"Mama, I've found a wife," Moyo yells at the doorstep of his parents' house, bursting with hysteria. With marriage talks rocking the airwaves in Morningside, he can't wait to share the good news with his people, especially his mom whom he hasn't seen in a while. He'd just parked his car by the unfenced compound on Nyerere Street when he rushed to the doorway of the four-room bungalow apartment.

Moved by anger and joy with an equal degree of passion, Moyo's siblings – Tauya and Tobi – rush out from the sitting room into the corridor to catch a glimpse of the noisemaker.

"What are you doing?" Tauya points a finger, casting derisive eyes at his younger brother whom he hardly gets along with. "You don't have to disturb everyone in the city because of your personal problems."

Surprised he's at home, Moyo casts one long glance at him, wondering if this is the proper way to welcome a long-seen sibling. But then this is Tauya – the ever quarrelsome dude. He then turns towards Tobi whose back leans on the building's unpainted brick-wall, eyes trailing the uneven footprints of loitering cockerels. The youngest of the three seem to be praying silently that another conflict shouldn't break out between his two seniors.

Moyo's radio broadcast is good news, one their mom has been looking forward to for years. But Tauya has been gloomy all day. Rushing out of the sitting-room to confront the visitor means his mood dawdles at the lowest ebb.

Moyo's anxiety melts off as he reads all that off Tobi's face, after which he turns to Tauya. "Sorry, I was carried away." He takes a deep breath, places a hand on the door jamb. "Good day, brother."

"Hmm." Tauya, whose eyes stay fixed to the floor, mumbles, returning to the sitting room.

With Tauya out of sight, Tobi sees the need to greet Moyo properly. He pushes forward for a hug. "Welcome, bra Moyo." It's been a while the two last spoke, either on phone or face-to-face.

"How're you, Tee?"

"I'm okay. You've not been coming around."

"Where's Mama?"

"Mama left for the market about thirty minutes ago. She'll soon return. Papa is at work."

Moyo lingers at the building entrance, reconsidering the need to step into the house. His reluctance isn't about the network of cobwebs threatening to fasten him to the ceilings of the poorly-lit corridor, or about the formidable pot-holes lining the pathway to the sitting room. Tauya is the last person he expects to meet here. And by shouting his mission here, has he not begun this visit on the wrong note already?

Tauya, an unrepentant jealous mind, hardly welcomes any progressive news from Moyo. Countless times in the past, the two always argued. Their on-and-off disputes date back to their high school days when Tauya couldn't understand why Moyo didn't repeat a class.

***

"I'm four years older than him. There should be four years difference in our grade levels!" Tauya shouted one afternoon after returning from school. Then in Grade 11, Moyo was in Grade 10. "I hope he's not trying to overtake me as the eldest in this house. Ask him to fail his exams and show me some respect."

"What's bringing this up, today?" Ma Malvin, their mom, delved into another brotherly squabble. Tauya's complaint had become stale.

"I'm the firstborn. I should be ahead in everything in this house."

"Calm down, Tauya. Life is not the way you make it look." The mother sat him down in the frontage to iron out issues. "You're brothers and there's a future ahead where you can lead him as the senior. But you both need to be guided now."

The matter appeared resolved at the time but it resurfaced again in Tauya's final year. Nursing fears he would fail the approaching exams, he lamented for days. "Moyo can't be writing matric a year after me."

Pa Malvin intervened, calling Tauya aside: "Moyo won't go beyond high school, let him complete his grade-twelve first. You alone will get a college education."

Although attending a college was highly improbable for dull-headed Tauya, those words soothed him nonetheless, albeit temporarily.

When Moyo got hired at Emerald Station after high school, Tauya got peeved. "What's this? Moyo will be leaving for work in the morning while I do nothing?"

"We're expecting your university admission anywhere in Africa. Just bring your admission letter, we'll get you there." Pa Malvin admonished.

Driven by the desire to earn a salary and support the family, Tauya would later forgo the dream of a university degree, preferring to job hunt like Moyo. However, no company considered him worthy to hire.

"You're the one to take over this family business." Pa Malvin then asked Tauya to join him in his lithographic printing business. Tauya learnt the trade for twice as long as necessary, winning an allotted space behind his father's shop where he currently earns some income.

