Diary Of A Mafia King's Wife

Dear Diary: He's mad again...

I wake up to a very wet pillow. I don't know when I fell asleep. When I'm about to go to the bathroom. I hear a click, someone is unlocking the door. I run back to bed and pretend to be sleeping. MaNgubane, her daughter-in-law and the boys walk in. I look at the clock. It's 9am. Don't they ever work? I mean they are always here. MaNgubane must be on pension it's understandable but the boys and their mom? I wonder.

"We know you are not sleeping. There's no need to be embarrassed you did nothing wrong" I'm too focused on holding the pee in I'm not sure who said that. I quickly get off the bed and run to the bathroom. No time to close the door. After I'm done I wash my hands and go back to the bedroom. I start making the bed. I'm no longer embarrassed, I'm mad at them. They should have told me what happens when Mlondi is mad. But I'm also glad Manqoba came to my rescue.

"Come with me" Mlondi tells me standing by the door. I don't answer him or even acknowledge him. After making the bed I walk back to the bathroom when I lock the door, I hear his mom telling him to stop. I don't hear anything more because I start showering. I plan to take longer. He'll have to wait. Fifteen later Mlondi is banging the door. MaDlamini is begging me to come out while the boys are trying to stop their stubborn brother.

I emerge from the bathroom ten minutes after that. Mlondi is really mad. He gives his mom an evil look she just rolls her eyes. Which seems to make him more mad than I thought possible. I haven't had breakfast, but not to repeat what happened yesterday. I walk out with him.

We drive back to the building we went to the other day. They are painting. Same guys I worked with in December. I greet everyone. One of the guys who introduces himself as Muzi gives me overalls and tells me to go change in the next room. After changing I join them.

"Looks like you've done this before" Muzi comments.

"Yeah, I once worked as a painter for some construction company in my area"

I hated the jobs but I couldn't find anything stable. We always got paid after months, sometimes we wouldn't even get all the money. There were always stories. Thirteen out of sixteen people decided to quit. I wished I could but I had to work so I could support myself. I had to pay rent, buy food and save money for College, I ended up not finishing my course because the project was stopped. They ran out of funds without paying us for 2 months. Glad I had a side job, art.

"What is a girl like you working in a place like this? When you married one of the richest people in the country" this guy is fishing for gossip. I just force a laugh and shrug, turning back to work. I don't know why people like asking personal questions. I once had a guy asking me how much I think Mlondi is worth, how much he makes an hour. Even if I knew the answers to those questions I wouldn't tell him. We work in silence for the next 2 to 3 hours, which is fine with me. I prefer silence when I am working.

"What is your husband going to use this building for?" Muzi asks me when we prepare for lunch.

"Stop bothering this lady. Do you think the boss will appreciate you asking his wife these questions?" one of the guys reprimands Muzi and then he turns to me to introduce everyone. And he introduce himself as Sizwe. I just smile at them and they smile back.

" For such a skinny girl you eat too much" Muzi comments laughing. When I'm about to answer him hubby does.

"What did you just say to my wife?"

"Eeh boss" he scratches his head.

"What did you say to my wife?" he asks again, getting too close to Muzi. He looks so scared the other guys continue eating as if there's nothing happening here. I didn't hear what Mlondi said but he walks off with the guy.

"Aren't you going to defend your cousin?" one of the guys, Themba asks Sizwe. He tells him no. Apparently Muzi talks too much and he warned him before they came here. After eating my share. I lick my fingers and I continue with the job. After sometime Muzi walks in, walks straight to me and he apologises for his comments. I just tell him it's okay. I know he got a lecture from Mlondi. And hopefully he will take his cousin's advice and stop talking too much