I woke up early the next day and it was Sunday I won’t lie I was really happy even my mood was telling how I feel. So I jumped off the bed trying to make my way to the kitchen to warm some water before I bath while the water was warming I went outside for the beautiful morning fresh air. My grandfather was wondered by my recent mood and I never wanted to not my grandfather about my mood. However, I went back to the house and I poured the water in the bowl then I went to my bedroom to bath. We didn’t have a bathroom inside the house even the toilet was outside closer to the garden next to the tree. So after I was done bathing I went back to the kitchen to make something to eat. While I was at the kitchen my grandfather entered the kitchen and he was surprised by the mood I was in because according to him he never saw me in that mood. I remember he asked why am I so happy in the morning I told him that I might woke up on the bright side but my happiness was because I was going to see my loving Zusiphe at the church service in Willovale and besides I was in love most of my mood was telling that. To be honest I was starting not to be able to hide my feelings for Zusiphe however it was a good thing for the both of us but I wasn’t sure about her father and grandfather anyway I made sure that they don’t come between us. Before I left home I remember told me that I tell the other members that he will be late by 30 minutes so I walked to sofute where I will find taxis that will take straight to Willovale I was going to a village called Nqadu. It took me only 10 minutes to get to Nqadu and luckily there was few church members so I went to the elders to report that my grandfather is coming but he will be late a bit. After that I looked for Zusiphe my heart wasn’t satisfied when I didn’t see her so I went outside to get some fresh air I remember as I was walking towards the water tank because I was a bit thirsty I saw a girl looking like behind the water tank. She was talking with other girls from our church as I was pouring water from the tank she saw me for a moment like a statue. I waved at her and she waved back I wanted to call her but what she was talking with these girls seemed to so important so I never wanted to interrupt them. I know somebody would say I did a dump decision not to call her but it was working for me. On the other side Zusiphe was waiting for me to at least have a conversation of five minutes before the church serving start. Do you know what she did… she came over me when I was about to leave them and go inside the church besides my grandfather was reverend and I was meant to follow the rules as I was bending them slowly. So we catch up and I remember one thing other church member finally see that we have something in common between us but they never sure what is it. Which was a good thing for me and Zusiphe we finally had a chance to name our relationship ‘ZUZIWE’. I was so happy every time I meet her and besides I was so in love with her. Most of the she would look at me and say she love me. To be honest she was the only girl who made a smile to my face and I was enjoying every moment with her.
“I never see you smile like this before” said Zusiphe.
“I am happy that’s why” I said.
“I can see and it is still long way” said Zusiphe.
“Long way for what” I asked.
“Come on I was talking about us” said Zusiphe.
“What about it?” I asked.
“It is still early for you to happy like this” said Zusiphe.
“Do you blame me for that?” I asked.
“Not at all” said Zusiphe.
“So how long you have been here now?” I asked.
“Maybe 20 minutes and I saw you at the tank” said Zusiphe.
“Me too I did see you” I said.
“And you never bother to talk with me” said Zusiphe.
“I thought you were busy with the girls and besides I didn’t want to interrupt you guys” I said.
“I was nothing important. We were just catching up anyway” said Zusiphe.
“You guys seemed to be serious about we were talking about. So who am I to interfere” I said.
“You’re my boyfriend” said Zusiphe.
“Okay my girlfriend I will not hesitate again” I said.
While they were busy having the conversation. One of the girl was with Zusiphe came to her that the church service is about to start and I remember she saw us holding hands. We didn’t have jumped when we saw her because she was somebody is our age group so it was never taboo to seen by her. However, the service went on with my grandfather luckily I sent his message to the elders’ member of our church. I remember the book of life was on Ephesians, chapter 4 & verse 1-8 one of my favourite scriptures in the book of bible. I remember who was preaching at the church was one of the youth leaders his name was Sonwabo. The brother was so gifted and his preaches were on point even the elders in the church were going to appoint him as one of the young preacher of our church. Maybe just in case something happened to the older preachers of our church as they were getting old.
My grandfather arrived at the church just before we go to the knee to pray. I remember he entered and sat next the other older preachers and I doubted that he was going to take over because he seemed to be relaxed as Sonwabo was taking over the service. What we didn’t know as the other church member is that the day was planned that Sonwabo was going to be a preacher for the day and he was doing perfectly well which was something so good for the church’s future. Well future is in our hands and I remember used to mention something like that to me you know…about the future. Just bare that in mind and tell me what would you say if it was you. I believe that’s a story for another day for you but as for me I wasn’t sure about being a preacher as I’m still in a process of finding myself.
As I was sitting to Zusiphe as the church what I noticed she couldn’t let me out of her face or should I say her sight. However, it was something like that you know and it was turn on because things looked like I won her heart to me. I wished you saw me I was holding it like trophy but doesn’t mean I was going to treat her a trophy girlfriend. There are different things but saying the same time. The church service was beautiful and simple I guess it was because I was with Zusiphe again when I looked at the elders of the church were happy and smiling hopefully they were enjoying the preaching session. One of words I had from were wisdom, patience and love I remember I slowly hold Zusiphe’s hand I noticed that one of the elders saw us immediately I dropped her hand and I focus on the preacher. The elder laughed and I knew he wanted us to be focused. Anyway I knew that he won’t say anything or else he said something or ask me what was happening I will say that I was just comforting my sister in Christ.
