causing
me to smile. So she adheres to the indigenous customs. I open the gift bag and inside
is a pink woolen jump suit, one woolen teddy bear, four woolen jerseys that have
animal print on them. The jerseys have hoodies with animal ears. And then lastly,
there are four pairs of woolen socks, all different colors and a large woolen blanket.
"Thank you so much for the gift. The woolen things are wonderful but look very
expensive. I mean, this looks handmade and with that strong type of wool. I am sure
these things must have cost you some money." I say to her.
"Nah, don't sweat. I make these woolen things and sell them to specific shops outside
the country, some of them I sell online. Only very few shops sell these here in
Zimbabwe and they sure are pricey. However the batch I made here, is a very limited
edition. I really made it with absolute love. You are the very first one to get this" the
pastor's wife says. Good Lord! How can one woman be so talented?
"You make these?" I question in absolute amusement.
"Yes. I do. And I am sure you are wondering how fast I work for me to get this done
in a night, well, the thing is, I have been working on these for a very long time, with
the intention to sell them to the highest bidder and also see what other shops think
about the product but then, you told me you had a new born and so I decided to be
the best grandmother and give them to my granddaughter. You know, there is
absolutely no amount of money that can be compared to when you give something,
especially whole heartedly and with love." She says.
"Thank you so very much. May God bless the works of your hands and also your
business?"
"Amen! Now where is the little madam? I really want to see her."
"Right this way. But she is asleep." I say as I lead the head pastor to the nursery
upstairs. We get into the room and head to the coat bed. We both look down at the
sleeping baby and as if, she sensed it, she opens her eyes. The head pastor's wife
takes her into her arms and surprisingly the baby is quiet.
"She looks just like you. The only difference here are the eyes. Otherwise, this is a
replica of you." the head pastor's wife says.
We spend the whole day together. She helps with Astrid whilst I take care of the
cooking and finally she leaves in the late afternoon at around half past two. I really
thought she was a tense woman but no, she is actually free and conversant. More
like motherly. After she leaves I am left to myself. I then go on the internet and start
researching about income-generating projects. There are a number of good ones that
I jot down, including their inputs and processes, the disadvantages and advantages.
If however the disadvantages over-threw the advantages, I had to however scrap that
project off. As I was still in the middle of my research, I stumbled across a home project that interested me. A project on jam making. Apparently, you can make
marmalade from lemons, tomatoes and watermelons. Bingo! I have something to do.
Something that I can easily make with the resources that I have.
For days I work tirelessly, researching recipes and I work on the jam for days until
at last, I have the perfect product. At least what I would term as the perfect product.
All I have to do is to get a few testing recipients and after that I will either improve
the product further or I will launch it. The best recipients in this case are Shamiso,
Vimbai and Chiedza. My cell phone rings and I quickly answer it before it awakens
the sleeping baby.
"Hello." I answer.
"Red, we are coming over. We have good news to tell you and some shocking news to
confirm." Chiedza says from the other end of the line.
"First things first, what is the shocking news that you guys want to confirm?"
"Let me not spoil the fun. We are driving to your place right now so just gear up for
the mind blowing news that we heard from the University. It's spreading like a wild
fire." Chiedza says in a rather too joyous voice. I know that tone and I know that it
always carries nothing but bad news! Chiedza however disconnects the call and I am
left in absolute suspense.
I prepare tea for the ladies and I wait for them to come. They seem to be taking forever
to reach here but finally, they get to the gate and Vimbai hoots. I open the gate for
them and I wait impatiently for them at the door.
"You guys took forever to get here!" I say to them
"There was a lot of traffic. You know how it is during the peak hour." Vimbai says.
"Now, tell me. What's the shocking news that you want to confirm?" I ask.
"Chillax. We have a lot of time. Let's get into the house, we want to see the baby first
then we can talk to you. For now, you are less important." Chiedza says as she enters
the house. We heard upstairs to the nursery, where Astrid is already screaming at
the top of her lungs. Babies!! These things will give you a fit!
