SUBSTITUTE - CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

SUBSTITUTE

QINILE.

We all know what we want in life, and I know exactly what I want in my life.

A nice life.!

A future to hold and see with admiration.. a life that won't stress me and my ancestors like now.

My dreams would have came to life if I worked hard on my studies and kept a straight face throughout it all. But I never had a guiding angel to help me prosper.

My life is messed up nje.!

It wasn't easy looking after my mother and sthembisile while busy with school. I had to work to see us out to another day, sometimes I would have workload and skip classes in college.

At the end of the years I strived hard to live I passed with low marks.

And now the same low marks can't afford me a job . I was raised without a father, I saw life with another eye perspective so I fought to provide for my family.

Mandla ran away from his responsibilities and never looked back.

" And then.? "

And where has she been , I've been sitting out here for the past one hour now.

" Haibo Maa. Where were you.? Kuningi ngilana."

And god have mercy on me if that's not my make up she is putting on.

Nelisiwe is testing the sleeping dog in me.

" Kuthiwa the night is still young."

She reeks alcohol this one.

This is what she had turned herself into for the past one year now. My mother knows how to party out and drink the same alcohol she would tell me not to touch ever since I was a teenager.

" Are those my eyelashes.?"

I know she is my mother but her mates are at home sleeping at this time or watching generations the legacy on TV than what she is doing.

Oh my god, this is toucher through my eyes.

" Can I have the keys please."

" I don't have the keys."

My eyes blinked twice, lord.!

I've been in heels the whole day going up and down dropping CV's there and there looking for a job , why is she joking like this now. I need to rest.

" Where are the keys.?"

" Under the mat slima."

If I knew I wouldn't be standing with her right now.

I only thank God that sthembisile is in Capetown for school and not here to see what this house is becoming day by day.

Not her witnessing her mother getting all young again acting like a teenage girl. I beg.!

" How did the interview go. ? "

I can't be discussing that one at the moment because I messed up the moment they gave me a chance to speak.

I run my mouth even on paper so yeah.! With that sthembisile's saga on my CV I doubt I'll be getting that job soon.

" I told you that you can never get a job were you don't fit, leave this rich people alone for themselves. "

She laughs.

She is probably doing this because of our neighbours that discourage her all the time just because their children are stable and reliable enough to afford anything they want, The last thing I would want to do is to impress people who can't lift a finger for us.

" They said they will call me if ever I got the job."

She throws herself on the couch and looked my way.

My feet hurts, heels were a bad idea.

" It was never a good thing to go there in the first place."

" Am looking for a job Maa, not fame. And am sorry if am dissapointing you with that."

She is drunk, dizzy and numb at the moment and so I don't think it's a good thing to argue with her like this.

Soon she will be snoring on that couch. I walked to my room, it's better off like that than what we are about to do.

.

.

A shake fighting to change my organs positions in me is on a mission. I grip on my pillow and bury my face for a minute.

The ringing sound of my phone and my mother complaining about it ringing for minutes now.

" This phone is starting to annoy me Qini, Vuka Ntombi."

I love my mother when she is sober, I pray she stays like this every day. Never to step her feet in a shebeen ever again.

" Qinile.!"

She drags my blanket off me and a sigh leaving my lungs.

" Good morning Maa."

" Answer your phone or else the person might give up. Kunini."

I sat up on my bed and dragged my phone to my eyes, the caller is unknown.

I usually don't pay attention to such callers. It's a scam, not worth my sleep.

" Hello.? Who is this.?"

" Hi, it's SK enterprises. Am I speaking to miss Nyambose."

It's still early for jokes. Right.?

Did she just say SK enterprises.?

" Yes, yeah. "

My heart is feeling cold. It's about to pump oil if not blood.

" Congratulations, you got the job as the personal assistant. Can you please make it at nine o'clock. You are authorised to start today."

" What the.."

I block my mouth before I curse on god this morning.

" Ok, ok..Uhm.. sure thing."

" Thank you, see you then."

She hangs up .

The time on my screen boosted my scream to fly through my lungs.

" Shit.! Am getting late. . Am getting late on my first day."

" What's wrong.? What happened.? What did sthembisile do this time. I'll kill that child today. "

Too many questions at the same time.

" I got a job Maa. And am getting late."

She just called and said I got a job at this hour. It's a freaking short notice. I can never make it on time.

It's ten pass eight, I need to bath and dress myself professional first, this ain't just any company but a multimillionaire making company. Secondly I haven't had a breakfast yet.

" Maa."

I hold up my make up kit and a my eyes can see is the emptiness of what used to be makeup products. This woman drowned all of it on her face last night. As if she was going for God's event up there.

" This job came unexpected, it wasn't planned. But maybe something will come up as days pass by.''

I can't appear infront of my new boss looking like Barbie never existed before.

" Plus forget about make up. You look beautiful with your natural features, I baked you well. Trust me."

I ran to boil some water for my bath, I can't deal with this.

SKHOSANA.

" Sir, your breakfast."

Thandaza, the maid smiles and pushed a tray of cornflakes bowl closer to Skhosana.

He puts his phone away and frown looking at the breakfast presented to him.

" What's this.?"

" Breakfast sir."

He knows what flakes are eaten for. But why are they served for him on Wednesday. There are rules and regulations followed in this house. Anything should be served as ordered.

" It's Wednesday , and I know you haven't lost your mind "

There she goes. Guilt starting to heat her up and her fingers playing nervous game against each other.

" Sir, there is no bread and eggs."

Pardon to the devil for this one.

He faced her defeated. Really now.?

Why is it that everything in his life turns out to be useless. It's only three of them in this house including the garden boy on that number . He it's twice in a day unless he has a visitor over.

" Why didn't you tell me on time.?"

He is not eating this. Not today though, there is a day for such food.

" I noticed that you have been grumpy for the past one week sir, so I.. I couldn't afford to lose my job by disturbing your peace of mind sir. "

Thandaza looks down to meet his eyes digging a grave to no return. Are they friends this days for her to outer such words.

" Sorry sir, sorry."

She keeps the distance away from his reach. Skhosana stands up and took out his card in his wallet.

" Go and buy anything short in this house. Anything that is short..by the time I come back make sure that dinner is ready."

" Yes sir."

He grabs his laptop bag and phone then walked out.

He then calls Mbutho up.

" I just got off a night shift. What's up.?"

" Oh, I thought I'll find you in your office at the hospital."

Mbutho laughs, Skhosana's loneliness is now affecting Mbutho because he drags him along to whatever shit he is going through.

" Or you mean you want me in my office.?"

" Your are a doctor, and patients need your services."

" What is it khehla.? What's bothering you.?"

Skhosana enters his car and the driver starts the engine.

" Am ready to find a surrogate."

This revelation shocks Mbutho to sit back and breathe out before he says something that will end this call in seconds. His mind snaps back on the topic.

" Man, you need to take a break on this thing. . "

" I thought of it. Money is not a problem here, I only need someone to carry my child and that's it. I'll pay "

" Skhosana. You need to think about this. It's not something you can wake up and act on. You need to think straight first. Don't let this overcome you, you know what you have been through big man."

" I can just get another doctor to do it if you can't. But I'll just let you know what's next as my best friend "

Mbutho nods as if he can see him, he is disappointed in him but deep down he understands how his friend feels. But that alone doesn't give him the permission to test their friendship like that.

He knows him, he knows Skhosana and this ain't him.

" Ok buddy, I'll need your semen if that's your next step and from there.. we can look for a surrogate as you with."

Skhosana exhale. Finally the big lump on his lungs is easily fading bit by bit.