Miss Chubby

Chapter 11

Currently I am parking outside my childhood home in Morningside. I am dreading going inside because I have to be in one place with my sisters. Earlier on I did the live video and it trended. Someone uploaded it on YouTube and another posted it on Ladies House. The response I got from women all over the country was very warm and comforting and I was happy to discover that I am a role model to many girls and even young women out there.

This is how the live video went:

Me: “morning guys. I am Ntombifuthi Cele and I am a chubby and thick woman. I have been chubby since birth. I have never been slim. My parents and brothers showed me love and support as my family. I am proud of who I am and I love my body. This is not the first time a nude of mine has trended and I have received insults and shaming. When I was still in high school this very same nude trended. By that time I wasn’t this confident about my body.”

“I hid myself from the world because I was ashamed of my body back then and I was humiliated. It took a lot of therapy for me to accept who I am. If I was weak I would’ve committed suicide or turned to drugs to numb the pain. When you post someone else’s private photos you don’t only humiliate them but you degrade them and your actions may result in the victim self-harming themselves. I just want to open your minds guys to this. The victims are also someone’s kid. If what you do can be done to your child, would you like that? Stop humiliating other people by sharing their private photos and s*x tapes. Firstly you may face legal action. Secondly that person may commit suicide. Would taking someone’s life make you feel better? Because if the victim would kill themselves because of your actions then that would mean you killed them.”

“Please stop that and stop body shaming women. From petite women to chubby women, all sizes, all races. Stop that. It’s not good. I love you all, from Futhy.” I ended it like that.

Anyways I open the gate with my remote and drive inside. I take my overnight bag and head inside the house after locking the car. I open the front door and get in. I first go put my bag in my room which is downstairs and head to there I assume everyone is which is in the living room. I greet everyone and hug them. Hugs with my sisters are awkward as always. I sit down next to Gcinokuhle.

Gcinokuhle: “you are becoming a celeb like Lele. You are even a motivation to most people. You have so many people looking up to you. I am a proud big brother.” We all laugh at his last statement.

Dad: “I did say I have powerful sperms. Although I don’t know want went wrong with you.” We continue laughing.

Mom: “I think my eggs are the one more powerful.” She boasts and father laughs at her with his deep voice and perks her lips. They have been married for over 30 years but they are still head over heels in love with each other, something I want when I finally settle down.

Busi: “when are you going to get married?” she asks looking at me.

Me: “are you suffering from a sickness or something?”

Busi: “what do you mean?”

Me: “I just want to know where it hurts in your body because of my relationship status.”

Nothando: “I think you should’ve given the soccer player a chance. The guy basically declared his love for you in public. He is the only one who loves you enough to do that. Where do you think you will find another one like him?”

Busi: “Thando is right. Shamase seemed serious about you and you played with your chances.”

Mom: “Thando what does your sister’s love life has to do with you?” she looks down. “How old is Lwandlelethu?”

Nothando: “29”

Mom: “and you?”

Nothando: “21”

Mom: “now with that huge age difference, what makes you think you can talk to her about her love life when you don’t even know how her life is like? Both of you treat your sister like a stranger but you’re quick to have opinions about her relationship status. Wena Busi ngoba you’re older, how would you feel if Lwandlelethu and Nothando were close and treated you the way you treat her?” silence spreads out the whole room.

Dad: “we are not here for that because if we were to start talking about your sisterhood we won’t talk about what this meeting is about. I really don’t know why you two think you’re better than your sister. Only God knows.” Mom exhales out loud.

Mom: “the way you’re so disrespectful Nothando, I wouldn’t even bother doing umemulo for you if I was your only surviving parent.” Mom never stops once she starts but it won’t make any difference because her kids will continue being bitchy towards me.

Dad: “calm down sthandwa sami.” He says caressing mom’s cheek and she sighs. Only he has the power to control her buttons. “Anyways we are here to discuss umemulo ka Nothando. Since you three are working,” he says pointing at Busi, Lele and I, “what will you be contributing because the cow, grocery and the catering will be coming from me and umkami?”

Me: “I will buy the booze, hire the tents which will include the chairs and tables, mobile toilets, 2 cold rooms and décor.”

Lele: “I will buy the goats needed for the whole ceremony, how many vele?”

Dad: “three.”

Lele: “yes three goats, I will also hire the program director for the second session as well as all the entertainment for that day and also organize a photographer.”

Nothando: “will you also bring Keela?” Keela is Sakhile’s stage name.

Lele: “anything for you princess.” She smiles.

Busi: “I will hire imvunulo for the ladies who will be dancing with you. I will also buy you a weave and the whole outfit for second session. I will also do your make up.” she hugs her sister and I am tempted to roll my eyes but u Ndosi omkhulu would literally pluck them out.

Gcino: “and I will be guarding the cold rooms with my life.” We all laugh at him.

Dad: “you couldn’t keep quiet neh?”

Gcino: “I was tempted to but my inner voice was like ‘nah man, that’s not who you are’ and I listened.” We continue laughing and dad shakes his head while chuckling.

Nothando: “so obabomncane won’t contribute anything?”

Me: “as you can see Thando all the costs have been covered. If they wanna contribute they will just come nespheko just for control but other than that we don’t need other people’s contributions just their presence nje bezokunika imali.”

Dad: “she is right Thando.” Thando nods and looks down.

Me: “so will there be umkhwenyana whom we must prepare for on your day?”

Dad: “hhay umkhwenyana wani?”

Me: “dad girls usually show their boyfriends to their families on this particular event, you know that moss.”

Dad: “hhay-hhay” he shakes his head repeatedly.

Gcino: “daddy doesn’t wanna see his little princess grow wings.” He says that sitting at the edge of the couch because he knows that there is a huge possibility that dad might attack him. Dad attempts to stand up and Gcino runs out of the room leaving us all laughing hard.

Dad: “ngizokuthola wena Gcinokuhle.”

The housekeeper calls us to the dining hall because dinner is ready. We all head there and Gcino also comes. We eat while talking more about umemulo. Thando and Busi seem a little nice but I know how they can be so I don’t notice them. We finish eating and then we catch up. After that I head to my room, take a shower, wear my night dress and get under covers with my phone in my hand. My phone rings, I check the caller and I can see that it’s Sandile. I answer and keep quiet.

Sandile: “I know that I said I will wait for your call but I couldn’t. How are you?”

Me: “I am good, how are you?”

Sandile: “I am okay. How was your day?”

Me: “just a normal day.” You can tell by the sound of his voice that he is somehow nervous.

Sandile: “can I take you out on a date any day next week?” I keep quiet for a while then I decide to answer.

Me: “Wednesday night I am free.”

Sandile: “cool then, that’s awesome.”

Me: “aren’t you supposed to be in JHB?”

Sandile: “no. I will see you then. And I love the sound of your voice, it’s soothing.” I chuckle.

Me: “flattery won’t get you anywhere.”

Sandile: “you still owe me.”

Me: “what?”

Sandile: “singing. You promised me and my brothers that you will sing for us.”

Me: “ohh okay.”

Sandile: “so when are you going to sing for me?” I clear my throat and start singing. I don’t like owing people.

Me: “inhliziyo, iyophuka, I wonder ubuzophelelaphi, ubuziphelelaphi ukube usaphila, I wonder ubuzophelelaphi, besizophelelaphi ukube usaphila.”

Sandile: “wow, wow, wow. I am impressed. We have to do at least one track please.” I giggle.

Me: “if singing was my passion I would be an award winner by now.”

Sandile: “pretty please.”

Me: “begging doesn’t suit you. Good night Sandy.” I drop the call and drift to sleep.

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#MissChubby