When Lungelo arrives home from school he sees Mr Sithole’s bakkie parked outside their home.

“Aw! Brother Innocent, I was almost frightened about who was at our yard,” he says to Innocent, who is in the bakkie’s passenger seat.

“It’s me, don’t worry.”

He introduces Lungelo to his father, and together they go inside the house to talk with him and explain the situation. They explain that he has to come and live with them for a few days until Lwazi is discharged from hospital.

By mere looking around the house, Mr Sithole can tell the amount of struggle and hunger slowly sucking Lwazi and Lungelo away. He is touched, reflecting on how the life of the two boys is similar to his childhood coming from a disadvantaged family. However, he has grown up to be a wealthy man.

“So, Lungelo, do you agree to come live with us until Lwazi is discharged from the hospital?” asks Mr Sithole.

“As long as Lwazi agreed and he’s going to be OK, it’s fine.”

“Alright, Innocent will help you pack all your belongings that you’ll need for the next few days, and I’ll be waiting in the car.”

“Alright.”

They pack his stuff, and then drive to the Sithole house. Arriving there, Lungelo is overwhelmed by the gigantic double-storey house before him. He observes the concrete fence surrounding the house, and the silver glowing lights, the finishing touches of green grass and colourful flowers. Lungelo sees how wealthy the Sitholes are, and the nice life they have. He last saw such houses in movies and on the outskirts of his township, but has never dreamt of being inside one. He glances at the granite-coated walls, the paved ground. The inside lighting, reflected by the floor, making the night feel like a sparkling day.

Mrs Sithole prepares dinner, and Innocent assists Lungelo with his homework, and tries his best to make him feel comfortable.

“Do you like our house, Lungelo?”

“Yes, brother Innocent, it is everything I could wish for. It even makes me feel like some small foreign dirt that has invaded a royal castle.”

“No, don’t think like that.”

“Dinner is ready, Innocent!” calls his mother.

“Let’s go to the dining room.”

Lungelo is overwhelmed by the dinner-table setting. There are roasted chicken breasts, potato salad and rice, and bottles of tomato sauce and mayonnaise on the table. He last ate something like this last year at Christmas.

“Let’s pray.” Mr Sithole says a prayer.

Moments after dinner, Innocent leads Lungelo to the room he’ll take shelter in for the night.

“So you’ll sleep here.”

“OK.”

“Should I turn the lights off?”

“No, I’m scared of darkness.”

“Alright, goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Feeling the comfort and warmth of the blankets, Lungelo recalls his small home. In winter it’s severely cold like they’re sleeping outside, and in summer it’s hot like they’re living in fire. Insects normally crawl inside to take shelter, and the floor is so old that it has holes like the potholes in their township roads.

“It must be really nice to have money, I wish they were my family. Me and Lwazi wouldn’t be suffering, we would be living in a nice home, with very rich parents. Life is so unfair, I hope you’re OK, brother,” he says and closes his eyes to see his tomorrow.

Tell us: Have you ever wished to be part of a family other than your own?