Chapter 1.
Part 1.
It was around 22h30 when Lethu was woken up by Thando
Thando : Dad? Dad?
Lethu: Mmhm?
Thando : I can't sleep.
Lethu: Okay come here.
Thando climbed up the bed and lied next to her.
Thando: Daddy?
Lethu: Yeah?
Thando : Am I going to school tomorrow?
Lethu: Yeah only few hours left to wake up and prepare for school.
Thando: Whuuu lemme sleep now. (giggles)
Lethu: (chuckles) I'll wake you up okay?
Thando: Okay daddy. Goodnight.
Lethu: Goodnight princess.
They went to sleep then on the Morning Lethu woke up first, did her morning routine then she tried to wake Apryl up.
Lethu: Thando ? Princess?
Thando: hmmm?
Lethu : wake up.
Thando: I'm still sleeping.
Lethu: I know Princess just try to wake up.
She was struggling to open her eyes. Lethu undressed her there then she went to put her at the bathtub. She opened her eyes and bathe her after that she did all of that process, drying her body and lotioning her. She dressed her up on her school uniform and made her hair.
Lethu: You look cute. (smiles)
Thando: Really mommy? (giggles)
Lethu: (chuckles) yes you are princess.
Thando: (smiles) thank you mommy.
She kissed her forehead then went downstairs. She went to check if Q is up.
Lethu: (chuckles) let me help you.
Q: (smiled)
She helped him to dress up.
Lethu: How is my boy doing?
Q: Am good Dad and how are you?
Lethu: (smiles) am good son.
Q: Is Thando up already?
Lethu: Yeah she's downstairs.
Q: Ohh okay.
She got done dressing him up then brushed his hair.
Lethu: We have to go and renew your cut.
Q: Plus it's getting old now.
Lethu: Yeah, I want my boy to look great.
Q: Big kids at school says I look more like a girl.
Lethu: (chuckles) come here.
They went to the mirror.
Lethu: What do you see?
Q: Myself in a mirror.
Lethu: And who do you see again?
Q: You?
Lethu: Cant you see we look alike?
Q looked with that weird face.
Q: I think you look like me.
Lethu: (chuckles) go eat your breakfast boy.
Q took his school bag then went downstairs. She went to dress up then she also went downstairs.
Lethu: Atleast your sister made you guys something to eat. Morning butterfly.
Sne: (smiles) Morning Dad.
Lethu: How did you sleep?
Sne: I slept just fine Dad and how did you sleep?
Lethu: I slept good I guess with someone.
Q: Who?
Lethu: Your lil sis.
Sne: Does she knows how to sleep though? (chuckles)
Lethu: Not at all, she was Jackie Chan the whole night. (cracks up)
Thando: What? (giggles)
Q: (whispers) you don't know how to sleep. (laughs)
Thando: So who's Jackie Chan?
Sne: You are. You don't know how to sleep.
Lethu: I found her leg across my chest when I woke up.
They all cracked up.
They had their breakfast then Theo went to drop her kinner at school.
Sne: Dad.
Lethu: Yeah?
Sne: Could you please find a helper who will help in the morning also on the afternoon am tired of making breakfast in the morning, and making lunch on the afternoon it drains.
Lethu: Okay Shein I'll find a helper okay?
Sne: That would be great, and please find the good one.
Lethu: I'll find the best one.
Sne: Bye Dad, have a nice day at work.
Lethu: Daddy loves you.
Sne: I love you too daddy.
Lethu: Have a nice day at school.
Sne kissed her cheek then she stepped out from the car. Lethu had a hectic day at work, meetings after meetings. She went to pick up her kids then she drove off back home. They arrived at home safely, but when Sne walked inside the house there was a scream.
Thando: Dad?
Lethu: You guys stay here am coming.
She went inside and took out her gun.
Lethu: Thando?
Kuhle: HI. (smiles)
Lethu: What are you doing here?
Kuhle: Am back.
Lethu: Yeah yeah I can see you back, what brings you back after so many years?
Sne: Dad be nice.
Lethu: Go take your siblings and go upstairs.
Sne went to take Thando and Q then made their way upstairs.
Kuhle: Baby.
Lethu: Baby? Are you calling me that?
Kuhle: I thought you were gonna be happy to see me.
Lethu: Happy? You left for so many years and left me with our baby who didn't know she has eyes and shit and now you come back and think I'll be happy for that?
Kuhle: Babe I know I left you with our baby after giving birth.
Lethu: I raised these kids alone with no one's help. I was alone paying electricity, school fees the cars and shit!
Kuhle: Babe I know, please calm down.
Lethu: Seeing you here pisses me off.
