Dinner rehearsal: Part 2
“Don’t they just look gorgeous, people?” David says as looks at Simo and Lee-Ann who are sitting in the table behind him in the podium. The couple just smile in appreciation of that. Now everyone has come back to sit in their respective place where they have been reserved. The mood is great, and the love is in the air tonight.“Well, I would like to welcome everyone who made it here tonight to come and celebrate with us this very special occasion of a very special couple. On behalf of the family I’d like to thank you all for coming. I'm your host David” to that everyone claps their hands. “May I just add that everyone looks amazing tonight. You guys really came out guns blazing and I really thank you for respecting the occasion. Please give yourselves a round of applause” he says to which people respond by clapping once more.
“Well I know I’m not on the speakers list tonight but I think I will flex a muscle and use my powers as this evening’s host to give an MC remarks on this wonderful couple here, what do you think?” David Jokes, much to everyone’s laughter into the tent. So he turns around and looks at the couple for a moment and he looks at the people once more, this time with a little bit of a serious face.
“Uhmm, now that I’m thinking about it, I don’t really know where to begin” he says with a nervous smile as he looks across the tent. “If you have always been confused by what people mean when they say love is strong, love is patent, love kind and it overlooks all the wrong etc… well, I encourage you to look into this lovely couple in front of you tonight” as he turns and looks at Lee-Ann and Simo once again.
“They resemble all the characters of love. They never give up on what they believe in and if you have followed their love story closely you will know what I mean. This is what love looks like” the moment he says that point everyone in the tent stood up to clap their hands and David allows that moment to go on a bit and then motions with his hand and then everyone sit down again.
“Well, like I said we a few speeches lined up, people who would like to say a few words to this lovely couple right here. And I’d like to plead with our speakers that if they could keep it short seeing that we are low on time, we’d appreciate it a lot” as he looks at a piece of paper in his hand. “First up, I’d like to call upon my cousin Derby who is Lee-Ann’s younger sister to come and give a few words please” David says to a clapping from the guests. Derby comes over to the stage and nervously gives a smile as he looks at the people sitting down. She then turns around and looks at the couple sitting behind her and smiles. She turns around again to look at the people. It’s now all quiet in the tent as everyone is paying attention to what she has to say.
“Uhmm, thank you David for affording me this opportunity to say a few things about these people here” she says. “I will be short. All I wanted to say tonight is that I know this couple very well, Lee-Ann is my older sister and I’ve known Simo for quite some time now, and I can tell you now that this couple is something else. I don’t think there’s such thing as perfect love but I do believe that there’s something called special love and this couple here has something special. They have gone through quite a lot the past few months, things that some couples may never survive but they did. They have the strength to endure hardships and heartache because their love for one another is genuine. I’ve witnessed my sister standing her own ground for what she believes in” as she looks at her parents, especially Debra who looks away to avoid eye contact. “She never allowed anyone to decide who she must love. She made a choice for herself and for that she is my role model.”
She takes a moment to think for a second before saying “I would like to say to you Simo” as she turns around to look at them, “You are safe with my sister okay? By this time next week, you guys will be married. She will be Mrs Mthethwa and I can’t wait. You guys are my inspiration. When I grow up I would like to be like you” jokingly, as everyone claps.
Derby goes back to sit down next to JB who gives her a kiss and says “That was beautiful babe” Derby smiles back at him and nods. David goes back to the podium again, “Wow, I almost cried right there” he says as he smiles. “That was really beautiful Derby thank you very much for such kind words you had for this lovely couple. As we swiftly move along, can I please have Zandile, who is Simo’s aunt to come up and have few words pleased” he says as people clap.
Zandile slowly goes up to the podium. She first looks at Simo and suddenly her eyes are teary. She turns around and looks at everyone, “I’m so sorry, please forgive me for being emotional” she says.
“This is not easy for me because Simo is like my own son. I raised him and seeing him grow so fast to make his own decisions like this makes me proud. And I know his mom and dad would be so proud of him right now” as she wipes a tear. “We all know how difficult things have been for this couple the past few months. At some point I didn’t think this was a good idea. When Simo was involved in a car accident I thought I was going to lose him” she becomes emotional as she says. “I was angry at Lee-Ann and her family” as she locates the Stain family over there in the table and her eyes meet Debra’s eyes who is showing no emotion to what she is saying.
