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mercurygray · 2 years ago

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A Falcon Circling - Mike Sadler x OFC

You know me - have period drama, will travel. 1940s Cairo was a dandy to try and research.

Mike Sadler was bloody late for poker.

Late was, perhaps, being generous - in point of fact he'd completely missed last week's game after Captain Stirling's late night jolly had kept Mike and the other drivers of the Desert Taxi Service busy until well into Friday afternoon, when there was not a snowball's chance of making in back in time for a pint of beer and a fair shot at the deep pockets of the boys stationed at the Embassy.

Cairo, on the whole, held few attractions for him, outside of the poker game – while there was always the chance for a clean uniform and a bath and a bed, it was all too much, sometimes, with the noise and the people. There was a beauty to the silence of the desert that he missed when he was in town, and something to be desired in the way of solitude when he was pressed up to the bar, waiting for the game to open, and the rowdy crowd of fellows next to him had, twice now, nearly spilled his drink.

His hand rose, reflexively, to his face, and the now-neatly trimmed beard - shaving it off entirely made him look about eighteen again, which he hated, and the beard itself was a badge of honor, a sign of having been in places where the discipline didn’t matter so much as being able to survive did. He’d had a haircut, too, and he looked, in the long mirror behind the bar, almost civilized, if one ignored the deep tan. That was one of the things he liked about the desert, too - that one could blend in, disappear into the sand until you were wanted or needed or neither. One could be anonymous, in places like this - but one never really disappeared.

Mike glanced around the room and realized, with some annoyance, that not only was he not alone, but that he was being observed.

She was tucked unobtrusively into a table in the corner, blonde and wearing a particular shade of blue that stood out against the dark. It was strange to him, after being so long in khaki that bleached you into the sand, to want to be noticed. And by god, was he noticing her now. (Not a working girl, he didn’t think - she wasn’t trying hard enough for that. Rules were different in Cairo, but single women still couldn’t drink at the bar unless they wanted something. )

Mike considered his drink and the wad of bills burning a hole in his pocket and sighed. What the hell. I have some time. It had been a long week, and he might do worse. He took his drink with him and walked around to her end of the bar, taking advantage of an empty seat right next to her. "Evening."

"Hello. You must be here for Sandy's poker game." She looked amused at his surprise to be so easily found out. "Everyone else here's getting soused and you've barely touched your drink."

Well, damn her for observant indeed. A regular here, then, if she knew that Alex Higgins - that Sandy - had a regular game here in the back room. Strange that he'd never seen her before. He wasn't sure he liked being known. "Journalist?" He gestured with his eyes at the notebook and pen next to her, the word almost accusatory in tone.

A brief smile. "Novelist."

Somehow that was even worse - someone collecting specimens for study and later mounting in prose. "Ah, Miss Hemingway, my apologies."

She rolled her eyes. “If I had a shilling for every time someone made that joke I'd be able to buy a ticket home.”

“And? Do you? Want a ticket home?”

She snorted. “Not likely. The war's as awful at home as it is here. At least in Cairo it's warm.” She held out a hand to shake. "Daphne Markham-Reed, how do you do."

She sounded like Stirling's people, with a name like that. He tried not to be angry about it - it would look good in print, probably. "Oh, both barrels. You don't waste time."

“Not a lot of time to waste. There's a war on, you know.” She gestured to the chair opposite and he sat down, taking another sip of his whisky and trying to make himself comfortable.

"And what is a... young lady of the horse and hound set doing here in the tail end of Garden City?"

"I should have thought it was obvious,” she said with a smile, leaning back a little with her cigarette, the light just catching the glint of gold in her wristwatch. “Chasing out my prey.” The way she said prey, her eyes lighting up a little, made him go cold and hot, all at once. She took a drag of her cigarette, still obviously observing him. “Do you have a name, Mister Poker Player, or should I make one up?"

He wasn’t sure he liked that, being a character she could name and shape, but he didn’t want to give her his name – not yet. "Curious to see what you think I belong to."

She sat up a little, composing her thoughts as she looked him over again - closer this time, someone looking to see and not only imagine. “One stripe is a corporal. Scorpion on your jacket says you're one of Bagnell's LRDG chaps. A...mechanic, maybe, on the state of your hands, or a driver.”

He suddenly wanted to hide his hands, choosing instead to tighten them around his glass. No amount of washing would get some of the oil off his nails. “Do they teach insignia recognition at finishing school?”

She chuckled at that, but didn’t deny him. “They don't let women in the Long Bar, so we have to get our intelligence elsewhere. And everyone can read a rank badge nowadays, the army's practically everywhere.”

He could see her, at one of those parties filled with people like Stirling and Lewes, or at the Empire Club in a slinky dress, surrounded by men with public school degrees and Honorables and names in the court circular. “I'm sure it's all colonels and generals where you are.”

“Yes, and they're much less fun," Daphne declared without missing a beat. "I think if I were putting you in my novel I'd call you...Paul. No - David." She laughed as his face fell, thinking, unceremoniously, of what he'd like to do to David Stirling. "Oh, not David - do you know someone by that name? Another, then."

He liked hearing her laugh - and found he liked surprising her even more. “How do you feel about Michael?”

“Michael, hm.” She rolled the name around her tongue. “Like the archangel. You might be a Michael. Or maybe it's Mike, for short,” she offered, leaning in. He caught a whiff of perfume, amber and civet, and suddenly felt a little bold.

“To my friends, too.”

She arched an eyebrow, her smile vague. “Are you looking for friends?”

“I might be.” He shrugged. “Are you?”

But what her reply would be he never heard - someone behind him clapped him on the shoulder and broke the scene. “Sadler, you bastard! You stood us up last week.” Alex Higgins was the sort of man who drew attention to himself everywhere he went, a talent that one could attribute as much to his height and his shock of red hair as much as his personality. “Word was out you were on a regular reconnaissance jaunt, thought for sure we’d see you.”

“Word was wrong,” Mike said, rising from his seat to shake hands. ”Can’t say more than that, loose lips and all.”

“And I see you’ve met Daff,” Sandy said with a grin, turning his gaze to the woman behind him. “Care to join us, Miss Markham-Reed? There are always extra seats for pretty girls.”

