Home: St' Cloud, a book of short stories

By Sambulo Kunene

Home: St' cloud, where we were last seen. Where we are loved. Where we are wanted. Where we are our best. Marvel at the lives of the people of St' Cloud.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sambulo Simanga Kunene
• Release date: Nov 4, 2019
• ISBN: 0359827918

Book preview

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Home: St'Cloud

Sambulo Kunene (nenosasi)

Ahome

Why do you leave the TV on high volume, when you leave the house? I notice that you do that quite a lot He said.

I LIKE THE SOUND OF the television when I unlock the door after I return home from work..She said.

IT WASTES ENERGY AND it is uncalled for. He said.

IT'S AN ELECTRIC FOOTPRINT, a signal to anyone who is in the neighborhood and to the neighbors that we are home.She said slightly irritated.

NO, IT IS BAD MANNERS. It says that you do not trust this neighborhood and you need a make believe sound to feel safe. He said.

I THOUGHT YOU ONLY worried about the electric bill. Since you mentioned that, I think that I am leaving the TV on just because I am used to leaving it on, how is that? She said feeling lazy and bored.

WELL I THINK THAT WE should not leave the TV on when we leave the apartment please stop. He said.

IT IS BORING TO ARRIVE at home in broad daylight with no sound in the house. I hate surprises. What if someone breaks in and falls asleep in our closet out of boredom and the stillness of the house? She said.

I AM SORRY, I MUST insist that you turn off the tv when you leave the apartment. I prefer it that way. He said.

ALRIGHT MR. KNOW IT all, don't blame me if you disturb a burglar in the act of stealing and lose your life in the process. She said.

ALL OF THIS IS AS A result of entering her shared home with groceries in both hands. He, with an agenda, is standing with his arms folded. He had something to say!

The home

What happened to the money that I set aside in our Savings account? She asked.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING about? He replied hoping that she won't repeat the question.

DID YOU WITHDRAW THE money without letting me know? She asked.

WHAT MONEY? HE SAID postponing the inevitable. In his mind the withdrawal was acceptable.

THERE WAS $5000.00 in our Savings account now there is only $100.00. What happened to the rest of the money? She asked with her hands on both sides of her waistline, while she stared directly at him.

LET ME GET BACK TO you, I have to make an important phone call! He said standing up and walking away to the backyard away from enemy fire.

SHE INVOLUNTARILY FOLLOWED him ripe for a knock down and unwilling to yield.

OH HI, MY WIFE IS HERE with me she is giving me a tough time, she is asking me questions. I am a little flustered! What are you up to? He said ignoring his wife.

VINCE WHAT HAPPENED to over four thousand dollars in the bank account ? She asked not wanting to back down.

VINCE HOLDING HIS HAND over the mouthpiece of the phone said, Can you wait a minute? He then resumed his phone conversation with an unknown caller.

SHE THEN SITS DOWN on the garden chair in the backyard as if waiting for her turn to talk to Vince- her husband.

LOOK I NEEDED TO BUY a good computer that is what I used the money for alright? I am launching a website and I expect my loan to go through. I thought that I would be able to replace the money before you found out! He said.

WHAT COMPUTER COSTS, $4000.00 Vince? What website? You have a laptop! She just was unsatisfied with the answer!

DON'T ASK JUST PLAY along! You do not want to know what I am embroiled in! He said.

VINCE WE TALKED ABOUT this when you bought that expensive bike which is now wasting away in the garage. You only used it a couple of times. The stereo equipment which is hardly used also rots in the garage. What about that? Oh wait there are two motorcycles that you bought one for your not even born yet son? And what about those open air plane tickets that remain unused. I could use that money! She said with contempt.

WAIT DO NOT BRING THAT up. I thought we agreed to never rehash old stuff! He said looking for a loophole.

VINCE I AM NOT FINISHED what about that suit that you bought hoping for a job interview! And the other suits that are stacked up in closets that you bought hoping for a corporate job. A job which you are yet to find? She said by now flustered and almost angry.

NOW THAT YOU REMIND me of that I don't think that I can continue with this conversation. You know how I feel about not having a traditional job. I cannot continue with this conversation. Breathe just breathe and get a glass of cold water while you are at it. He said as he walked back to the house and closed the sliding door between them. He liked his wife too much.

VINCE, IT IS NOT MY fault that I have a job! I am worried that today it is the Savings account that you are raiding next it will be the house. You might bring people in and make us poor again! We agreed Vince remember we agreed that we would talk about this! We both agreed. She said.

YOU ARE RIGHT BUT WHY don't you get a glass of ice cold water and breathe. He said. I am going to leave you alone for a minute I am going to Starbucks for coffee. I will be back in a few minutes. He said.

To be honest he and his depressed unemployed buddy flew to Vegas and had a time of their lives as they spent $5000.00. Which he still had no idea how he will refund.

DO YOU WANT ANYTHING? He asked rushing to close the door.

NO I DO NOT WANT ANYTHING, Thanks actually you did me a favor, I need to go to the gym. I need to forget about this! She said.

Knock,Knock, Who is there?