Chiedza takes the baby in her hands and she changes her wet diaper and after that,
she bottle feeds her and comes to settle down in the living room with the rest of us.
"Now ladies, tell me. What is the shocking news that you want to confirm?"
"Firstly, we will talk about the good news." Vimbai says.
"And what's the good news?" I question in absolute curiosity.
"Okay. I passed my degree with a distinction and I want you girls to come for the
graduation ceremony and maybe a small party for just the three us, to celebrate all
the support and help that you girls have been giving me through the journey of
accomplishing the degree." Chiedza says.
"Well, it's a thumbs up for the fighter who is you and congratulations. What's left is
for you to upgrade to a masters and then you now have nothing to worry about." I
say to her.
"With all this education, very soon I would be a professor like Red." Chiedza says.
"If you can do it. Do it. You never know how it could help you." Vimbai says.
"But I am really, really proud of you Chiedza, at least you could get out of that silly
chair at that reception and land in a better post in the office. I so heard that they are
in need of a baser. Look out for that post. Do apply for it. We will keep you in our
prayers." I say to her.
"Thank you guys so very much. Thank you for everything. If I had the resource, I
would repay every cent that you guys spent on me through out that course." Chiedza
says.
"Come on. We don't expect it back, we were helping a sister and educating the nation.
We thank you for being a hardworking girl with an ambition." Vimbai says.
"Well, girls I am still on the other side of the river and I am really on my toes about
the shocking news that you want to confirm. It's even hindering me from fully
celebrating."
"Well, its quiet heavy and I don't know whether you…." Vimbai says but I cut her
impatiently.
"What is it?"
"It's that boy Cameroon. The rumor has it that you are bedding him and that you
are even going on to stay with him." Chiedza says.
"This is coming from Yvonne. That woman will never rest until I get dismissed from
that University! Some devils really deserve the VIP section in hell! Well, to clear the
mist between the three of us, Cameroon is my biological it's a rather complex story
but that boy sure is my son. If you girls want proof, I can give you my phone and you
call either Arnold or Miriam." I say as I hand them my cell phone. There is a brief
silence in the room.
"What reason do we have to doubt you? One thing for sure, from the time we spent
with you, we have never seen you lay your eyes or invest your interest in a younger
man. Why would you start now?" Vimbai points out.
"But then, how come Cameroon is your son and we didn't know about him. Later
alone, you speak about him." Chiedza questions.
"I had him when I was sixteen and so I took him to his father who had disputed ever
having a hand in the pregnancy. From then, I didn't have a hand in Cameroon's life
until he surfaced a few months back with his father….. Well, let me tell you the whole
story because if I explain it this way, you girls won't understand a thing." I say to
them and I explain each and everything to the girls.
"You are one hell of a woman." Chiedza says in a quiet tone, her voice full of
amusement and shock.
"Well, I did what I had to. It was either me being an impoverished teenage mother or
me being an educated monster who at some point would do good in society and in
her life, just so as to atone for the wrong she did." I say to the two women as I sip my
tea.
"So, what is Cameroon's reaction to the whole thing because, be careful of staying
with an angry young man who at some point might hurt you just to get back at you."
Vimbai says.
"Well, we settled the whole thing. I told him the whole story and for some days he
was angry but it wore off as the days went by and believe me, I didn't try to atone too
much for the gap that I spent away from his life. It would look like I am buying him
with the asserts that I have."
"How is his relation with his siblings?" Chiedza questions.
"With Simangaliso, they are now two inseparable people who protect each other as if
they spent a lifetime together and he is relatively good with the baby. Relatively he is
a good boy, that's if you take out the youthful madness."
"One thing I am glad about is that, you are happy and that the rumor was nothing
but a fabricated story and nothing else." Vimbai says.
"Enough of the dirty rumors but I have something that I want you two ladies to
taste. It's something I have been working on. Right this way." I say as I gesture them
to the kitchen. I take out the marmalade from the refrigerator and I lay all three
samples on the table, together with a loaf of bread, three different knives and glasses
of tap water. Any other beverage might distort the taste of the jam before I get correct
answers.