Moyo later vacated the family house unannounced, avoiding another quarrel with Tauya who made it clear he would live there forever. Being the hustler of the three sons, announcing his exit to everyone may have led to fresh disputes which had started giving their ageing parents a prolonged headache. He stopped returning home after work, preferring to hang out outside.

"Why didn't you tell us you were leaving?" Tauya then demanded of Moyo. "You want us to start searching for you all over town like a lost goat, uh?"

"I left because Mama was asking about marriage," Moyo explained softly. "I believe you must take a wife before me, so I left."

"That's the wisest decision you ever took in your life," Tauya said with a broad grin.

Better-looking, less dark in complexion and taller than Moyo, Tauya flowed better with ladies, despite his limited mental abilities. After siring three kids with a number of girlfriends, he stamped his seniority over Moyo once and for all.

Even so, disputes cropped up once in a while. For instance, when Moyo bought a car, he told Tauya it was his boss's vehicle given to him to run errands, whereas the vehicle was obtained at a giveaway price from a family man pressed for cash.

Moyo kept away from the family house for years, opting to discuss with his folks over the phone. So doing, tiffs with Tauya seized.

***

Today, Moyo's visit to his homestead is to reconnect with his people, to prepare their minds for his impending change of status. No one will spoil his happy moments – not even a blood brother. Sheline mustn't get the impression that he has a troubled family. He must do all that's necessary to keep trouble at bay.

After all, Tauya had five years at least to raise a family, even if he chose to make babies and kick their mothers away. Having been raising kids for a couple of years, Tauya should be reasonable if spoken to like a gentleman. He'll appeal to the lad's better judgement.

Ready for a hearty talk in the sitting room, Moyo takes on the visage of a schoolboy ready to be scolded by a teacher. He traces a discoloured footpath along the cement-floor, crossing over dead cockroaches of difference physique. The aroma from neighbours' boiling goat meat fills the air.

Will it not make sense if he gives this building a facelift before bringing Sheline here? How will she feel coming to this place? He brushes the idea aside. She had better see his family for who they are. If she truly loves him, she won't budge.

Entering the sitting-room to find his brother sitting cross-legged, remote-control in hand, eyes on the TV, Tauya doesn't blink as Moyo takes a sit on the wooden chair opposite. Tobi lingers by the doorway.

Moyo stays quiet for a bit. Then picking up a solemn tone, he begins to recount his romantic escapades, blinking repeatedly as if to induce tears. "Tauya, I met this Shona girl..."

Tauya folds up his long sleeves, leans forward and places his elbows on both thighs – a posture Pa Malvin is known for. His left-hand strokes his beards as his ears hit the ground, ready to grab every word his brother utters.

Moyo delves into several failed relationships, lacing his yarns with derisive words, condemning himself and showing regrets at times, even reminding his listeners of how he struggled with ladies in the vicinity, all of which make Tauya laugh.

Eventually, he discusses Sheline whose love story conjures the longest laughter. "I'll be wedding her soon," he declares finally. "I thank God this one finally agrees to marry me. A Shona girl like us."

Tauya laughs so loud he can be heard three buildings away.

Tobi adjusts his red face cap and chinos trousers.

"If not that this Shona girl came along, I was afraid I might die single." Moyo claps, reclining on the chair, stepping up the drama, too joyous this is having the desired effect. Tauya looks nice when he laughs this way. He ought to do so often.

"I'm sure she's one street girl. Not so?" Tauya asks tongue-in-cheek.

"Yes," Moyo replies in less than a second. "She's a fatherless child."

"Eeyaa!" Tauya's eyes drop, shaking his head. "At least you can manage to look after her."

"I'll try my best. But she has an old mother."

"Okay, at least."

Moyo watches keenly as compassion melts his usually standoffish brother. "What do you have in mind, bra?"

"Hmm." Tauya takes a long breath, clearing his throat. A sage wants to talk. "It's not a bad idea. At least you've done well for yourself these past years and you're not getting younger. But I hope you're not planning a big ceremony?"

"We're not at that stage yet. I came to inform our parents and you before taking any step. I need family permission to go ahead."

"Oh, that's nice. You did well. It's okay with me." Tauya says with a tone of finality.

