Tears and Tragedies

By Nhlanhla Collen Mabaso

A collection of short stories depicting lifes dark side. It draws from real life situations and experiences but makes no references to real life characters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Jan 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493138777

Nhlanhla Collen Mabaso

Nhlanhla Collen Mabaso was born on January 1, 1967 in Komatipoort, South Africa. He cut his academic teeth at Siboshwa Primary School in 1974 and matriculated at Mjokwane Senior Secondary School in 1987. He obtained a BA, B.Ed. (Hons) and PGCE at the University of Limpopo. He was an educator for 21 years after which he moved into business in 2012. He once served as Ehlanzeni’s regional chairperson of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU). He’s been a freelance writer and journalist for a number of publications. Mabaso also served in a number of community initiatives and projects but regards the years he spent at the SABC’s Ligwalagwala FM as the most enriching years of his professional life.

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Copyright © 2014 by Nhlanhla Collen Mabaso.

ISBN:                  Softcover                        978-1-4931-3878-4

                            Ebook                             978-1-4931-3877-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 01/14/2014

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CONTENTS

Preface

The Big Fish

The Donkey Pusher

Hands off my bootstraps!

Moloi (The witch)

Zenzile

My heart bleeds for Zena

Till Death Do Us Part

The Ransom

Dedication

I dedicate this book to my school of four boys, Veli, Brian, Mduduzi and Mthokozisi; my only daughter, Xoliswa; my bevy of beautiful nieces, Nolwazi, Sindi, Xolile, Winile, Hlobi, Khethu, Twana, Hlengi and Buhle as well as my grandchildren, Arshely, Qhawekazi and Mbalenhle.

This book also goes to my lovely mother, Grace, and my beautiful wife, Cyrian. The two of them are, undoubtedly, the most important women in my life.

Lastly, but not by any means least, to my sister Doris, my three siblings Mable, Delsy and Sibusiso and to my late brother, Bongani, who is shining down on me from heaven.

PREFACE

After many years of costly procrastinations, I finally made the time to shake off dust and cob-webs from my literary work and got it ready for publication. This being my maiden publication I reckon I may not have done enough to escape my cynical philosophy about the world and its people; and this much is resonant in the title of this book: Tears and Tragedies.

My only hope, though, is that the discerning reader will surf through my personal prejudices and, at least, agree with me that the world we live in is wrought with injustices which often lead to tears and tragedies.

If it’s not the police soliciting a bribe from people they should be bringing to justice then it is men of the cloak humping little children they should be bringing to the altar.

Everywhere around the world children turn against their parents who themselves are not so saintly.

Screams to overturn the status quo in search of a new world order reverberate across the land of our forefathers.

Men and women, who work hard to earn an honest and decent living, have often seen the sweat of their brows evaporating into a bottomless pit of treachery and deceit.

A world void of tears and tragedies is as ideal and remote as the proverbial pie in the sky, but our concerted effort at making today a better day will deliver a better world for our children and children’s children.

The Big Fish

Uncle, I have just caught a big fish, Charlie enthused as his uncle gave him a dismissive look. Charlie knew instantly that he would have to simplify his language if he were to get through to Uncle Robert who prided himself in being old-school and non-pretentious. He wouldn’t pretend to understand something when he actually didn’t and always preferred to have things thoroughly explained before he could give his opinion. Charlie knew this side of his uncle well and, somehow, enjoyed seeing him worked up. Are you not going to light up a fire now that I said I caught a big fish my dearest uncle, he said laughing, but his uncle just shrug his shoulders and walked away. The two of them got along very well and Charlie came down to Brink to visit his uncle very often and each time he did he made sure to bring along a bottle of martini, Uncle Robert’s favourite drink. Robby, as Charlie would often refer to his uncle, had a way with his drink that would make a sworn teetotaller salivate with each gulp he took.

Come on now Charlie, make yourself useful by bringing two glasses from the cupboard and my martini from the fridge, he said as he proceeded to his vegetable garden where he’d been working for the better part of that Friday afternoon. Uncle, I’m actually not here to stay. I just need to discuss something with you, Charlie pleaded with a hint of seriousness in his voice. Uncle Robert invited Charlie to take up a seat next to him under a huge tree a few yards from his modest house. That sounds serious nephew, are you in any sort of trouble Uncle Robert probed. No uncle, I’m fine. It’s just this personal matter and I think you are the only person I could talk to, he said clearly beating about the bushes. Charlie, talk and stop being so evasive, what’s the matter, the old man looked into his nephew’s eyes as if to suggest he was getting annoyed with his verbal perambulation.

I’ve just met this beautiful woman and I’m really smitten with her love, Charlie finally blurted. What? Uncle Robert’s eyes nearly popped out as he tried to wrap his head around what Charlie had just said. It wasn’t long ago that Uncle Robert had led a delegation to Jeppes’ Reef, a village in the Republic of South Africa, bordering Swaziland to the north, to pay damages to Thuli’s family after she had given birth to Charlie’ son. Charlie and Thuli had looked happy together and it was believed that the birth of their son would bring them even closer.

Thuli is a nice girl and all that but we have not been connecting well since the birth of Bandile. Besides, I need someone who’ll complement my growing social and political status; someone more sophisticated, he said to his bemused uncle. You need to have your head clearly examined for even entertaining any thought of dumping Thuli, he said in exasperation. The conversation between the two men degenerated into a fuss as Uncle Robert thought his nephew was missing a point. For every big fish you catch there’s an even bigger one which got away, he said as he lifted his frail frame, getting ready to go back to his vegetable garden. Charlie said his good-byes to his mother’s brother and drove off in his German sedan which got a few heads turning.

