Lucky me. I got to hit the street while grounded, just how cool is that? Aunt Mary is paying us a visit, she last visited when I was two months old.
“Go buy some vegetables and chopped beef,” mom said. We only eat fancy food when we have a visitor. My dog, Skips, whines. I didn’t know he’s realised it too. My father got him from a dog shelter as a puppy, he guards with him every night at Sibuyile Primary School. Everyone likes his golden fur, that’s why we’re good friends.
I got to Matthew Supermarket, and bought everything for our luxurious dinner.
On my way back, I decided to go check my buddy Jimmy. I came across roadblock cones, traffic barrier, loaders, excavator, trucks, concrete mixer, road roller and a group of sweaty men wearing protective gear. One of them was giving instructions,
“We’re working here boy, go the other way,” shouted one of the workers.
It’s just as I thought, these days men don’t give a damn about us boys. The alternative road was Vilakazi Street, where night crawled during the day, blowing wind telling a tale of crime. It was a long walk going back – mom would be angry. But I’ve got Skips, and to Vilakazi street off we go!
Half way through, I see a woman dressed in a red tight dress carrying a suitcase and a bag on her shoulder. She looked like she was around her 40s. On the bench was a teenager in a long coat and a cap covering his face. The woman passed by him and he offered to help carry her suitcase.
“Somebody help! He stole my case!” suddenly, she screamed.
I went after him right away, legs tapping like rain drops. Dammit! I see a narrow road ahead of us, two walls on each side. I’m a big boy and by a mere look, I wasn’t going to fit in it.
“Go get him boy!” I instructed Skips, and he sped after him. The boy struggled with the suitcase as it didn’t fit within the walls. Skips was getting closer and, smelling the danger that awaited him, the boy left the suitcase and fled.
“Good boy!”
I brought her leathery suitcase, it surely had weight!
“Thank you so much young man, boys like you make the world a better place for women!”
“Glad I could help. Let me walk you, it’s not safe for one to travel alone here,” I offered.
“Sure, you’re really a gentleman. I’m a little lost, I’m going to Dantjie to visit a relative. Her name is Esther, Esther Magdalene. She lives in Gobhoza, oh she also has a son Isaack.”
“Do you have a photo of them?”
“Yeah, I have an old photo of her with her son as a baby. But I don’t think she changed that much.”
It’s the same photo we have at home. Beautiful glossy lips, blonde long hair, Chinese eyes, narrow nose and simply good-looking. Such a striking resemblance to my mom and correct naming. Wait a minute, they look similar, she’s my aunt! What a great recipe for the night; family bonds.
Tell us: What do you think about the boy’s generosity towards his aunt, who he thought was just a stranger?