Nana, Khethiwe’s only daughter, scurries along the uneven pathway, crosses the river, and heads towards Dlamini’s house. She can see him pacing from a distance, one hand holding the phone to his right ear and the other moving violently here and there.

Khethiwe is Cecilia’s friend. When Nana, her daughter, arrives, Dlamini is holding himself back from tossing his phone on the ground.

“How are you, Baba?” Nana inquires.

Dlamini glances at her.

“It’s me Baba, Nana.”

“Nana? What’s going on today?” Dlamini inquires. “It appears that all the forgotten people have resurfaced to invade my life, first my in-laws and now…”

Khulekani goes back into the house. Nana takes his seat.

“I have news, Baba,” says Nana. “But I don’t know how you are going to take it.”

“I’m all ears,” says Dlamini. 

“It’s about Mam’ Cecilia, Baba, I had the strangest of dreams about her.” Nana tries her best, but she can’t look at Dlamini straight in his eyes: they are fiery. 

“Another dream, what’s this one about?” asks Dlamini.

“Well, it started around 3 a.m., I believe… I was having trouble sleeping. I’m not sure if I should call it a dream or not, but one thing I’m certain of is that I was awake,” Nana explains.

“You can’t dream when you’re awake,” Dlamini says.

“Yes Baba, then I guess it wasn’t a dream, rather she was with me, in spirit,” Nana replies.

Dlamini looks away.

“It was as if I could feel her presence,” says Nana. “Then I saw her, and I heard a mournful voice – it was her screaming: ‘Help me, they have captured me, and they won’t let go’. Something like that.”

Dlamini shakes his head off again, “Why won’t she come to me?”

“I don’t know Baba, but it was very strange.”

“So, what does this mean? Who has captured her?” Dlamini feels his shoulders getting heavy. He had always known this day would come, he just didn’t know how and when.

Nana shakes her head and shrugs. 

“I have someone that can help Baba, he is a good seer and traditional healer. R15000 is what he costs to solve any problem, especially this one,” says Nana.

“Haa! That’s a lot of money,” says Dlamini.

“But Baba, I think he is the best one, and you have to remember, Mam’ Cecilia came to me for a reason,” says Nana.

“Who is this seer you praise so highly?” asks Dlamini.

“He is Bukhalibayo,” says Nana.

Dlamini shakes his head. He has never heard of Bukhalibayo.

***

Dlamini is sitting on the small sofa by the bed with his three children in the house, watching soccer. He keeps thinking about what Nana had said. The money Nana said would be required to “free” Cecilia from whatever that captured her – R15000 – is a huge amount of money.  

Strange things I’ve heard today. What’s really going on? 

He should sit down with Mbali, yes, he should. “Mbali! Where did you say you put that photo album?” 

“Back to where it was, Baba,” says Mbali.

“Go and get it, I have something to show you,” says Dlamini.

Mbali hands him the photo album and sits down next to him. 

“Today I’m going to tell you a story of a wonderful woman, ears up and don’t miss a word I say,” says Dlamini. Khulekani and Musa gather around to listen too. Dlamini hesitates, not quite knowing where to start. He looks past Mbali. Behind her, he sees Khulekani nodding and smiling. 

“You are your mother’s daughter,” Dlamini begins.

Tell us what you think: What will the family gain by hearing Dlamini’s story?