Bongi nods at the photo of Thandu, grinning in his gum boots. He says to my auntie, “You are the one who should be the most bitter, Sesethu.”
Auntie nods. “Yes.” She glares at him fiercely. “But let us fight in the right direction.”
One of the hunting men claps Bongi on the back. “Leave the children.”
Some women in the crowd agree: “Leave the children …”
Bongi turns from us and leads his band of rioters away from our house.
Auntie fishes her copper key from her pocket, lets Nomhle and Luzuko out of the wardrobe. Nomhle’s hair is still somehow neat but straw from the chicken coop sticks to her black outfit. Her eyes are red. She has been silently crying in there. Luzuko is shaking but his voice is still steady.
“Thank you, Phumza. You’re incredible.” I feel a smile light my face like a hundred watt bulb. I can’t help it. It’s the nicest thing that anyone has ever said to me. Auntie Sesethu strokes my afro, tries to smooth it for the romantic moment.
Nomhle hangs onto me. “What are we going to do?”
I don’t know how to proceed. I have used up all my spirit and my common sense. All I have left is loyalty. “We’ll sort it out, Nomhle. Don’t worry.”
Her beautiful brother asks my auntie, “Can I call my father to see if they’re OK?”
My auntie fetches her cellphone, presses it into his hands. “Tell him to stay away. Tell him we don’t want him here!”
Luzuko taps the key pad with shaking fingers, puts it to his ear. “Tata! Are you safe?”
He sags with relief: “Ahh.”
Nomhle lets go of a single huge sob.
Luzuko says, “I told you, Tata, that was no way to live. Nomhle and I begged you to stop. We begged you …” Now tears run from his eyes. He sniffs, struggles to control his sorrow. My heart goes out to this young man standing up to his crooked father. All this time he must have wanted so badly to idolise him, respect him. I know the feeling from my own disappointment with my mother.
Luzuko says into the phone, “They nearly caught us, Tata. I don’t know about the house … it’s probably burnt.” Then he listens. He bursts out: “No! We don’t want to come with you to Scottsdene just to watch you start this all over again!”
Nomhle shakes her head vehemently, “Never.”
My auntie nods madly, “Stay here with me!”
Luzuko tells his father, “We’ll come back, Tata, when you find another way to make a living. I love you, but …” Luzuko’s voice cracks. He cuts the phone off, unable to finish his sentence.
Nomhle throws herself down on the couch. “I’m glad this has happened. I’m glad! I’m so sick of the secrets …” She hides her face in her hands, breaks into sobs. “They burnt our house; we’ve got nothing left.”
I rub her back, saying, “You’ve got the rest of your life!”
***
Tell us what you think: Would it be better for the siblings to stay with crazy Auntie?