CUSP

I have just gotten home and I have this unsettling feeling in my stomach, Caleb is not back from work and Nancy my sister in law is still out with her friends. I feel frustrated just at the thought of having to start preparing dinner and on top of that do the rest of the chores before going to bed, it’s not like my complaints are coming from helping around the house but the fact that I have exams back to back and have to do everything home is what is not sitting well with me.

I look through the fridge for something to cook, all the relish is frozen and it will take me almost an hour to defrost before I can start cooking.

‘So much for being a dependent.’ I say to myself angrily removing the chicken from the fridge, I had wanted to cut it into pieces before putting it in the fridge but sister in law dearest had advised that it was better to freeze them whole. Now here I am suffering from that logic.

I put it in water to defrost and start with the fried rice, after frying it I get started with the salad whilst singing along to my favourite songs from my playlist.

I pick up the phone and put it on speaker when it starts to ring, it’s Claudia.

‘Hey boo.’ She says excitedly

‘Someone sounds excited.’ I say even though she is always excited, Claudia has energy for five people and it’s always amusing seeing her like that.

‘You won’t believe what just happened, or what I just discovered.’

‘Do tell child.’ I say even though I know I don’t have to tell her that because come what may she will spill.

‘Besa is bringing his woman home tomorrow, mum is super excited because she feels this might lead to something big. You know how he has always hidden her and now we are seeing her without imposing it on him.’

‘That is very nice, besides he is a grown up now not so?’

‘Well he is, I mean look at Caleb his junior all married and shit.’

‘Language ma’am.’

‘Sorry, I am just so excited. You don’t know how much I have wanted to have a sister in law.’

‘So you want to replace me?’ I ask before laughing knowing how lousy I sound right now

‘Of course I can’t replace you, anyway let me go. Mum is calling.’ She says cutting the line even before I can say anything

I sigh deeply, I don’t know how to feel about all this. Years ago Besa and I had started talking, that was before he went abroad for school. It was nothing really and a part of me had gotten interested but then he came back after completing and things had died a natural death. Honestly I am happy for him and I do hope he is happy.

I go back to my music and an hour later the chicken has melted and I have started cooking it.

I hear a car drive into the yard, the noise coming from there I can even tell that it’s Nancy. She always plays her music very loud it’s hard to miss her.

‘If it isn’t my favourite sister in law.’ She says smiling, from the way she is smiling ear to ear I know she has had a little too much to drink. I always admire how care free she is, Caleb and her are that ultimate modern couple. They don’t care what the world thinks about them as long as they are happy and even though they will never mention that them being married for four years without a child affects them I know it does.

‘Hey Nancy.’ I say kissing her left cheek, she is always mushy when drunk and if it’s not reciprocated she is a lot of work.

‘I missed you.’ She tells me sitting on one of the kitchen chairs

‘So did I, except it would have been nice if you cooked.’

‘In my own house, you are telling me what to do.’

I open my mouth to respond but then don’t say anything.

‘I don’t mean it like that, I am sorry girl.’

‘Yes it’s your house ma’am.’

‘Well I am not denying that fact but I shouldn’t have said it like that.’

I laugh, this one is a beautiful mess when drunk. I don’t know how her husband does it because just a few minutes with her here I already feel drained.

‘So tell me, how are the exams coming up?’

‘They are going okay, today’s paper was a little hard but I am just glad it’s a Friday because then I get to rest this weekend.’

‘I admire your dedication and enthusiasm towards school, if you don’t become that next big thing in this life then someone bewitched you. The way your brother was bewitched and I know who bewitched him, it’s his ex.’

I laugh, I don’t know how many times I have heard stories of this his ex but each time it sounds like the first.

‘Let me get out of these clothes, tomorrow is a new day and you and I have a date. Everything on me.’

‘Yes ma’am.’ I respond helping her down

When she walks out of the kitchen I just laugh, I was all up in my emotions about how everything was left for me to do but after the conversation with her I feel better. She might be work but at the end of the day she is good company and being around her is not such a bad idea.

..

Your Friend and Author

Winnie

🌺