Zuzile Mfusi
The only thing I’m battling with in this pregnancy is nausea. The intense smell of the grease used to fry the eggs and bacon downstairs has me running back up to my room to vomit my intestines out. When I lift my head back up, I feel lightheaded and weak.
I rinse my mouth, grab my handbag and make my way out the room.
My family was already sitting at the table enjoying breakfast, the one I can’t bear to stomach. I need something light because my stomach is empty. I greeted them.
“Please take me to school sis.” Muzi hijacked me.
He’s my mother’s last born, the egg of the family, I love him like my own son, I’d do anything for this little mischievous mini me. He gave me soft pleading eyes.
“Finish up so we can go.” I say.
“Yes, thank you. I love you!” yeah sure he does.
I chuckle and take an apple from the fruit bowl.
“Are you not eating?” mom asks suspiciously.
That side eye she sends my way convinces me she has a lot to say.
“I’m not hungry yet. I’ll grab something at the office.” I defend.
That time I’m starving! She doesn’t say much, she just continues to give me weird looks. I tell Muzi to hurry because the smell of the grease is starting to work up my stomach again and I can’t stand it. In no time, we are on the way out.
I dropped him off at school, and I got myself another I love you when I gave him money. It’s easy to bribe these kids.
When I arrived at the hospital, my receptionist greeted me.
“How is my day looking today?” I asked her.
She paged through her diary.
“Aside from your 3 scheduled appointments today, there is a Linda Madlala in your office wanting to speak to you. I tried to stop her, but she insisted you know her.” mam’ Linda?
“No, it’s okay. Hold any patients until she leaves.” she nods.
I make my way inside and she’s sitting there with a bouncy Mvelwenhle. I wonder why he isn’t at school.
“Hello mommy.” he comes to engulf me in a big hug.
Mvelo is Kabelo’s child. He’s 6 years old and he lives with his maternal grandmother. The story is his mother, Lindiwe is a drunkard woman who has no cares or responsibilities in the world, hence why she dumped her only son with her mother so she could continue living her party animal life funded by blessers. Kabelo fell “victim” to her ways, and she got pregnant after their one-night stand. He didn’t support Mvelo for the first two years of his life, he wasn’t even involved in his life, but as soon as I learned about his existence, I couldn’t let him possibly continue to live lavishly while his only son suffered. So Mvelo comes by to visit when I’m around, hence he calls me mommy. We have a beautiful bond, and I love him with my whole heart; he grew on me. That and I think he thinks I’m his mom because Lindiwe is barely around.
“How are you my big boy!” I kissed him all over his face.
“I’m good, I miss you and daddy.” he says.
He’s too big, I can’t pick him up like I used to.
“You should tell gogo that you want to come visit in December.” I tell him and grab his hand.
I go to my office chair.
“Sawbona Ma.” I greet his grandmother.
They live so far; I wonder what made them travel all the way here.
“Is everything okay ma?” I ask her when I’ve settled in properly.
“No. Do you perhaps know if Kabelo stopped paying school fees or if it’s delayed? I received a letter from his school saying we are behind with payments, and he can’t go back until they are paid. I can’t afford his school; my pension all goes towards grocery already and Lindiwe doesn’t send money home. I’ve been trying to get a hold of Kabelo to no avail.” she states.
“No ma, I actually wasn’t aware. Let me call him and find out.” I know for a fact Kabelo is not having financial problems.
I used my office phone to call him. He answers only on the second ring.
“Sthandwa sami.”
“Mthiyane. I’m with Mvelo’s grandmother, and she’s telling me that Mvelo hasn’t been going to school because school fees haven’t been paid. She’s been trying to get a hold of you, but you aren’t answering.” I relay the story.
“About that actually. I wanted to take Mvelo out of that school because I want him to move in with me.” men!
“Okay but why would you stop paying school fees love? I mean it’s already the end of the year, and this person is going to grade 1 next year. If we swop schools now, they may want to make him repeat the year. You should have asked me to help you.” I say.
“I didn’t know he was going grade 1.” what does he know.
I’m sure he doesn’t even know this boys’ shoe size. He’s no different from an absent father; I don’t know how it would be if I wasn’t in his life and had forced him to take care of his son. Maybe Mam’ Linda would be struggling alone.
“It’s okay. Just please pay the balance for the year, and then if you want him to move in with you, you’ll finish that conversation with Mam’ Linda. I’ll also help you enrol him anywhere you think is fit.” I say.
“Okay my love.” I wrap up the conversation with Kabelo and redirect my attention to Mam’ Linda who is looking at me attentively.
“Okay ma, I’ve told him to pay the balance, he will sort that out. He says he didn’t pay because he has hopes of having him move in with him. But I told him that wouldn’t be ideal since the school year is almost over, plus it would have to be discussed before it happens.” I say.
“Definitely sisi. He can’t take him while he’s still a bachelor, he must marry you first.” I laughed a little.
“I’ll trust him and sleep a lot better at night knowing that you are taking care of Mvelo. Maybe he’ll also change.”
“Kabelo will never change.” I say, she laughs and nods along.
“Thank you sisi, we have to get going now, I want to go grocery shopping early because this one is chaotic.” she says standing.
“You are welcome ma. Bye Mvelo, mommy is going to see you soon okay.” I also stand.
He comes running to me and hugs my legs.
“Bye mommy.” he says in his small voice.
