Grade 8, Ikageng
There’s a woman. Her name is Siyabonga Malebone. She is 34-years-old and has a son. His name is Nkanyiso Malebone. He is 9-years-old. Siyabonga is married to Vincent Malebone who is 39-years-old. Siyabonga is a surgeon and Vincent is a policeman. “Good morning, family,” said Vincent in the kitchen, finding his wife and son making breakfast.Keitumetse Seakgoe “Hello, Babe,” and “Hello, Dad,” they said at the same time. “I hope you are all good and ready because we need to go at 07:30 a.m. and now it’s 07:00 a.m.,” he said. “Yeah, we will be good to go after breakfast,” said Siyabonga. “Good,” said Vincent, taking a seat. Breakfast was ready and they ate it and then it was time to go. They went to their car. “Pappa?” said Nkanyiso. “Yes, my son,” answered Vincent. “How much are you going to give me today for pocket money?” Nkanyiso asked. Vincent took his wallet and checked the amount of cash he had because he hadn’t been paid yet. He only had R50 that he would use for lunch. He hated asking his wife for money. He thought she would look down on him. “Look, son. I don’t have money today. Mommy will give Keitumetse Seakgoe you. Right, mommy?” he said, looking at Siyabonga. “Yes, boy. Mommy will give you,” she said taking out a R20 note. Vincent mouthed a, “Thank you,” and Siyabonga nodded. They dropped Nkanyiso off at school and Vincent dropped Siyabonga off at her workplace.
At Vincent’s workplace:
Vincent was in his office and his best friend arrived. His best friend was Sabelo. “Awu ndoda, wahlala lana,” Sabelo said. “Hey, ndoda. I am tired and thinking about my wife,” he said.“What did she do now?” Sabelo asked, sighing. “She gave Nkanyiso money today and you know how she is. She will remind me every time we fight,” he said, also sighing. “Vincent, be strong, ndoda. You don’t have a choice. She’s your wife, anyways,” Sabelo said. “True, ndoda,” Vincent said back. “You know what?” Sabelo said smiling. “No, I am not going with you, Sabelo,” said Vincent. “It will cheer you up, man. Let’s go to Club Genesis, Dude,” he said. “Okay, Boy. Make sure you bring me back early because my wife will shout and you know she is irritating,” said Vincent.
They went to the club, drank and danced with ladies. It was now after 00:00 a.m. and they smelt like a brewery and girls’ perfume. Sabelo and Vincent left the club and went different ways.
In Vincent’s household at night Siyabonga arrived and started cooking dinner with her child. Dinner was ready and they started to eat. Time went by and now it was 21:00 p.m. “Mamma, where’s dad?” asked Nkanyiso. “Oh Nana, your dad is still at work. He was very busy today,” she answered back. “Okay, Mom, goodnight. I am going to sleep,” he said runningupstairs. “Goodnight, Boy!” she shouted back. Siyabonga waited and waited until it was 00:00 a.m. She was starting to get tired. As she was going upstairs, she heard the door opening and saw Vincent entering the house and she exhaled. “You back, Vincent? Thank, God!” she said. “Yes, I am back, Wife,” he said drunkenly. “Vincent, you are drunk and you smell like ladies’ perfume,” she said angrily. “Yes, I smell it and so what?” asked Vincent. “Oh, so it’s like that, huh? After everything I have done for you, huh? I fed you, took you off the streets and raised Nkanyiso with nothing but love, nxm,” she said crying hysterically. Nyankiso is not Siyabonga’s’s biological child. Vincent became angry and couldn’t control his anger. He slapped Siyabonga on her right cheek. Siyabonga was shocked and scared. “Did you just slap me, Vincent?” she asked, shaking.
“Yes, I did and I don’t care. I might hit you again if you utter another word from your mouth,” he said laughing, as he went up to their room. Siyabonga went downstairs and cried herself to sleep on the floor. In the morning Vincent woke up with a banging headache and he remembered that he had slapped his wife the day before. He looked for her on her side of the bed and didn’t find her. He jumped off of the bed and went to look for her around the house and found her at the door, on the floor, sleeping. He woke her up. “Love, wake up,” he said.
Siyabonga woke up and jumped away from him because she was scared. “I am sorry, Siya. I won’t hit you again. Please forgive me,” he said walking to her. Siyabonga stood up and went to hug him and cried her lungs out. Siyabonga’s cries woke Nkanyiso up and he went to the kitchen and found his mom crying. “Dad, why is mom crying?” he asked. Vincent kept quiet and thought of a lie. He said, “Mom fell right now, trying to go outside. That’s why, Boy.” “Oh, okay Dad and sorry, Mommy,” he said, even though he didn’t believe his dad. He went back to his room.
3 months later…
Life has not been good at the Malebone household. Vincent would slap Siyabonga at times and he would blame her. She would take the blame because she loved Vincent and didn’t want to lose him. Vincent was now reckless and he went out at night with Sabelo or alone. He would get drunk and he would go to work late. Today he is late again and his boss is firing him.
At Vincent’s workplace:
He went inside his work building and he was told that he was needed at his boss, Mr Nkosi’s, office. “Good morning, Sir,” he said. “Good morning, Malebone,” he answered. “They told me you want me,” said Vincent. “Yes, Vincent. You are fired for late-coming after being warned three times,” said Mr Nkosi. “Sir, please give me another chance. I will change,” he said. “No, please take your belongings and get out of my building,” said Mr Nkosi. Vincent went out, shattered and defeated. He went into the office and took everything and placed it in his box. He walked out, everyone looking at him with pity. He got to his car and placed his box in the boot. He went to a club and he got drunk and then went to his house.
At the Malebone household:
You are drunk again, Vincent. Am tired, mina,” said Siyabonga, defeated, taking a seat. “Do you know what I am going through, huh? I have just lost my job for heaven’s sake, Siya!” he said shouting. Siyabonga got up from the couch scared because she knew when he was angry, he would hit her. Vincent noticed that she was scared and then went to her. “Oh, and now you’re scared, huh?” he said slapping Siyabonga. Siyabonga screamed, waking Nkanyiso up. He went downstairs but they didn’t notice him. “Vincent, please stop. You will wake up Nkanyiso,” she said, crying. “So now you care about him after telling me to my face that I must be grateful that you raised him even if he’s not yours?” he shouted. “Yes, I did say that but did I say I don’t love him? Nkanyiso is my son and I love him, unlike you!” she shouted back.
Vincent became angrier and started hitting, kicking and punching Siyabonga. Nkanyiso got angry and took a knife and said to his dad, “Stop hitting Mom!” but Vincent didn’t hear him and continued hitting Siyabonga. Nkanyiso went to his dad’s back and started stabbing him and he died on the spot. He panicked and went to his mom and she was also dying. She said, “I love you son and don’t be scared,” as she took her last breath. Nkanyiso screamed and took his mom’s phone and called the police. Then he stabbed himself in his heart. That’s how the Malebone family left us on earth.