"Someone has been up to no good. If I happen to die. Please know I have no funeral
cover." Chiedza says in an innocent voice that causes all three of us to burst into
laughter.
"If it was poison, I sure would have been buried by now." I say to the two ladies and
they start testing the marmalade. You know, when one is uncertain about a certain
thing and you bring friends like mine to come and do the testing for you, be careful
of getting a heart attack. I mean, the expressions that these two ladies are making!
It's as if they are tasting a meal with too much salt, chili and weird vegetable leaves
that look like weeds. After a long suspense-filled silence, they finally turn to look at
me.
"And so? How does it taste?" I ask.
"It's nothing out of the ordinary. Just like any marmalade that I have bought from
the shops." Vimbai says.
"I agree with her. But…., I would advise you to start a business with this." Chiedza
says.
"And where am I supposed to get a market for this product. I mean, I was just
experimenting here." I protest.
"You are an Economics Professor for crying out loud! so you should know better
about this market warawara. But my two cents, you my dear should start selling
this." Vimbai says.
"We could be your first customers right here." Chiedza offers.
"Or rather my marketers. You guys could share information about this product with
all your neighbors and congregants and then I will deliver the product to the people.
That's if they like it." I say to the two ladies in the kitchen.
"And there goes the business minded money lover we know. We will also provide
people with your personal number so that they could call you and order. It's easier
and faster that way." Vimbai says.
"Or you could make a business contact to promote your brand." Chiedza says.
"And this is why I love you two lunatics so very much. Ever so full of good ideas. At
least I will have something to occupy me during this long leave."
"Don't get too comfortable. You will be balancing four if not five jobs. Motherhood
and jam making included." Vimbai warns.
"I know. But hard as it will be, I have to adjust because my hard work will pay
wonderfully in the end." I say to the ladies.
"Ahh, you and money! I tell you!" Chiedza says.
"Money, sweet money." I say to the ladies as I rub my index finger to the thumb,
theatrically, also making a silly dance to add to my dramatic performance. We chat
about a number of issues and after that, the ladies leave, each of them carrying three
different types of marmalade.
When Cameroon and Simangaliso come home, I pitch my idea to Cameroon and I
ask him to help me with creation of a business contact and also some fliers if he can
and luckily, he agrees. He suggests that we do a photo-shoot to promote the product.
And that only means, I would have to dress up and pause in front of the camera
being illuminated by funny lights. Cameroon helps me to do those silly pauses that
women on magazines do. In no time we are done with the photo-shoot and Cameroon
is busy with his complicated software on his laptop.
I get out of my outfit and I get busy with the cooking. As I am still cooking, my cell
phone rings.
"Hello." I answer.
"Red. Good evening." A masculine voice says.
"Antony Clarke. How can I be of assistance?" I say to him.
"I was calling to talk about our boy. I want us to come to an agreement of how I will
see him." He says.
"Don't you get to see him at the riding school?"
"That's not enough. Maria, I don't think that's a fair slot to see my son. I need to
spend time with him. How about two days in a week, which in this case would be a
weekend."
"Well, that's too much to ask for. I mean, what's the sudden fuss about? Don't you
have children with your ex-wife, to keep you occupied?" I question in curiosity. It's
one of my silly manners of prying information from people. Once you raise the
relevant topic, it's easy to get someone to spill the beans about a certain part of
themselves that they don't talk about that much.
"I do have them and I have specific times that I spend with them, just because they
are scholars and they learn out of the country. I want to have an equal opportunity
with my son."
"What if I tell you I don't want you anywhere near Simangaliso?"
"Then I would have to take you to the courts and believe me, with all the things I
hold against you, I can easily win it and if it comes to an unfortunate part of life, I
might get full custody and you would be the one begging to see him.
"Well, go on and do what you please. Waste your money and go to the courts. See
whether you will win this case. After all, I am not the one at fault."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"I am trying to say, I am not the one who is sleeping with his own brothers' fiancé.
You know what Antony, you could have easily become part of Simangaliso's life but
not after what I saw you doing in that storeroom. If I happen to tell Simangaliso about
that, rest assured he will never want to see your face or hear your name ever again."
