Example 1: Big sister, emotional (South Africa)
542 words · about 4 min spoken
Good evening, everyone. For those who don’t know me, I’m Thandi, Zanele’s big sister – by a whole nine years. When Zee was born, I was in Grade 4, and I proudly told my entire class that she was my baby. I suppose I started acting like her second mother right from the beginning.
Growing up in Cape Town, our mornings were a routine of rushed plaits and complaints. I would do her hair for school every day until she was twelve, and I don’t think she liked a single one of my plaits. She’d frown at the mirror, then run off anyway. I moved to Johannesburg for work when she was fifteen, and she was so cross she wouldn’t say a word to me on the drive to the airport. That same night, she called me and we talked for an hour. Now, even though she’s the one with a full calendar, she still calls me every Sunday. Lately, I’m the one getting advice from her.
Zee has always been fearless, and maybe just a little bit stubborn. She’s the person who says what you need to hear, not always what you want. But then she’ll make you rooibos tea and sit next to you until you feel better. In her work as a physiotherapist, she spends her days helping people find their feet again. That’s who she is: honest, caring, and determined.
I still carry a memory from when I failed my driving test. Zee was eight, and she made me a ‘Best Driver in the World (Nearly)’ certificate out of a cereal box. When I finally passed, she taped it to my dashboard, and it’s still in my glove box all these years later. Another time, when she was ten and scared of the ocean, she spent a month before our Durban holiday swimming in the bath every night, splashing water everywhere. On the first morning at the beach, she just walked straight into the waves and started swimming. That’s Zee – she decides, she practises, and then she jumps.
When Zee brought Michael home for Sunday lunch, my uncles grilled him about rugby for an hour. He admitted he supports the wrong team, which, honestly, was brave. After the meal, he washed every single pot in the kitchen without a word. My mother still tells that story. That’s when I knew Michael was someone special – patient, gentle, and humble. He balances Zee’s energy, and she brings him along for the wild ride. They’re training for the Two Oceans together, and I hear Michael waits for her at every water table. That says everything.
Michael, thank you for loving my sister the way you do. Welcome to our family. Zee, someone else plaited your hair today, and I’ve never seen you look more beautiful. But remember, I’m still just a call away, every Sunday – always your sister, no matter what.
Before I raise my glass, I want to remember our gogo, our grandmother, who made Zee and me promise to dance together at each other’s weddings. Later tonight, we’ll keep that promise for her.
(Raise your glass) To Zee and Michael: to love, to patience, and to always waiting for each other at the water tables. Cheers!
What the writer told Toastful to get this speech
- Speaker
- Thandi, sister of the bride
- Relationship
- I'm nine years older than Zanele, who everyone calls Zee. We grew up in Cape Town. When she was born I was in Grade 4, and I told my whole class she was my baby. I plaited her hair for school every morning until she was twelve, and she complained about every single plait. When I moved to Johannesburg for work she was fifteen, and she wouldn't speak to me on the drive to the airport, then phoned me that same night. She still phones every Sunday, and these days she's the one giving me advice.
- Personality
- Zee is fearless and stubborn. She tells you the truth even when you don't want to hear it, then makes you rooibos tea to soften it. She's a physiotherapist and spends all day getting people back on their feet.
- First impression
- She brought Michael to Sunday lunch at our parents' house. My uncles questioned him about rugby for an hour, and he admitted he supports the wrong team. Then he quietly washed every pot in the kitchen without being asked. My mother still talks about it.
- Stories
- When I failed my driving test the first time, Zee was eight. She made me a certificate out of a cereal box that said 'Best Driver in the World (Nearly)', and the day I passed, she taped it to my dashboard. It's still in my glove box. When she was ten she was scared of the sea, so before our family holiday in Durban she practised swimming in the bath every night for a month, splashing water all over the floor. On the first morning she walked straight into the waves and swam. That's still her: she decides, she practises, and then she jumps.
- The couple
- Michael is calm and patient, and Zee does everything at full speed. He slows her down, and she gets him to say yes to things. They're training for the Two Oceans half marathon together, and he waits for her at every water table.
- Remembering
- Our gogo, our grandmother, passed away last year. She made Zee and me promise to dance together at each other's weddings.
- Wishes
- Michael, keep waiting at the water tables. Zee, I plaited your hair every school morning for years. Today someone else did it, and you have never looked more beautiful. I'm still only a phone call away, every Sunday.