One day Ntandoyenkosi walked in from school and sitting in the lounge was her mother’s sister, Dolly, and her mother’s friend Zandile.

“Why the long faces?” she asked, looking around.

“Sawubona nawe Ntandozi. Growing up has made you lose manners I see,” Dolly said.

Ntandozi laughed. “Mamancane, not a chance, I just wasn’t expecting to find you all here. How are you all doing?

Zandile smiled at Ntandozi. “Your complexion though Ntandozi, your mum needs to tell us what race you are.”

“Aybo, I’m as black as they come.” Ntandozi said and rolled her eyes.

Dolly sighed. “I thought you would outgrow your rolling of the eyes habit. I see uSimthandile hasn’t beat it out of you.”

“Why the sad faces vele, what’s up?” Ntandozi asked sitting next to them.

“No Baby, we’re not sad, we’re just tired it’s been a long day.” Dolly answered.

“Really? It’s only 1:30 p.m.”

“Well for us it’s long, we’re close to being grannies now you know?” Zandile half smiled.

Nathi walked in singing and immediately kept quite, realising there were people seated in the living room.

“Sanibona,” he said walking past.

“Wakhula Nathi, but you’re still a dwarf,” Zandile smiled and Nathi laughed.

“Ya mfanawami, unjani?” asked Dolly.

“Ukukhala akusizi, I’m alright, can’t complain.”

Ntandozi and Nathi both walked away to change in their rooms. It took a while for Ntandozi to realise her mother was nowhere to be found in the house. When she returned to the lounge she asked her aunts of her mom’s whereabouts. Nathi also came out of the room and joined them in the lounged.

Dolly sighed and looked at the two of them.

“U Simthandile uvukwe i-Pneumonia, she’s in hospital and had to be admitted.

“Ohw, so when is she coming back?” Ntandozi asked.

Zandile cleared her throat. “As soon as she gets better.”

“She will recover soon, don’t fret.” Dolly assured them.

Ntandozi was a bit concerned. “So are we allowed to go see her? But I don’t understand because she was fine this morning, she even made us breakfast.”

Nathi, at that time, did not understand a single thing that was said to him. All he could think of was that God cannot take her away from him. He didn’t know about Ntandozi, but he couldn’t afford to lose another mother. How would he survive that?

His aunty was not a person to get sick, let alone be on a hospital bed. Nathi didn’t even want to think about life without her. What would become of Ntandozi, no wait, what will become of him if his aunt died?

Bit by bit he felt the walls closing in on him. He couldn’t breathe, the palm of his hands felt sweaty; he was having a panic attack. He needed to keep calm for his goat’s sake. He took deep breaths and counted from three to one until he calmed himself down. Nathi said a little prayer and looked at Ntandozi, her face was blank. He wondered what she was thinking about.

***

Tell us: Do you think Simthandile will come back home?