Kuhle: Babe?
Lethu: Can I ask?
Kuhle: Yeah sure.
Lethu: Why you came back? After so many years.
Kuhle: I came to help you as married couples do.
Lethu: Ohhh (chuckles) you came to help?
Kuhle: Yes to help.
Lethu: To help with what? (folds her arms)
Kuhle: Raising our kids.
Lethu: Our kids or my kids? Cause they are clearly mine now. Sne is in high school doing grade 9, Q is doing grade 3 and Thando is in grade 2. Kinner has grown now and they call me Dad and their mom.
Kuhle: But...
Lethu: We don't need your help.
Kuhle: Theodore we have kinner together and we married.
Lethu: Ohh please... Now you care.
Kuhle: Theodore I can explain.
Lethu: I don't want to hear your explanation, it was great seeing you again. Now you can go back where you come from cause you no longer a part of this family.
Theo left her there then she went upstairs to her room. Sne got out from her room went to sit by the stairs when she saw her mother crying at the dining area. She stared at her then she went to Lethu's room.
Sne: (tearfully) what you did is wrong.
Lethu: Shein please.
Sne: Don't Shein me.
Lethu: Excuse me?
Sne: She is our mother. Why can't you forgive her?
Lethu: Forgive? Just like that?
Sne: Why didn't you give her a chance to explain? (tears streamed down)
Lethu: Your mother left me with Apryl for years! She left me with you guys for years! I was a maid and a parent to you guys, a single parent. She left me with nothing but you guys, how am I suppose to feel after of how she came up? Be happy about it? Smile and kiss her? Do you know a pain of going through things alone with no one to help like how your mother did? Where was she when things turned up? Where was she? You don't know anything, you still a kid you don't know and understand anything.
Sne: (sobbing) well maybe I think I know something!
Lethu: Don't piss me off.
Sne: (sobbing) if she gonna leave I'm leaving as well.
Lethu: You wouldn't dare try doing that!
Sne: Okay then we'll see!
Sne stormed out.
Lethu: Sinelizwi? Come back here!
She roared with anger.
PART 2.
Lethu woke up and she did her morning routine the she went downstairs found kids with Kuhle, they were busy having breakfast. She just sat down and poured herself a cup of coffee.
Thando: Morning Dad. (smiles)
Lethu: Morning Buggie.
Thando: Why don't you greet a lady over here?
Lethu went mute.
Sne: Dad cut the act.
Lethu: Kids are you done eating breakfast?
Q: Wait I wanna finish this juice first.
Thando: Well I like this lady over here, she made us some breakfast.
Lethu: Stop talking too much and finish your breakfast.
Thando: (burps) sorry. (giggles)
Kids finished their breakfast only Sne was still eating.
Lethu: Are you gonna get done?
Sne: Mom will drive me off to school.
Lethu: okay, kids let's leave.
They took their bags and went to the garage side. When Lethu was about to walk off Kuhle stopped her.
Kuhle: Theodore I wish you could give me a chance to explain why I left you with Thando. I want you to know that I need you to forgive me it wasn't my intention to push it that far. I wish I could explain to you why I left, forgive and fix things but how will I explain while you shut me out?
Theo stared at her then walked away.
Kuhle: (heavy sigh)
Sne: Mom.
Kuhle: Yeah?
Sne: I know Dad still loves you, just that she's still mad at you but she will come around.
Kuhle: Do you think I should do something?
Sne: Yeah yell her your story.
Kuhle: (sigh)
Sne: Don't worry mom, she will come around after you tell her your story.
Kuhle: Eat up, you gonna be late for school.
Theodore arrived at work she was all rude to everyone and they were surprised what's going on with Theodore. During lunch time Paris came to her. Her PA.
Paris: Work for you.
Lethu: What are you?
Paris: Am your PA.
Lethu: Do what PA's do.
Paris: I can't finish this work alone.
Lethu: You want your full salary?
Paris: Okay sir, I'll do it. (fornorly)
She went to her desk and got bust on her laptop. Sam walked in.
Sam: Bruh what's up with you?
Lethu: What now Samantha?
Sam: You can't let Paris do that all work alone.
Lethu: She is my PA so what?
Sam: Exactly your PA not your slave. You treating her like your slave now.
Lethu: Excuse me?
Sam: You heard me well man, what you doing to her is rude and not cool at all.
Lethu: Samantha.
Sam: Don't say my name, why you being rude to anyone you meet?
Lethu: You don't know what am going through rn now.
Sam: Paris please give us some space, you can go work at my office.
Paris: Okay sir.
Paris left.
Sam: Tell me what's up?
Lethu: So Phiwokuhle is back.
