Does my sister remember him?
I look at him again and notice that he has expressive, hazel grey eyes, and his hair is short and well-maintained with a buzz-cut fade. I suddenly recall his heavy Afrikaans accent; I hadn’t thought he would look like this—an attractive mixed-race man who exudes confidence.
I gather my thoughts and look around them. I notice my sister is holding a pen in her hand, as is Nicholas. I also see a black leather book between them. Like a diary, almost worn out.
Is that how they’ve been talking?
I also suddenly get embarrassed because my sister is looking different today. She let her Afro-natural curls flow freely, and she’s wearing one of her best dresses— a russet long detailed knit dress with some slippers, looking prettier than normal. I take the rock I have in my hand and put it right at the door to stop the swinging door that is hanging off its hinges. I suddenly feel the heat coming from the coal stove and decide to let some fresh air in.
I randomly start picking up ‘embarrassing’ stuff around the house—dishwashing clothes with holes in them indicating that they have possibly passed their useful lifetime, plastic cups, egg trays, etc.—and putting them away. Nicholas and my sister fix their eyes on me.
“Hi, Nicholas,” my lousy attempt at breaking the awkwardness.
“My sister is deaf, but..."
“Thembi, Thenjiwe!” Sthembiso shouts at the gate.
I run out. Sthembiso, the community watch, and Sis Lindiwe are standing outside, ready to intervene. Nicholas comes outside with me. He stands next to me, and I can see the height difference between us, and I get a full picture of his athletic build.
Now, this is the man my sister would date.
“Mr. Steenkamp, this is the community watch; they were worried when they saw your expensive car." I intentionally mention in my best Englishi. However, Mr. Steenkamp somehow exudes confidence and charm instead of fear.
“Let me head back in; I believe you’ll explain, uhm, our situation."
Our situation? What exactly is the situation?
I then cut off his gaze.
“Everyone, we are fine; he is a lawyer and Thenjiwe’s friend.“ I end up saying
“Late at night?” Sthembiso in full jealous mode.
“Yes, he has urgent things to discuss and had to wait for me. Thank you for your support. We will let you know in the case of an emergency; both Thenjiwe and I have our whistles.”.
People marvel at the car. Sthembiso is grumpy and jealous.
The community watch along with the other neighbours trickle away, and I can’t help but wonder what exactly the situation is especially since Nicholas had said some unbelievable things earlier.
I return inside, this time closing the door behind me and confidently sitting on a chair towards the end of the table, in good sight of both Thenjiwe and Nicholas.
“So how do you know him?” I sign to my sister.
She starts writing her answer in the worn out book, and I stop her.
“No, please answer me.”
“We need to include him in our conversation.”.
“It’s not my fault he didn’t learn to sign. Listen, he called me this morning claiming our dad is a mining tycoon, so how do you know him?”
Thenjiwe starts writing in the notebook before her instead of answering me. I can’t help but let her to do so. I then realise that I’ve also been barefoot this whole time. In panic, I put my shoes on, which were in the bag I had been carrying around this entire time.
Nicholas and I grew up together.; that’s how I know him. As soon as I learned how to write, this is how I would speak to him and his family since he couldn’t sign. Using this very same book.
I pull my chair backwards, and I immediately sign to my sister.
“You grew up together, where? He said our dad was in mining!”
“I’m getting to that part!”
She starts writing again.
Don’t be angry with me, little sister; I know our mother. She was a struggle activist, a lawyer, and a Minister of Justice. She is Lelo Ndzinisa, co-founder of Thelo Minerals along with Dad. The- is short for Themba, and Lo is short for Lelo. Combined would be Thelo therefore Thelo Minerals. She was the reason I lived a life different from what you know and she was also the reason we had to live this way”
My mother was a minister and she founded a mining company with my dad. She is the reason for the supposed riches and my prevalent poverty. Okay. But I know my sister wouldn’t lie blatantly to me.
I grab the paper so I can include Nicholas in this ridiculous conversation.
So, where is our mother? My Illegible writing looks very amateur in the presence of Thenjiwe and Nicholas’s handwriting.
Thenjiwe and Nicholas look at each other as if none of them wants to answer the question. Thenjiwe starts getting teary. Her cry tends to be very loud and I start to hear the sniffs and the hiccups and that’s when I know whatever it is, it is big.
Nicholas stands up, grabs two of the plastic cups I put away and puts water in them. I’m surprised by the move. But what’s even weirder is that he’s giving the water to Thenjiwe and me.
“Please answer me!” I sign to my sister.
“Thembi, please drink the water” Nicholas’s voice sounded like earlier when he was saying he was sorry for my loss. The tone in his voice is filled with pity.
Is she dead? If so, why don’t they say so?
Thenjiwe gathers herself and starts writing.
She left us when you were months old, and we don't know where she went, whether she's dead or alive. She was involved in one of the biggest corporate scandals in the world, one that left our father's assets to be seized and for him to be automatically kicked out of Thelo Minerals.
Thenjiwe’s tear drops on the page. My heart sinks. I sign immediately.
“What? Please repeat that.”
She shows me the paper.
“You and Dad hid this from me!”
“I was 7! I didn’t know what to do. I’m sorry!”
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