Noemia is telling me we’re near Manhica, when Uncle Moreira slows down.

“Transitos,” he says. “Traffic police.”

This should be interesting. I’ve heard about the Mozambiquan traffic police.

I’m surprised when they’re friendly and polite. From Uncle’s answer, I understand they’ve asked where we’re going. Then they want to check the car is carrying reflective visibility vests and red emergency triangles, maybe because they can see the old car is likely to break down one of these days.

They wave us on. No trying to get money out of Uncle, no threats. So that’s one thing I had wrong about this country. Maybe they only target tourists with money. I can’t wait to tell Ma when I get my phone set up with a new SIM.

“Your aunt will sort it out tomorrow,” Uncle Moreira says as we drive into Manhica and I remind him about the phone.

It’s dark now, but from what I can see of the town, it’s much like the others we’ve passed through. We stop at a gate in a wall and Uncle hoots, but it’s obvious that you have to open it manually, because Noemia starts to get out of the car.

A dark figure appears and I get a fright, my mind flying to BK Nxumalo’s threats.

Noemia sits back, calling, “Obrigada,” before closing the car door. “That is our neighbour, Rui Taipo, Chansenga. He goes to my school. He is two years older, so he’s nearly finished.”

As we drive through the gate Rui has opened, she rolls down the car window and calls to him to come and meet her cousin.

At the same time, the door of the house in front of us has opened, spilling warm yellow light into the big space all around the building. I see a woman and two kids.

“Welcome, welcome dear Chansenga,” Aunt Paulina says, catching me in a hug the second I step out of the car. “You remember the twins?”

“Maybe.”

The way the kids and the neighbour are looking at me makes me self-conscious. I know I sound stiff and unfriendly. Juvenal and Julia look at each other in a way that suggests they’re judging me. They were tiny last time I saw them.

“And this is Rui, Chansenga,” Noemia introduces. “I was telling Rui about you when we heard you were coming to live here. We decided maybe Rui will drive us around somewhere nice so you can see more of our country than only Manhica. He can take his father’s car on some weekends.”

“OK,” I say unenthusiastically, still wishing I was at home.

I get a look from this Rui, his eyes black and flashing. He doesn’t think much of me, that’s clear. Like I care.

“You will like our beaches,” Noemia says, slightly uncertainly, as if my attitude has disappointed her.

Beaches. The thought should make me feel better, but it doesn’t. I do not want to be here.

***

Tell us what you think: What is Chansenga’s Mozambiquan experience going to be like if she continues with this attitude?