Sam: I thought you'd be happy.
Lethu: Happy? Samantha that woman left me for years with kids. Now she shows up and expect me to pretend like nothing has happened?!
Sam: Calm down blah.
Lethu: She pisses me off, I don't need her help anymore am okay.
Sam: Do you still love her?
Lethu: Yes I do still love her.
Sam: Sit down with her and talk man.
Lethu: No man I'm tired.
Sam: Are you gonna leave Kuhle because she left without saying anything? You guys can still chat and fix things not that.
Lethu: I don't know man.
Sam: Theodore I know you still love her and you badly wanna fix things.
Lethu: hmmm you think it's like that.
Sam: I know. Go fix things with Kuhle man.
PART 3.
Sam stood up and went back to her office. Later Theo went to pick up Thando and Q then she drove back home. They greeted her then went upstairs the same as Theo. Sne was already home, when Theo was about to take a nap Thando walked in.
Thando: Dad?
Lethu: Yeah?
Thando: Is that lady my mother?
Lethu: yeah she is.
Thando : (tears filled in) why didn't you tell me?
Lethu: she doesn't deserve you, she has done things that aren't going to be accepted or let things slide.
Thando: Forgive her. (wiping her tears)
Lethu: Buggie that ain't easy.
Thando: But God says we should forgive each other then we will be forgiven.
Lethu: I'll see Buggie.
Thando: You want to forgive her?
Lethu: No.
Thando: (wears a frown) Dad.
Lethu: Thandolwethu I need to take a nap, I had a hectic day at work. Close the door behind you.
Thando stared at her for some time then she walked out and close the door.
Sne: Are you planning on telling her?
Kuhle: Yeah but not today.
Sne: Mom you wasting time, you go tell her now.
Kuhle: Sne I'm not ready.
Sne: Well get ready and fix things with dad, we can't be having a single parent while you still alive.
Kuhle: (sigh)
Kuhle rose up on the couch then she made her way upstairs to Theo's room. Theo heard a soft knock then she told the person to come in.
Kuhle: Hey Theo, sorry for disturbing you.
Lethu: What are you still doing here?
Kuhle: I came to talk to you.
Lethu: I don't wanna talk to you.
Kuhle: Well I want to, I want you to hear my story.
Lethu: You know what Kuhle, I'm tired I come from work had a hectic day there. Can I get my rest?
Kuhle: You can get that after I tell you the side of my story.
Lethu: Why?
Kuhle: (tears filled in her eyes) I left because I wanted to fix myself. I was out there trying to find myself. I was going through a rough patch Theodore.
Lethu: So you want me to believe all that?
Kuhle: Theodore why you being like this?
Lethu: You done talking?
Kuhle: Theodore please.
Lethu: Close the door behind you, and walk away with your lies.
Kuhle walked out from her room then she went to the living area. She sat there and cried her lungs out. Sne heard a sob coming from downstairs.
Sne: Mom?
Kuhle: (wipes her tears) hey.
Sne: What went wrong?
Kuhle: Your mother will never forgive me.
And I think I really deserve this.
Sne: Did you try to explain?
Kuhle: I did but she didn't even listen to what I was saying, so baby (sniffs) I'll be on my way out it's clear Theodore doesn't want me here anymore.
Sne: Where are you going?
Kuhle rose up on the couch.
Kuhle: I'll go to town and find a place to live in.
Sne: Well I'm coming with you.
Kuhle: No babe (smiles & sniffs) you stay here okay?
Sne: But mom...
Kuhle: Stay with your dad.
Sne: How will we be a happy family while you gone mom?
Kuhle: I'll come visit okay? I promise.
Sne: (sigh) Mom where will you live? What are you gonna eat?
Kuhle: Will see.
Sne: Have money with you?
Kuhle: Yes I do have money love.
Sne: Will it last you for a month?
Kuhle: Yeah I'll go look for some job somewhere.
Sne: I hate seeing you like this.
Kuhle: Come here.
Shein was now crying. She rose up, Kuhle opened her arms to receive her. She gave her a warm tight hug that made her to break down.
Kuhle: Shhhh baby, I'm sorry that you have to walk through this okay?
She nodded breathing heavily.
Kuhle: Once I get a place to live in you can always come and visit okay. Promise mommy one thing, focus more on your studies don't worry about us things are gonna get back to normal when time is right. Can you promise mommy that?
She nodded.
Sne: I love you mom.
Kuhle: Mommy loves you more my love. Now let mommy go pack her bags and leave.
Kuhle went to the guestroom and pack her bags with a help from Snd as soon as she was done she left Theo's Mansion. Shein went to sit at her bedroom and cried herself to sleep.
