Rebabedi (6)

By Ayanda Xaba, South Africa

Thabi is standing in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom. She’s been checking her outfit for almost an hour now and somehow she still feels like there is something missing. She is wearing a blue striped skater dress, while sandals and accessorised with pearl earrings and a silver bracelet on her left arm. The dress flaunts her size 32 figure but she is still unsure about how she looks. Her mother opens the door, for the third time since she started dresing up an hour go, and stands next to it.

“Why are you fussing so much for going out with your friends?” She asks.

Thabi shrugs.

“Usuyajola wena?” (Are you dating?)

Thabi lets out a little laughter and not responds. Her mother thinks she’s still an innocent child and this amuses her.

“Who is this boy?”

Thabi finally speaks; “Ai mama!”

“I want to see him” Thabi’s mother says as she fixes Thabi’s hair.

Thabi sits on her bed and her mother continues fixing a braid that is slightly loose. Her mother is the only person that touches her hair because she has a sensitive scalp, so she says to people. She just doesn’t like her hair being touched by anyone except her mother.

“You’re stunning,” her mother says looking at their reflection on the mirror in front of them. “You have my eyes.” She adds.

Thabi laughs and says; “Mom I look exactly like you.”

“That means I’m beautiful mos.”

Thabi’s sisters walk into the bedroom and close the door. Everyone is back for the winter holdays so the house is buzzing with noise. Thabi is looking at her mother on the mirror and can’t help but feel sad. She feels her mother is hiding too much pain it’s going to make her age quickly. She hates how her mother curls up around their father, and how she seems to have lost herself in this marriage. Thabi’s wish is to take her mother away from this house so she can be happy.

“Thabi has a boyfriend now?” Poni asks.

Poni is the middle daughter (11 years) and the talkative of them all. Her real name is Sibonuthabo but is called Poni because of her love for horses. She demanded that her father buys her a pony when she was five years old and he eventually took her to a horse farm so she can ride them. He still takes her there occassionally. She’s the only one amoungst the three girls that isn’t afraid of their father.

“What do you know about boyfriends Poni?” Thabi asks.

Poni rolls her eyes as she says; “I’m not stupid,” she pauses as she folds her arms and then says; “Thabi you’ll die, boyfriends have HIV.”

“Tell her baby!” Their mother says supressing laughter.

“Poni you’re an enermy of nice things.” S’tha says softly. She’s 7 years old and is a big fan of make up and playing dress up. Sithabile is always getting in trouble for ruining her mother’s clothes or messing her make up things. She is already playing with Thabi’s face, applying pink lipstick on her lips.

Poni sits next to Thabi saying; “It won’t be nice when she’s sick…”

“Look at how beautiful she looks,” S’tha says dreamy.

Thabi’s phone beeps and everyone rushes for it. Their mother gets it first and reads the message outloud; “I’m outside babe. From Kagi” she hands Thabi the phone with a smile.

Thabi shakes her head as she shoves the phone in her handbag. “I forgot we share this phone in this house. Bye all” she says making her way out.

“Don’t ruin your face.” S’tha says following Thabi to the dining area which is the front exit.

“I won’t sisi”

“Enjoy yourself” their mother says as they stand by the door watching Thabi walk towards the gate.

“Use protection!” Poni shouts loud enough for Kagiso, who is waiting outside the gate next to his bike, to hear.

Thabi’s face turns pink with embarrassment. Her family goes back inside the house and Kagiso immediately breaks into loud laughter.

“Your sister is smart, so did you bring protection?”

Thabi quickly puts on the helmet to avoid looking at Kagiso. She is silently cursing her little sister for being so forward.

Kagiso gets on the bike and says; “You look beautiful pink face.”

Thabi shakes her head at the sarcastic compliment and hold Kagiso from behind. She’s nervous about meeting his parents but also excited for taking this step. For someone who has always been somebody’s bet or toy, she is excited at being the girl that is introduced to the parents.