Margaret stares at Phume’s face, which looks like it has been smeared with soot. She feels urgent heavy steps in the yard and rushes to peep through the kitchen window. She doesn’t see anyone.
“Did you also hear that?” asks Margaret.
Phume nods.
“We should get you in the bath, freshen you up, and put some clean clothes on you,” says Margaret.
Soon Phume and Margaret are in the bathroom. Margaret kneels next to the bathtub and wipes Phume’s face with a facecloth. “You look beautiful. Don’t you now?”
Phume smiles and Margaret grins back.
“It’s a good thing I don’t throw old clothes away,” says Margaret, as she dresses Phume in Nomhle’s old clothes. “It’s like I knew you were coming.”
Margaret opens all the windows, allowing a mass of fresh morning air to flood the house. While opening the window of one of the bedrooms at the back of the house, she sees Cecilia looking down from her fence.
“Morning Mam’ Cecilia!” shouts Margaret through her window. It’s like Cecilia is suddenly brought back to life.
“Margaret, is that you I see down there?” asks Cecilia.
“Yes, it’s me, how are you?”
“I’m old, very old, that’s how I am. But I know you’re certainly happy this morning.”
“That’s good to hear, Cecilia. What has made you so happy, if I may ask?”
“Oh don’t play with me, Margaret. I know Nomhle is back. It’s a shame I had to find out on my own. Shame!”
Margaret frowns, “I haven’t seen Nomhle in months, Ma.”
“But she was just there standing by the bathroom window with her friends. I saw her,” says Cecilia.
“Of course you did, that what happens when you’re old, very old,” Margaret whispers to herself. “OK Mam’ Cecilia. I have to go now. Have a blessed day!”
In the clinic, where Margaret is a nurse, she runs an orphanage program together with other nurses. They help orphans with shelter and food, seeking ways to find them a proper family. Later, in the afternoon, Margaret drives Phume to the clinic.
“I’m going to take you somewhere nice, I’m sure you’ll love it,” says Margaret to Phume, in the car.
First she takes Phume to the clinic and then later taken to the orphanage, which is next to the clinic. There are many kids playing, giggling, and running around after each other under faint sunlight.
***
Just outside of Zwelisha, there is an abandoned container separate from the community. The container is only a few steps from Zwelisha’s dumping area. Now, within the container, Nomhle leans on old cardboard. The cardboard feels thin and veined, frozen by a hundred winters, baked by a hundred summers. It smells of dust and age.
“The sun is setting, we have to go get Phume now,” says Nhlakanipho.
“No, let’s wait a little longer, it’s still early,” says Sgananda.
They remain silent until the silence is too much to bear for Nomhle.
“I’m going outside for some air. I’ve been cooped up in here for too long,” she says.
Tell us: Do you think Phume will be happier at an orphanage?