The Reply...

I looked at him without knowing what to say. I closed my eyes as I placed my phone on his lap. Likewise, I held tight on his thighs, after a while, I removed my hands on his thighs. I Then signed him up to check my phone up.

He flipped it up and he switch it on. Since it was still on the message, he was met by it. He focused, looked on the screen with no emotions.

"Reply to him and tell him what he needs to hear." He smoothly said as He passed my phone to me.

I constantly looked at him with a questionable eye,, but he just nodded with his head as he pulled my hands and squeezed them softly. As much as I wanted to reply, I could not. So, I immediately shifted the conversation to something else. We continued with the conversation until I had to go and make food for my baby sister.

We both stood up and walked back into the house and decided to make food for the fourth of us. When we finished, we went to the table and all ate up. When everyone was done eating, we cleaned up and washed the dishes and did what as individuals preferred. Zinhle and Wellie went to watch the television as Mbulelo decided to go and visit his friends. I walked to my room and watched my phone without knowing what to do with it, and hence I still had to reply to the message that was sent to me.

After it felt like four hours, I decided to reply to his text with a [Hey]… Yes, I knew that I was supposed to be more specific but I couldn't think of something better. When he replied to me, I was unable to keep up with the conversation since I had to go and cook.

I plugged my phone on the charger and walked out of my room. I walked to the kitchen and took out all the materials and equipment I needed. Likewise, I knew I didn't have much time left until my mother arrived, so I decided to make creamy chicken pesto for supper, since it wasn't going to take much of my time or even to make it. Not only that, but I took another pot and opened the packet of macaroni and poured it in the boiling water and closed the pot. Furthermore, I then moved to another pot and threw 3 chicken fillets into the boiling water. I then added spicy peppers as well as blended spices. I also added a little chili and closed the pot.

I started to chop the onion and tomato. I took out the sweet corn in the refrigerator and started cutting it into small pieces as possible. Furthermore, I sliced the cheeses, did put it on the blow. After 15 minutes I took out the macaroni and raised it and placed it on the side since it was already middle cooked.

I then took out the chicken fillet and took out the shopping board and started cutting into medium pieces. When I was still busy with that, there was a pun on the stove with oil. When the oil was hot I put the onions and pepper and throw the chicken fillet inside too so that it can get tender and suck all the favors in it. When the chicken fillet started turning brown, I p out the macaroni inside and kept on stirring.

I took out the oven rectangular glass roaster and sprinkled cheese and well as the methi green leaves as well the sweet corn, I then pour macaroni mixture and sprinkled cheese with methi leaves. I took out the creamy milk and pour onto the top and sprinkled cheese and the leaves as well as the sweet corn and moved it to the oven and hit it up for 5 minutes.

In that five minutes, I was cleaning up the kitchen. I managed to wash the equipment that I was using. When the time was up, the oven alerted me and I switched off the oven and when I checked on the meal, it looked fine. I proudly closed the oven and continued with cleaning the kitchen. When I finished up, I ran and took a quick shower, and changed into my pajamas. As I came out, I met my parents in the corridor being all lovey-dovey.

Well, my stepdad was secretly tickling my mom smoothly. I smiled and passed them as I let them know that the food will be ready at any minute. I called my siblings to help me with setting up the table, even though they were complaining,, there was nothing they could do but suck it up. We set the table up and waited for our parents as they took their time. When they finally came, we fished up and started eating.

My baby sister kept on talking, since she is the spoiled one. I ain't complaining,but she is giving too much attention.

"Any luck with finding the dress, "My father said as he looked at me. I was shocked, I did not think he would want to know or even be involved. Yes, I might slightly hate him,but he tries to play his role as a father to me. And not to say endless money spoils I get. And that's the problem with him, he thinks money is the solution to everything, but what can I say, he is trying.

"Not yet baba"I respectfully said.

"I will check on my contacts and see what I can do, my child, I mean you've been up and down but no luck. And I can see that you are looking forward to your prom. You deserve it, you have been behaving, you haven't given us a hard time" His voice was toned down and calmly.

My mom looked and me and signed up that everything is well. Yes, she knows that I sometimes slip up, not that I was at the moment, I mean , I was being praised on the dinner tables.

"Thank you, baba," I said as I looked at my food. You know African tradition whereby you are not supposed to look straight to the elder's eyes/face when you are replying to them.

We continued with the short light conversation that bought laughter to the table as well. The energies were gelling together, and the house was filled with light and bright energy.

When we finished eating, it was already eight o'clock. My mom helped us with tidying the place and then left with dad to their room. My brothers washed the dishes and my sister mopped the floor. When they're were done, I walked to my room as l left them fighting for the remote.

I jumped on my bed and in minutes I was in dreamland…