Chapter 2

Manzini

I'm busy ironing my uniform
I'm listening to doctor Tumi
"We love you lord"
It sooths me and makes me believe a good tomorrow is coming
Mbali:Why didn't you wake me up you monkey?
Because I didn't want to
She rushed to kitchen to put the kettle on
She rushed to her room again to bath
"Mbali ulate again?"
That's aunty Zodwa my uncle's evil wife
Mbali:Mama this monkey didn't wake me up
She pushed me and I nearly fell
And burned myself with iron
Zodwa:Yeah wena wenzani?
Manzini:Ngi'iron aunty
Zodwa:Uya'iron?uthingile igeze wena?
Manzini:Cha..
Zodwa:Cha yini inja?
Manzini:Cha aunty
Zodwa:But u'busy uya'iron umuhle wena nah shame
I couldn't even respond to that
She switched the iron off
And poured water on my uniform
Manzini:Aunty!!
Zodwa:We will see how will you get in school and you are writing exams in an hour
This woman she's more than evil
Right now I'm busy trying to make my uniform to get dry
I hear the door being locked
Manzini:Aunty!?
When I look at by the window
They are busy laughing with her daughter
Manzini:Aunty please...
Zodwa:Bye bye nana stay well
I fell hard by my knees
Today I'm writing mathematics paper 1
I can't afford not to write because I applied bursary it requires me to pass maths
And this is final exam
I cried so bad
I was cooped in a door
Rain is also pouring so hard
Manzini:God I don't know what did I do to you to fail me every time you get a chance,why can't you come through for me just once please lord, I'm begging you because I have been patience for you for too long since I was a child. I don't know your love so I'm begging you to show it to me unkulukulu wam
I hear door opening
I'm praying not to be aunty again she will do worse what she did
Or her husband because he will want sex from me
Bongani:Manzini why you cooped up in there like that?
I cried more
Bongani:Hey hey come to me
His hug is what I needed
Bongani:Aren't you supposed to be writing exam today?
I tried to wipe my tears but they couldn't stop coming
Bongani:Know what go wear uniform I'm taking you to school
Manzini:I...I can't my uniform is wet?
Bongani:How?
Manzini:I..I
Bongani:Know what we going to borrow my friend lil sis uniform
Manzini:I'm 30min late Bongani
Bongani:Better late than not coming okay
I just nodded