“I blamed them for what happened to my boy. I felt that this relationship was going to do harm than good to him. But I realized one thing, that Simo really loves you Lee-Ann” as she turns to look behind her. “He loves you so much that it doesn’t matter what any of us think, all he wants is you and you alone”
Those words make Lee-Ann emotional as she looks at Simo next to her.
“By this time next week you will be Mrs Mthethwa, Lee-Ann” Zandile says “and you shall be welcomed to our clan and shall be introduced to our ancestors” as she looks at Morgan and Debra who don't look impressed by that at all.
“And to the Stain family, I would like to say that next week we shall become one family and I hope we shall learn a lot from one another. To Simo and Lee-Ann, may your live continue to grow stronger and stronger against every challenge you face, thank you” she says she steps down, much to people’s applause. As she goes back to her seat, she gives a glance to Debra who gives a half smile to her but she doesn’t seem to mind that at all.
David goes back to the podium as he takes a moment to allow people to settle down. “Thank you so much for those kind words, and can I just say that you did a great job, raising Simo to be the kind of man he is today. The way he respects my cousin Lee-Ann just tells if his upbringing. And for that we shall thank you” he says, the words which are heart-warming to Zandile as she takes a how in gratitude.
“Okay now I think it will be important to hear words from their friends, don’t you think? People who know this couple in and out” he says as he reads down. “Firstly I would like to call upon Mlu, who is Simo’s best friend. These two grew up together and if there is anyone who knows Simo better than anyone, it would be Mlu. So please, come up here man” he says to the applause of the tent.
Mlu comes over as quickly as possible into the front. He first looks at Simo and Lee-Ann and smiles at them and then turns around to look at the people. “David, thank you very much for this opportunity” he says. “And can I just say that you look great in your suit man” as he smiles. David definitely likes the complement as he also gets the applause from the tables.
“Good evening everyone” Mlu says. “I don’t know where to begin if I had to talk about this man behind me. He is not just my best friend but he’s like a brother to me. From when we were kids, we’ve always done stuff together and had each other’s backs. I can’t believe that next week he’s taking this next stage in his life but knowing him, he had thought it through. If there’s one thing about this guy is that you won’t make him change his mind once he has decided on something” he says much to the laughter of everyone in the tent. “Just like when he fell in love with Lee-Ann” as he turns around to look at her, “I asked him a few times if he’s sure about what he was saying. He said to me brother I have never been sure of anything in my life.” As he says that Lee-Ann smiles with little teary eyes looking at Simo next to her.
“A lot has happened over the past few months as many of you may know” his face starts to change as he says that. “It looked like all was lost. At some point it was even difficult to hope that things will ever go back to being the same again, but the love these two share kept things from falling completely apart. In fact, as I’m saying that I’m thinking now that actually when these two separated for a brief spell to allow each to deal with things their own way, that’s when things went bad for everyone”
As he said that everyone just bursts out laughing. He joins in the laughter only for a moment but then suddenly his face changes again as he says, “But folks, doesn’t that tell you just how special their love is?” as he looks at the couple behind him and then looks upfront again. “Look, two different upbringings, different cultures, different race…maybe even values but their love is the glue to all that. It’s the glue that holds it together. No one can deny that” he looks at the Stains and then looks at Zandile, and then he concludes by saying “May your love for each other continue to grow from strength to strength. I love you guys” to the applause of everyone as they stand up to cheer. Mlu goes back to sit next to Julie who gives him a kiss in the cheek.
“Oh wow, that was really beautiful man, I almost cried right there but realized that I have no idea what you are talking about. I have never experienced such kind of love before and at this rate, I doubt I will ever do. I will end up at just introducing people” David says much to everyone’s laughter in the tent. Even his mother and dad find this funny as they join in.
“Well folks our last speaker for this evening is Lee-Ann’s best friend Melissa” he says. “Well when I saw the list for this evening’s speeches I was actually encouraged to see Melissa’s name in there because I am not the only one who is lonely and without a partner this evening and just like me, it seems the only thing she’ll be doing is giving speeches to those who enjoy actually enjoy life” this statement just sends everyone into stitches.
