The boys are in a hurry so cannot hear what Somdali continues mumbling as he staggers away, talking to himself. He has his hands held as if cradling a baby, the beer bottle the imaginary child.

Could Somdali be my father? Then why have Ma and Gogo never told me? No ways, not that drunk. He can’t be my father. These thoughts ring in Vusi’s mind as they arrive at the clinic. They discover that Gogo has been taken to a hospital in KwaHlabisa.

They turn back, walking in silence towards their village.

“Vusi, let’s grab a bite to eat. You must be hungry. I know I am, and I ate in the morning,” says Patrick when they get to gate of his house.

“These burdens are mine and mine alone, Pat. Don’t worry about this orphan that is me. God knows what he is doing with me.”

“It’s just food, Vusi, no big deal.”

“Thanks, Pat, but I don’t think I can eat at all. I just need to clear my head. I’m thinking about what Somdali said. What did he mean by it?”

“Forget about that drunk. All the years we have known Somdali he has never been sober. And he is a bitter drunk, talking rubbish all the time. Don’t let him get to you, my brother.”

“Like I said, Pat, forget about me and my burdens. I’m fine, I’ll catch up with you later,” Vusi says as he takes a few steps away from Patrick.

“At least take this, then.” Patrick retrieves a fifty rand from his pocket. “You can use it to visit Gogo at the hospital.”

Vusi turns and takes the money. It will definitely help – because he is planning to visit his mother. He needs to know who his father is. He wants to know his surname. He stops at the village spaza shop and uses the payphones to call his mother.

“Hello, Mzimela speaking. How may I help you?” answers his mother’s husband.

“Hello, Baba Mzimela,” says Vusi politely. “This is Vusi speaking. May I speak to my mother?”

“What do you want from her?”

“There’s something urgent I need to tell her. Can I please speak to her?”

“Your mother is not here. Leave a message.”

Vusi can hear his mother speaking in the background. She is greeting someone. “Hawu, Baba Mzimela, I can hear her speaking in the background. Please let me speak to her,” Vusi begs.

“This is my phone; I pay for it!” Mzimela shouts. “If you don’t want to leave a message I will drop the call.”

“OK, Baba, please tell her that Gogo is very sick. She has been taken to a hospital there in Hlabisa. I am coming there so we can all go visit Gogo in hospital.”

“Where will you stay? Isn’t the money I send to you every month enough? Your mother leaves every month end to bring you money I have worked very hard for. I’m tired of feeding children who are not mine. I can’t afford to feed two households anymore. If you feel like paying people a visit, go visit your uncles,” Mzimela says and drops the call.

Vusi is stunned by this revelation. He has not seen his mother since he was in Grade 2. Mzimela sends me money? What money?

Vusi walks home more confused than before. He gets to the empty house and falls into a deep, dreamless sleep.

***

Tell us: Do you like this twist in the plot? Do you believe Mzimela?