“Afternoon young man,” he greeted.

“Afternoon sir,” I said in a humble voice.

“There’s two RGs left,” said the shopkeeper, “how about sivilies?”

I just had to think for a second. I looked at Mr Pillay and he seemed like he wanted to say something. He was like speechless.

“Ja I… It’s okay, my brother just wanted a 50c cigarette,” I lied.

I knew that Mr Pillay knew that my elder brothers were smokers so it was easy for me to lie just like that.

“Do your brothers know how smoking affects thme?” asked Mr Pillay. Why was he asking me such a question?

“Yes they do know. It’s just that they don’t obey my parents’ rules,” I said.

Is he worried? I thought for a second.

“Next please,” the Indian guy shouted, waiting patiently for Mr Pillay to hand him the money and list the things he wanted to buy.

I ran back to my friend’s ghetto without saying goodbye to Mr Pillay. I was now feeling nervous to carry on smoking with him. When I got there the ghetto was full of smoke in the air. That’s when my phone beeped.

“Someone’s buzzing me. Let me check maybe they are worried at home,” I said taking out my phone from my pockets just as Sam was handing me a joint.

It was my mom’s text message.

My son, where ever you are please come. I thought you’ll come early today. plz come it’s urgent.

I stood up immediately.

“Homie I have to go now,” I said.

“Will you come back later?” he asked with a grin on his face.

“Ja, I will if my father sleeps early today. I’m not sure but anyway I have to go. See you later, sharp,”

As I was about to open the door I saw the look on his face. He didn’t want me to leave. So when I got home, I found my mother on a verge of tears. Gently, I went to her wanting to know what went wrong.

“Mom what’s wrong, ma?”

“My child,” she sobbed and I was cautiously waiting for the sad story to begin because she seemed to have a lot to tell.

“What mom?” I asked as the tears continued rolling down her face.

“My child, I received a phone call from your granny telling me she’s now left alone. She’s coming to live with us now and I’m giving up your room to her,” she was still in tears.

I wanted to object and protest but I stopped myself and waited for her. There had to be more than this; ma wouldn’t just cry because granny was coming. We loved having her over.

“Your brother passed on this morning at 7:30,”

This was a shock! But more so this was a huge problem for my granny because my brother did everything to support granny. They got along so well and understood each other; he could never do anything to disappoint her in her eyes. He was perfect to her and now he was gone.

“So mom what are we going to do?” I asked.

“My boy, it’s done,” she replied.

***

Tell us what you think: Will the family cope now with granny coming? What do you think happened to Frank’s brother?