childhood: part 2

Every year on December 25, Thulaganyo would wake up feeling excited. Christmas was one of the few days she looked forward to the most. Elisa would spend time in the kitchen preparing special meals, filling the house with the smell of delicious food.

Unlike the usual simple meals, Christmas meant something different. The food was rich, warm, and special, and Thulaganyo could hardly wait to eat. She would sit eagerly, knowing that on this day she would enjoy dishes that felt like a real celebration.When Thulaganyo was around four or five years old, France bought her a small scooter. She loved it and spent hours riding it whenever she could.

A few years later, when she turned seven, France surprised her with a bicycle. Thulaganyo was extremely happy. At first the bicycle had two small training wheels at the back so she could balance.

France patiently taught her how to ride. When he finally removed the small wheels, she struggled and fell a few times, but he kept teaching her until she learned to balance on her own.

Riding the bicycle quickly became one of her favorite things to do. Since she was not allowed to go out much, she would rush home from school just to ride it. Almost every day she road it by herself, enjoying the small freedom it gave her.Although Thulaganyo was not allowed to go outside often, she had one close friend, a boy named Tshiamo. Tshiamo’s grandmother was friends with Elisa, so the two children spent time together whenever they could.

Thulaganyo admired Tshiamo and often copied the things he did. If Tshiamo pushed a wheelbarrow around the yard, she would try to do the same. To her, it was fun to follow his lead and pretend she could do everything he could.

Sometimes, when France was at work and Elisa was not at home, Thulaganyo would go to Tshiamo’s grandmother’s house and stay there for a while. When Elisa returned, she would come and fetch her and take her back home.Sometimes Thulaganyo would go with Tshiamo to visit his father. They would spend a little time there playing or talking, but she would eventually return to Tshiamo’s grandmother’s house.

That house had become a familiar place for her. She often waited there until Elisa came to fetch her and take her back home.As time passed, Thulaganyo continued to be bold and energetic in many ways. She played freely, copied her friends, and was never afraid to try new things.

However, when it came to speaking with elders, she became very shy. She would lower her voice, avoid eye contact, and sometimes remain silent, One day Thulaganyo decided to climb a tree. She kept going higher and higher, enjoying the challenge. But suddenly she slipped and fell to the ground. When she got up, one of her teeth had fallen out.

She quickly ran to France and showed him the tooth. France comforted her and took the tooth from her.

That night, while Thulaganyo was asleep, France quietly threw the tooth away and placed five rand inside her school shoe. Thulaganyo believed that if you put a tooth in your shoe, a tooth fairy would come during the night, take the tooth, and leave money behind.

The next morning she woke up and found the R5 in her shoe. She was excited, believing the tooth fairy had visited her, not knowing that it was actually France who had done it.

France often did small things to make her happy. Whenever he went to the market, he would bring back a Kinder Joy for Thulaganyo, which was her favorite treat.Thulaganyo loved her father figure, France, very much. When she was young, he would lift her onto his shoulders and take her along to the shop or to buy chicken.

Once they got home, France would clean the chicken, but he always let Thulaganyo help with parts of the process. She would wash or prepare certain sections while he handled the rest. It became a small routine they both enjoyed, filled with laughter and learning.During holidays, members of Thulaganyo’s real family on her mother Reginah’s side would sometimes come to visit. Not all of them came, just one or two at a time.

They knew that France Mafona, though he was not Thulaganyo’s biological father, he was taking care of her and loved her deeply. These visits were brief but important, as they reminded Thulaganyo of her roots while also showing how much she was valued and cared for in her daily life.

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