Dinner rehearsal
Today is dinner Rehearsal for Simo and Lee-Ann’s wedding, hosted at the Stains mansion's huge beautiful lawn where a marquee tent is erected. Everyone is dressed to the T’s since it’s a black tie event. The deco is on point, the live band is doing the things and the mood is electric. Family, friends and colleagues of both Simo and Lee-Ann are present. No one wants to miss this beautiful occasion.“David, is everything set? Let’s get started okay?” Morgan says as he comes over to the erected stage where David who is this evening’s host is standing, looking all dapper. “Uhmm, we are almost ready uncle Morgan, we are just waiting on Simo and Lee-Ann who should be coming through any minute now” David says nervously as he looks around where everyone is seated. Then Morgan moves back to his table where he is seated with his wife Debra, Ben and Stacey and a few other esteemed guests.
He notices that his wife is a little quiet with a straight face, not showing much emotion. “What’s wrong darling? Is everything okay?” he asks quietly not wanting to draw attention from the people who are seated with them.
“I’m okay. It’s just that I’m a little emotional seeing that my daughter will soon be called by another name” Debra says, but Morgan not wanting to entertain what his wife is trying to do, he jumps right in there, “Oh please sweetheart don’t start that tonight, I beg you. It’s my daughter’s happy hour so please let’s not spoil it for her okay?” he whispers to her.
***
Over to one of the tables, Melissa is seated with her brother and a few other people. Don’t they just look beautiful with Melissa in a green dress and Jason in a tuxedo? “Are you sure you are okay?” Melissa whispers to her brother. “I mean, with Lee-Ann soon to be married. Are you sure you are okay being…”? but Jason, irritated by the same stupid joke all the time jumps in to cut her off, “Mel, can you please stop with that?” he says. “This is not funny anymore okay? Seriously. How many times must I say that I don’t have a crush on your friend? That was such a very long time ago, so can you please move on already?” he’s really irritated.
But Melissa shrugs her shoulders and says, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. I was only joking okay? Why are you…” but Jason cuts her off again. “Well, it’s not funny anymore” he says. “Lee-Ann has moved on and I have moved, so everyone else should do the same. I’m with Thandeka now and…” but as he says, he is interrupted by Thandeka who comes and sits down next to him. “Speak of the devil” Jason says as his eyes brighten with a smile. “Hey baby, how are you?” he says as he hugs and kiss Thandeka.
“Hey baby, I’m sorry I’m late. I just had to make sure I look the part you know” Thandeka says with a smile. She’s wearing a beautiful strapless and backless purple body fit dress. “Oh hi Melissa” she says as she hugs Melissa who hugs her back warmly. “Hey. How are you? Oh I thank you for keeping this one online, Thandeka” Melissa says jokingly. “He really needed a beautiful, strong woman in his life to keep him in check. His loneliness was beginning to be a irritation around the house, hahaha”
This joke doesn’t seem to amuse Jason, who doesn’t look impressed at all, “Excuse me? Look who’s talking?” he says. “Who did you bring with you tonight again? Oh I forgot you are lonely with no man” he moves back at his sister who this time doesn’t seem to like that joke at all but she then decides to ignore her brother completely as she cuts him of, “So, Thandeka, what did your brother had to say about you dating this idiot right here?” she asks Thandeka who seems to have been caught off guard.
“Oh, Uhmm…he is getting used to the idea you know. I think, him being with my friend Derby has taught him quite a few things about interracial relationships. But you know, JB will always be JB” Thandeka says as she laughs uncomfortably.
“Well, I for one am happy that you are dating my brother. He is a little too much sometimes but he’s okay” Melissa says as she smiles at her brother. “Plus if this he gives you trouble in any way, please don’t hesitate to let me know do that I can sort him out okay?” she says but that makes Thandeka blush a little as she says “Ok that, I will do” as she looks at her boyfriend. “Okay you guys can you excuse me a little bit? I think I just saw a snack right there” Melissa says as she gets up and leave the table.
***
Over to another table, Zandile is sitting with, amongst other guests Jabu and doesn’t she look stunning a beautiful dark blue flowing dress. Today is her nephew’s day so she had to dress up. But she doesn’t look energetic as she always is. It looks like she is distracted a little bit.
“Aunt Zandile, are you okay? You don’t look yourself and you haven’t said much since we’ve been here. What’s wrong?” Jabu asks curiously. But Zandile thinks for a second and says “I’m okay darling, I’m just a little tired I was working night shift last night and worked again today so I guess I just need some rest” Zandile says as she looks away. “Oh come on auntie, really? You’ve always worked double shifts before, this isn’t the first time. So please tell me what’s going on? * Jabu insists. Zandile looks at her and takes a deep sigh, “Okay, okay...” she says. “My boy is getting married next week and I’m very conflicted about that. I suppose I’ve never fully recovered from what happened months ago when Simo almost died in that car accident, all because of this relationship with this girl” she has a worried face.