"Red, I really don't think you have proof to your claims. Currently, you are just
blurting out nothing but words with no proof and the court won't buy that."
"It seems like you really want to settle this in the courts. I like the determination. We
will meet each other there. I have absolutely nothing to fear." I say to him.
"Red. Why do you always want to make everything so fuckin' difficult? This is very
simple. Let's just agree on certain days to see the boy and we won't need to go as far
as the courts, just to solve a simple problem." He says, his tone thick and heavy in
absolute anger.
"It's not that Simple. Your family members are something else and I am guaranteed,
especially after our previous encounter that they will give my son a really hard time
and again, I don't want my son to be handled by your paramour. No way."
"After all, that boy is a Clarke. Whether or not my family members are trouble, he
deserves to know them and bond with them. And you won't stand in the way of that!"
Antony says from the other end of the line, his tone low, dangerous and venomous.
I would have loved to see the face that came with the voice.
"As far as I am concerned, his birth certificate has Maruva as his surname. It is
unless you pay lobola, will he be called a Clarke, besides that... you know what,
let me not waste my time. Have yourself a good day. I however have better things to
do."
"You are really enjoying this aren't you?"
"No one enjoys getting into a court and having their private life hanged out for all to
see and hear but in my case I have absolutely no choice. I have a thick headed man
who thinks he can come and claim a child he never raised."
"I have really tried being diplomatic with you but it seems like you want us to do
things the hard way. I have no choice but to drag you to the courts."
"Please do notify me about the dates. Have yourself a good night Mr Clarke. Greet
your paramour for me." I say and I hang up.
The fuck is wrong with this idiot? He has absolutely no right whatsoever to call and
tell me that he will drag me to the courts just for the custody of my son! Well, he has
got another thing coming his way! I have a sister who is a lawyer. Not just any lawyer
but a very reputable one who has dealt with very complex cases and won them, what
more a custody court case, where the father is a cheating son of a bitch who thinks
he can have it all just because he is white. Pity him....
"Mom, I am done with the advertising fliers" Cameroon says as he hands me his cell
phone so that I could see. I would like to admit, the boy has a skill. A wonderful skill.
I now look like some foreign woman from some top notch magazine.
"This is amazing. Thank you very much for the job well done. I will pay for the services
when I get my cents together."
"Mom, there is absolutely no need to pay. I am your son. I don't need to get paid
every time I do something in the house." Cameroon says to me.
"But you need to be rewarded as a way of encouragement, which in this case, is what
I exactly intend to do."
"It doesn't have to be hard cash or any other form of money."
"I know that tone. What favor do you want me to do for you?"
"It seems like I have been caught red handed. Well, can you borrow me your car?"
Cameroon says to me as he looks at me with a manipulatively beautiful smile
plastered on his face. A smile that I can't help but return.
"Yeah sure. But it's only for a few days."
"Thank you so much. You won't regret this" he says and after that he walks away
looking happy. Just seeing him this happy, makes me smile. For a minute, I forget
my troubles and I sink into his happiness...Snapping out of it, I return my
attention back to the pots and I get down to serving supper. After supper, Cameroon
takes Simangaliso to bed and I nurse Astrid until at last she falls asleep. I then decide
to start reading. I sleep late as curiosity gets the best of me. Each page of the novel
seems to be raising some steep curiosity. Finally I finish reading the whole book and
its past midnight. My eyes are gritty and I am feeling sleepy.
I jolt awake in the middle of the night, my sleep disturbed by the sounds of a crying
baby. I lazily push back the covers, get my morning gown, put on my morning shoes
and I head straight to the nursery. When I get there, someone is already inside. It's
Cameroon and he is changing the baby's diaper.
"Sorry for waking you up this early. You can go back to bed, I will take it from here."
I say to Cameroon as I enter the nursery.
"No. don't worry, I can manage. I have taken care of babies before." Cameroon says
as he finishes changing the baby's diaper.
