The sun was as bright as the excitement on MaKhumalo’s face. The mood on Dube street was joyful, and her smile stretched wide as she gradually picked up her pace, nearing her home.

She was carrying souvenirs from her retirement lunch. Now MaKhumalo was returning home for the last time from work, with a heart filled with gratitude to eat away her old age with her granddaughter Busi.

Memories of her life with the Petersons clustered around her brain. They’d been good to her and Busi, but old age was pushing her to rest. MaKhumalo was saved from drifting away with her thoughts by the noise of little boys circling around her and fighting over what to carry. She gave each of them a parcel suitable for their strengths, and they helped her carry them home.

“Back already!” Sheila called out as MaKhumalo and the kids entered the yard. She was struggling to hang her soaked blanket.

MaKhumalo gave the kids a fifty rand note to encourage them to help elders.

“Dankie Gogo!” Off they went disappearing into the tuckshop. Gogo helped Sheila hang her blanket. Once she was finished, she wiped her hands with her dress as she’d always done in the kitchens.

“Hawu Makhi, you came back early! I thought your party was going to stretch till midnight!”

“Aw, never, Makhi. Partying is Busi’s stuff, not mine. I just wanted to say goodbye to them and come and rest, my friend. It’s been a long 15 years with the Petersons!” She rested her hands on her hips.

Sheila smiled gently.”Did they not cry seeing you leave?”

Gogo laughed. “You should have seen them sobbing, Makhi. They were a bunch of babies! Anyway, where’s my Busi?” She looked around the yard.

“She has been in the house all day. I think she’s on that Toktokkie, what’s it called, TikTok again Makhi,” Sheila said.

Gogo took out some of the party’s delicacies to share with her landlord.

“You know I am planning to buy a house with this money from the Petersons, Makhi. I’m too old to be renting.”

Sheila almost choked on the pie that Makhumalo had given her. She allowed herself time to swallow and take a deep breath before congratulating her.

“It’s a great thing to leave for Busi if you pass on, Makhi. She won’t have to be homeless. I’m glad you’re doing it. You’ll see what it’s like to be a homeowner and maybe get to understand why I always complain about water…the bills kill, Makhi!”

The two old ladies laughed in sync as MaKhumalo picked up her gifts to go into her rented room.

“Busi! I’m home. Come help me carry this!” MaKhumalo called from the doorway.

Thabani was already on top of Busi when MaKhumalo’s voice cut through the thick walls of the old house.

Busi pushed Thabani off her. She quickly threw a dress over her sweating body.

“I’ll stall her! Just go!” she whispered frantically, sliding through the door to block her Gogo from entering.

Thabani threw a towel over his body and hurried out behind Busi with his clothes held tightly onto his chest. His hand was squeezing Busi’s buttocks, and she shook him off.

As soon as they made sure MaKhumalo was still laughing outside with Sheila, Thabani jumped over the fence to the neighbour’s yard.

‘Phew, that was close,” thought Busi as she went to help Gogo with her gifts.

“Open the windows and curtains, Busi it smells like sweat in here. You must have been steaming!”

Busi laughed nervously and opened the windows. Fresh air filled the house, as Gogo settled in at the table and started to unwrap her gifts. From kettles to dinner sets, she admired each of them. Busi made tea for them and sat down to devour the curry MaKhumalo had brought.

MaKhumalo watched her granddaughter feast with a warm heart. After a short while, she decided to break the good news to her.

“Busi, I’ve decided to buy a small house for us with the money I got from the Petersons and my stokvel savings.”

Busi’s face lit up. “Go ahead, Gogo, I think it’s a great idea. Plus, we’ll finally be able to have our own space and do as we like.”

“Don’t say that my child, Sheila has been too good to us,” her grandmother reprimanded her.

“Gogo, I think I can ask Sihle to connect us with that real estate agent that helped her aunt get a house last month,” Busi suggested.

Gogo nodded and allowed Busi to have her own way. She was tired anyway and wanted to lie down. She stood up and tidied her gifts away while Busi called her friend to organise a meeting with her to gather details about the estate agent. She fixed herself up to go to Sihle’s house. As she hurried through the door, MaKhumalo called her back.

“Please deposit this money for me in my account.” MaKhumalo handed her a plump envelope. It was so thick Busi struggled to fit it into her small handbag.

She set out into the streets with a happy spirit, excited to talk to her friend about the exciting news. She also could not stop thinking about the short-lived fun she’d had with Thabani. Just then, she saw him walking down the street. Busi stopped under a tree, waiting for him to reach her. She checked that the thick envelope was still safely zipped up in her handbag.

Tell us: What do you think of MaKhumalo’s plan?