Soul Ties

“ndithi mandithabathe elithuba ke bantwana bam , ndingazubamde , ndibulele ubukho benu . kuyandivuyisa ukunibona nizalize eligumbi nizingca ngobuntombi benu . makuhlale kutshixiwe esibayeni sikayise de liyofika ixesha lomendo . HALALA !” —i’d like to thank this opportunity , without any delays , and thank you for your presence . it brings me joy to see you all filling up this room proud of your purity . your father's kraal must stay locked until you're ready for marriage . me : *singing* ngoba mna ndiyoyika........ —because im scared..... maidens : *following* ndiyoyik'ukulala namadoda . —i’m scared of sleeping with men . we sang as we walked out the door of the hut . each maiden went to their home . i walked home with my two friends , zandi and lakhe . zandi : jeez ! today was fun ngl . the dancing ? ay . lakhe : the singing friends ? ay we talented kwelocala . zandi : *looks at me* awuthethi yintoni wena ? —why aren't you sayin anything ? me : haysuka , we always dance and sing , what's so special about today ? im a proud virgin but wow , im tired of these gatherings . today ? had to be the worst . zandi : hayke ntombi , we’re preparing for the september reed dance , where the prince will choose a wife . *chuckles* lakhe : and it's obvious who he'll choose . *spins around* y'all see me right ? we all laugh . ion get why they fussing about this mna ay . me : ion think im taking part in that reed dance . them : haybo ? me : ewe . lakhe : heee ndas'ke ndakrokra . —im getting suspicious . me : hay nana , im still a virg . i said entering at the front gate of my house and they laughed , we said our goodbyes , then i got inside the house . there was no electricity so i helped makhulu make a fire , which we cooked and boiled bathing water on . we ate supper , bathed , then went to sleep . btw , im luyimimangaliso sindwayo . im 17 years of age and im in grade eleven . im a short , light-skinned girl with a black-brown afro . i live with my grandma in a village called eDikeni , it's just the two of us . my parents and my three older brothers live in gqeberha (port elizabeth) . join me in this journey of mine .