“Awu, auntie but Simo and Lee-Ann worked that out and decided to give their love a chance. They really do love each other and they chose to put the past behind them, can’t you try and do the same?” Jabu asks politely but it doesn’t look like Zandile likes that. “Look I don’t have a problem with Lee-Ann per say. She’s a lovely, respectful girl but…” she thinks for a second
“But this relationship became too toxic it almost killed my boy and on the other side there’s Lee- Ann’s parents who are racists. They want to control how my son will treat their daughter. They don’t want to acknowledge our African ways of doing things, and that I really can’t accept Jabu, no I can’t” she is beginning to become upset. “Why must white people always try to dictate to blacks on how to live, we are still their slaves to this day? My son is not going to be a Stain servant, that will never happen on my watch” but as Jabu sees that Zandile is raising her voice a little bit, which may draw attention she decides to jump in right there, “Okay, auntie, I really get you hey, I really do” she says as she gives Zandile as back rub.
“Look I know what you mean hey. It’s the same thing I’m going through with my brother and the Smart family. They want to decide on how his children must be raised and I’m fighting them on that. I’m not going to allow them to dictate to us like that” she herself is now getting upset a little bit.
“Oh yeah, how is that situation going by the way?” Zandile asks curiously but Jabu shrugs her shoulders, “It’s been so difficult to find common ground with these people. If they had things their way, they’d cut my brother from his kids’ lives completely if they had a way. Stacey clearly doesn’t Mlu near her daughter but luckily Julie herself told them that they will go to Mahlabathini when the babies are born, so that they’ll see their grandma and also they’ll be introduced to their ancestors there. I thought that was brave of her which makes me feel different about her now. But I still have a serious problem with her parents' racist attitude” she says as she looks over where the Smarts are sitting.
“Don’t give in to them, you hear me?” Zandile says in a whisper, not wanting people around them to hear. “We black people can’t raise children like we are white. We have rituals and tradition. Those babies are Mlu’s as much as they are Julie’s. He has every right to have a say, not just an opinion but a final say. These white people must stop undermining us?” she says to which Jabu nods as she sips on her juice.
***
Over to another table, Mlu is sitting with Julie and a few other guests, amongst which is Dr Jessica Seago. Even though Julie looks like she’s ready to pop, she’s still dressed so stunningly in a cream flowing dress. Mlu himself looks good in a black tuxedo. Today is his best friend’s day he had to look the part. He decided to sit with Julie not with JB as usual.
“Shouldn’t they be out here now? Why are they taking this long to come out? Shouldn’t you go check if your friend is okay?” Julie says to Mlu who looks around the tent. “Nah, I think they will be out anytime now, don’t worry about it” he says. “Are you sure you are okay to be here? I mean you said you’ve had contraction all day. Shouldn’t…” but Mlu is cut off by Julie who wants to ease his worries, “Oh come on, I’m okay” she says. “yes I’ve been having those contractions but it doesn’t mean I’m going to go to labour. Besides, tonight is my cousin’s special day I couldn’t miss it for the whole world. Plus, if all fails, Dr Seago is here to take of me, ain’t that right Jessica?” she says as she smiles at Jessica who sits next to Mlu.
“Oh yes, don’t worry Mlu she is going to be okay” Jessica says with a smile to ease worry on Mlu’s face and he reluctantly nods. “You guys please excuse me, I see my colleague Zandile over there, I will go and say hi okay” Jessica says as she leaves the table.
“So your folks are still mad at me that we will be going to Mahlabathini after the birth of the kids?” an embarrassment Mlu asks reluctantly not knowing how this will come out. Julie thinks for a second as she looks over where her parents are seated. “Well, it’s not like they have a say in this anyways” she says. “Look, I meant it when I said that we will decide everything together as far as these babies are concerned. Yes, they are the grandparents and I love them but they can’t decide what happens with this. You have more say than they do” she says with a smile. Mlu takes a second to think as he
looks at Julie in the eyes. It’s as if he is looking for words to say but they can’t come out right.
“Can I tell you something?” he says as he breaks eye contact, which gets Julie wondering. “Yes, what is it?” she asks curiously. But Mlu looks at her again, still trying to find words, but only makes Julie a little anxious as she says, “Mlu, what is it?” she is looking right into his eyes but Mlu breaks eye contact again as he looks around the tent.
