“I wanted to buy milk!” Danny said, looking at the bared door of the shop.

“Can’t you see the shop is closed? Maybe it won’t be opening today,” Taku said looking at his watch before moving towards the street corner.

Danny also looked at the time, it was almost a quarter-to-eight and the shop usually opened at 7. Danny noticed that the door was slightly ajar. He thought that maybe someone was inside so he walked closer to confirm his thoughts. He pushed the door open and to his surprise, he found the store completely vandalised.

Packets of chips lay half-open and spilled across the shop floor. The fridges were open with frozen meat spilling out onto the ground, and the blood transfusing with the kaleidoscope of colours from spilled drinks. Danny walked slowly across the room, carefully avoiding the mess around him and simultaneously looking around for any clues to as what had transpired.

He found the counter open, with files of papers scattered on the floor around it.

“Hello, anyone here?” he called out.

He spotted a R100 lying on the floor and picked it up. He picked up the papers in hopes of finding some clues. He placed the money on the counter then he saw a balaclava hanging on a nearby shelf. He picked it up out of curiosity and realised the shop has been robbed.

He walked to the door to call for help and found the shop owner, Mr Dube, at the door.

“What happened here?” He shouted accusingly at Danny.

“I don’t know, I just found the place like this when I came to buy some milk sir,” Danny gave an innocent reply and then walked away.

Mr Dube grabbed Danny by his shirt collar and Danny was shocked and looked back at him angrily. He tried pulling himself free but Mr Dube was strong like an ox, his grip only tightened.

“What do you want, Mr Dube?”

“You did this to my shop, I am calling the police,”

Mr Dube reached for his phone without loosening his grip on Danny. Danny didn’t try to fight it because he knew he was innocent and had nothing to be afraid of. Mr Dube’s two employees reported in for their shift were startled. Mr Dube was already off his phone by then and the police were on their way.

“What the hell happened in here?” Hezekiah asked.

“I caught him, this kid, inside my shop,” he said grabbing Danny even tighter now, almost as if his rage returned when speaking to his employee.

“I didn’t do anything. I found it this way when I came to buy milk,” Danny said, feeling the need now to defend himself.

“You know how these nyaope boys are,” Ronald said shaking his head in disgust while looking at Danny.

“I don’t smoke nyaope. I didn’t do any of this!”

“Quiet! You will answer to the police,” Mr Dube hissed.

Ronald kneeled down to pick up a can of fish in an attempt to start cleaning up.

“Don’t touch anything,” Mr Dube told them as he didn’t want them altering the crime scene.

Danny was made to sit on top of the counter while Ronald guarded him. Mr Dube was going around the shop, taking inventory of what had happened. Danny succumbed to the fact that no matter what he said Mr Dube and his workers would not believe him. He concluded that all he could do now was wait for the police to arrive.

***

Tell us: What would you do if you were Danny?