What, and he knows her? Mike took another moment to hate being in town, where people knew things he didn’t and liked to catch you out. “Thanks, but no,” Daphne said, rising from the table and collecting her notebook, obviously preparing to leave. “I like keeping my money too much. You all have fun. I’ll see you around, Mr. Sadler,” she added, draining her glass and setting it back down. “Don’t let Sandy win.”

Several sets of eyes followed her on the way out, and Mike was ashamed to say that his were one of them. “How do you know her? Does she work at the embassy?”

Sandy scoffed and gestured for the barman, who caught his eye and went to work on a drink. “Work there, ha. You can tell you’re not posted in town. Her father’s on the staff. Only third or fourth down the list from Lampson. She’s good fun, though - doesn’t treat you like part of the furniture.”

The staff! Good god - so she really did belong with the Turf Club set. “She said she was a novelist.”

Another short laugh from his friend. “Daphne says a lot of things,” Sandy announced, glancing after her with a grin. “Sometimes they’re even true. Ought to put her in intelligence, honestly, she’s in everywhere.”

Mike made no reply as Sandy went on to flag down another friend, taking another sip of his drink and considering, anew, the calm way she’d been watching him across the bar, and the way she’d responded to his question about what she was doing. What do you think? Chasing down my prey. He’d said horse and hounds as a joke, but he was thinking of the desert again, and black-winged kites with their sudden high whistling calls, circling high in the air above their targets, wings white against the sky. Is that what you are, Daphne Markham-Reed? A falcon circling?

But Sandy had collected all the poker players, and there wasn’t time for more thought. Mike was here now - he would not be late again.

The Long Bar, at Shepheard's Hotel, was famous for being the place to meet people. It was a joke that if you wanted the plan for a battle in North Africa you only need to sit there long enough.

Garden City was the core of the British settlement in Cairo, slightly less exclusive than Zamelek, where houses were a bit more expensive. The Turf Club was an all-male social club that catered to the British social scene, which would have included railway and canal executives as well as the diplomatic corps.

Sir Miles Lampson was the British Ambassador to Egypt; before the signing of the 1936 treaty he'd been the High Commissioner.

Comments, tag commentary, and reblogs are seen, read, and appreciated!

#i have written a thing #daphne markham-reed #mike sadler x oc #sas rogue heroes #sas rogue heroes fanfiction #mike sadler #ocappreciation #original female character #mercurygraypresents

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ketso · 3 years ago

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Episode 14

2010: When she said yes

Maboko

It’s been a long week since I asked Teboho to be my girlfriend and she says that she is still thinking about it. I have practically tried everything that I can think of to be romantic. Every morning, I fetch her from the township so we can hit the track together. She hates running, but she enjoys it with me. Her target for week one was 2km; I did 3km with her. It also helps me with my fitness because I generally don’t have time to exercise before indoor soccer.

“Will you switch off all the lights when you go to bed?” Gwen asks me as she peeps her head through the study door.

“Sure”. I say.

It’s 9pm. I need to sleep within the next hour.

“How are things with Tebo?” She asks me.

“I don’t know what else to do to convince her that I’m serious about her.”

“She’s still thinking about it?”

“Yep”.

“I mean, it is a lot to think about. You are not just some regular guy that she’s used to from the township. You are Maboko Seete. You are friends with the princes of this kingdom. For her, being with you will change her life. This is not Linda we are talking about who will not necessarily be impacted if you are her boyfriend. Being with you is going to change the meaning of normal for her and it is a lot to think about.”

“So my sin is being well-off?”

She laughs at me.

“Okay, why don’t you do something that will be meaningful to her? Not what you think will be meaningful to her?”

“Something like?”

“I found her working on some magazine that they have as an assignment. I noticed that she was cutting and pasting advertisements from the internet. When I asked her why her magazine has more advertisements than actual content, she told me that she loves anything that’s got to do with branding and marketing and one of her articles have got to do with the impact of branding and marketing. I’d obviously give her a zero if I were marking that.”

We both giggle.

“But organise meetings for her with people like the queen and Gugu Zungu. You have the access. The twins are your access. Not only will this give her a good mark in journ, but it will also enhance what she wants to do as an actual career. Maybe reposition what you would actually represent in her life. You can’t change the fact that her life will be financially better if the two of you get married one day, but you can show her that the change will come with meaningful benefits for her career and her future. She cares about that more than she cares about even making friends.”

This is not a bad idea at all.

“You are the best, sis. Thank you.” I say.

“Maboko!” My mom says with so much anger in her voice as she barges into the study. I look at her. Gwen looks at her.

“What is this I hear about you running around with Mapula Tlou’s and Sechaba Tlou’s daughter?” My mom.

“Who are Mapula Tlou and Sechaba Tlou?” I ask.

“Maboko, are you running around with Teboho Tlou?” My mom.

“I want her to be my girlfriend. But she’s still thinking about it.”

“That girl has a crazy mother.”

“I’ve met her.”

“And she came to my office at school to tell me to tell you to stay away from her daughter.”

Gwen and I look at my mother as if she’s high. These parents are so messy getting involved in their children’s dating life.

“Please papa, hle. Just leave that girl alone. I’m sure there are plenty other beautiful girls.” My mom.

My phone rings before I can even answer her. It’s Teboho.

“This is a nice surprise”, I answer my phone.

“Maboko, I need your help. Please.” She sounds like she’s crying.

“What’s wrong?”

“My sister says that she is in trouble. She ran to a police station and she’s waiting there. It’s late now and I can’t take a taxi. She doesn’t want my parents to know and -

“I’m on my way.”

I hang up and rush to the township.

I find Tebza waiting outside the gate extremely distressed. She jumps into the car instantly. She is shaking!

“She says she’s at the police station in Markham Park”.

So far? What was this girl doing in Markham Park?

I just drive. The drive is about half an hour drive on a school night. But I drive. She keeps looking at me then typing on her cellphone.

We arrive at Markham Park then before I get to the police station, she says, “Please park here”.

“This is not the police station.” I tell her.

“The location that she sent me says that we have reached the destination”.

“But this is not the police station.”

“Maboko, please just park here.”

I park my car. She climbs out of the car and she runs off to somewhere. I’m slightly annoyed. What the fuck is going on here? I step out of the car and light myself a joint. This should keep my temper intact because this girl is going to piss me off. She’s not even my girlfriend and she has me driving across cities on a school night.

