When Lerato and Themba returned from work the next day, there were a few kids left waiting to be picked up. Ma Stella offered aftercare for working parents who came home late. The day was almost over and Baba and Stella were tidying up. Themba went straight to the back room he shared with Lerato, and Lerato made Baba and Stella some tea.

It had been a long day and both looked exhausted. Lerato wondered how long Baba could do this before he burned himself out. Even though he walked on air most days, he was not young anymore. And old people needed more rest.

Finally, the last child left and Ma Stella took her leave. Lerato went to call Themba to help them move the couches back to the lounge.

She found Themba looking at rentals on his phone.

“The kids are all gone,” she reported. “Can you please come help us.”

“Finally! You know, when we have our own place …” Themba started but Lerato didn’t let him finish.

“We are not buying a house, Themba. Get over it.”

“These are rentals,” he said sitting up. “Look here.”

Lerato sat next to him on the bed and looked at the screen. She was pleased that he had finally come to his senses and was looking to rent, but she knew he wouldn’t let it go anytime soon.

“These are great honey,” she smiled. “But I need you to come help us, right now.”

“You know, we wouldn’t be moving furniture up and down if we had our own place,” he raised his eyebrows up and down, teasingly.

“I know. But since you don’t go to the gym anymore, this is good exercise for you. I don’t think I’m ready for a husband with umkhaba (a belly).”

“This? Oh you love this …” he rubbed his belly lovingly. “These are my love handles, and they would love to show you a thing or two.”

“Not now, Themba. Come, let’s go help Baba.”

They walked back to the house, with Themba groaning behind Lerato.

Even though Baba looked tired, he seemed excited about something.

“Baba, when is Stella opening up another crèche?” Themba asked. He loved to see his father happy, but having a crèche at their house just meant extra chores for the rest of them. They had to move the furniture around every day. It wasn’t a big thing to do, but some days Themba just wanted to come home and rest. He was on his feet all day, and he looked forward to getting in his car and going home.

“Not too long now,” Baba said.

“That’s good to hear. Did Ma Stella get some money or something?”

“Not yet. But some of the parents are going to help us rebuild the crèche. This time it will be a solid brick structure with a small kitchen and toilet. We have bricklayers, electricians and plumbers. This whole thing can be done quickly and cheaply because the parents want their kids to have a school.”

This was great news and Themba was most happy to hear it. He would just have to suck it up for a while and life would go back to normal again.

***

Busi couldn’t wait to get home after work. Her stomach growled as she waited impatiently for the other passengers to file out of the taxi. She was hungry and couldn’t wait to get home to have supper.

She was on her way to the Majola house when she heard Sive call her. Her friend came running up.

“Hi mngane, kunjani?” Sive greeted.

“I am wonderful mngane, I can’t complain.”

“That’s a step up from the last time we spoke,” Sive smiled.

“Well, a lot has changed since then,” Busi couldn’t contain her excitement anymore. “I got it, mngane! I got the lead on the project I told you about.”

“That’s great Busi,” Sive screamed and hugged her. “I knew you could do it.”

“Thanks friend. I never would’ve pushed through without your pep talk.”

“Just like high school. Yazi, I should start charging you for these consultations,” Sive laughed.

“Soon mngane, I’ll be rich enough to treat you to proper dinners and we can dine and adult for real.”

“I can’t wait,” Sive linked her arm in Busi’s, like they had done back at school. They walked like that until they had to part ways.

The Majolas were sitting around the dining room table when she arrived home. Busi told them the good news and they clapped and hugged her.

“I have some good news of my own,” Samke announced coming in from work. “I am now the proud employer of Zanele aka Lady Zane to help me in the salon. She is so great, and very experienced,” she boasted.

But not everyone was happy for her. Lerato immediately jumped in with her questions.

“Have you drawn up a contract for her yet?” Lerato asked.

“A contract? What for?”

“Haibo Samke, what are contracts for?” Themba chipped in, unable to miss an opportunity to scratch at Samke.

Lerato rolled her eyes at their sibling rivalry. “You need to be clear about your expectations and what their duties and responsibilities are,” she explained calmly.

“Hau, nawe Lerato maan. Nobody does contracts ekasi,” Themba laughed.

Samke nodded. “Themba is right. I don’t need a contract, they are so complicated and I don’t like paperwork.”

