Mary is looking at her gifts when she remembers that she has forgotten to thank Rhino. She calls him, but his phone remains unanswered. She tries again, this time it rings once then is switched off. Maybe Rhino is busy with something, Mary thinks. She hums as she cooks, joy bubbling inside.
Time flies; her father returns from work. A bolt of nervousness courses through her. She doesn’t understand why she is afraid, because she knows her father returns around this time.
“Hello, my princess,” her father greets her fondly, then drops his keys on the kitchen table.
“Hi Dad. How was work?”
“Work was fine, my girl. What’s for supper? Smells good!”
“Pap and turkey.”
“Dish up; I am dying of hunger.”
Mary dishes and sits with her father at the dining table.
“Let us give thanks,” says Mary. “Lord, we are grateful for this meal because thousands go to bed hungry. But with your grace, Lord, we have plenty. Amen!”
“Amen, my girl. I nearly opened my eyes and started eating. Such a long prayer?”
“Hawu Baba! Was my prayer that long?”
“I said I was famished but you pray forever.”
They burst out laughing but the laughter quickly drains from her father’s face. Mary observes this. She blushes, then gets up from the table.
“Excuse me, Dad. I’m going to take a bath.”
“Wait a second, Mary. Sit down. We need to talk.”
Mary sits, so nervous she could pee in her pants.
“Why are you not eating, Mary?”
“I just had a sandwich.”
“Who brought you back from school?”
“I … I returned with Londi. Her uncle gave us a lift.”
“Who is that uncle?”
“I don’t know.”
“Was it Londi’s uncle … or Londi’s boyfriend?”
“Sh … she said he was her uncle.”
He stares at his daughter for a full minute.
“Mary?” he finally says.
“Yes, Dad?”
“Where did you go?”
Mary does not answer.
“I asked you a question. Where did you go?”
“We went to Meerensee.”
“What did you do in Meerensee?”
“Londi’s uncle stopped at a garage for petrol.”
“Why are you lying to me, Mary?”
Shaking with fear, Mary starts crying.
“Why are you crying?”
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“We went to Meerensee. Londi’s uncle poured petrol, and Londi asked for KFC.”
“Where is that KFC?”
“We ate it there.”
“Then why were you lying to me?”
“I am sorry, Dad.”
“The time you called to say you will catch a lift with Londi’s uncle, I asked MaMgobhozi to tell me the exact time you got back. You should have been here at twenty past four but you got in well after five. Londi does not have an uncle, Mary. I know all about her family. As from today you will stop socialising with her. Are we clear?”
“Yes Dad.”
“Mary …”
“Dad?”
“I had a terrible dream last night. The same dream came back to me three times. In the dream the police were chasing a black car that you were in. God has never lied to me. Something bad is going to happen to you. So from today you will not miss one day of prayer. Are we clear?”
Mary is quiet, digesting what her father is saying. He usually goes alone to evening prayers, leaving Mary to cook and study.
“Did you hear what I just said?”
“Yes Dad. But … how will I find the time to study?”
“You will study when you return from school, before I arrive.”
“And cooking?”
“The woman who does our washing will now cook as well.”
“Prayers finish at midnight. How will I study, having not slept?”
“Mary, there will come a time when you will sleep forever. I am giving you a chance to connect with God. Put your trust in Him. He will bring you sleep, and clarity to your studies. From now on, when I return from work we eat and go to evening prayer. Are we clear?”
“Yes Dad.”
“That is all. You can go on with your bath.”
In her room Mary hides the Samsung Galaxy under the mattress. She hides the jewellery in her school bag, inside the pages of a book, and takes a bath.
Her father is up and into her room as soon as he hears the water running in the bathroom. He empties her school bag onto the bed. The jewellery jumps out of the book and onto the duvet.
“Good Lord! Such expensive jewellery!” Maybe the jewellery belongs to Londi. Maybe Mary is holding it for her, he thinks. He feels his head getting hot.
He lifts up the mattress and finds the Samsung Galaxy, and then the flowers under the bed.
He places all the gifts on Mary’s bed and heads to his bedroom. From under his bed he pulls out an imvubu. He thinks about going in while Mary is in the bath and lashing her. But he reigns himself in; lets the thought pass, and makes tea in the kitchen instead.
Mary glances at her bed and realises that the game is up. She dresses quickly, quietly, and slips Rhino’s Samsung Galaxy into her pocket. She tip-toes out of her room, sees her father drinking tea, the imvubu next to him. In a flash she runs to their garage and outside.
“Why the hurry, Mary?” asks the guard.
“I am going to the shops. Please open the gate – my father has a terrible headache,” says Mary.
The guard opens, and she sprints out of the complex. She has no clue where she is going. She calls Rhino.
“Rhino, please help me. My dad is about to kill me.”
“What’s the matter? Why are you out of breath?”
“It’s Dad!”
“What did he do?”
“He saw all the gifts you gave me.”
“What? Did he beat you?”
“N … no, but he was about to.”
“Where are you?”
“Outside the complex. I’m running away.”
“Eish, Mary. I’m in Durban.”
“Hawu Rhino! What am I supposed to do?”
“Let me try to get a friend to pick you up.”
***
Tell us: What do you think Mary’s father will do?