“Okay, you ready, Thandi? Come out, let me see how you are dressed.”

Tambo Malawi had stationed himself outside Thandi’s room. He hadn’t been this nervous since Bafana Bafana played in the World Cup.

“Thandi, did you hear me?”

“Baba, I’m coming!”

“It’s almost six o’clock. Jacob is picking you up at 6.15 on the dot. Come on, Thandi, man!”

The door to Thandi’s room creaked open and she stepped out. Tambo surveyed the scene. It was winter, which would explain the boots Thandi was wearing, suede and reaching up to her knees. Tucked into the boots was a pair of tight denim jeans. She had on a pink frilly top and a black woollen shawl thrown over her shoulders. She wore very little make-up, which Tambo was relieved to notice, and she had no hair on her head (something he was less pleased about) so there was nothing to notice or not notice about it.

“What do you think? How do I look?”

Tambo creased his brow.

“I said church, Thandi.”

“I know, Baba, but he’s not taking me to church, is he? This is a date.”

“Yah, but you could look a little less …”
“What? Sexy?”

“Ag, man, don’t say that word to your father, Thandi. Come on!”

“Sorry, Baba.”

“Don’t you have a nice skirt you could wear?” Tambo made to follow Thandi back into her room.

“Baba, I’m a grown woman. Please come to terms with that.”

Tambo shrugged and trotted back down the corridor to his TV room.

At 6.10 the doorbell rang, which made Tambo happy. You see these church guys, they come on time, they’ll know how to treat his precious Thandi.

By nine o’clock Thandi was standing beside her dad, her arms akimbo.

“How did it go, Thandi?”

Tambo had looked forward to getting a kiss planted on his forehead and being made breakfast the following morning – reward for his genius idea. He’d watched the snooker but daydreamed about a wedding in a few months’ time; a tall strapping son-in-law to go watch the rugby with at Newlands. I mean, he’s an accountant, for God’s sake. Thandi might have to stop with her dancing, take care of their home in Camps Bay, hopefully the first grandchild would be a–

“Baba, are you listening to me?”

“You say?”

“I said it was a disaster!”

“Disaster? How?”

As Thandi recounted the events of the date Tambo had to admit that it hadn’t gone well. No theft or hint at being a polygamist, but the boy had spent most of the night reminiscing about his dead girlfriend, whom he showed Thandi a picture of. He’d invited Thandi back to his place but she had declined and he’d dropped her back earlier than planned.

“You should have gone, Thandi.”

“For what? To watch home videos of him and Patricia. No way.”

No kiss on the forehead and the next morning no breakfast. The Malawi household spent a cold Saturday indoors. The Cape storm outside a fitting match for the turmoil within. But Sunday morning came and Malawi got dressed. If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.

All Souls was as bright and loud as ever. Cars congregated in the car park and their owners in the church hall.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps.

The choir was sharp this morning, Tambo felt himself noticing, a bounce to his step as he sidled in beside Dolores Magnus two rows from the front.

The service was forgettable. Tambo wasn’t really listening, he was scouting for his next catch. And this time he wouldn’t make last week’s mistake, no dead ex-girlfriends. But Tambo also noticed something interesting, Dolores Magnus was also not paying attention to the priest. Her neck was as busy as his during the service. After the final word and some singing and mention of committees, the congregation broke up.

“Dolores,” Tambo said after watching her interact with a circle of young men before coming to join him at the side of the church hall. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were canvassing for dates,” Tambo giggled to hide his serious question.

Dolores gave a sheepish smile but said nothing. They walked out towards their cars, parked side by side.

“Well,” Dolores said, breaking the silence, “what’s a mother to do, eh?”

Tambo smiled then he laughed. They both did.

“And what’s a father to do?” Tambo asked between all the laughter.

They laughed some more, and louder. Both parents drove home, confident with the new dates they were taking home to their daughters; at peace with the world even if only for a few precious moments.

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think Tambo should do now?