That night I struggled to sleep. My thoughts kept me awake. Why would a person shoot another person and leave them for dead? I wondered. I mean, this is the twenty-first century – one can’t just go around shooting people. I had thought that this type of random killing could only happen in movies – I was wrong.

It was nine fifteen. I laid in my bed watching the sunlight creep in through the curtains into my room.

It was a Sunday and I decided not to go to church. I was just too tired – it was also the last day of freedom – after this it was going to be books twenty-four-seven, three-sixty-five.

I went to the bathroom, washed my face and brushed my teeth. Mama still wasn’t home. But I received a text from her saying that she would definitely be home that night. I put on a clean t-shirt and went to the kitchen to make coffee.

There were probably a lot of people staying in the Inn during the holidays, which was why Mama couldn’t get home. As it was the last day of the holiday, I knew that she’d be home that night.

I went outside to drink the coffee. The sun was hot, but I didn’t care. I didn’t worry about food as Mama had left me R50 to spend on food. I planned on just buying fish and chips at the mini market. The change I’d keep for school to buy food at the tuck shop.

I was about to sit on our home-made bench, when I saw Thandi. I think that she may have seen me first.

“Good morning, Bongi,” she said. She stood under a tree in their backyard.

“Hello,” I said, sipping my coffee.

She smiled. I smiled back.

“How you doing?”

“Fine, and you?” I responded.

She smiled again, “I’m good, thank you.”

“You look … mmmmmm….” struggling to find the right word, “breathtaking!” I said. “You going somewhere?”

“Thanks, Bongi, I’m going to church,” she paused. “Have you forgotten that it is Sunday?”

I frowned. “No, I didn’t… I didn’t get much sleep last night. Those dogs of Mr Jacobs kept me awake,” I lied. “Didn’t you hear them?”

She laughed, “No, I didn’t.”

I laughed too. “Wow! The sun is hot today, eh?” I said looking up at the sky. “Not a cloud in sight.”

“Yeah, it is. You know it’s still summer, right?” she teased.

“Don’t forget your hat,” I called

“I won’t,” she said.

SILENCE.

Only the buzz of a bug and the sound of it flying against the window was audible.

“I’m going to accept your excuse this time, but next time, I’m going to drag you with me to church,” Thandi joked.

“It’s a deal,” I said laughing. “Hey, Thandi, I want to-”

Thandi interrupted: “Oh no! I’m going to be late. Sorry, Bongi, it will have to wait.”

“OK,” I said softly.