It’s a Saturday morning and Teboho wakes up feeling happy, having dreamed about his group.

Then he sees his mother sitting on her bed, her head in her hands. Teboho folds his sleeping blankets neatly. He needs to cheer her up.

“Mama you won’t believe what I dreamt about today! My friends and I are going to a pantsula dance competition at the local hall. I saw us winning in the dream and Kedibone will be there to cheer me on. Do you know Kedibone, Mama?”

Teboho looks at her and he can tell that a hangover is overpowering her; she looks dizzy.

“Mama, are you OK?”

To his horror his mother suddenly heaves, then vomits. Then she falls back on the bed in a faint.

“Mama! Wake up!” Teboho grabs a cup, pours water in it and tries to lift his mother and make her drink. But Pontso doesn’t respond. She lies absolutely still, her eyes closed.

His breath coming in short spurts, Teboho runs to Zama’s place. “Sho Zama! My mother is ill. Eish my bra! Please ask your father to help me take my mother to the clinic; I can’t afford to lose her. She’s the only person I have in this world.”

Zama finds his father reading a newspaper. “Baba”

“Yes Zama?”

“Teboho is here to ask you to please transport his mother to the hospital.”

“Where is Teboho?”

“He’s in the kitchen.”

“Tell him to come in.”

“Sho Tebza my father says you can come in.”

Teboho walks in, his heart pounding, as Zama’s father closes his paper.

“What’s wrong Teboho?”

“My mother just vomited, and now she’s lying on the floor, not moving, just still. I think she needs to go the clinic or hospital.”

Zama’s father nods his head, picks up the keys of his car and they all clamber in. The silence is brick hard.

Zama’s father looks at Pontso and shakes his head. “Boys, we’ll take her to Chiawelo Clinic.”

He lifts Pontso up in his large arms. As he gets to the front door their neighbours opposite notice and come closer, peering at her slack body.

“I’m not surprised she’s sick. She drinks too much!”

Teboho winces.

“There she goes again…” another neighbour sniggers.

I’m sure there’s a reason behind her drinking, Teboho thinks, wiping his eyes on his sleeve.

Arriving at Chiawelo Clinic, they get quick attention from the doctors.

“Boys I have to fetch people at Benoni. You’ll let me know what happens to your mother?” Zama’s father asks.

“Thanks Ntate wa Zama!” Teboho can hardly get the words out. His mind’s spinning as if it’s going to lift off his body.

“Teboho my friend, don’t worry too much. Your mother is going to be fine. We need you to dance with the group this afternoon.” Teboho sees the frown on his friend’s face, his eyes begging.

“I hear you Zama, but I’m torn apart right now. I think you will win anyway, without me.”

“Teboho – please, please make sure that you come to the competition, we need you my friend.”

At that instant Pontso regains consciousness and groggily looks round the room, wondering where she is. Then she looks for Teboho. His back is to her, his eyes on the clock. It’s now the middle of the day; the performance is at three.

“Teboho,” she whispers. “I’ll be alright my boy. Go help your group; they need you.”

“No Mama, I’m waiting for the doctor.” Back at her side, he notices how grey her face is.

Time ticks on. Its 2 p.m. and at last a doctor appears and examines her.

“You her son? We’re going to take her to hospital, I’m afraid. I’ll order an ambulance.”

“No Mama! I’m going with you! They can’t take you away from me!” Teboho stands between the doctor and his mother’s bed.

“No, Teboho … I’ll be fine. Go help… the group…win the competition,” his mother manages to get out, breathlessly.

Two male nurses lift the weak woman up and lay her on a trolley. Teboho runs beside it as they wheel her out of the front door of the clinic. With a clang, the driver closes the ambulance door and Teboho watches it disappear.

Nothing matters now, he thinks. Not if I lose her.

His thoughts are interrupted by his phone. It’s Kedibone: “Hi Teboho, Zama told me about your mother. How is she doing? Are you coming to perform?”

“Eish Kedibone I am not sure if I am fit for the performance. But if I go … can you come and watch me please? Kedibone?” Her phone’s dead.

Maybe if she’s there… he thinks. I’m sure the team’s waiting for me. But how can I dance when my mom may be dying? But she told me to go…

*****

“Hey guys, Teboho is here!”

They all jump up and look to be sure it’s really Teboho running towards them.

“Sho Teboho, are you good? We were so worried about you. Here’s your costume. Change quickly!”

“I’m good Themba. My mother will be fine, plus she’s the one who insisted that I come. Let’s do this.” He forces a smile.

Huddling in a group they chant their victory song: “More fire, fire! More fire, fire! More fire, fire!”

In the dim light they glide onto the stage. As the lights go up and the music begins they dance like they’ve never danced before. Teboho loses himself in the rhythm and the movement as if his body has left him. It’s just his spirit moving in the air now.

The crowd cheers them wildly as they bow. Now for the results!

“Guys do you think we won?” Themba asks, anxiously.

Hloni answers him: “Obvious Themba. If the judges are fair, we have to win.”

The judge walks onto the stage. “Guys, well done for the talent you shared with us today. I was inspired as a judge, even though only one group won.”

Teboho goes back through the dream he had in the morning. It’s like he is dreaming again. Kedibone folds her hand into his.

“The group that impressed the judges today is the … Sitalented Pantsula dance group!”

Kedibone hugs Teboho as the whole crew huddle again to chant their victory song.

“Oh, guys – can I go to the hospital to see my mother now?” Teboho asks. “Kedibone, I’ll see you when I’m back?”

*****

When Teboho arrives at the hospital he doesn’t see his mother – she’s not where she is supposed to be. Panic rises in him.

“They told me she will be in this ward! Excuse me, doctor my mom … they said she is in this ward but I can’t find her!”

“Who is she?” the doctor asks gently.

“Her name is Pontso”.

“Oh yes, Pontso. She’ll be back in the ward soon. Doctors are trying to help her but I assure you she will be better. You’re her son? Don’t worry! Just go home for now.”

Teboho follows the doctor with his eyes as he disappears and sends up a prayer: “Please God bless the doctors so they can heal my mother.”

On his way out his phone rings; it’s Kedibone.

“Hi Teboho. Is your mother OK?”

“I don’t know, they didn’t even want to show me where she is right now, but the doctors are helping her.”

“Where are you now Teboho?”

“I’m on my way home.”

“OK I’ll come and check you later then.”

Teboho arrives at home and the tiny house feels empty, lonely, without his mother. His only known relative.

He decides to go and chill in the derelict car and is just settling into the seat when his phone rings.

“Hello Teboho. I’m at your house now. Where are you?”

“Oh sorry… I’m chilling in the derelict car, you know the one? Do you mind coming this side? I want to be away from my place for now… with my mother not there.”

Within minutes Kedibone joins him in the back seat of the car.

“I don’t know what I’ll do if she dies Kedibone. She’s the only biological family I know. For seventeen years of my life I’ve only known Protea South as my home.”

For an instant they sit staring at each other. Slowly they bend towards each other and feel their lips brush. They separate.

“I always feel better when you’re near me, Kedibone.”

“Me too. I miss you so much when I can’t see you.”

“I waited for you for years, Kedibone.”

“And I for you, Teboho.”

“I don’t know much about love, but…”

“Please touch me Teboho.” Kedibone takes his hand and places it on her breast. “I need you to touch me.”

“Kedi, I’ve never… you know…” He can hardly speak.

And she leans into him and kisses him, opening his mouth and holding his head in her hands.

“Teboho, we’ll find the way. The night will lead us!”

***

Tell us what you think: Is Teboho about to be orphaned? Is a heavy-drinking mother like Pontso better than no mother at all?