“But you need them Samke,” Lerato persisted.

“Not now,” Samke said and went to the room to put her bags down. She took off her shoes and put on her comfortable slippers.

When she came back in she asked Lerato if she could download a contract and come and help her fill it in at the salon the next day.

“Like Lerato can afford the time to help you,” said Themba. “Figure it out for yourself, Samke, ask Josiah to help you. You need to start taking responsibility for you but also for Khwezi.”

“Who says I haven’t taken responsibility for Khwezi. I took out life cover today. In case … well you know …” Samke hesitated. She couldn’t think about anything happening to her.

“You took out life cover?” Themba asked in shock.

“I had to. For Khwezi’s future education,” Samke answered proudly, “I want to provide for him when I’m gone. Have you got life cover, Themba?”

“No,” Themba said softly, embarrassed. “But I have my retirement annuity.”

“Why do you need retirement what-what? You’re so young. Are you planning to retire soon?” Samke rolled her eyes.

“No, but that wouldn’t be a bad idea, retiring at forty,” Themba chuckled, thinking off all the things he would do with his payout. “They say the earlier you start, the richer you’ll be.”

“You shouldn’t say it like that, Babe,” Lerato said. But she wasn’t going to get into it now. “You know, you need to get life cover too,” she said.

Themba gave her the eye that said he didn’t want to talk about it right now. If he wasn’t careful, Lerato would get him to spend all his money on policies. But he also got a look that let him know that the conversation was not over.

“Can everyone stop arguing, ” said Busi, opening the fridge. “I’m starving and I don’t see anything to eat.”

“Easy solution,” Themba said, “Busi and Samke will treat us to KFC to celebrate.”

“But there should be plenty of food still over from the weekend,” said Lerato surprised. Busi stood back to show her the empty shelves.

“Oh, it’s all finished,” Baba reported. “We’ve been giving it to the kids for lunch. You know some of them don’t even have lunch to take to school.”

“Well, how about a family feast then?” Themba looked to Busi.

“Sorry Themba, I can’t afford to splurge right now,” Busi said quickly.

“Don’t you get paid at your job?” Samke said.

“An internship doesn’t pay much; it basically covers my travelling expenses.”

“Oh you are so cheap,” said Samke, getting up to go get her purse.

“It’s called being responsible, something you know nothing about.”

“Cha, cha, cha. God has blessed this family and wants us to celebrate,” Themba said. “Come Samke, let’s club together and buy a family feast bucket.”

Samke handed Themba some money and he got his jacket and left them chatting while he drove to KFC.

When Themba pulled into the Majola driveway again, his legs felt like jelly. He didn’t even know how he had made it home from KFC after the ordeal he had had. How would he explain this to Lerato?

After leaving KFC he had been so excited. Things were turning around for his family and he had visions of his life with his new bride, in their new home. It was this daydreaming that got him into this mess.

Themba was jamming to his favourite track in the car when the accident happened. He drove straight into the back of a car in front of him, not seeing that the lights had turned red. He was shaking as he got out to see the damage. Luckily the other car only had a dent in the bumper and one of their rear lights was cracked. Themba had exchanged numbers with the driver and headed home.

Now he looked at the passenger seat and the smiling face of the Colonel made him feel nauseous. The KFC was cold and Lerato would be angry. But he had to face the music. Maybe he would tell her later when they were alone. He didn’t want to spoil the night for anyone, and he didn’t want them to worry. Maybe she wouldn’t notice it, he hoped. No, he would have to tell her, but only later.

They were getting ready for bed when Themba finally told Lerato about the accident. Nobody was hurt, he reported, but still Lerato was furious.

“No need to stress, this is what insurance is for,” Themba said.

“Where is your insurance policy?” Lerato snapped at him.

“I don’t know. Don’t you keep all the policies?” Themba pleaded.

Lerato went through her file and pulled it out. She scanned through it quickly then frowned at him.

“What were you thinking? This policy is the cheapest. It’s just third party it won’t pay to fix our car, only the other people’s car.”

“How was I to know?” said Themba.

“You were supposed to read the contract and ask questions.”

Themba didn’t say anything.

“This was the one thing you had to do! Your responsibility.”

Themba lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

“It was just the bumper,” he said eventually, “and Baba knows a mechanic.”

Lerato didn’t answer.