From a distance it looks like a confrontation. Matt, Naomi and Evelyn are on one side. The farmworkers are on the other side. As Menzi, Siyanda and Halalisa get out of the car and come closer they realise that the two groups are discussing something. When the farmworkers see Siyanda, they all shout his name. Siyanda stands next to the old man who is talking. He shakes the old man’s hand.

“Baba, how are you?” says Siyanda.

His father beams a smile and says, “You have made it, my boy.”

“Yes, I made it, Baba,” he says, embracing his father.

Siyanda turns to the Stevens family, and introduces himself. He turns to his father.

“What’s the matter, Baba?” he asks.

“No, my boy, we are explaining to the Stevens family about the wake. We were telling them that we need to slaughter a bull for the wake because Stevens was a man, and he was one of us.”

“Listen,” says Matt, his hands held out by his side, his face solemn. “As a family we had not planned for a slaughter. I don’t even know where to buy a bull – they are specific that a bull needs to be slaughtered.”

“No, Mr Stevens,” Siyanda says with a smile, understanding the confusion. “The workers already bought a bull to slaughter. They were just asking for an appropriate place in the yard to perform the slaughter.”

The Stevens family, Menzi and Halalisa look on with confused smiles.

“Yes,” says Siyanda. “The workers pitched in to buy the bull as a fitting send-off for your father. The problem was caused by the language barrier. It was just miscommunication.”

“Wow,” says Matt, smiling. “They can do it over there.” He points to large mango tree.

Siyanda relays everything to the farmworkers. Everyone breaks into smiles and shakes hands. Matt pulls Siyanda aside as the farmworkers leave to prepare for the slaughter.

“I’m just curious, after this miscommunication,” says Matt. “How did my father communicate with the workers?”

“Your father was fluent in isiZulu,” says Siyanda.

Siyanda follows the workers, leaving the Stevens family pleasantly surprised.

Matt and Menzi stand at a distance as the bull is slaughtered. But after the slaughter they engage more with the workers. It happens naturally because everyone here has a common purpose – to lay Stevens to rest.

As the sun sets Matt begins to understand this side of his late father. As the men work wholeheartedly to give his father a fitting farewell, he understands that his father meant something to these people.

Woodfire blazes orange in the night. Some of the meat from the slaughter sizzles in the flames on a makeshift braai stand. The rest of the meat is placed in a mobile freezer. Matt and Menzi sip whisky, a few metres away, amazed at how quickly the men slaughtered the bull. Matt calls Siyanda over.

“So what happens now?” says Matt.

“We will eat the meat that’s on the fire. It’s also custom that after the slaughter the men get something to drink. A case of beer quarts. And a bottle of vodka.”

“Where can we get that?” asks Matt.

“The bottle store is far away, and probably closed by now. I was just letting you know because you asked. It’s fine.”

“No, no. I saw how much work they did. And this lovely gesture. I think there is liquor in the house. I’m not sure about beer, but I think I saw spirits there. Come on, we’ll have a look.”

Siyanda follows Matt into the house. They take five brandy bottles from the liquor cabinet. Siyanda is greeted with loud cheers when he places the bottles in front of the men. Matt and Menzi come closer to the men when the meat is ready. They all eat from the same large wooden carving board. They drink together. After eating, the liquor running freely in everyone’s veins, the men break into song. Matt claps in unison with the singers.

Umdali ahambe nawe
Umdali ahambe nawe
Umdali ahambe nawe
Umdali ahambe nawe
Sizobuye sibonane

Matt nudges Menzi as they clap. “What do the words mean, Menzi?”

“God be with you. God be with you. God be with you. God be with you. Until we meet again,” says Menzi.

Matt is deeply moved. He claps harder, tears running freely down his face, as the men sing the song over and over again.

***

Tell us: Matt probably never expected to feel this way about the father he said he’d never missed. What do you think he might be grieving for?