He was in his second year of his contract as a Speaker of the Amangwane Local Municipality and there was no doubt that his star was certainly on the rise.

It was also during one of the many meetings that have characterised his working life that a beautiful woman from an accounting firm caught his eye. He accepted her business card with personal interest and in no time the two of them had started having lunch together. She came from Umlalandle, a township in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, and had been working in the Mpumalanga Province for a good number of years. Nontokozo Mdlalose was not only a pretty face; she was a smart head too. Hardly a day went by without her dropping in to check on Charlie at his place of work. Charlie too was equally content to flaunt his conquest. Nontokozo would park her expensive vehicle in one of the municipality’s unreserved parking bays and wait for Charlie who’d float like a peacock towards her. He’d kiss her and then signal to her to take charge of the driver’s seat. The two lovebirds would often have extended lunch hours in the town’s food courts; something which confused many people. Charlie had been known to be devoted to Thuli and the two of them frequented the town’s restaurants. When Thuli was still pregnant, Charlie would often make sure that she sat comfortably as he also stroke her tummy over lunch or dinner. The waiters and waitresses would wish them luck with the pregnancy and now it felt like they had jinxed it; Nontokozo has taken over and Thuli was history.

There would also be times when Charlie and the new woman in his life would hit the tarmac just for the fun of it, with stars clearly written in their eyes.

I thought you’d stop your madness and do right by Thuli and her child, Uncle Robert said to Charlie in a hastily convened family meeting which was also attended by Mrs Nchanga, Charlie’s mother. Thuli had complained to her parents that Charlie had stopped talking to her and that he wasn’t even supporting little Bandile. You can’t really force me to love her when I’ve clearly told you that I no longer have feelings for her. Nontokozo is my girl now and this, with due respect, is not up for discussion, Charlie told everyone. Mrs Nchanga did not say much except to urge Charlie to look after Bandile. Whatever it is that has made you turn your back on his mother should not affect him; he’s just an innocent child. I expect you to take care of all his needs, she said. Charlie brushed that aside as a non-issue and requested that the meeting be cut short as he had to rush to some meeting in Gauteng.

There is no second guessing as to who his passenger was on his way to Gauteng; it was Nontokozo. The two of them would make stops at petrol stations and make sure that everyone within earshot knew they were heading for the stars. They held hands and chased each other around, clearly having fun.

It did not take long for the celebrity couple to walk down the aisle. Theirs was a stylish wedding which was attended by the ‘who-is-who’ of both the business and political communities. The famous Harambee band performed its classical songs much to the excitement of all those who were in attendance. The wedding resembled a music festival. Conspicuous by their absences were Thuli and Bandile. Thuli was so distraught that she had to be admitted to hospital with post-traumatic disorder. She could not understand why Charlie had suddenly considered her undesirable after a whirlwind affair that got tongues wagging. She also took a huge strain from Charlie’s refusal to take Bandile for visits as he had done in the past. Bandile clearly missed spending time with his father and he’d often ask his mother whether Charlie would come for him. Thuli’s friends and colleagues at the hospital where she worked as a mid-wife were so supportive of her. They’d often encourage her to hold her head high and refuse to succumb to adversity. She gradually got over the disappointment of having been jilted by a man who had broken her virginity as the two of them had been lovers since high school. She put the past behind her and concentrated on raising Bandile. She would often send him to his grandparents’ place at Mangweni, insisting that her son had to maintain contact with his kith and kin.

Meanwhile, everything seemed to be working out between Charlie and Nontokozo except that their wish to have a child together was not granted. What initially appeared to be a temporary setback turned out to be a sterile curse that would eventually put a huge strain on their marriage. Nontokozo was so keen to give Charlie a child that she’d schedule appointments with their family doctor and drag Charlie along. He’d respond by telling her to calm down and that a baby will come when the time is right. Nontokozo wouldn’t hear any of that and there would be times when she would even throw tantrums.

Charlie, what is it that Thuli and her son want at your parents’ house. I can’t really bear the sight of that woman and her offspring. I think it’s high time your two-timing mother decided who her true daughter-in-law is Nontokozo said to Charlie as he sat on the couch, sipping his favourite beverage, whisky, and watching his favourite team on TV, Manchester United, running away with the premier soccer league title.

You can’t talk about my mother like that, Nontokozo. I’m also wondering why you are so mean to Thuli and Bandile. What have they actually done to you, he responded. You chose me over her and I suggest you tell this woman and her son to get a life, otherwise I’ll stop visiting your ungrateful mother. I’ll also stop buying food for her. What if your mother and Thuli have connived to cast a spell on me so that I may not bear children, Nontokozo continued. Charlie was so angry that he threw the TV remote controller at her. She sustained a minor cut just below her left eye and bled.

Charlie simply stormed off after having watched just the first thirty minutes of the soccer match on TV, leaving Nontokozo to tend to her injury. He drove past a few houses and then thought of going to Uncle Robert’s place to watch the remainder of the game. You’ve been so scarce lately, what brings you here today, Uncle Robert inquired of his visibly upset nephew. We have the whole night to sit and chat, uncle. Just switch the TV on for me; I want to watch my team play, he said. Whole night, Uncle Robert wondered as he switched on the TV. What’s your team nephew, is it Black Leopards or Michau Warriors, Uncle Robert asked shifting the antennae to get a clearer picture. Charlie remembered that Uncle Robert had no satellite dish just as he did to access many TV stations. He sank into the sofa and fell asleep as the whisky took its toll on his brain.

"Charlie, wake up now! Your wife must be damn worried about you now. See what time it