By the time Nolwazi was up the next morning, TK was on his way out.

“I have a meeting with my new business partners,” he told her, as he swaggered off. 

To Nolwazi it spelled trouble, but she swore it wouldn’t get her down – not today when she had woken up excited about the future for the first time in years. Her shift at the shebeen would start later, but she couldn’t relax: there was Ntsikelelo to look after and chores to do.

Nolwazi was cleaning the yard with Ntsikelelo pottering around in the dirt when she looked up to see a man standing by the door of the shebeen.  He had a gold chain around his neck and was wearing expensive clothes. She called out to him that they only opened at 11am. 

“I’m looking for TK. He said I can find him here.”

“Akekho, he’s not here. He left early today, and I don’t know when he’ll be back.”

The man looked angry as he fished his phone out of his pocket. He made a call that went unanswered. 

“Lalela la, I don’t have time for nonsense. You said to come to your house and now you’re not here. Sungijwayela mfana (don’t play with me, boy). I want the stuff you owe me.”

He put his phone back in his pocket and turned to Nolwazi, who was still standing and watching him.

“Tell him Masoja came by. Tell him to call me.”

What’s he done now, wondered Nolwazi. She worried about TK and the schemes he loved to get himself in to. But right now she couldn’t think about him; she had to focus on her own life. 

Her phone rang. 

“Hey friend, unjani namhla nje?” Sive asked.

“I’m OK, mngani. Wena?”

“I’m good. Have you thought much about our chat last night?” 

Sive had no time to waste on nonsense. Ma Ruby was rubbing off on her, Nolwazi thought, smiling.

“I have. I think I have just the idea.”

“Well, let’s hear it, because people are ready to help you get started. Nolwazi, are you still there?” Sive said. “Listen, I know you’re busy but come over to the Majolas tonight and we’ll start to plan. Lerato is helping us and Ma Ruby will be there too. You need to draw up a business budget and work out a business plan.”

A business budget and plan? This was getting serious fast and Nolwazi found herself panicking. She hadn’t even thought the idea through properly. What did she really know about the ins and outs of breeding chickens? She didn’t have anywhere to even keep the chickens. It was all such a risk, but she found herself agreeing. 

“OK. What time?” she asked.

“Can you make 7?”

“Yeah, sure. The shebeen is closing early today.” 

It would be nice to see Lerato and Themba again. She hadn’t seen them since the wedding and now they were renting an apartment and she had heard they were saving up for the deposit on a house. It felt like all the people she knew were streaks ahead of her in life.

Just before she left for the Majolas, Nolwazi went to check on the money she had managed to save. She kept it in a tin box in her room. She needed to know just how much she had, as she knew Lerato would ask her how much she had to buy her first chicks that would start her business. The box was empty. 

“Maaa!” she yelled. “Mama!” 

Her mother came running. “Haibo! Yini umsindo kanje? Kwenze njani?”

“Ma, did you take money out of my savings?” 

“Cha, no I didn’t. When did you last check it?”

“Last night after I cashed up.”

Her mother didn’t say anything. TK! Nolwazi knew he was the one who had taken her money. She threw the empty box on the floor. She felt desperate. Ntsikelelo started wailing. 

“Sshhh. Sshhh. It’s OK. Mama didn’t mean to frighten you.” Nolwazi picked him up, kissed him and wiped his tears away. “What are we going to do now?” she asked his sweet face, tears running down her own face. 

“TK is as naïve as his father was,” her mother said, without looking at her. “He has big dreams.”

“What about my dreams? I had dreams for that money. I’m starting a business. Three months I saved!” Nolwazi exploded. “You know what, it doesn’t matter. The money is gone. TK gets to live his best life while he ruins mine.”

“I’m sorry this happened to you. And I’m sorry it’s your brother who did it and caused you such pain.”

Nsikelelo repeated, “Peeen.”

“Yes, my boy. Pain. But pain doesn’t have to stop you from finishing what you started,” his granny told him.

“But having no money does,” Nolwazi said, under her breath. 

***

When she arrived at the Majolas later that evening, Nolwazi didn’t know how she could tell them what had happened and how she couldn’t start her business after all. 

Themba was just getting out of the car with take-out when Busi met her at the door. Ma Stella and Baba were there too. They were still so much in love, thought Nolwazi as she watched them chatting on the couch about plans for Ma Stella’s creche. There was still that spark between them. If Baba could find love again after the death of his wife, Grace, perhaps there was hope for her too, one day. 

Ma Ruby joined them and hot on her heals, Bra Mike, who seemed to have invited himself. Sive and Lerato were at the kitchen table ready for Nolwazi. Lerato even had a pad and highlighters ready to draw up the business plan.

“You made it. That means you’re serious about your business,” Themba said, as he came in and started putting the fried chicken and chips onto plates and pouring drinks for everyone. 

“I almost didn’t, Bhut’ Themba,” Nolwazi admitted, and she felt the tears prick her eyes.

“Well, khuluma. Kwenze njani?”  

 As she told the story, the tears fell.  

“But look, you are here now, and we are here to help you,” said Busi, rubbing her friend’s back. 

“One thing is certain,” said Ma Ruby, who was listening too. “You cannot keep your money in a tin any more. You need a bank account. TK can’t just come in when he wants and use your safe as his bank just because he can’t get credit.” 

“What money?” said Nolwazi. 

“We will make a plan,” said Ma Ruby firmly. 

“Hear, hear,” Bra Mike chipped in as he joined them. “Don’t give up, Lwazi. Look how things worked out for me. I was down and out and now look at me, an entrepreneur on the up, thanks to Ma Ruby.” He blew a kiss to Ma Ruby and everyone laughed. 

“Entrepreneur, is that what you call it?” Ma Ruby rolled her eyes but Bra Mike was on a roll. 

“What I’m saying, Young One, is that you thought your business was gone before it started, and now look, the whole herd yakwaMajola is in your corner.”

This only made Nolwazi cry more.

“Enough of the tears,” Samke pulled out some tissues and shoved them into Nolwazi’s hand. “Let’s get to work.”