“Makazi!” a small voice called to Noluvuyo. At first it sounded as if it was coming from afar, but then it got closer. She finally opened her eyes. It was little Siphosethu who was calling her. “I’m hungry, Makazi,” she said, her big brown eyes lighting up the small room.
Noluvuyo felt relieved. She was expecting the first words out of her little niece’s mouth to be to ask where their mom was, but they weren’t.

“I’ll take care of you now, baby.”

“Okay, Makazi. But I want the cornflakes you bought.”

Noluvuyo smiled for the first time since she’d heard the news about her sister. It felt good to afford her little niece some of the things that she saw other kids enjoying. Noluvuyo tossed the two blankets she’d covered herself with the previous night to the side. Life in a shack was only meant for those who could handle the cold. Her neck felt really stiff. She’d spent most of the night worrying about her family. What was going to happen to her sister? Was she going to become a jailbird? Noluvuyo needed answers. But where was she going to get them?

The first answer she needed was an excuse, to explain to the kids why their mother wasn’t there. She put on her slippers and slowly made her way into her sister’s bedroom. There, Mzwandile was still fast asleep. At least I still have time to think, she thought. As she stood there looking down at him she was filled with so much love for him and his sister. She would do whatever it took to look after them.

When he woke up, Mzwandile would be full of questions. He was a smart 10-year-old. He would want to know exactly what had happened to Mavis. And Noluvuyo wouldn’t be able to hide things from him.

She poured cornflakes for Siphosethu and then went back to her room to try to work out what to do. There was someone she could turn to. Someone who might help. He had helped her before. He had been at her school the previous year but now he was studying at university.

She remembered the events of the day Joseph had helped her, the day Mzwandile had been so sick. That day she had got a call from the hospital. Mzwandile had been taken to Accident and Emergency by a teacher from his primary school. He’d started vomiting during lunch break and then he had fainted in class and hit his head. Joseph had gone with Noluvuyo to the hospital to fetch him, but she had forgotten her bank card at home. It wouldn’t have helped, of course, because she didn’t even have enough money in her account for the hospital fee. She had panicked when they told her the amount, but Joseph had paid the money, without expecting it to be paid back. He had even lent her R100. She didn’t know any other guy who would do that for her without expecting something in return.

Three months had passed since that incident and she hadn’t spoken to Joseph much since then, but whenever they met they greeted and he gave her a hug. She scrolled through the numbers on her phone. His number popped up. She dialled it and after two rings he answered.

“Joseph speaking, hello?”

“Hey, Joseph.”
“Noli, Noli! This is a real surprise. I was starting to think you’d lost my number or something. I actually saw you the other day at–”
Noluvuyo cut him off.

“I’m in trouble, Joseph. And you’re the only person I could think of. You’re the only one who can help me.”

“Noli, what’s wrong? What happened?” Noluvuyo began crying. “Is it your family? Are you guys in some kind of trouble?”

“Yes, Joseph, it’s my family.”

“What happened to them?” But before she could answer, he spoke again. “You know what? Don’t tell me now. I’ll meet you at Philippi Park in 20 minutes.”

Noluvuyo was still crying when the call ended. Her nose was running; she knew she had to dry her tears and clean herself up before the children saw her. But it was too late – Mzwandile had already seen them. “Why you crying, sisi?” he asked, standing at her door, barefoot and still yawning.

“It’s nothing, kwedin’,” she said, trying hard to smile as she grabbed a pillow to throw at him.
“You must come to me to help, sisi. I’ll beat up that person who is making you cry, just like that wrestler Batista does!”

She was surprised Mzwandile didn’t ask more questions. But she was also relieved he didn’t. She still hadn’t figured out a good excuse for why their mother wasn’t there.

When Mzwandile was dressed she told the kids she had to go shopping and took them next door for Agnes to look after. She could see Mzwandile didn’t believe she was going to the shops, and the look in his eyes made her heart break. He knew his mom was in danger.

Noluvuyo was halfway out the neighbour’s gate when she turned back. Mzwandile and Siphosethu were standing there, staring after her. She had forgotten something very important. She ran back to them. “Team Fanteni!” she shouted. “Where are my hugs?” The kids ran into her arms. She pressed both kids tightly against her. A smile once again flashed across her face. Team Fanteni was still a strong team – even though Mavis, their captain, was nowhere to be found.

***

Tell us what you think: It is important to have someone you can rely on to help in a crisis, like Joseph. How do you think he can help Noluvuyo?