I see her walk back to the car. She walks up to where I am standing – leaning against the door of the driver’s side of my car.

“That thing you smoke smells bad”, she says.

This girl is going to annoy me.

I finish my joint because I’m dealing with her right now.

“Can we finish so we can go?”

“Go where?” I ask irritated.

“Listen here, I have to be home by 11pm. My parents get back at midnight. We need to go soon.”

“Wang’hlanyetsa wena. You brought me here and then you tell me the shit that you are telling me? What the fuck are we doing here? Where’s your sister?” The zol is clearly not keeping me calm.

She looks like she wants to cry. I finish my joint then I lock the car and look at her to lead me to where we need to go. She is extremely upset, but she leads me to some picnic set up. There’s a board that reads “Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend”.

I feel like such an asshole. But le yena… all this drama just to say yes? I would have been okay with a WhatsApp message. I look at her and smile. She is crying. Eish!

I pull her into a hug and she tries to push me away. I don’t let her.

“Baby, I’m sorry. I’m just a bit irritable.” I say.

“I just wanted this to be special. I know that my entire life is about to change because I’m your girlfriend. I wanted tonight to be a memorable last night of normal in my life”. She says.

I didn’t think about it like that.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I know it’s a stupid question.

“I wanted it to be a surprise and I wanted to do something nice for you because you always doing nice and considerate things for me. But the moment is gone. Grab the picnic basket. It’s got all your favourite study snacks. Your sister helped me put it together. You’ll find me at the car. I want to go home.”

Just like that, she walks off.

How can Gwen not warn me about this? Whose side is she on?

The drive back is silent. I really don’t know what to say. I keep stealing glances at her and she’s still crying. I need to maybe understand why she is crying because she cannot be this emotional at me just snapping at her?

“Baby”, me.

Nothing.

I hope she’s still my girlfriend.

“Baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I just -

“Maboko, don’t ever talk to me like that ever again. You literally just made me regret putting any of this together for you. I saved up all my taxi fare and lunch money to pull this off and you ruined it. Now we must live with the fact that this is how I said yes to you? You just pissed me off the same night I said yes.” She says.

I really need to make it up to her.

I park the car on the side of the road as we enter the township. I look at her. I brush her face.

“I’m sorry. I was an idiot and I profusely apologise my love.”

Teboho:

A smile escapes my intention to stay upset.

Then both our doors fly open and we are being hijacked at gun point. Maboko first tries to negotiate with these guys to not do anything to us, but the one guy pulls me out of the car and unzips his pants. Oh my God! Am I about to be raped?

“Take the car and leave! Leave the girl alone!” One of them says.

I kick the guy in his private area and while he grabs his penis, the other one slaps me and I fall to the floor with a bleeding nose. Maboko tries to fight the guy on his side and the guy hits Maboko on the head with a gun. I see his car keys in the ignition and I quickly grab them and put them in my bra.

I attend to Maboko and beg him to wake up. The guys can’t find the keys and they don’t think to ask us where the keys are. They take our cellphones and Maboko’s wallet then run away.

“Maboko! Maboko!”

I’m screaming!

People come out and try to help us. I ask them to call the police and an ambulance and they do.

I then see my parents.

“What happened?!” My mom.

“They we’re trying to hijack us, mama. They’ve left with our phones and wallets and hit Maboko with a gun on his head.”

My mom phones Maboko’s mother. She and my dad put Maboko in my dad’s car. I climb at the back with him. My mom drives us to hospital while my dad took Maboko’s car back to the suburbs.

I’m sitting with my mom in the waiting area of the hospital when Maboko’s parents and Gwen run in with my father.

“Are you okay?” Gwen asks me.

I just look at her. I’m just crying.

“What happened?” The mom asks.

“They tried to hijack us, mama… and rape me. Maboko fought them and -

“They tried to what?” My dad.

“You don’t listen, wena Teboho. I told you to stay away from that boy. Had you listened, you’d be at home doing your work or sleeping and not gallivanting on the streets, putting yourself in such positions.” My mom.

“Bathung Mapula, the poor child is traumatised and wena you are -

“I’m what? What am I doing, Lydia? Didn’t I tell you to keep your son away from my daughter?” My mother is so embarrassing it’s actually embarrassing.

We are saved by the doctor approaching us. I stand up first and stand in front of him. My mother pulls me back.

“How’s my son?” Maboko’s father asks.

“He’s going to be fine. He is a bit concussed, but he will be okay tomorrow morning. We’ll keep him overnight and will discharge him tomorrow after we have observed him.” The doctor.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

My mother drags me out of the hospital before anything further can be said.

I woke up early, got ready for school and left the house at 06:30am before my parents came into the kitchen. I’m not even going to school. I’m going to see Maboko. And I don’t need my mother in my space this morning.

“Sho”, a car drives slowly next to me as the driver greets me. It’s the Mohale twins.

I look at them.

“Maboko asked for us to pick you up today and take you to school.” The one twin says – the one that’s driving.

“Is he awake?” I ask.

“Yeah.”

“No thanks. I’m going to see Maboko. I’m not going to school.”

“Okay, we will drop you off at the hospital. Please get in the car. We really don’t need to get hijacked in this place. It’s clearly not the safest place around here”. The driver says.

The car stops. I get inside the backseat.

We get to the hospital and half of the matric class is here. Is this a matric privilege or something? How is the entire matric class here instead of being at school? Maboko sees me mid-laughter with some girl. I feel a bit uncomfortable. Maboko sits up.

“Haven’t you done enough?” The girl says to me.

I look at her.

“You come into our school with an attitude, seek grant payments from our men to subsidise the life that you do want then you organise thugs to come and hurt him! You are not welcome here”. This must be the girl that thinks she’s Maboko’s girlfriend.

I walk towards Maboko and kiss him.

“Hey”. Me.

“Hey.” He says as he smiles at me.

“How are you feeling?” I ask him.

“I’ve been better.” He says.

“I’m sorry about yesterday. And thank you for fighting for me”, me.

He just kisses me.

The girl is quite upset.

“Linda, do you still have anything to say?” One of the Mohale twins.

The other people laugh.

