.jpeg)
12
12THE MALEKA HOUSEHOLD
Reitu stares blankly at the small diary in front of her, complex thoughts of opening it or respecting the deceased privacy make it hard for her to decide what to do. She looks at the small book for a while, picks it up and puts it down before making call.
[on call]
Reitu: I’m sorry for calling so late, I just didn’t know what to do.
Kwanele: it’s fine, I totally understand. As someone who’s been where you are, I totally get the anxiety.
Reitu: I think I have found an objective for us to enter that hellhole… but----
Kwanele: wait, what?! Does your mother know about this?
Reitu: she literally is the person who proposed that I go work there so…
Kwanele: proposed? Does she know about your sister and what we have been talking about?
Reitu: no… I haven’t had a proper chance to sit her down and talk about it. I have been hesitating and I think I’m slowly leaning towards not telling her and just going ahead instead. I don’t know… I feel confused.
Kwanele: honestly, I wouldn’t blame you. As I’ve said before, whatever decision you make… I’ll root for you and support you because I know how hard this is.
Reitu: yeah, so I was thinking of going there tomorrow and see everything before infiltrating the place.
Kwanele: I don’t know why I’m so nervous like I’m the one going. I’m consumed by sudden fear but I’m ready to give this another shot and succeed this time.
Reitu: yeah, me too--- I think I am kind of prepared. Your sister… how’d she… you know, how did she--- you know what never mind, you didn’t have to tell me.
Kwanele: it’s okay, I can…
Reitu: no, no… I mean, I have to get the door. Talk later or maybe whenever, I don’t know. Bye.
[call ends]
Occupying Itu’s room happened without any plan or thought. After hearing the news about her depart, naturally Reitu occupied the room because it was the only place, she felt closer to her sister, the only place that held many memories of her and the only place that witnessed her darkest and most down moments. After perusing through her belonging for a week, she came across a diary which by no doubt belonged to Itu.
Reitu stashes the diary away before leaving the room to the living room only to find her mother with some girl almost her age, her cousin--- Seipati!! What is she doing here?!
Reitu: you?! How long has it been?! 8 years? What are you doing here?
Reitu runs to her for a hug. Seipati hugs her back, a bit tighter. Boipelo smiles to herself as she puts down the few things she got while in town.
Boipelo: ok, alright…. we get it, you missed each other. But first you have to help her with the luggage and sort these out. Prepare for dinner, I brought take aways.
Reitu: are you kidding me? Why was this kept a secret from me?
Boipelo: it was never a secret, but you stormed out on me before I could say anything…
Reitu: I am sorry about earlier MA; I am just under a lot of stress and pressure lately.
Boipelo: which is why I brought someone for you to play and work with, hope the stress gets better. I need my daughter back…
Reitu: roger that!
Seipati: I’d love to rest, it was a long way here so…cuz, can you help me pack first. I have a lot I’m curious about.
Reitu: not as much as I am… let’s go, the room is this way.
Boipelo packs the few groceries she brought back and prepares the dinner table while the girls laugh away loudly in the room. Having Seipati over is proving to be a good thing in such a few minutes, she sure will be great influence and might just be the guest they need to heal and move on from everything.
THE HOLY GRAIL MINISTRIES
The bishop suffers as she moves Lesego’s body to the office she regularly occupies. He puts her on the chair and leaves the room. He goes back to his office finding the master already in his human form. He looks at the floor and it’s spotless, not a single drop of blood, he looks at him with confusion, but the creature is too satisfied to be bothered.
The master: the little girl from last week, I caught her scent on her, they must be related, so for a clean job with no loopholes I decided to disintegrate her body and eat very single inch there is to her. We can’t have two people at the same time in the same family, getting rid of one is better. Besides, she was the weakest link, that girl--- we still need her.
Bishop: you mean the schoolgirl… how did I not know?
The master: well, better now, isn’t it? no need for a funeral, no need for any other causalities…
Bishop: but what about Lesego, she saw everything. She witnessed it.
The master: then let me get to her too then.
Bishop: no, no… isn’t that risky? You just had a whole human now, another one? Isn’t that too much?
The master: then let’s bring her home…
Bishop: much better, also I have other news that may interest you…
The master: about the ither daughter?
Bishop: yes…
The master: Mfundo already briefed me on her… for now, let’s just slow down on that family. I’ll let you know when it’s time to get her.
Bishop; well, that’s all then… shall we?
The master: by all means… where’s the other girl?
Bishop: I’ll go get here, find you in the car…
The master: so long…
CINDY’S HOUSE
Isabele hides under the bed after locking the door shut as she hears her father’s footsteps coming closer and closer to her room. It is nights like these that she mises her mother, the only person who cared about her in this house. No one was in the house when she returned from school, Cindy, the big sister was not home and obviously their father too. Ever since their mother dies, he developed a habit of drinking out all day long and come back at night to take out all his demons on them. The amount of beating they both had to take from him is uncountable.
The man bangs the door loudly and swears at the top of his voice.
Father: how dare you lock doors in my house?!! Is this what that bitch mother of yours taught you?!! Is this how you treat your elders?? Open this goddamm door now or I’ll kill you.
The little girl cries, covering her ears under the bed.
THE MALEKA HOUSEHOLD
Seipati stands in the middle of the room calling out to Reitu who is still dead asleep when the sun is already up and shining.
Seipati: come one, this is getting a little embarrassing now… just wake up already.
Reitu opens her eyes and looks around the room a little lost. Her early morning bed cousin opens the curtains and windows at the same time.
Reitu: you are out here proving me to be a bad daughter, aren’t you?
Seipati: I’m sorry cuz, Aunty told me to wake you up. She said you had something out of the house today and I must go with you. I like getting this done early so…
Reitu: give me 5 more minutes… please.
Seipati: no, it’s way past 10, I can’t wait any longer, come on… you’re not going to die. You can do this! You’ve done it plenty times before.
Reitu shuffles out of bed and goes to the bathroom. She comes back to the room to find the bed already made. She trudges to the kitchen and finds her cousin already doing dishes. She takes a look at her and saves her intrusive thoughts and makes herself a cup of coffee.
Please log in to submit a comment.