"Let's hope I am not burdening you." I say to him, at the same time yawning
uncontrollably from all the sleep that's in my head. I mean, it's even making me
dizzy.
"Mom please. I can do this. Rest a bit. I will take care of Astrid" Cameroon says. I bid
him goodnight and I retire to the comfort and warmth of my bed. I wake up to the
ringing of my cell phone. When I open my eyes, the sun is already up. It must be
really late.
"hello." I answer.
"Maria, how are you?"
"I am good and you?"
"I am stressed. I have a string of court cases this week. All of them are in Harare and
I am in great need of accommodation." Miriam says over the phone.
"Miriam. This is your home as much as it is mine. You can come. So when can we
expect you?"
"Today in the evening. I am boarding the two o'clock plane to Harare. Right now I am
still sorting my paperwork this side but in the evening, I would have been done with
everything this side."
"Now that's one hell of a job. Alright, I will meet you in the evening then. Travel safe
and please say hie to the family."
"I will do that. Have a good day then." Miriam says and after that she hangs up. She
sure is still a business minded woman. She wastes absolutely no time on petty talk.
I get out of bed, use the bathroom and after that I take a shower. I head downstairs
to prepare breakfast and that's when I find the boys already in the kitchen, Cameroon
feeding Astrid and Simangaliso eating his breakfast.
"Good morning gentlemen." I say to them as I enter the interior of the kitchen.
"Morning." Both of them say in unison.
"Boys, Aunt Miriam is coming today and she is going to be staying with us for a full
week. That's if her court cases go right." I say to them as I make myself a cup of
coffee and settle down to have some breakfast courtesy of Cameroon.
After breakfast, I put on my red overalls, which are more of a dungaree, a white short
sleeved blouse, a large reed hat, some gumboots and my gardening tools and I get
down to pruning, cultivating and planting. I do this in the coming of some music,
which I am playing using my cell phone. Today I am in the company of Oliver
Mtukudzi's music…My cell phone rings, disturbing my music. It's an unknown
number.
"Hello." I answer.
"Hello. Can I speak to Miss Maruva?"
"This is she speaking."
"Oh, Thank God, I got a hold of you. I am Mai Nyasha from Glenora. I tasted your
marmalade from my cousin Chiedza and I would like to get four jars of jam. Can we
meet in town?"
"It's okay. Just tell me the most convenient time and I will come."
"Is two thirty a convenient time frame for you?" she questions.
"It's fine with me. So, at which location shall we meet?" I question and Mai Nyasha
tells me where she wants me to meet her. After that I hang up. Before two o'clock in
the afternoon, I have three other orders from different people and luckily, all of them
are around town. I bath and dress in my overalls. This time, they are long sleeved
overalls and a large summer hat. I use my Datsun 300 to carry my orders into town.
I go about my business and after each and every jar of jam has been sold at an
amazingly profitable amount. I then drive back with new orders. It seems like I will
be occupied for a very long time.
When I get home, there is a strange car. One that I don't recognize. I open the door
and I am met with some quarreling. My sister's voice is speaking. From her tone, I
can tell that she is trying by all means to be diplomatic but the other individual who
sounds more like Antony Clarke is really weighing her patience. But then if its
Antony, how the hell did he get here and what the fuck does he need from me?
"….look, I am not trying to play any pranks on you whatsoever. The truth is that, I
am not Maria. I am her sister." Miriam says.
"Oh, for the love of Christ, Maria! You sure are an unashamed little liar. Going on to
even dispute your own identity! What the fuck man! All this just because you want
to keep me away from my son! What kind of woman are you?" Antony shouts.
"The type you can't easily corner into decision making! Every move is calculated." I
say to Antony as I enter into the living room, where Miriam is fuming, she is evidently
angry from being accused of being me.
"What the hell is happening here?" Antony questions, most definitely confused by
the two strikingly identical women standing in front of him. His eyes dart from me to
Miriam and he repeats the inspection as he tries to deduce who is who but it sure
will be hard to tell because one thing for sure, he thinks Miriam is the Economics
professor that he knows just because of her dress code and the way she wears her
hair.