However, everything was just fine I remember after church we went to the near shop around the neighbourhood what I noticed is that Zusiphe wanted to hold my hand as we were walking and I didn’t hesitate because we weren’t at church and besides nobody knows at that neighbourhood. So we used the opportunity as our freedom for a time of period I wish you would have seen Zusiphe’s face, she was smiling like some happy feet anyway I loved seeing her happy like that because it was making me happy either.
“What I get you from the shop?” Zusiphe asked.
“Anything that you also desire” I said.
“What do you mean?” Zusiphe asked.
“I mean get me what you are going to buy for yourself” I said.
“I want chocolate” said Zusiphe.
“Then I will have it too” I said.
“Okay if you say so then…” said Zusiphe.
“Thank you” I said.
“Pleasure is all mine” said Zusiphe.
So we entered the shop and I noticed that she was in fact buying for me. To be honest I was surprised because it was my first somebody buy me a chocolate as for her she was leaving with a special moment but what she didn’t realise is that I was going to remember that moment for the rest of my life. I hope you know the moment when somebody buys you something delicious I remember I was eating the chocolate on our way back to the church I was smiling not because the chocolate was delicious but because somebody I love bought that I was enjoying while melting in my mouth. However, it was mouth-watering I remember the funny moment was that I ended up licking the plastic after I was done eating the chocolate.
Zusiphe was laughing at me and she offered to buy another one but I told her maybe next time. Luckily we arrived at the church and my grandfather waiting for me but I told him I will come home later and it won’t be a problem if they left me behind. Honestly my grandfather wasn’t really believing that I can go home safe and well alone if they left me in Willovale anyway the plan was to accompany Zusiphe to Idutywa where she was going to get transport to straight Ngcobo. So I did pursuit my grandfather and he finally agreed to leave me behind so as they took a transport to sofute, Zusiphe and I took a taxi to Idutywa town where I accompany her to catch a taxi to Ngcobo. Luckily when we arrived to Idutywa town we finally find a taxi for Zusiphe.
“So this is goodbye” said Zusiphe.
“Yeah I believe so but…” I said.
“But what?” Zusiphe asked.
“I will miss you” I said.
“Me too sweetheart” said Zusiphe while she was smiling moving closer to me.
“So when will I see you again?” I asked.
“I will call you later about that” said Zusiphe.
“Okay I will keep that in mind then” I said.
“You better that” said Zusiphe and she was holding my hand.
“Okay then” I said.
“You talk too much” said Zusiphe and she started kissing me.
I’m not sure I was aware of the kiss but I appreciated it so well because of course I responded so kindly with full of patients I know somebody would say I was crazy. Luckily Zusiphe was treating me well calming my lunatic stunts when I’m around her which was the good moment I had with her at that time. Just imagine being in a taxi rank fully of people in small town of Idutywa I can’t even thinking the attention and being a grandson of a well-known the great Lennox Msimbothi Gotyana. The moment was good but scaring at the same time because I was a facing of him in those people at the taxi rank luckily they were minding us because it was at the taxi rank. However, the moment was good and interesting unfortunately for me she was about to leave from my town to her town. The driver was warming up the engine and he was just waiting for her to fill the space then they leave my town just like that I was so soon anyway I had no choice to be let her go of course I enjoyed watching her leave.
“Bye” said Zusiphe.
“Farewell my love” I said.
“I wish to stay but I have to go” said Zusiphe.
“No problem I understand” I said.
“Thank you. Love you” said Zusiphe.
I waved and I watched her leaving. Honestly that was the best moment I got to see things I wasn’t aware of I mean her curving thighs anyway what I liked she was the best moment I had. As I was at the taxi rank I went to some guy called Bra Steve I know from my village who was a driver at the taxi rank and I got a sit with free of charge I remember I was sitting on the front sit. I remember I had a conversation with Bra Steve about why am I in town on Sunday what I did lied by saying I was just there to free my mind. My efforts for didn’t work because saw me when I was with Zusiphe he told me that he saw even us kissing immediately I knew he saw everything maybe something told him but I knew that I was caught right-handed. I was shocked but happy at the same time I knew he was going to tell the whole village about what he saw anyway I trust him he will be gentle.
The taxi left within 30 minutes and we left Idutywa in peace a heading to our village I remember it was quiet for a moment in the taxi until Bra Steve did a joke about the police who was robbed by the thug in Idutywa and everybody started to feel comfortable. If I remember well there was a drunk guy in the taxi he was talking nonstop and he was telling old stories about when he was in my age group. The funny moment is when he told us when he was drunk and chased by dogs just imagine it was bad but it was funny to us. What they say about laughing at my pain will always leave you with a smile on your face anyway we arrive at the village and I told Bra Steve to pull over to the shop right next to the gravel road. And I walked myself home luckily when I arrived I was so tired and I went straight to bed.
Obviously I knew I was going to woke up later in the day and prepare my uniform for school so what I did I asked my grandfather’s wife to iron for me but she refused anyway I was trying my luck as always I knew she was going to refuse like she always do even when my grandfather wanted his clothes to be ironed. However, I had no choice but to do it for myself later and besides I was going to do that after supper anyway so I had the whole night. So when I did when woke up it was supper already I went out off of my room my grandfather and his bossy wife were eating at dining table I greet them then I went to the kitchen to get my plate. I remember I ate so quick because on my mind I was thinking of my school uniform and other stuff. However, I was sleepless so I did iron my school uniform and I remember my grandfather and his wife went to bed while I was busy I had a call from Zusiphe as promised and the time was 21:45. Immediately I pick up the phone.
“Hello” I said.
“I wanted to say goodnight” said Zusiphe.
“Same to you” I said and she dropped without telling when we’ll meet again.



© Makaziwe Gotyana