Why do you always mix up the dates when you are supposed to return the kids? The once married wife asked her ex husband.

SO THAT I CAN SEE THE extent of the damage that cheating on you caused you! He said with hollow laughter. His new young wife with a prim and proper hairstyle sat in the front seat of their car on the driveway alert and ready.

DID YOU JUST HAVE SEX before bringing the kids? You sound annoying and sure of yourself! She said taking off her hair rollers from her coiffe

LET ME THINK, DID I? You would know! Do I look like I did? He said as the kids walked past both of them running upstairs to their bedrooms!

HI MOM! THEY SAID

HI GUYS HOW DID IT go! She said.

BYE DAD! THEY ALL disappeared to their rooms!

YOU ARE CRAZY, YOU know that? Has she seen your (she mimicked a dance movement which he likes to do when he feels happy) She said.

NO NOT REALLY. BUT then again she had the kids to remind them of your size one figure. Skin and bones those kids are. Skin and bones! I think that you should see someone about that malnourished look! He said smiling.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY weight I am fine, my husband likes me this way. She said with a guilty tone. The truth is she was doing everything illegal to maintain a size one figure.Throwing up, using laxatives, skipping meals, all the works. She had just seen a Dentist and was happy that her teeth were not eroding yet, a tell tell sign of Anorexia Nervosa.

YOU LOOK SICK TO ME with those dark circles and hollow checks. You are too old to look like that. Just don't starve my kids!!! I noticed Emma not eating dinner the other night. I am warning you Dolores. Any more pounds off Emma we are done this whole entire deal is done. I weighed her too! He said and walked away while waving to his new wife.

WHO ARE YOU? THE FOOD police? What were you looking at to notice that I am a size one? She said as he looked back at her. Keep your eyes to yourself there buster, there is nothing for you to look at here, certainly nothing for you. She said making circular movements with her hands around her midsection. Now I am going to pretend that we did not have this conversation! She said.

HEY BY THE WAY, WHERE is Ben, still stuttering! Is he still tall and lanky? Both of you are sticks both of you deserve one another! He said.

OH JUST TAKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD manners to your corner, there buster! You are benched! She said and closed the door.

HI I AM MINDY

" I am the one who dances the loudest, the one whose pink drink is the strongest, the one with the loudest laugh.

The one who hangs on to your every word.

Right! I am the one whose call you won't return.

Good enough for just one use only!

Disposable. Used on an emergency, a day after pill!

I am the one that you do not have to memorize her name right.

You do not have to match the face with my name.

I am just an event. An event of a night gone haywire.

I AM THE ONE WHOM YOU will meet months later and ask:

What did you say your name was?

No I don't remember screwing you!

Have I revived your memory?

If I do not leave with you, you will climb my walls and enter anyway.

I will say I remember you and ask you to excuse me as I take a quick bath wondering if you want a bite to eat.

You will stall me and talk to me like we are meant to be together.

I will succumb and wish that I could steal your wallet.

You will stay over and I will wake up and make believe that you came for breakfast at Tiffany's. We shall have breakfast and you will mumble something about missing your keys.

I will wish you well and when we meet again, you will say:

Oh I remember you! You cooked me those runny eggs.

What is your number!

Light, I just fell off the bed again! He said more irritated than the last time this happened.

JOE, YOU SHOULD SNUGGLE in order to remain safe in bed! she said thinking that she was being funny.

LIGHT, WHY DO YOU ASK me to come over, you have a twin bed? I am 6 foot 2! For goodness sake! he asked irritated.

JOE, SO THAT WE WILL snuggle and sleep through the night! she said.

LIGHT, WHAT DOES THAT mean? Snuggle? I just fell off the bed. Your comforter is small . It is a twin size comforter! Your room is too hot because of the heater.Your bed is uncomfortable! The floor is cold and I can hardly think after I wake up. He said bewildered!

SHE SAT UP IN BED AND with her twin comforter held close to her chest, and she said , Let me correct you! This is my grand mother's bed. she gave it to me. I don't know what you are talking about! She covered her face with the comforter

WELL, LAST NIGHT WHEN you called me, you did not ask me to bring my own bedding! he said as he got up to take a shower.

THAT WOULD BE LIKE asking you to move in.You cannot move in with me. There is my grandmother's bed in my apartment! Be happy that I let you hang out in my apartment ....occasionally! she said.

LIGHT, HAVE YOU SEEN my apartment? he asked still bewildered!

YEAH JOE, I HAVE SEEN your apartment! she said.

SHE CLEANED THE ROOM and took a bath in another bathroom. As she came out to dry her hair, he said: Light, I love you very much, I do, but that bed is just too small for me! Joe said.

JOE GET YOURSELF A bottle of water and meet me after work! she said.

I HOPE YOU ARE NOT planning on having me back here, I will drive away, I promise you that! he said.

MEET ME AT 3.15 SHARP you won't be sorry! she said.

BYE, I WILL TALK TO you later. Joe said and left.

SHE HAD NO INTENTION of ever changing or ever buying a bigger bed or any bedding for that matter.