"So, to what do we owe the visit to?" I ask as I come and stand near Miriam, further
complicating things.
"My agenda can wait. What is going on here? Who is who and how?" Antony questions
in absolute confusion.
"Some things you leave be." Miriam shoots back, her voice laced with irritation and
anger. She is using the very same attitude that I usually wear when I am having a
terrible day and she sure is further.
"State your agenda and go. We are very busy women and as the saying goes, time is
money." I say.
"I heard the little man talking about having a younger sister, is she my daughter?"
Antony questions as his eyes scan the two of us, not really "What the hell is
happening here?" Antony questions, most definitely confused by the two strikingly
identical women standing in front of him. His eyes dart from me to Miriam and he
repeats the inspection as he tries to deduce who is who but it sure will be hard to
tell because one thing for sure, he thinks Miriam is the Economics professor that he
knows just because of her dress code and the way she wears her hair.
"So, to what do we owe the visit to?" I ask as I come and stand near Miriam, further
complicating things.
"The little man spoke about having a younger sister. Is the kid mine?" Antony
questions as he looks between me and Miriam, not really sure where he should direct
his question.
"Not at all. The baby is actually black, with absolutely no signs of being colored." I
say to Antony. I really try by all means to keep my cool so that I can easily complicate
things with him. If I play it safe, he won't know who is who.
"That's not what I heard. The little man says they have the same skin tone and eye
color and as far as I am concerned, the little man is colored." Antony points out.
"The mere over excitement of children. He even failed to note that his little sister is
just light in complexion but black. I am sorry to kick that ego straight in the balls
but the baby is not yours." I respond.
"I don't think we are being honest with each other here. You two ladies, whichever
one of you is Maria are trying to confuse me but rest assured, you won't get away
with it. I want to spend time with my children and whether or not you want it, the
court is going to help me." Antony says and at same time, Cameroon and Simangaliso
enter. Cameroon is carrying Astrid in a Kangaroo strap. Astrid is also dressed in a
short sleeved romper, so her legs and arms are exposed.
"Aunt Miriam, we are home!" Cameroon says as he enters the living room. The worst
timing that these boys might pick. Simangaliso rushes to his father and greets him
but Antony's focus is on the baby.
"Buddy, how are you?'" Antony says as he offers his hand to Simangaliso whilst
eyeing the baby in curiosity and absolute observation.
"I am fine. Are you spending the weekend with us?" Simangaliso questions.
"If your mother permits. Look buddy, where is your little sister. I came to see her."
Antony questions.
"Aren't you being too comfortable in a foreign space? I don't think in white people's
cultures, strangers speak to the children when they want something, but then if it's
that way, who am I to judge. However in African black communities, you talk to the
adults first. Simangaliso and Cameroon go upstairs." I say.
"Not until I see the baby.' Antony says as he advances to Cameroon and inspects the
baby, going on to even remove her hat and he further more looks at the confused
baby's face. That's when I yank Antony's hand away and probe Cameroon to go
upstairs.
"Mr Clarke, you have absolutely no right whatsoever to come into my home,
announced and cause havoc! Letting you stand here and blurt all the nonsense you
want is more than enough of a welcome, especially for an animal like you." I say to
Antony, in a low pitched, slow paced venom dripping voice. This I do so that
Simangaliso will not over hear the conversation.
"But those are my children. I have every right to see them and spend time with them,
something that you Maria have been depriving me of. I mean, you didn't even bother
to tell me that I had a daughter. That my dear adds to your crimes. Be careful of
losing both these children to me. The court unlike you is very fair." Antony says to
me. The words 'court' catch Miriam's attention but she says nothing, not willing to
add her two cents to the conversation.
"I think you should leave. You have said enough and caused a lot of trouble. Have
yourself a good day and good bye. We will meet each other in court. Let the best
parent win. Also bear in mind that these children are below the age of consent." I say
to him as a malicious smile creeps onto my lips.
"You're really determined to take sure a petty issue to the courts? Well if that's what
you want, then so be it, but judging from my common sense, I really don't think court
thing is necessary." Antony says as he looks at me. I am sure he has finally
recognized who I am.