This little boy loves me, and I love him just as much. I open my drawer and take out some money. I give it to him, and he giggles.
As it stands, I’m playing mommy to two little boys, but I’m not complaining. Now I’m excited to welcome my own baby, and I hope it’s a boy, they seem to love me.
“That’s for you.” he nods happily.
I say my final goodbyes and watch them leave. Back to work I go.
•••
Sleep has become foreign to me. There is not a single night where I wake up and don’t feel the urge to vomit. Kabelo better compensate for the food that I’m discarding down the toilet bowl this very moment. And I thought the morning sickness only happened in the morning! I’m in my first trimester, but it’s my last month. I don’t understand why I’m only starting to experience this sickness now. I hate my body.
When I went back to bed, I sat there for a moment and pondered on the many splendours of life. How quickly the time has flown. How is it possible that it’s been four years since I left Sandile begging on his knees for me not to leave him. How four years have passed since I had the best sex of my life in my apartment with Kabelo, knowing very well that I had promised Sandile to love him faithfully just a few days prior. How I reassured him that Kabelo meant nothing to me when he came to me and told me he was afraid of losing me. He lost me just a few days later, and I never looked back.
Look at me now, I’m pregnant for that man. I haven’t seen Sandile in four years. Time surely waits for no one. On nights like these I sit and think about where he could be. Did he ever get over me? Did he ever heal from the heartbreak I caused him? Did he really love me?
I’m craving for seafood.
I roll out of bed and go to the bathroom to brush my teeth, hoping to remove the taste of vomit lingering in my mouth. I hate seafood, maybe the smell and taste of vomit in the back of my throat is tricking me.
But no. That tantalizing smell of freshly cooked prawns' dances around my nostrils, my body is definitely playing tricks on me.
I grab my phone off the bed and I dial his number.
“Baby.” damn, he’s asleep.
Well, what would you expect, it’s past midnight.
“I’m craving for prawns, and maybe some hake. I don’t know, but prawns.” I ramble.
“Zuzile you don’t eat prawns mos.”
“But I want them.” I whined.
He heaved a heavy sigh of great distress.
“It’s okay, I’ll go get them for you.” I can hear him shuffling.
“Do you need anything else?” he asks.
He doesn’t really sound happy with me.
“No.” I say.
But maybe I’m a little horny.
“Okay maybe you can bring me your dick.” he chuckles.
“Coming right up my love.” he hangs up.
I get off the bed excitedly, take off my underwear and go leave it in the bathroom. I can’t seem to keep still in my room as I wait for him to call me. I’m so excited about getting my cravings satisfied and some good dick on top of that. This man doesn’t waste any time, in 10 minutes, he’s calling me, reporting that he’s outside.
My excitement has me flying down the stairs like a teenager. As soon as I get inside that car, he grabs my thighs.
“My prawns.” I stop him.
“You said you were horny so I came as fast as I could.” oh no, wrong answer my dear.
“No Kabelo, that was not part of the deal.” I sulked.
He doesn’t look pleased with me right now.
“I ordered your prawns; we will go fetch them when they are ready. But first, I need you to deal with this.” he pointed at his erection.
“I want my prawns first.” he raised his eyebrow.
“Are you serious right now?”
“Does it look like I’m joking? Let’s go, I’m hungry, I want my prawns.” I say.
“Wow.” he lifts his hands in surrender.
He starts the car and drives. I’m really being so difficult, but more than anything, I’m curious as to how he was able to get a place that makes prawns at midnight. I don’t know why I’m shocked though; this is Kabelo Mfusi we are talking about.
I got the prawns, and the smell that usually turns me off makes my stomach growl, and I dive headfirst and devour them as soon as I get them on my lap. My dearest boyfriend is staring at me.
“Do you want some?” I ask him.
“You are unbelievable, do you know that.” I rolled my eyes.
He was driving in the direction of his house, which really caught me by surprise, was this man serious when he said we were going to his place to solve his erection? I was hoping for some spontaneous car action and then I’d be on my way to get some well-deserved rest because I have work tomorrow.
But I didn’t get a chance to question all of that because halfway through my prawns, I felt all of them threatening to rise up my throat. I gagged.
“Please stop the car.” I say holding my mouth.
“Why are we stopping the car Zuzile it’s not safe here anything…” I don’t need this right now.
I thought I asked him nicely.
“Kabelo stop the fucking car otherwise I will puke in this car, and you won’t be happy.” I gagged again.
No more nicey nice now. He finally realized I was serious, and the car came to a screeching halt. I didn’t hesitate to open the door and as soon as my head dipped out, the prawns flew out my mouth.
“Baby, are you okay?” oh now he’s concerned.
He’s rubbing my back.
“This always happens, don’t worry about me.” I say, still retching.
Nothing is coming out but it still hurts. He hands me a bottle of water, concern written all over his face.
“Should I take you to hospital?”
“I’m fine!” I snap unintentionally.
“Okay, okay. But you are going to sleep over at my place, I want to make sure you are okay.” he says and grabs the prawns container off my lap.
He throws it out the window, grabs my door and shuts it before he rolls up the windows and drives the car off the pavement. What was I thinking anyway? I’ll never be a seafood girl.
In no time, we arrive at his house, and without a second thought, we head to his room where he cuddles me the whole night. It’s safe to say that was the most peaceful sleep I’ve had.
Welcome to the pregnancy adventures!