Chapter 5 The police badge

Melanie:

I was assigned to wash the sheets as soon as l got inside the house.

"No woman is going to sleep on another woman's dirty blankets. Things would've been easier if you were not a charity case. Then, l wouldn't have had to tell you this because you would've came here with new blankets, sheets and everything. Since you are one, it would be beneficial for yourself if you would make sure that those things in that bed are washed along with those rags you are clinging on. Otherwise, that's the bedroom you'll sleep in. I don't know if it's safe to say, that that is your room, but whatever that is, clean it up and take care of it just like you would yourself, if you know what I'm talking about. The rules of this house, just like every other house that has its own rules, are very simple. Clean this house, wash the dishes, wash your own laundry, with that of your man's, of course, cook, take care of my garden outside, clean the back cottage, you never know what's to happen, and always avail yourself in the house. No makoti of mine will find employment in this house. Your duty is to make sure this house is filled with the little ones and is always taken care of. Is that message spread across?"

A nod came from myself. Was l the new housekeeper and baby making machine? The charity case?

"Let's not step on each other's toes, please. Get on with your laundry."

I was outside a few moments later, stepping on the bedding, sheets, blankets in the back yard. This house was big. Bigger than my house back home, of course, but even bigger than the yard we had back at our house. You can just imagine how big it was. Remember, I lived in the rural villages. Back there, our yards are really big, to accommodate all our livestock and gardens. You can just imagine how big this house was. Big as it was, it was empty, and lacked of a mother's love, a mother's touch. I wondered how that was possible because Sindi, I don't know if it's safe to call her that, but Ma, lived here. Well, it appears like that since she's already giving out instructions. She was a mother. Why was her house so cold?

Well, the interior of the house was bliss, regardless. I was only in the bedroom l was said to be sleeping in and in the kitchen, I even saw the dining area with the glimpse of an eye, but it was beautiful. White, glassy, with a touch of turquoise in the bedroom, red in the dining room, and black in the kitchen. I felt that was beautiful. These were things we only saw in the magazines back home, little did l know, they'd find a way to me one day. If only the situation was pleasing, life back here would be a true bliss. My phone vibrated in my pocket as l was thinking.

"Hi. Who's this?"

"Melanie..."

I recognized the voice at once. I switched off my phone at that instant. No!

I looked around to check who was nearby. The birds were chirping in the green grass, close to the pool. A cottage, painted in blue lay all alone behind a bunch of trees. No one was here. I was alone. I had to remind myself of that.

Sbonga:

I returned at my house when it was already late in the evening. I was tired. I was doing the garden with Kiki the whole afternoon, and was busy with Pops in the garage for the rest of the evening. Kiki was sleeping in the back seat. I saw figures moving around there when l looked at the curtains. It was as though people were walking up and down the house, galavanting. I guess people had a great time while we were gone.

I opened the gate and the garage door. Did l not get the shock of my life!

A slaughtered goat lay hanging on the ceiling in the middle of the room. It's skin was on the floor, and now that it was no longer bloody, it's blood had dried up on it's skin below, laid nicely on the floor. So Abigail slaughtered an animal in my house, in my absence, when she and l were not only legally, but also traditionally married?

I closed the roller door and parked the car in the yard. Closed the gate nicely, and locked it. I carried my baby on my back and walked to the house. The lights were switched off.

"Bhut'Sbonga..."

It came out as a whisper. I jumped a little. The lights were turned on. I was met with someone's dark, grey eyes.

"Jessica... Hi... When did you get here?"

That was me.

"I'm sorry l frightened you, I thought it was an intruder till I recognized Kiara on your back, hii hii," she laughed a grating one. She appeared much darker than l had last seen her, her eyes with big eye bags that seemed to escape to her chin. Her teeth, yellow with a tint of brown. I looked at her. She was in a night dress, that traced her saggy breasts. The night gown had milk patches around the area where her breasts lay. That's when l realized, it was rude to stare. Not that long, to your sister-in-law.

"Oh..."

"Yeah. Good..." she scratched on her back with her right hand, and turned to walk away. She looked frail, so frail.

"Good night."

I let go of air, l wasn't aware l was holding for that long. This world! I walked to my baby's bedroom. That was where Jessica was sleeping.

"Is this where she sleeps?"

I nodded.

"Sorry. Abigail said we should sleep in here."

I smiled. There was a tiny being resting on the bed.

"Is he yours?"

She could see l was looking at the bed, and looked in that direction. Her eyes looked strained. They had veins, that white, elastic sclera looked weary, like it had lost its elasticity. She looked back at me.

"It's a she. Her name is Kganya."

"My bad. She looks cute. When did you even get pregnant?!" I exclaimed, and she laughed a bit.

"I wasn't aware too. I only realized when l was told to push that I was pregnant."

I was shocked.

"You lie!"

"I'm telling you. I was in such great pain that l called my friend next door. She took me to the hospital instantly. That was when my water broke. I thought l had peed on myself. Little did l know, the baby was coming. The doctors saw the head coming out of my coochie..." she held her mouth after saying that. I laughed. She had forgotten she was speaking to her brother-in-law.

"No, no, continue. What happened when the doctors saw the baby's head coming out of your coochie?"

She laughed.

"They told me to spread my legs and start pushing. I was shocked. I was like: What the hell am l pushing?"

"The nurse was rude," she mimicked her voice. "A baby! Are you crazy, you child? What the hell are you asking?"

I laughed.

"You should've slapped her across the face when she said that."

"I was about to bhut'Sbonga, l swear." She crossed her fingers. "I started pushing. It clicked to me when l heard her cry for the first time that I was a parent. That was three months ago."

"Wow."

She nodded. The baby started sniffing. She began to cry. Kiki woke up.

"Dada... a baby?"