“Everyone, this is my girlfriend and future wife, Teboho.” Maboko says.

Now everyone really is giggling and laughing at Linda.

“I’m spending the day with you”, I say.

Maboko kisses me.

It is 12 midday when Maboko’s mother arrives at the hospital to take Maboko home. He just got discharged. I packed his medication for him.

“Tebo, hello nana”. The mom greets me.

“Dumela mme”.

“I hope your mother is not going to make us pay for all of this. Does she even know that you are not at school?”

I’m silent.

“The two of you are clearly determined to stay together despite what your parents are saying about this relationship”.

“Mama, I love this girl.”

“I’m supporting you guys. I just want you guys safe, so if you need a place to spend time together, rather come to the house and not be on these township streets. Anything could have happened to you.”

“Thank you, mom.” Maboko.

“And we sold your car. We don’t want you to be a target. We got you a new one that’s waiting for you at home.”

How is this anyone’s life? How?

I am taken back home and no one is home because it is 1pm now. I get into my room and nap.

I wake up just after 4pm to someone knocking on the door. I open the door and it’s some child.

“Aus’Teboho, there are some boys looking for you outside.” The child tells me.

I walk out with the child and see an Audi RS3 parked with Maboko and the Mohale twins standing by it. I walk up to them.

“You should be sleeping”, I say.

“I had to come see you and make sure that I have a way of contacting you.” He says to me as he hands me a new cellphone. An iPhone.

“Maboko!” Me.

“Please accept it. Please.” Him.

I cannot believe this.

“Tebza, we not going to get hijacked or mugged here, are we?” One of the twins.

“Ona, please man. Come on”, Maboko.

“I’m just saying…”

Then I see that there are guards surrounding us. They notice that I notice.

“I’m going to FaceTime you tonight, okay?” Maboko says to me then kisses me.

“Please take care of yourself. Go home and get some rest. Please.” I tell him.

“Okay, I promise.”

“If you are not home in the next ten minutes -

“I’ll be home. Ona and Khotso are sleeping over to help me catch up with work, so we are going to work straight after this. I just needed to see you and give you this phone so we could talk tonight.”

“Okay and thank you. I appreciate this. I appreciate you.” Me.

“I love you”. He says and I know he means it.

“I love you.” I say it and I mean it. He smiles at me.

We kiss.

They get in the car and leave with one of the twins driving.

“Miss, I need to see you back to your house”, one of the guards that did not leave in the other car following the car that Maboko and the twins are in says to me.

I just oblige and walk with him.

He stands at the gate when I’m inside the house. I see my mom and sister arrive. My mom talks to the guard a bit before coming in the house. Tiisetso finds me cooking in the kitchen.

“You have a bodyguard now?” Tiisetso.

“It’s only for today and just because of what happened. It’s nothing serious.” I say.

“He is hot though. I think I must familiarise myself with him.” She says. I roll my eyes.

My mother walks into the house, takes one disgusted and disappointed look at me, then walks into the house and disappears into the bedroom.

…

Present Day

Today is the day that my son meets my parents at this family lunch that my mom and my sister have planned. I wish Tebza could come with us, but she has a meeting with the queen today. I’m a bit nervous because I don’t know how Khabane is going to be. Yes I’ve done things like take him to school and fetch him from school, but today is different and I don’t know – I just need Tebza to regulate everything. But I guess, I’ll just have to soldier on. My son and I do need such moments together without his mother.

Tebza has bathed him and dressed him up for the day. I’m ready for the day as well. Tebza is also looking nice.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us today?” I ask Tebza for the 150th time.

“I am very sure. The two of you must have fun. I got invited to a luncheon by the queen of Tholoana Kingdom. She wants us to discuss a possible business venture. I am definitely interested in what she has to say”, she tells me.

“Then maybe you can join us after the luncheon?” I propose.

“I will see you guys when you get back home. Besides, there already is a makoti at the Seete household. I don’t intend to disrespect that.” I say.

“I want you to come, mommy. I am not allowed to go anywhere without you.” Khabane tells her. This is also why I’m nervous about today. Khabane does nothing new without his mother. He might give me a hard time today.

“Your dad is your parent too. You go nowhere without one of us. I know that you will be safe. I love you, my boy.” Tebza tells Khabane.

“I love you too, mommy.” He says and hugs her.

“Please let us take your car? His car seat is already set up in your car.” I ask her.

“Sure. I’ll take your car to the palace.” She says.

We all say goodbye to each other and we leave the apartment.

Linda is actually here. Wow! I hope this is not a shit storm waiting to happen. Lebo is also here. Linda’s mood changed the minute she saw me pull my son out of Tebza’s car. Who even invited her?

“Dad, who are all these people?” Khabane already feels overwhelmed. I pick him up and carry him to the house.

“Hello little KB”, Gwen greets him.

He laughs at that. He seems to like this KB thing that Gwen calls him.

He is already in Gwen’s arms and my parents are already fussing over him. My dad gets emotional about how much he looks like my father and me. My dad starts addressing him with our clan names as if appealing to our ancestors. My mom is just as emotional. She keeps hugging him and kissing him and Khabane is pretty much over this entire moment.

“We got you presents. Would you like to see?” Gwen says to him, already taking his hand and leading him to mountains of presents. I honestly had no idea that this was a party.

My parents are still emotional.

“He is perfect”, my mother says.

“He is. Tebza did well.” I say.

“And who invited Linda?” I ask.

“Lebo. She invited people to my house and to an event that not even she was invited to.” My mom says.

My dad catches the stray bullet for that one.

I’m suddenly glad that Tebza is not here.

We are now seated at the table and Khabane is on top of me, hiding his face in my chest. This is when I need Tebza.

“KB, what’s wrong boy?” Gwen asks.

Khabane just holds onto me.

“KB?” Gwen.

He whispers in my ear and says “that horrible woman who hit mommy is here”.

Oh shit! There’s that issue. I look at Linda who is sitting next to me.

I stand up from the table and make my way outside with my son.

My parents and Gwen follow me outside. Linda and Lebo are behind them, but are within a distance.

“Do you want us to go home?” I ask him.

He nods his head and says, “Yes, I want to go to mommy”.

“Maboko, what’s going on?” My mom asks.

“Linda hit Tebza in front of him and he is just a bit shook to have seen her here.” I say.