It doesn’t look like Melissa is enjoying the joke though as she looks embarrassed more than anything as she comes over to the podium. She stands there and wait for those who are still enjoying the joke to calm down a little. “Alright, alright you got me there David okay?” she says as she gives in to the joke herself.
“Yeah well, I suppose after witnessing this couple's love story it became a little difficult for me to just settle for anything. You guys really set the bar high, didn’t you?” as she turns to look at Simo and Lee-Ann and laughs, to which they laugh back. Then she turns around and looks at everyone in the tent, “David, thank you for being such a wonderful host this evening, we really appreciate you” as she looks at the MC who is pleased with himself. “Indeed it’s been an incredible evening. I greet you all and thank you for coming to celebrate this couple’s love story. I am pleased tonight to say that Lee-Ann is my best friend since when we were kids. I have never seen the sweetest human being, kind, warm and very considerate. I’ve also been lucky to have witnessed this couple’s love story as well.
You know, Lee-Ann and I used to talk about Simo a lot when he was still asking her out. We actually used to think that it was very brave of him you know” as she laughs. “I mean where do you start to approach a white girl from a rich family? I mean you really got to be a guy in love or you are smoking something really strong hahaha” she bursts out laughing again to which most people got the joke as they joined in the laughter, but it doesn’t look like Zandile, Jabu and Debra got it as they sit there without showing any emotion.
“On a serious note though” Melissa continues. “I have witnessed these guys go through a roller coaster. Interracial relationships have their own dynamics and this couple is no exception. But one thing about them though is that they never doubted for a second where they stood with regards to their love. Even when they took a break from each other, Lee would tell me just how much she loves her Simo. And she never doubted Simo’s love for her either. It only made sense that eventually they’d be in this path. So at this time next week, she will be Mrs Mthethwa” as she looks at Zandile and then Debra.
“It’s a new name for you my friend” as she turns to look at her friend who is overwhelmed by emotions as she wipes a tear. “You have things to learn, new culture and different ways of doing things” she continues. “But knowing you, you are probably looking forward to this and I just want to say to you that I’m really happy for you my friend” as she smiles “And lastly, to you Simo. I have come to know you well now and I must say I’m happy to say that I trust you and I’m at ease as far as my friend’s safety is concerned. And I know you will continue to treat her well.
To Debra and Morgan” as she turns to the Stains down in the front table, “Lee is safe. You have to trust her to make her own decisions now. The time has come to let her go be the woman you proudly raised her to be. Thank you very much” as she leaves the podium to much applause.
David comes over quickly and takes the podium. “Well, that was something special Mel, thank you very much” he says with a smile. “Well Melissa was our last speaker for tonight but can I just say that people will get their chance to say few words to the couple next week at the wedding okay? So don’t be disheartened if you wanted to have a word tonight for the lovely couple” he says with a smile. “Well, now to the last part or special part of the evening” he says as he takes a pause to have a quiet word with the band leader.
“As you guys know that tonight we are celebrating love, this couple’s live story, so unlike like me and Mel, it looks like everyone else brought a plus one with them” he says much to everyone’s laughter. Even Melissa herself can’t help but laugh at this. “So the band will play a beautiful song and I’d like to ask our special couple to lead us into a dance as everyone couple that still love each other come forward to dance” much to a laughter again. “Look we created a huge space for everyone here so there’s no excuse for couples to not come up front to have a dance okay? So let me hand over to the band”
As soon as David says that, the band starts a song to which Simo and Lee-Ann come forward to have a slow dance. At first, there is hesitancy from most people but Morgan calls on his wife, “Let’s show these young people how it’s done darling, shall we?” he says to which Debra obliges. It was like they had opened the red sea as couples start to come forward one by one, even Ben and Stacey too.
Jason and Thandeka also go up front for some fun. Mlu thinks to himself why the hell not? as he asks a hugely pregnant Julie for a dance. Everyone in the tent seems to think that is so cute as they watch them try to find rhythm around that tummy. Well, David decides to help out the loner, Melissa into the floor as well and they are having such a great time too.