"It was your educated idea, Mr Whiteman. Now deal with the consequences." I say to
him, causing him to exhale loudly, his face turning red in anger. He turns to Miriam
and says;
"I really think you should knock some sense into your twin sister's head. And by the
way, I am really sorry that we have met under such circumstances. Ladies have
yourselves an excellent day." Antony says as he walks out of the door.
"I don't think going to the courts for such a matter is a good idea." Miriam says, after
a brief silence.
"Why? I mean, that's the only way I can get that cheating son of a bitch out of my
hair."
"Judging from what you told me, you not telling him about Astrid, you not giving him
the chance to see his children. You my dear might lose the case. If push comes to
shove, you might also loose the children. It's a very possible scenario, especially in
the modern court where men are given an equal opportunity to raise their children.
I suggest that the two of you should solve this out of the courts."
"That's not an easy task regarding that Antony is a fuckin' cheat!"
"The children don't know that. To them, he is a good father. And that reason is not
reason enough for you to refuse him the right to see his children. And believe me,
the court won't buy the story of him cheating because one thing for sure, you have
no proof to your accusations." Miriam points out.
"Life is complicated." I say as I take out a cigarette and a lighter. This thing always
helps me to calm down. I put the cigarette in my mouth and I hold the lighter to the
end of the cigarette but Miriam snatches the cigarette from my mouth.
"Life is what you make it. Just don't complicate yours." Miriam says.
"I really wish it was that easy." I say to her as I settle down on my sofa. There is a
brief suspended silence, which is broken by Miriam.
"I think we should start on supper before it gets late."
We embark on the journey of cooking, breaks, we are discussing a number of issues.
Among the numerous issues is jam making.
"One thing for sure, you won't take a minute to breathe and have nothing but
domestic chores to worry about." Miriam says.
"I just can't sit and watch the world go by. It's of absolutely no use. I mean, what do
I benefit from a sit in mother?"
"Family time is important. Just watching your children growing is a very crucial
thing. You also get time to understand them and note when they are facing
challenges in their lives, something which the parents of nowadays ignore, yet it's a
very key observation in a home." Miriam says.
"Well, I have every day to be with my idiots, so whenever I get the chance to occupy
myself using a money generating project, I jump at it."
"You and money" Miriam accuses and after that we serve supper and we settle down
to eat. Miriam is the one feeding Astrid. After supper, Cameroon takes Simangaliso
and Astrid to bed whilst I do the dishes. Miriam is now consumed in her work, after
refusing to use my study...
I wake up at three in the morning to the crying of the baby. My head is literally
whizzing with sleep. I push away my covers and head to the bathroom to relieve my
full bladder. I wear my satin gown and I head to the nursery to attend to the wailing
baby who will most probably waken everyone in the house.
When I get to the nursery, the baby is not there. It must be Cameroon. Thank God
for that boy who has had my back whenever I am delaying. I head to the kitchen to
get some water to drink in order to quench the thirst that's making my throat dry
and very irritating. I rush to the kitchen but upon getting to the staircase landing,
the lights in the living room are on. I walk to the living room and I find Miriam
carrying Astrid, she dressed in a two piece nightdress, slippers and spectacles, a cup
of tea on the table, papers scattered all over the table.
"Miriam, you need not over work yourself. Get some rest."
"I barely could sleep and so I have decided to get back to my work. It's a rather
complex case that needs me to be all in."
"I really hope will get you one fat pay check you will not work this hard , going on to
even have sleepless nights, just so as to get two cents."
"Anyone who gets a case on my table, sure does bring an enticing money offer on the
table."
"So the love of money is a family thing."
"Luckily, we all believe in working for the commodity except for Tariro. I really fear
that she will make some really crude decisions for the love of money."
"Well, she curves her own road and languishes in the consequences. Let me leave
you to your work." I say as I take Astrid from Miriam, head to the kitchen and get
some confectioneries, which I leave on the table for Miriam to eat and after that I
head to the nursery to put the baby back to sleep.