Everyone looks at Linda.

“Linda, why would you do that?” My mom enquires.

“It’s okay guys, we will just head out.” I say.

“No ways! Linda and Lebo, thanks for joining us, but we ask that you please leave us now and give us some space to enjoy our grandson.” My mom.

Linda and Lebo stare at my mom is disbelief.

Linda walks up to Khabane and me, freaking out my son with every step that she takes towards us.

“Linda -

“Hey KB. I just want to say sorry.” Linda says, but Khabane is not having it. He is looking away and grabbing on my shirt for dear life.

“KB, please look at me”, Linda.

“Linda, please.”

“What? He doesn’t look at adults when they speak to him?”

Ja no, I’m going to divorce this woman.

I go into the house with my son tucked into my arms and grabbing on my shirt, then grab my car keys.

“Maboko! Ey wena Maboko!” She is yelling now.

I come out the house and strap my son in his car seat.

Linda is now hitting me and saying, “You think I don’t know that you live with this brat and Teboho?!” She is yelling this and everyone is pulling her off me and telling her to calm down. Khabane is crying now and I just grab Linda by her shoulders and shove her away from me.

“STOP THIS! What the fuck man?! This is my son! You going to do this shit in front of my son?!”

“Well you do all that you do because of him!”

“Linda, I’m warning you! Stop this shit! Nx!”

I get in the car and drive off.

I take my son to Spur just to have a meal with him and debrief him about today. I turn off my phone because I don’t want to be disturbed. He is a bit emotional when we get out the car, but when he sees Spur and the play areas, some excitement comes back into his eyes.

“We are going to eat first, okay?” I say.

“I’ll eat at home.”

I laugh. I let him go play and I get a seat outside. I phone the Mohale twins to join me and they have no issues.

While I wait, I phone Tebza.

“Hey”, she answers the phone.

“Hey. How’s it going there?”

“We are actually almost done. Where are you?”

“At Spur. Linda showed up at the lunch and Khabane lost it. I had to get him out of there because even Linda was losing her mind in front of him”.

“Maboko, this is becoming a problem now.”

“I know. I’m dealing with it.”

“You are dealing with it? How are you dealing with it exactly?” She’s getting upset now. Before I can even say anything else, she has clicked her tongue at me and hung up.

Ona and Khotso walk in together. They also have presents. I really don’t understand what the celebration is.

“We were on our way to your house. Gwen invited us”, Khotso tells me as they sit down and give me two wrapped presents.

“Linda was there and Khabane lost it. She hit Tebza in front of Khabane a few weeks ago. Khabane is not over it. He just became triggered all over again today. Then Linda started hitting me in front of him.”

Ona is laughing and Khotso is deeply disturbed by what I’m saying – as any normal person would be.

“I think I must just file for a divorce”, I say.

Now Ona is serious all of a sudden.

“Is that what you want?” Khotso asks me.

“Between her faking pregnancies and scaring the shit out of my son –

“And her fucking Kabelo” Ona adds.

Khotso and I both laugh at this.

“One day, you will phone me and tell me that I was right. Mark my words.” Ona says as we all laugh.

“But are you okay, though?” Khotso asks me.

I don’t quite know how to answer this question.

“Excuse me, may I please take a picture with you guys?” Some lady comes to our table and says. Only now do we notice that people are staring at us. It must be the twins that grabbed this attention.

“No! And get that phone out of my face!” Ona says, destroying the person’s phone in the process. I feel like giving her my phone because that phone is trashed. He could have just said no and ended it there. The lady leaves our table with a broken heart and now people are gossiping about us.

Khabane comes sprinting towards us. He gets to the table and sits on top of me.

“Dad, I lost my shoe.” He says.

All three of us look at him.

“How do you lose a shoe?” I ask him.

“I was playing. Then I took off my shoes and my socks. My friend and I put them in the locker. Now my one shoe and both my socks are gone.” Khabane is not even stressed about this. I am very stressed about this because his mother will want answers from me and I have no idea how anyone loses one shoe and a pair of socks.

“Where’s your other shoe?” I ask him.

A light bulb goes off in his head and he says, “Let me go look for it.”

“Take a picture of the surviving shoe and let’s go buy him a new pair. Tebza won’t notice.” Ona says. He saw how stressed I was getting.

Before Khabane flies off me, I say, “Khabane, this is Uncle Ona and Uncle Khotso. Say hi.”

“Hello”. Khabane says as he jumps over the table to greet them.

“You are a cool kid, you know that?” Ona tells him.

“Really? But I don’t have a lot of friends. Where are your children so I can play with them?”

We all laugh. What kind of a question is this?

“There is one on the way. You are going to be a big brother.” Khotso says.

“Really? Cool! And I can take him everywhere? Please buy me a brother. I don’t know how to look after a sister.”

Now we are all in stitches.

“They bought you presents.” I say.

“Everyone bought me presents today and it’s not even my birthday”. He says and sighs.

I actually have a funny kid. He opens his presents. The one box is the new PlayStation 5 and the other box is a box full of PlayStation 5 games. Khabane is losing his mind.

“I wanted this since we left LA. Mommy said that I’m too small to have a PlayStation console. Uncle Ona and Uncle Khotso, YOU ARE THE BEST!”

I really am in a lot of shit with Tebza today. We lost shoes and socks, then came back with a toy and games that Khabane is not yet allowed to have. Ona and Khotso both see how stressed I am and they cannot help themselves, they are in stitches!

…

We are home now and it’s 9pm. Tebza is putting Khabane to sleep. She calmed him down and spoke to him about today. Khabane is on a high because of the gifts he got from his two uncles. I’m impressed that he can tell them apart. A lot of people struggle with telling those twins apart. Khabane even snitched that we bought him new shoes and new socks. Tebza asked where his old shoes and socks are. She asked me instead of the owner of those shoes and socks. I know that I will be answering a lot when she is done putting Khabane down. I heard that she phoned Linda as well and gave her hell! I need peace in my life. Stru!

I am just working on my laptop, giving my attention to a few things that need my attention at work. Tebza walks out of the bedroom, grabs her iPad and sits next to me.

��Is he out?” I ask her.

“Like a light. He tells me that he was having fun until the horrible woman arrived.”

