FINDERS KEEPERS

ONE Oratilwe All my life I've been a constant shadow of my cousin/sister, yes you heard it right , my mother had a twin, an identical twin she died when I was just six years old ,quite a young age to remember things but why won't I when my own aunt never ceased to remind me? Yes the very same identical twin of my mother, she's supposed to be my mother too right considering that her daughter and I share the same father, you heard it right my father had kids with twins I don't know who wronged who between my mom and aunt but what I know is that I'm caught in the crossfire. My sister Getrude 'Geet' for short is only four years older than me, she's always been the best sister ever to me , we grew up together and at a point people thought we were twins because of the way we look I like I mean why won't we? Geet has always had my back even when I wanted to go to go study at a culinary school she always been my biggest supporter but of course ma'Bee wouldn't have it so instead she decided once I finished my culinary course I studies business manager at a college and she help lend me a job at one of her fiance's company just so ma'Bee doesn't skin me alive and to say I'm thankful for her would be an understatement because I owe her a lot ...she stuck with me when I told ma that I'm attracted to girls and we've been through hell and back together Now it's my turn to return the favour or at least ma says so...she was involved in a fatal car accident just a few days after her lobola was payed and now ...I'm sad to say this but today Saturday June 13nth I just buried the only sister and friend I ever had , today for the first time my world is coming apart why? Not just because of my sister's death but because I have a girlfriend I love who wants to marry me and I her too but the devil of my mother can not let the riches my sister and her 8 month old were gonna marry into go to waste she just had to promise the Mahlangu a bride and that bride being me ... But of course I sad no immediate but her she prepared this, she came prepared and she got aces up her sleeve, she offered me the one thing that I have connected to my mother and father ,the one thing that I live for .... Today is Sunday, I just buried my sister yesterday and in as much as I hate this there literally is nowhere to go, I asked them to give me a month to think about this but aunt won't have none of it, she literally made sure that she has everything that belongs to locked, ill only get it once I sign the damn papers, I should get married to my sister's husband, technically he is her husband, although they were married traditionally only but you know, us black folks tradition is law,I heaved out a sigh and went to brush my teeth and wash my face, when I get back I found a missed call from Mayona, my girlfriend. I dilled her number back, "hey babe, how are you" hearing her voice just lifted up my spirit, Mayo and I have been 'officially' dating for six months, I can't say the most amazing ones but they were okay, she asked I marry her but it was a little too early for me, yeah we've known each other for over a year but yeah. "hey, yona.how are you?' "eish babe, not good, I have to go out the country for three months " *sigh* she's always going out Lona, she never stays in one place for long "yona you know I need you mara" well... I'm gasping for straws here "ah,aah Ora, you know I need to, you a big girl now, and besides we'll skype all the time " yeah well...what did I say, sometimes I think I confused our s****l attraction for more than what it is. '"fine, whatever" I dropped the call and switched my phone off. I walked downstairs to find everyone sitting on the dining table having breakfast "mosadi o tsoga goseng, eseng nako TSE" this woman foreal hates me , legit legit, it's eight in the morning ,how early must I wake, Ena O tsoga after 12 moh. I just kept quite because it I talk I'll be the had guy, 'wa didimala, wa tella watshega" *sigh* everything I do is wrong, I just stood up and went outside, I heard her saying something about lack of manners, this woman is legit crazy, she's badmouthing me Infront of the people she's selling me to,mxm, how crazy is she?I went to the garden and set on the bench having my juice , busy on my e-reader, I love me a really good book, when I have a house I want a bookshelf not the big gigantic , just a small one because as much as I love reading I can never read that many books . I felt a heavy presence behind me, I looked and it was kagiso, Geets' 'husband' "Are you okay?" I just nodded my head to say yes. "You know you don't have to agree to this right?" Funny he should say this "You the one with a choice, you should just say no" •he chuckled "Yeah you right, but that won't stop your aunt from selling you to the highest bidder right, better the devil you know" He's got a point "Anyway, I know it's what your sister would have wanted " We stayed for a few minutes with a comfortable silence. "So I'll ask them to extend your time but I really hope you do what's best, I'm not saying I am what's best, but we both know I'm the best candidate here " With that he stood up and went to his car, I saw him drive out ...*sigh* can I really do this? I mean for real for real ,can I ? Can I really marry my late sister's husband to get my right and freedom back? _________________________-___ Please excuse the errors