Happy there's no inhibitions of any kind, Moyo asks Tobi to get some drinks. They'll need to drink to this auspicious moment of brotherly reunion.

"Really, we'll drink here today?" Tauya jerks forward.

"Why not? We don't sit to talk like this often since you guys kicked me out of the house." Moyo says, tongue in cheek.

Tauya laughs aloud.

As juices and wines flow around, the brothers warm up to one another as they play catch-up on old stuff.

Moyo glances around. The area reminds him of his humble background. This house still has the same wooden chairs he used to study for his matric exams; the cathode-ray TV which now shows half of the channels in Zimbabwe; the crappy brownish-white ceiling fan still sings house music while it blows hot hair.

How'll Sheline feel knowing his family house isn't at the same level as his Rhodesville flat? Well, the girl is mature. She'll handle it.

"Mauya...mauya." Ma Malvin's voice sails into the sitting room as she greets neighbours outside. "Is that not Moyo's car?" She says before stepping into the corridor.

Moyo lifts from the chair, dashing out of the sitting-room to greet her. Tobi follows suit and so does Tauya. Seeing her children wearing choreographed smiles, the woman pauses a bit as her right leg steps on the threshold, watching with expanding lower jaw, as her eyes hop from one son to the other. The sight brings unfettered joy expressed with a raised hand. "Praise God."

"Ha!" She drops the plastic bag in her left-hand, but Tobi rushes to grab it. "Moyo, you remember us today."

"Mama, your boy is getting married," Tauya says before Moyo utters a word. "That's what he came to tell us."

Ma Malvin darts a shocking gaze at Moyo as if he's a stranger from an alien land. She then grabs the lobe of her right ear, turning it towards Tauya, suggesting he should repeat his words which he joyfully does whereupon she sets out dancing around, clutching to the seams of her patterned cotton-fabric wrapper. "A wife at last!" The Maskandi music sloshing in the background isn't loud enough; Ma Malvin sings to the sitting room.

"Tell me again." The slender old woman removes her headtie as she perches on a chair. "Who is this girl you're bringing to us?"

Moyo, blushing all the way, repeats the Sheline's story, rendering a shallow version of his encounters in Morning side, but he takes his time to explain Audrey's gentle manners and conservative outlook to life.

Ma Malvin echoes every word from his mouth after which she prays for him. "May the two of you last forever and ever."

"Amen." The resounding echo from the three guys touches her soul. Mama reclines on the chair, eyes moping at the ceiling as she offers a big smile.

What further accentuates her joy is Tauya's positive stance. That the brothers have been drinking together is so delightful to see. It's common knowledge in the area that a big dispute will erupt when Moyo brings his woman. But they're all wrong, aren't they? For a change, Tauya shows maturity. Being a father makes one see things differently, uh? Ma Malvin queries inwardly.

"When are you bringing this Shona girl you're talking about?" Ma Malvin slams both hands on her thighs, shaking her head briskly in a manner that belies her septuagenarian bones. To have chosen a Shona lady like her to bring home, Moyo has chosen well and carefully too. She can't wait to lay eyes on her future daughter-in-law.

"We'll come soon," Moyo says with glee. "I want to be sure of a time everyone will be at home."

"We're always at home, where do we go?" Mama turns both hands upwards as her high-pitch voice floats out of the windows. "Will you bring her tomorrow?" She leans forward, extending a leg.

"We'll make it here coming weekend." Moyo rubs his forehead.

Tobi finds his voice at last. "What must I do for you before next week?"

Moyo thinks for a while. "Nothing. We just want to pay a visit here. That's all."

"An important visit for that matter – the first one." Ma Malvin's voice hits the roof as she claps. She gets on her feet, singing and dancing again.

Tauya faces the TV, straightening his face.

Moyo checks his watch. "I must leave now."

"Why so soon?" The mother quizzes. "You won't eat before leaving?" She looks around, her gaze settling on Tobi. "Did you serve him food?"

"I have to be at work in thirty minutes. I'll eat next time." Moyo steps out of the room to underscore his resolve. He's on lunch break.

"Okay, my son. Go well. Your father and I will be expecting the two of you next week."

"Okay, ma."