“Tebza-

“But he at least had fun with his aunt and grandparents”, she brushes this thing off. I hate it when she does this. But I know that she’s done talking about Linda for today.

“My parents really love him.” I say.

“And the twins bought a five year old a PlayStation 5 as well as all these games? Then instead of punishing him for losing shoes and socks, you buy him new ones? Maboko!”

I didn’t know that we punish kids for being kids. He was playing and lost things that we can afford to replace for him. Tebza must relax.

“You need to teach him to be responsible, Maboko. He’s been losing socks and hats at school and he thinks it’s okay because you don’t say anything to him about it”.

Honestly, I didn’t even notice.

“And that PlayStation –

“Tebza, please relax. I’m sorry I didn’t handle things better with him today. I’ll talk to him about the shoes and socks and hats that he keeps losing. I’m sorry, okay?”

She just looks at me.

“And I plan to test-drive that PS 5, so it’s not going anywhere. These consoles sold out the day that they were released and we’ve all been wanting them. The Mohale twins gave Khabane one of their consoles and they will be sharing a console. They gave him half of their games. Come on, babe. You really want them to take back such a beautiful gesture?”

She looks at me with half a smile.

“It is sweet.” She says.

“Exactly”.

“I just want Khabane to know that he must work hard for everything he wants. I don’t want to raise a spoiled little brat.”

“Listen, T. We can afford for him not to struggle and we shouldn’t feel ashamed of that. We can teach him about struggle and show him that he is very fortunate to have all he has. But he doesn’t have to suffer to learn that lesson. We can join the royal house and do community service with him, so he learns how other people live. He will ask questions and be exposed to the other side of life. Then let’s take it from there.” I say.

She looks at me and says, “Please dial the twins. I have to say thank you.”

I smile at her and dial Ona.

“Sho”, he answers.

“Hi Ona”, Tebza.

“Tebza, how are you?”

“I’m good, Ona. Thank you. I just wanted to say thank you so so much to you, Khotso and Regodise for Khabane’s PlayStation and games. I really appreciate it.”

“That’s my champ, man. We will buy him a car next and –

“Ona! This is a friendly reminder that he is still five years old”.

Ona laughs. Khotso is also laughing. I think we are on speaker.

“But guys, seriously. Thank you so much” Tebza.

“You are most welcome, T.”

The call ends.

I put my laptop on the coffee table and she puts her iPad on the coffee table.

“Well, the first ladies’ club of Tholoana Kingdom wants me to come and work with them in government. They want me to be the director of their external affairs and they are willing to be flexible to accommodate the fact that I am a mom to a five-year-old.” She says.

She’s hot propriety.

“You sound like you have some reservations”, I say to her. It could be because she is in a mood because of Linda, but she isn’t as excited as the ordinary person would be after having lunch with the queen and being offered such a job.

“I don’t want to be bumping into Linda’s mother at work. I was promised that she has been managed, but it is inevitable that our paths will cross.” She says.

“So Zandile is the reason you want to hold yourself back?” I enquire.

“Maboko, coming home was difficult enough for me. I really want a peaceful life for my son and me. Why do you think I let Linda bully me out of a relationship with you?”

I look at her and my heart breaks like it did that day she walked out of here and never looked back. I want her to shit on me so we can move past this. I’m tired of carrying this guilt on my shoulders and in my spirit. I run my hands up her thighs. I want us to talk, but I don’t want any of us to walk out of here because everything is ripped bare and we just cannot handle what my cheating has done to us.

“Why did you allow her to end us, T?” I ask her.

“You allowed her to end us. You are the one who cheated.” She says.

“We were kids, T. We had gone through so much. At some point, I even thought that maybe we were hanging on out of duty to the child that we aborted”, I tell her.

“I was fourteen when I fell pregnant with that child, Maboko. How were we going to raise that child?”

“I don’t blame you. I really don’t. I was in matric when I laid my eyes on you for the first time. I knew right there and then that we were forever. You were the most beautiful girl I had ever laid my eyes on. You still are.”

We both giggle. I had magical moments with this woman.

“I thought you were very attractive too. But my favourite part about you was how you made shit happen. You got me all wet at thirteen with that game”, she says and we both laugh aloud.

“When you asked me to be your date at your matric farewell and my parents said that I was too young to attend a matric farewell, you gave me an entire game plan of how to lie to them”, she says.

“Shit! You remember that?”

“How could I forget? I got whipped for that.”

We laugh again.

“But you were so gorgeous, man.” I tell her.

“Well, you had everything to do with it. You bought me the dress. It was the most expensive clothing item that I had ever owned. You bought me stunning shoes.”

“My sister chose those for you”.

“You paid for my hair and makeup then got me a hotel to get ready at. I lied to my parents and said I was spending the night at Gwen’s house. They had no idea that Gwen was your sister and your mother played along really well.”

I remember all of that man. Khabane was not a mistake.

“Then that night at the after party, we slow danced together to that weird rnb song I cannot even remember-

“It’s Bow Wow’s Let me hold you. I’ll never forget that song”. She says.

I smile at her and brush her chin.

“I always knew that I was going to smash you that night. But when that moment that we had when dancing to that song happened – that moment made me want to make love to you and just take care of you.” I say.

“So that’s why you got the hotel?”

We both laugh.

“You had everything planned out so perfectly, except the condoms and I got pregnant.”

“Yeah. That was the first time we had sex without condoms.”

“Thank you for taking care of me though and not treating me like trash when I came to you and told you that I was pregnant. I mean when I found out, you were at university living your best life and I was scrapping through grade nine. You came to fetch me from home and took me to your flat. You let me stay there for a week. You paid for me to have a safe abortion at a private hospital. And you let me stay with you until I had completely healed. Thank you. Not many guys would have done that.”

“Tebza, I was in love with you. Even though we were at our lowest point, I promised myself that I would marry you.”

She is now crying. I kiss her. She kisses me back. She climbs on top of me and I undress her. She undresses me. We are touching each other all over our bodies. Just as I am about to insert my penis inside of her, a knock startles us.

“You have got to be kidding me”, I say.

She chuckles and starts getting dressed. I get dressed too, extremely frustrated. I open the door.

Jesus never loved me. Why is Linda here, crying?

“Hey”, she says.

