“What happened in church?”

Sindi and Mandi were chatting on the phone as Mandi lay on her bed in the house she had grown up in.

“You looked like you saw a ghost. What happened? Why’d you run off like that?”

“It was nothing serious. Let it go please.”

“OK fine. Then can you at least tell me why you’re back at your mom’s house, on the verge of losing your job?”

“You ask too many questions, d’you know that?”

Mandisa hadn’t even told her mom why she was back, and wasn’t planning to.

“I just hope you’re OK. You seemed pretty bothered about something.”

“It’s my mom. She’s getting frail. She can’t get to church anymore. I thought Pastor Lungelo could…”

“Visit her? I’m sure he will. He lives just behind the church; it’s not far. The blue house.”

“Thanks.”

“OK, cool. Hope your mom gets better.”

Just then a sudden sharp pain in her stomach made Mandisa cry out and she dropped the phone. She fell to the ground, feeling wetness between her legs.
Mandi’s mom burst into the room, visibly startled.

“Hello? Hello Mandisa!?” Sindi yelled from the other end of the call.

“What’s going on, baby?” her mom asked, cradling her in her arms.

“I’ll be OK. It’s just … aaahhhh!” The pain stabbed again and tears streamed down her face.

“Mandisa, what’s the matter, my baby?”

“Call an ambulance,” Mandi whimpered.

“What?’

“Call an ambulance Mama. Something’s very wrong,” she cried.

Her mom gasped. Mandi seemed to be dipping out of consciousness, struggling to breathe.

“There no time for an ambulance!” her mom panicked. “I’ll ask Thandeka next door to take us to hospital,”’ she explained, not sure if she should leave her daughter even for a second. “Hold on baby, OK?”

In excruciating pain, Mandi nodded.

***

Tell us what you think: What’s wrong with Mandisa?