#17 Smangaliso and Samukelisiwe
“Usuyajola wena?” Sonics voice comes crashing into Samu’s bedroom. “Have you slept with him?” he asks and the twins frown. Samu frowns out of fear. She has a fear towards Sonic that she mistakes for respect. Sma frowns out of fatigue. If she could roll her eyes she would, but she knows that it would only invite more fumes from Sonics mouth. “Sawubona,” they greet him. He stops as if coming down from a trance. “What if she was getting dressed?” Sma asks while getting up from the bed. She walks out of the room and they both follow her. “Gideon was coming home from our night shift, uthi he saw you leaving his complex,” he says while following Sma down the stairs and into the lounge. “Sma, this lousy man of yours didn’t even have the decency to drop you off himself,” “You got all of that from Gideon the spy seeing me drive out a complex? Amazing.” she claps once and Samu cringes a little. She used to try and handle Sma during these arguments with Sonic but now she just makes sure that she’s present. “Sma angidlali, no sister of mine will behave like this.” “Kuhle ke, so you are aware that I’m not your child.” she replies and Samu wishes that the earth would part right where she’s standing. Mwelase and anti Mbonge ring the buzzer, they’ve come to pick them up for Sunday lunch.
Samu chose the restaurant for the family lunch. She based her choice on its proximity to their fathers office so that he’d have no excuse not to come. “I love how that buzzer vanquished your annoying brother,” Sma says and Samu laughs. “He’s good at it ne?” she replies. “No Samu, your brother thinks he is uBabo.” They stop to finish their gossip before going back to the table. Sonic is telling Mwelase a story that is making her giggle heartily. The twins look at each other. They remember when they were in high school and Sonic would bring them branded t-shirts and USB’s from his university events. They seldom see that side of him now. Before they order desert, their father announces that it’s time for him to leave. He pats the twins on their shoulders and kisses Mwelase on the forehead. He thanks his sister her for lunch and turns to Sonic and asks him to walk him out. “Remember, convince your sister to end this gay phase now and the Standerton route is yours.” he says before closing his car door. “Babo!” Mwelase calls and they both turn to see her and Samu standing hand-in-hand. “Babo, you forgot to give me my pocket money for the week,” she says walking towards him with her hand out. He takes out his wallet and Mwelase starts to tell them a story about what she’s going to do with the money. Her story fills the awkward silence and relieves Samu from her thoughts about the parts of the conversation that she had just heard.
“ubaba told me about your girlfriend. He’s so disappointed yazi Sma,” Sonic says the moment they get into the apartment. “Mmm acting is a family thing ne, because ‘dissapointed’ was not the impression he gave me when we talked.” “Sma!” he replies clenching his fists. “… a standing ovation for the added detail of asking to meet Nina.” She says and closes her bedroom door. Minutes later, Samu knocks once and enters Sma’s bedroom. “You told him her identity?” “Ya, it’s been a year, it was time,” “Sma! …” she exclaims and they both realise that they need to have a talk about the relationship timeline. “ … and uSiyamthanda? Have you forgotten what happened?” “Ya but that was a long time ago and our situations are not the same,” she says trying to convince her sister and herself. But memories of the past come fast, riding on emotions. She remembers how her cousin became withdrawn a few days before she was sent to boarding school. She remembers that it had only been a few weeks after Mwelase was born. “I think I heard him offer Sonic something in Standerton in return for him ending your gay phase,” “Sekuyi phase manje le Samu?” “No no, his words, not mine,” Samu replies and stops pacing for a moment.
“I’m so sorry lovely. I knew there would be a reaction, I just didn’t think it would be laced with ignorance,” Sma says while putting a glass of beer in front of Nina. She thanks her for the beer and makes space for her to sit on the couch. They sit there, upright and silent, for a moment. Sma waiting for Nina to respond. And Nina deciding whether or not to change the subject. “Your dad didn’t help the situation by offering to pay him.” “Pay him? Hayibo, you think that’s what it is?” she replies and they turn to face each other. Sma’s heart jumps. Their conversation and it’s worries fade with each beat. Nina smiles and gently places her hand on her chest. “Still?” “Always,” she replies.
Noma the writer 