“I really love the new you” he says as he finally finds courage. “I had actually thought that it was a phase caused by the pregnancy. I’ve been waiting for you to go back to the old Julie who is loud, feisty, authoritative and…” but Julie jumps in, “And mean and vindictive” she says, which makes Mlu feel embarrassed as he says, “no I wasn’t going to say that but…” but Julie cuts him off again. “It’s okay Mlu” she says. “It’s okay I can own that now. I really was mean and vindictive. I hurt people, a lot. I messed things up a lot. I hurt you bad and you didn’t dese it. I hurt Simo and my cousin when I was blinded by bitterness and vengeance. But I’m really learning to change my ways. These little ones here” as she rubs her tummy, “they gave me a new life, a second chance. And I’m not willing to mess that up. And to have your support means a lot to me” she says as she looks at Mlu with teary eyes.
“Look, I believe you okay” Mlu says he holds Julie’s hands. “I am just as excited about this pregnancy as you are. I can’t wait to hold them in my arms. I can’t wait to watch them grow. But you know what I also can’t wait for?” he asks a curious Julie who raises her eyebrow as she is breathlessly waiting to hear what Mlu has to say.
“I can’t wait to raise these kids with you” he says much to Julie’s confusion. “What are you saying Mr?” Julie says with a smile that brightens her eyes. “I’m saying I love you Ms Smart” Mlu says as he smiles back at her. “I’m saying I want you to be part of my life and I want you to be part of mine, officially this time. And hopefully once we have established a strong foundation we can think about when we want to get married. But first things first, we’ll discuss how to handle this baby thing arrangement when we are in Mahlabathini okay?” he says to a speechless Julie who has run out of words. All she could do is just kiss Mlu with joy in her heart, albeit in full view of her parents on the far side of the tent.
***
Over at the Smarts table, they had witnessed Mlu Julie kissing. It doesn’t look like Stacey enjoyed that, not one bit. She has been a little quiet since then. She can’t show her disapproval since she doesn’t want to spoil her niece, Lee-Ann’s night, but she hasn’t been the same since then.
“So, I take it Mlu and Julie are together now, since they are kissing in public?” Debra who is looking less than impressed herself says. This causes a moment of silence as Stacey doesn’t look comfortable to talk about this. But she reluctantly says, “I can never know what’s going on between those two but what can we do? It’s their lives?” as she takes a sip on her glass. “And the baby issue? Is that part sorted out yet?” Debra probes to which Stacey shrugs her shoulders and says, “Well, that other month she told us they will go to the farms to introduce the babies to their grandmother, who is Mlu’s mother and then they will introduce the babies to ancestors. Can you believe it?” she looks really annoyed by this.
“Why the hell did Julie agree to this?” Debra jumps in. “I mean, introduce the babies to what? Ancestors? How the hell do we know if that’s safe or not for the babies? What if they burn some things that babies may be allergic to? Is it even safe to travel with new horns” she asks. “Why doesn’t Mlu’s mother travel here to see the babies?” Debra continues but Ben sees that this may get out of control, he jumps in, “Ladies, easy okay?” he says. “Look, apparently Mlu’s mother is ill to travel and…” but Stacey cuts him off, “Be that as it may darling, then why not wait until she is better and then she can come here? Why must the babies go the farms where it’s dirty and unhygienic? On top of that, my grand babies must be introduced to ancestors through some stupid rituals?”
On hearing that Morgan jumps in there as well to have a say, “No Stacey that’s not the way to talk about other people’s beliefs” he says. “Yes, we may not understand some of these things but we can’t dismiss Mlu’s culture like that. But we can only hope that it is safe for the babies. I don’t think he would put the lives of his babies at risk, don’t you think?” he asks to a deafening silence.
Everyone takes a minute to think as they look over to where Julie and Mlu are seated. But then Ben decides to break the silence. “Besides, Julie agrees with this as well so we don’t really have a say in it” he says. “We had promised to support their decisions, didn’t we darling?” as he looks at the unimpressed Stacey.
“Yes we said we’d support them, but don’t you think this is rather extreme?” she asks with a frustrated face. “I don’t support the idea of going to the farms with babies. I think we are giving this Mlu too much say in all this…” but Stacey is cut off by Ben who also now looks irritated by his wife’s behaviour, “He is the father darling, of course he has a say, as much as your daughter has. If we don’t support her in this we are going to lose her, all over again. Is that what you really want?” as he raises his voice a little bit. Stacey looks away as she is annoyed by this question. There’s a moment of uncomfortable silence in the table as it is becoming clear that this topic is full of emotions.
“And what is it that I hear about them giving them Zulu names?” Debra breaks the silence. “Are we supposed to be learning difficult names now? What’s next? They will be going to black schools now, learning Zulu things?” she asks furiously, but before anyone could answer, they are disrupted by David who is at the podium. Timing couldn’t be perfect for Ben and Morgan who were struggling to keep their wives' emotions in check.
“Everybody, please lend us your ear” David says. “We apologies for the delay but can we all stand up and give a big round of applause for the soon to be Mr and Mrs Mthethwa” he says as every stands to clap for Simo and Lee-Ann who get to the stage to sit in the table that is beautifully set up for them.
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