The Universities have opened for first year students and Amos has already started his medical degree. He already has a friend called Karina from Stellenbosch. She comes from a place of wine farms and is teaching Amos how to swim. Amos is also teaching Karina how to do a Pansula and Kwaito. Karina is an Afrikaner girl who lost her mother at three years old. She was raised by a Black American step mother whom her dad met in Thailand on a business trip.
Bongani and Sandy have also started their Business degree online with UNISA University.
Uncle Tabang and his wife Angela are still in Malawi on holiday for another week. Angela gets to see her son she had before marriage.
Uncle Tabang has asked his friend to transport his family to and fro whenever.
Since Notemba has been trying to win over Bongani's relatives, auntie Maggie has agreed to come and plead with Bongani to take Notemba as second wife. At the same time Sandy still has to find who hid the letters that Notemba wrote to Bongani to inform him of the pregnancy! She has to surround herself with the relatives that will support her. Also the family pastor back home is like family to the entire family.
It is Saturday morning and auntie Maggie has arrived like a surprise! She came by bus from Umtata to Pretoria. She arrived with five alive chickens and two sheep. The animals were in cages with food and water. Auntie Maggie has always been afraid to travel very far. She says there is not enough food in the cities! She also carried beans and dry maize to make 'umngqusho'. It is a very nutritious meal boiled for three to five hours. When it is soft, salt is added but some people fry it with tomatoes, onions and spices.
The helper was very kind to auntie Maggie. She locked up the animals in the store and showed her to Amos' bed. After a shower, auntie had breakfast. The helper aimed to impress just like in the village. She cut the slices of bread three times thicker than the normal slice. Spread on a very thick layer of margarine and lots of jam. Two fried eggs and a sausage. The tea had lots of milk and sugar. After her breakfast, auntie went to sleep.
Auntie Maggie woke up in the afternoon and asked where Bongani and Sandy were. They were at work for half day. They had woken up earlier before auntie arrived. The helper called Bongani and Sandy to let them know about the visitor.
Bongani called uncle Tabang and they both came to a conclusion that it has to be Notemba's arrangement! Now a family meeting was going to take place definitely. Uncle Tabang had to cut his holiday short.
Auntie Maggie was helping to cook dinner while she sang traditional songs that the helper joined in. They both gossiped and auntie was reminded of the old days when she was young. Girls in the village did things like fetching water at wells and gathered firewood together.
Bongani and Sandy were excited about the traditional food when they got home. Bongani had to contact the abattoir to slaughter the animals before the kids named them as their pets.
Uncle Tabang and Angela his wife arrived on Sunday evening. Of course Angela brought delicacies. Notemba called auntie Maggie everyday to push for her marriage to Bongani. On Monday evening after work, Uncle Tabang took his sister Maggie out to dinner in Sandton. They talked about the situation and agreed to postpone the meeting since this would put a strain on Sandy as she was expecting. But Uncle Tabang suggested that Notemba could be given to Bongani's elder brother Afika who lost his wife three years ago. Then he could raise the kids as his own. After all he was as educated as Notemba. Auntie Maggie agreed that this would be a solution.
It was up to auntie Maggie to create opportunities for both of them to meet. Would this work? Afika was given a long talk on the phone by auntie Maggie and he agreed to try it out. Afika thought he needed to ask Bongani first.
Bongani was not happy at first but he couldn't have both women! Notemba agreed to meet Afika. It was many years since they last saw each other at the shop where Bongani introduced him as his brother.
Notemba didn't want to look desperate so she suggested that they could be friends and see where this would lead them. Afika was more handsome and soft personality. He was more exposed and well travelled. Bongani was more of a boss with strong personality.
Uncle Tabang visited Amos and was surprised that his best friend was Karina. Karina spoke well and impressed uncle. Uncle invited Karina for lunch next weekend. All the relatives can't wait to meet her.
Notemba got a job at Steve Biiko hospital but she lives in Lynnwoodridge because she wanted Xoliswa to attend school there. Afika keeps visiting and this arrangement is working. They are both beginning to hold hands as they walk. Xoliswa keeps asking her mother whether she will get married to her dad Bongani! Looks like Notemba is falling for Afika even if he is not Boss. However Bongani is planning to pick up his daughter neat weekend. Xoliswa is excited to spend the day with her dad. She has always wanted
to see the animals at the zoo.
Afika is visiting and Notemba has prepared a romantic night. "Afika, it has to rain on the ocean even if it is filled with water", said Notemba. Afika had to figure out what the ocean was! So Afika laughs and says, "I'm coming to measure the pregnancy! " Why does it have to be parables? The villagers' romance is never obvious. Interpretations are hard work for me. And that's how Afika moved in with Notemba.
Afika is a high school teacher who could easily find a job in Pretoria. He has applied to teach at the schools there.
Auntie Maggie keeps on checking on Notemba. She brought pregnancy 'muti' traditional herbs. Sandy likes the herbs but Notemba prefers to depend on hospital care.
Auntie Maggie will only go back home in three weeks time. She wants to see peace between all the relatives. I hope Sandy will forgive Notemba for cheating on her with Bongani. Looks like she has to or auntie Maggie will have to discipline her.
ZANTON
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