As Tobi and Mama walk Moyo to the car, Tauya plods behind them, hands clasped behind, flaring his nostrils as rage brew. Yes, Moyo has done the needful by keeping him informed before bringing his woman, but Mama's animated anxiety is excessive. He won't have Moyo bring in a girl who'll be celebrated like some royalty – one who'll disrespect him as the future head-of-house. He returns to the sitting-room before Moyo drives away.

***

After Moyo zooms out of sight, Ma Malvin and Tobi return to the sitting room to find Tauya seated in a cranky pose. "Hai, seeing Moyo today has made my day," she says, dropping to the chair.

Tauya gets up and starts pacing around, placing arms akimbo as he breathes hard.

Unable to pin down the reason for his brewing angst, Ma Malvin casts him a mistrustful look but says nothing.

Acting like all is well, she gets up to enter the kitchen.

"Mama Moyo, your son came to see you today!" A neighbour shouts through the corridor, alerting all in the building.

"Yes...yes. So, you saw him too?" Ma Malvin laughs. "Let me put water on the fire, I'll join you soon."

The visitor climbs into the walkway, plodding towards Ma Malvin's kitchen, but before getting there, Tauya peeps out of the sitting-room, locking eyes with the visitor. "What do you want, busy body?"

The woman pauses in her tracks, reconsiders her stance and then makes for the exit door. "I'll see you later, Mama Tauya."

"Wait I'm coming..."

Ma Malvin leaves the kitchen to glimpse the hurriedly departing woman, reading from Tauya's face that he's the one who made the visitor leave.

"What did you say to her, Tauya?"

"I didn't say anything. I was just wondering why she had to call you Mama Moyo while I'm here."

The statement doesn't make sense to the old woman. She follows Tauya into the sitting-room. "What's the problem, tell me?"

"Mama, must I say all the time that I'm the first-born in this house – the very first son. I should get married first. Moyo can't bring a woman into this house before me. It's wrong and unfair. I won't allow it..."

Ma Malvin flinches, looking puzzled. Is this the same person who was rejoicing a little while ago? One who drank with his brothers to celebrate the news Moyo brought? What could have eaten deep into his head all of a sudden? "What's the matter with you, Tauya?" Her right-hand rests on her hip. "Will you start fighting your brother now that he's about to bring home a wife?"

"Yes, Mama. I should have my woman here first."

She rushes to the chair, perches on it and purses her lips. "Okay, which one of the plenty women in your life did you bring that we didn't welcome?"

Tauya takes a seat, unable to provide an answer.

"Or which one did you introduce formally as a wife?"

Silence.

"You only got them pregnant before bringing them here. Yet we take them as the mother of your children. And because you can't look after them properly, they leave you."

Tauya rubs his beard.

"The ones you move with these days don't want to marry you or have a child with you. So, tell me: have we rejected any of your women?"

Silence.

To drive home her point, and to banish any funny idea towards Moyo, Ma Malvin begins to narrate the numerous occasions when tagless ladies came around asking for him. Particularly embarrassing was an event three years ago when two local girls arrived here reporting themselves pregnant. Tauya was then away from home.

"He's not in," Ma Malvin said to the ladies but they refused to leave. Realising their mission was identical, they got into a shouting bout which led to a scuffle. Neighbours watched the show of shame before separating them.

On Tauya's return, he got excited about the news. "Mama, you see how popular I am. Two women are fighting over your son."

The mother stayed mute at what sounded like that rambling of a loser.

Both ladies would later carry their pregnancies to term, dumping their babies at the Malvins six and eight months after delivery. Tauya married none of them but brought in a new lady, Naya, who accepted the kids and have since been living here at the Malvins family house. She's currently on holiday with her mother.

Now that the tetchy lad is distending his mouth about Moyo's intention to settle down, Ma Malvin reminds him again: "You brought many ladies here, but you didn't marry any of them."

The lad drops his eyes, uttering no word still.

"This is not the time to complain. You need to respect yourself and act like a responsible in-law which you'll soon become."

Tauya's gripes swell as he listens to his mom's tongue-lashing, which is occurring because of Moyo's next move. Even without seeing Moyo's woman, Mama is already indicating her preferred daughter-in-law. He always knew it will come to this. It remains to be seen how the girl will come here. The grumpy guy flares his nostrils, feeling the urge to explode. Leaving his mom behind, he walks out of the room.