“Hey. Is everything okay?” I ask her.

“No. I miss you. I’m sorry for how I reacted to you having a son. I’m sorry for slapping Teboho in front of your son. I’m sorry for today at your parents’ house. I’m sorry for not being supportive in this entire situation. I’m ready to accept this and you and I can still work together to make our blended family and marriage work”.

Now this is something that I definitely did not expect. I don’t even know what to say or what to do. I step out of the apartment and close the door behind me. We are now standing outside the door.

“Please say something”, she says.

“I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting all of this”, I say.

She nods her head.

“Maboko, I know that Teboho will always have your heart. I know. I know that even though you are married to me, you wish your wife was actually Teboho. But baby, I love you. You are my husband and I actually want our marriage to work. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that happens”.

“I need time to think about this a little bit, okay? I just need some time to work things out with Tebza and just see how we can make this work. She is Khabane’s mother and it does concern me that the two of you are not on the best of terms. So let me chat to her and perhaps the three of us will sit down and talk about how this will work”, I say.

“I’ll talk to Teboho. I’ll make things right with her. Baby, I just want you to come home.” She says.

“Just give me some time, okay? Things will work themselves out.” I say.

“Okay. Can I at least come in? I just want us to cuddle and catch up. Enjoy our marriage a little bit?” She says.

Yho! I swear this is the craziest night of my life.

“I’m in the middle of something right now. I’ll come by the house tomorrow.” I tell her.

“I won’t disturb you, Maboko. I’ll wait for you to finish.”

“Linda, you kicked me out of our house the last time I was there. Now you want to ambush me to do what you want because you suddenly want me around?”

“Okay. Okay. I’m sorry. I’ll leave. I’ll call you tomorrow. Ulale kahle.”

“Sho.”

“Can I get a kiss? A hug? Something from my husband?”

I kiss her cheek then head back into the house and close the door.

Tebza is right behind me. She heard everything.

Oh shit!

Honestly, I just hang my head in shame and put my hands in my pockets.

“You’ve never loved me. You don’t love me.” She says to me.

“That’s not true and you know it”.

“If you loved me, you wouldn’t keep hurting me like this! I wouldn’t have left after you had cheated on me and I wouldn’t have had to raise our son on my own for five years. I was never enough for you!”

I walk towards her. I want to hold her.

“Don’t touch me!” She shouts.

I just stand in front of her. I back her against the wall. My head leans against the wall just above Tebza’s head. Tebza’s face is now facing upwards at mine.

“T -

“Wang’phita hape, Maboko! You betrayed me with her in this very house! You chose her over me! You always will! I will never be enough for you!”

“Tebza, I love you.”

“Stop saying that, Maboko! Stop it! You don’t love me!”

“I do”. I softly say.

She shakes her head and sobs. I kiss her and she does not resist the kiss.

“She was a mistake. Linda was a mistake. You are the only love of my life. I love you. I have never stopped loving you and I don’t think I ever will.”

“Then why do you hurt me so much?”

“That day that I came to your house before marrying Linda… I needed you to know that you were the one that I loved.”

“Maboko, do you realise that you’ve never chosen me? Do you realise that when it came to it, you always chose her. You cheated with her. You married her.”

“What was I supposed to do, Tebza? You left! You didn’t fight for us!”

“You were all that I knew. I’ve been yours since I was thirteen years old. I’ve probably shared you with so many women. How exactly do you fight for the love of your life when he shows you that he doesn’t want you to fight for him? Was I supposed to be that ghetto girlfriend who smacks your bitch around just to show you that I wants us to work?”

“Teboho-

“You are not the only one who hurt when we aborted that baby. It was my body that held it and that baby was killed and taken out of my body. You got to move on with your life, cheating on me with the Lindas of the world. I held my stomach every night and would remember what I had done. I had no one to talk to because I couldn’t exactly blurt it out to my family. I had no one to sleep around with like you did. Then we seemed to be getting better only for Linda to change that. This time, you left me pregnant. I got over you. I was okay. Khabane and I were okay. You just had to come into my life and confuse me all over again on the day that you were supposed to marry the very woman who did this to us.”

Tebza’s words are grating my soul right now.

“What did you want me to do, Tebza? I fucked up, but you left. You were done with us. I had to move on. Linda was there. What did you want me to do that would have made me less of an asshole?”

“You were never supposed to marry her! That day when you came to my house to see me. You were supposed to try harder with me and not see that wedding through with her. I wanted you to choose me for a damn change!”

I actually take some steps away from her. We are both in tears. She is shaking and I cannot believe my ears.

“I didn’t know that you felt that way”, I tell her.

“Am I really supposed to spell everything out for you?” She says.

…

I barely slept last night and I can just see that Tebza was crying too. Her eyes are as red and as swollen as the day she woke up after having done the abortion with our first child.

She made breakfast, so we are all having breakfast together – me, her and Khabane. Khabane is in school uniform already. I’m just wearing simple tracksuit pants and a t-shirt. Tebza is dressed up for work. The atmosphere at this table is tense, but Khabane is just singing along.

“Did you sleep well, my boy?” I ask Khabane.

He nods his head and continues to sing.

“Dad, when can I play with my PlayStation?”

“On weekends, Khabane.” Tebza snaps at him. I was going to say he can squeeze in a game before I take him to school, but –

“Only on weekends? Uncle Ona said it’s mine and I can play any time. He said I can also go to his house and he will play with me. Dad, can Uncle Ona fetch me from school today?”

The look that Tebza gives Khabane! My poor son.

Tebza is extremely upset.

“We’d move out, but I’m worried that things are becoming too unstable for him.” She says.

She’s pissing me off actually because all she ever does is just leave.

“No one is expecting you to move out”, I say in a snappy tone.

“I was just saying -

“You were just saying what? You want to just go every time things don’t go your way? This is how we got here in the first place. How about you be an adult and actually stick around? Let’s see how things work out when you actually stick around long enough to deal with shhhhhh….

I almost swore in front of my son.

She just looks at me.

“Boy, let’s go to school.” I say.

“It’s fine, I’ll take him.”

“You will never do that! Not with my son! You will not use my son to piss me off when you are upset with me. You better not test me, Teboho.”

She hugs my son and kisses him.

“I’ll see you later, okay?” She says.

