“Look, Dan, I’m in a tricky situation here, and I thought maybe you’d hear me out, you know…without my grandmother interfering.”

“I usually don’t do favours for my clients. It’s a bit unethical…But you are Sihle’s friend. What is it?”

“Can I pay the deposit on Monday? And Gogo doesn’t have to know, right?” Her eyes dropped.

“Why not today?”

There was a stony silence before she spoke again.

“It’s nothing I can’t handle Dan…I just need you to do me this one favour and I’ll be off your back.”

“Oh…I just hope it’s nothing that will jeopardise this deal for your grandmother. You saw the sparkle in her eyes when she saw that house.”

“Relax…just take me home, please.”

The tyres of the car screeched as Dan made a U-turn. The rest of the car ride was silent and sour. Busi was just silently praying for Dan’s loyalty.

***

MaKhumalo was leaning against the fence and serving Sheila the latest news about her house hunting. Sitting on her stoep still in her gown, Sheila listened to the news with great interest.

“I’m glad you liked your new place. I can’t wait to see it too. So when are you moving out? I have already found a girl to rent out that room.”

“Hawu! I think we’ll move out on Sunday. I just need to sort out our furniture first,” MaKhumalo said, checking out Busi, who was getting out of Dan’s car at the gate.

She dragged her feet into the yard.

“Morning, Mam Sheila.” She did not bother to stop for an answer.

Inside the house, Busi sat on the bed, dialling Thabani’s number again, but it still went unanswered. On WhatsApp, she couldn’t see his profile picture anymore, and she got the message that he’d done her dirty. Her eyes filled with tears. She was staring at her shitty self in the mirror when Gogo entered the house, still laughing from her chat with Sheila.

“How did it go? Where are the papers – let me sign them.”

Busi walked into the kitchen, discreetly wiping her eyes. “He’ll bring them when we move in on Sunday.”

Gogo started unpacking the cupboards to prepare for the big move. Carefully, she laid the dishes on the table until the cupboards were as empty as the look in Busi’s eyes. Busi started wrapping the casserole dishes in old newspapers.

“You know, I think I’ll have to buy a Tupperware set to go with the curtains that I am going to put in the living room so that everything matches…I learnt this when I was still working for the Petersons. Their furniture matches with their…”

“Yoh Gogo! The house this, the house that …if there’s nothing else to talk about… can we just pack in silence!” Busi cut Gogo’s speech short.

Gogo ignored her as she took a framed picture of her daughter from the shelf. She held it to her heart and closed her eyes. Tears pricked her eyes,and she sighed heavily.

“You know you’ve been grumpy lately, my child …What’s going on?” MaKhumalo asked, pulling a chair to sit and signalling for Busi to do the same.

“It’s nothing, Gogo.” Busi searched for something to look at on the empty walls, realising that all their decorations had already been removed. Her heart started throbbing as she thought about her secret all over again.

“You remind me of your mother when she was still hiding her pregnancy from me. I could tell she was pregnant, but I wanted to hear it from her. She kept on going in circles around the matter. Oh, my child Nothabo, she often lied to me, but deep down, I could see the angel in her …it’s a pity that heaven needed her so soon. She’d be happy to see how you’ve grown up.” Gogo kissed Nothabo’s picture and put it down.

Busi wiped tears off her cheeks. Gogo talking about her mother had worked up emotions in her, and she could not help but notice how similar to her she was becoming.

“Except I’m not hiding a pregnancy…”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s deeper than that, Gogo.”

“But I know you were having sex on my bed the other day when I came from work, and Sheila says she’s seen you with that boy Thabani a few times, my child. How often have I told you to stay away from him, Busi? His brothers are crooks, and he probably takes after them. He’ll land you in hot water.”

MaKhumalo got up and proceeded to pack away stuff, humming a hymn softly to soothe the atmosphere.

Busi used the little strength remaining in her to walk out of the house. Trying to soothe her worries, she rolled a joint, this time making sure to do all her shameful things far away from Gogo and Sheila’s view.

Tell us: Do you think Busi’s guilty conscience will make her confess to Gogo?