Chapter 15- Things fall apart
The scene is to play in slow motion in Tanya’s head throughout the week. Her father, who is sitting next to her mother, swings his fisted hand, the all bone fist collides with the corner of her mother’s mouth. A tooth pops, a lip bursts and there is a considerable amount of blood to make Tanya dizzy. She sits still , stunned , while her husband literally jumps over the table to restrain the frailer man. Short of this, Tanya’s mother would have received a lot more violent contact.
It is a beast that has been unleashed from inside her father, he punches the air as Dylan pushes him off of her mother, a few punches resting on his back. Her mother on the other hand, sounds like a crowd of rioting pre scholars. She hurls every obscene word at her husband, all the while searching for her tooth on the floor.
‘It’s okay, at least your daughter will remember you as a man when I kill you! You finally have become a man again, how many years later?’ Who is the head of this house? Inini! Mwana WaShumba! What decision do you make pano iwe? You have no shame! Kubva kare, the only thing that makes you feel like a man is violence.’
She pauses , having found her lost pearly white. Her husband is somewhat calm now, quiet, although Dylan does not loosen his grip.
She lets out a laugh only spell casting lips could be familiar with.
‘The church finished you! It took away the only thing you could show for your manhood! I was scared of you back then Ba Tanya! Come fight me, show me how much of a man you still are!’
The words are spoken as she takes steps forward, ready to fight.
Tanya doesn’t move, she watches as her husband struggles to keep her mother at a distance while maintaining his restraint on his father in law.
‘Aiwa mhamha, we can talk about this . Please sit, please!’ Dylan is not concerned that his hand is on his mother in laws shoulder, a place that his eyes should never even rest on, according to the culture.
‘Let him. Musiye. Let him be a man before he dies. I live with a woman in this house!’
Tanya’s blood chills as she listens, slowly coming out of her bubble. She gags as the meaning of the last statement registers with her.
She stands, picking up her bag and starts for the door. Not a word, not a tear.
‘Babe!’ Dylan calls out.
Moments later he is outside too.
‘Let them kill each other if that will mean peace for me,’ she says , her voice is robotic.
Dylan is clearly torn, he looks back, through the kitchen window, he can see his father in law, now sitting on a stool, and his mother in law, standing over him and speaking her mind, throwing her hands everywhere.
Tanya starts the car, he jumps in, fearing she will leave.
Once they are on the street, their own composure crumples.
‘Please close your window, it’s cold’, Tanya asks.
Dylan does not respond, he continues looking straight forward, expressionless.
‘Dee? Please, I’m cold.’
Dylan reaches for the window control silently and closes the window. There is an uncomfortable silence in the car until Tanya asks.
‘What’s the matter,I can hear your mind thinking.’
‘Everything is about you Tanya , you only think of yourself!’
Tanya slows the car, frantically looking at her husband and the road, surprised at why they too are now fighting.
‘The situation back there didn’t make you comfortable, so YOU left! You didn’t think about me, you didn’t think about your parents! You made me look stupid for wanting to help.’
‘Dee! Please stop, I am not understanding you right now?’ She is panicking.
‘No you’re not, you never do. Everyone has to understand you! Everyone has to accomodate you and only you!’
Tanya’s heart sinks as she gets a premonition of where this is heading.