"Huh uh Kiara sleep. It's late."

She was about to cry too.

"Goodnight Jessie, this one's about to be Kganya's stepmother, l can see it coming, and she's supposed to be sleeping. It's a school day tomorrow."

"She'll see Kganya tomorrow. We're moving in."

My eyes bugged out.

...

I was heading downstairs for a glass of water after l placed Kiki in the room next to mine. I spent a full hour in there. This girl talks too much.

"Sibongakonke."

Mmh. I wasn't ready for this. I turned around. I couldn't see her. I looked in the dim light, trying to spot someone in the room. I saw something like red eyes glowing at the back of the room. I was about to look closely when the lights were quickly switched on.

"Did l not tell you to not take the car with?"

"How was l supposed to get home?"

"Are you answering back at me?"

She came closer to me. She was in a black, night gown. Suddenly her eyes appeared charcoal black. Charcoal black. She had an aura. Chills of shiver went down my spine. Suddenly, l felt humbled. It was hard for me to even look in her eyes. She and l were now sharing the same breath. That was how close she was. She held my neck with her right hand. It was the grip for me. I was angry at her when l came in. I wasn't anymore. I respected her. She was of greater authority. She was my queen. I had to obey her. I had to obey her. I had to obey her.

"Say that out loud."

"You are my queen. I have to obey you."

My voice was thin. She had tightened her grip around my neck.

"I didn't hear that."

"You are my master. I do what you say. I bow to you."

"Bow to me, and say my name."

I bowed down. I went on my knees. It pained me. I didn't feel that. I was overwhelmed by a sense of respect. Respect of authority. What she said, was all that mattered. She was my master.

"You are my queen. All hail, queen Nyokakazi."

"Good. Jessica and mom are moving in with us. You are fine with that. You are okay with that. What did l say?"

"Your mom and Jessica are moving in with us and I'm okay with that."

"Good."

She left the room in a rush. She was quick. I dozed off. It was only a few seconds later that l found myself laying on the floor. My genitals hurt. My head was spinning. My head hurt. I balanced myself with the wall as l stood up, and held onto it for a few seconds till l regained my strength.

"Jessica and Abigail's mother are moving in with us, and I'm okay with that," was what kept ringing in my head. I was okay with that. I went to get myself a glass of water to drink and headed upstairs.

Melanie:

I was cooking rice and chicken stew in the kitchen. The door slip open.

"Knock knock..."

He peeped his head in and l turned to look in that direction.

"Can l come in?"

"You're already halfway in, you might as well."

"Aww..."

He entered.

"We knock because we want to be led in, not when we're already in."

"Feisty... Afternoon, Mrs Dlamini."

I laughed.

"Melanie... just Melanie."

"I'm sorry l knocked whilst l was already inside. There's usually no one in the kitchen, and because this house is large, I usually just make my way through. I'll learn to knock."

"Don't people cook in here?"

"That would be me interfering in people's business."

I looked around.

"No one would know."

It came out as a whisper. He giggled. He walked towards the fridge. There was a small corridor in line with the fridge. His frown disappeared.

"Ndumiso. Is your shift already up?"

I turned around and begun mixing the stew.

As soon as he made entered the kitchen, his cologne filled the entire room. It made me sneeze so bad. I excused myself. He looked at me as l exited. I could feel his eyes on my back even as l trailed my way to the bathroom.

"Look, is your shift up?"–Sizwe.

Ndumiso nodded.

"It's the other group's shift."

"Tell them to lock up."

"Are you not returning home tonight?"

"I don't answer to you. You're getting too comfortable around me. I'm not my mom."

Silence. Tension in the air. Small gasps of breath are noticed.

"My apologies."

He clicked his tongue and walked out. Ndumiso followed behind him.

Sizwe:

The car arrived. It parked just outside the front doors. It was quite busy tonight. Not my type of place. I looked in the rear view mirror at the crowds.

"Let's use that other entrance."

"Sure, boss."

He drove past the crowds. I could see how people turned to look at the black Rolls Royce. I was proud. The other entryway was empty. No one uses this entrance. The guards opened the door as l exited. A full moon hung on the glittery sky above. A beautiful night, it was going to be.

I made my way to the escalators and stopped at the reception area.

"Hi."

She was typing things down. I cleared my throat.

"One second..."

She typed on the keyboard quick, and when her eyes met with mine, she struggled to speak, her eyes bugged out. The mouse fell on the floor, and she put her hands together.

"I'm... s...s..."

"Consider yourself jobless, sweetheart. Which room?"

Her eyes were teary.

"I'm..." she got on her knees. People turned to look in our direction. Too many stares

I looked at the guard outside and he came through. He got my signal. He whispered to the lady, who quickly stood up. The guard exited.

Her eyes were bugged out, like she had seen a ghost. She quickly fixed herself. She stared at me, in a haste, and said, "prognathous."

I nodded, and headed towards the escalator.

Narrated:

Somebody followed after Sizwe. It was a man, in a black suit, exactly like the one Sizwe's guard had on. He trailed to the receptionist, and showed her a police badge.

"What room is that man headed to?"

The lady was quiet.

"He took the key, sir, he came here knowing which room he was invited to."

"I'm not stupid, lady. What you're doing is illegal, and against the law. Withholding information from the police is a criminal offense. Do you want this to be discussed in the police station?"

"If need be, yes. I'm not withholding any information."

The police man could see the guard looking in his direction. He turned and walked the other way. The guard held the door handle so he could enter. The man began to walk fast towards the other door. As the guard made his way hastily inside, the man began to run. He disappeared in the crowds. He was in his car moments later, and sped out of the building. A sigh of relief was heard in his car. The guard, his brows furrowed in frustration, went to the receptionist.

"Who was that man?"

"He said he's a police officer. He showed me his badge. It looked real."