“Okay. I love you, mommy.”

“I love you, baby”.

“Are you and daddy fighting?” Khabane asks his mother.

She looks at me then smiles at Khabane and says, “No baby. Daddy and I are fine.”

“Can Uncle Ona fetch me from school today?” Khabane.

If Ona were here to listen to this, he would never get over himself.

“Daddy will phone Uncle Ona and see if he’s not busy, okay?” She says then kisses him.

“He said he will never be busy for me.” Khabane insists.

“Bane, let’s go.” I say. Tebza is two seconds away from slapping my child.

Khabane and I leave.

I drop my son off at school, walking him to his class and making sure that he is settled.

I get into the car with the intention to catch Tebza at home before she dashes to work so that we could talk. But my phone rings, it’s Kabelo.

“Sho!” I answer.

He doesn’t say anything.

“Kabelo? Are you there?”

I hear Linda laughing. And then?

Kabelo: “…but I’m serious. If you keep making me work this hard, I’ll get those abs faster than what the gym will help me with.”

Linda: “what can I say? I have my gifts. But you seem to love my thighs the best. Pinning me down like that just to dine on my coochy’s cuisine?”

They laugh again.

What the fuck is going on here?

Kabelo: “You are a beautiful woman. And you certainly did not disappoint in the bedroom action neither.”

Linda: “Thank you for coming over and just being here with me. Thank you for taking care of me. You’ve made me feel something that I haven’t felt in a very long time - wanted.”

Kabelo: “I’m here for you, baby. Anything you need, you know where to find me.”

Linda: “If you keep making me cum like you did now, making me shake like that… you’ll become my daily bread.”

I’ve heard enough! I phone my parents and Linda’s parents and tell them to meet me at the house urgently.

I wait for her parents and mine to arrive. My dad arrives with Lebo. Whatever! They are all enquiring on what’s going on and I just lead them into the house. We find Linda sitting on top of the kitchen island and Kabelo is between her legs. Kabelo is feeding Linda strawberries dipped in chocolate. They are both naked. They are laughing and kissing. Linda finally sees us and she shoves Kabelo away from her then jumps off the kitchen island. Linda is extremely embarrassed. I just go for Kabelo and I pin him against the wall, punching him and throwing him on the floor. Ona was right about him all this time!

I hear Linda screaming, “Maboko, STOP IT!”

“You shut up!” Linda’s mother says to her then throws a blazer jacket at her. She tells her, “Wear this and stop standing there like some whore!” Linda wears it and covers her exposed body.

Linda starts crying. Linda’s father pulls me off Kabelo and Kabelo stands up after some time then looks at me, seeming extremely satisfied with himself.

“What’s your problem? You have Tebza. Eh, are you angry that Linda has me? What’s with the double standards?” Kabelo says to me.

I run back in his direction then my dad and Linda’s dad both hold me back.

“Young man, please leave”. My dad says to Kabelo.

“I’m not going anywhere until Linda tells me to. I’m her guest”, Kabelo says.

The room gasps. I chuckle in disbelief. I look at Linda.

“So this is how you do me?” I ask her.

“Baby, can we talk about this alone? Please?” Linda says.

Kabelo is still butt naked in my kitchen.

“I didn’t sleep with Teboho. I just wanted to be part of my son’s life.” I tell her.

“But she lives with you. You forgot to be honest about that”, she says.

“So that’s what this is about? Giving my son and his mother a place to stay – a place that she also paid for by the way – because she was in a tight spot. This warrants you fucking my friend?”

“Yeah right! You thirst for Tebza and you know it!” Kabelo says with his dick still hanging in our faces.

“You right, I do thirst for Tebza. But now I know why I will never stop thirsting for her. She would never do me like this. I’ve hurt her far more than I’ve ever you, Linda. But she has never done anything to me that’s close to this. For that, she will always be ten times the woman you will ever be.” I say,

“Maboko please… I’m sorry, baby. I made a mistake.” She says through her sobs. I’m already walking out of the house and Linda is running after me crying and screaming. I drive off and I see her running after the car. Then she kneels on the street and that’s the last thing I see before I turn at the corner.

…

It is evening now and I have just got home. I unlock the door and as I walk in, Khabane runs to me. I pick him up and my heart is suddenly filled with joy again. Tebza is in shorts and some tank top and she is cooking away in the kitchen, preparing dinner for us. Regodise is in the kitchen, sitting on a couch-like chair and talking to Tebza while Tebza cooks. Regodise looks like she’s going to give birth in my kitchen. I really hope she doesn’t. Ona and Khotso were playing PlayStation with Khabane. Khabane is on a break now while the twins play together.

“Daddy, you don't smell too good. You need to bath.” Khabane says to me then we all giggle.

“Okay, I'll get to the shower right away.” I say.

“Good. Then will you please check my homework for me? Mommy checked it yesterday.” He says.

“I hope I’m still clever”, I say.

We all laugh.

“Uncle Ona and Uncle Khotso fetched me from school today. I went to the palace and granny made me eat a lot of food. It was so nice, yho daddy.”

He is so excited. Granny is the queen of this kingdom. Imagine!

“Auntie Dise helped me with my homework. She’s like mommy. She didn’t let me play PlayStation. I’m only playing now with Uncle Khotso and Uncle Ona.”

We all laugh. This is actually funny.

I put him down and he gets back to sitting with the twins who have just finished a game. I make my way to the kitchen. I hug Regodise first then I just go and hold Tebza in my arms. I know that we fought last night and this morning, but I just need to hold her.

“Are you okay?” She asks me.

“Not really.” I say.

The twins look at me and make their way to the kitchen.

“We can talk about it after we put your son to sleep.” She says.

“Kabelo is sleeping with Linda. I caught them.”

I thought Ona would laugh and tell me that he told me so. But he is very angry instead – disappointed that he was right. The only thing restraining him right now is Regodise’s presence.

Tebza switches off the stove and holds me in her arms. She keeps saying that things will work themselves out as she holds me in her arms. I nod my head. I can’t help but hug her – my peace. This entire apartment – as small as it is – it is my world and being here makes everything around me make sense. I hug Tebza tighter and she just hugs me too. Then our little man throws himself at our legs and hugs our legs.

Home.

#tumblr blog #story time

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