“Well, would you like to dance Ms Stain” JB says to the stunningly dressed Derby who blushes as she accepts the invitation, “Well I thought you’d never ask Mr Dlomo” she says with a delighted face. They go upfront to also enjoy the moment. There’s only a few people left sitting in the tables. Even people who didn’t come with their partners this evening, did find someone to dance with, including Zandile who is having such fun with one guy.
“So do you think your mother and father have figured out what’s going on between you and me?” JB asks as they continue to dance slowly, looking in the direction of where Debra and Morgan are.
“Well babe, I was thinking it best if we told them tonight anyways” Derby says as she speaks softly into JB’s ear. “I’m sure they must figured something out already by now, they ain’t stupid. But how they feel about it is another story but remember we said that we will do this our way so that we don’t repeat the Lee-Ann-Simo saga? Well that time is now babe?” she says to a nervous looking JB. “Well, I’m definitely nervous babe I won’t lie” he says. “But in the end this was bound to happen, right? It’s now or never” he breathes a sigh but Derby decides to jump in, “remember babe, that we are not asking for their permission. We are just telling them about us”
At those words JB just looks at Derby and kisses her, “You are something special, you know that?” he says to which Derby just smiles as she continues to hold on to him. But then their moment is interrupted by someone coming behind JB and pokes him. He turns around to look who it is. It’s the last person he expected to see, Thulisile, Nkanyezi's mother.
JB is completely lost for words as he doesn’t know what to say. Derby next to him is just as confused next him. “Thuli, what are you doing here?” are the only words JB could find as he looks around and notices that this has drawn attention. “Oh that’s all you are going to say?” Thuli responds. “Why are you lost for words? Are you going to introduce me to your little white girlfriend?” as she looks at a confused Derby who is still trying to figure this out. But JB swiftly pulls Thuli by the hand to go outside the tent and Derby follows them. They stand just far enough from the tent so people can’t hear What a bad timing this girl has, JB thinks to himself.
“And you? Why are you following? Can we help you with something?” Thuli asks Derby rather rudely but JB cuts her of, “hey, hey, hey don’t talk to my girlfriend like that okay?” he raises his voice. But this makes Thuli to burst out laughing, “Hahaha your what?” she says. “You date white girls now? OMG, what happened to the JB that swore he’d never date a white girl? What has this little girl given you? Huh?” Thuli raises her voice as well but JB jumps in again, “Babe I’m sorry about this okay? This is Thulisile” he says as he is upset and embarrassed at the same time. “Oh this is Thulisile. Oh okay I get it now?” Derby says as she looks away.
But this seems to set Thuli of, “Excuse me? What do you get?” she shouts. “What did you tell your little girlfriend about me huh? You’ve been bad-mouthing me to your white little bitch me now?” she is determined to cause a scene. “Hey, hey don’t you call my girlfriend that okay” JB says as he jumps in. “What is there to gossip about you? Oh, you mean the fact that you left me with a 5-year- old baby to go chase after your dreams?” he says to her face. Thuli doesn’t seem to know how to respond to that as she goes quiet. “Look I’m here to talk to you okay? I wanted to see my daughter. I didn’t know you’d be in some white girl’s chest now” she says, looking at a stunned Derby.
“Listen Thuli, you shouldn’t be here and I don’t want you anywhere near my daughter okay? You left her 4 years ago. Why do you want to see her now? I don’t need you here please go” JB is furious. “I’m really sorry about this baby. Can we please go back inside?” he says as he takes Derby by the hand. But Thuli follows them into the tent where some people are still dancing and others have gone back to their tables.
“JB, I’m not done talking to you, okay?” Thuli shouts as she follows JB and Derby much to the attention of the people. “Can you please leave your white bitch for a second and let me talk to you about my daughter?” she is so rude. And thus leads to Mlu and Simo to come over to see what is going on here.
Debra also comes over, “darling what’s going on here?” she says to Derby. This is the last thing she wanted, to give her mom an excuse to disapprove of her and JB. “It’s nothing mom” she says but Debra isn’t convinced, “What do you mean it’s nothing?” she says. “Who is this woman who is calling you names darling?” at this point everyone is looking at this unfolding drama. But in an instant everything is disrupted by a scream, “Whoa, whoa I think my water broke” Julie shouts.
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