Samkelo slowly came out of his bedroom and sat on the three-seater couch with Themba. Their mother was in an armchair watching TV, not acknowledging Samkelo’s presence.

“I am sorry Bra T. I shouldn’t have spoken to you the way I did,” Samkelo said to his older brother. He was rubbing the palms of his hands together, not knowing what else to say, as Themba did not shift his attention from the TV.

“You should be. I don’t know what has gotten into you lately, Samkelo. Your brother and I are giving you all the support we can, but you are just ungrateful!” Nothembile retorted.

“I am sorry, Mma. Thanks to both of you for the support and I’m here to tell you that now I have got a job,” Samkelo said, smiling broadly.

“What! Congratulations little brother,” Themba exclaimed, and gave Samkelo a warm handshake.

“Thank you Lord! Ndiyabulela Bawo for answering my prayers,” Nothembile cried out, looking up at the ceiling as though she was seeing the Lord Himself floating up there.

“When are you starting?” Themba asked.

“On the Monday after next week. But the thing is … the job is in Cape Town,” Samkelo said, looking at his mother. “I know Cape Town is very far Mama but you know how hard I have been looking for work this side. I just need to pay R280 for the background check and R750 for my lab coat and safety goggles through Shoprite, before Thursday. Please Mama – I need this job. We need this job.”

“Samkelo my son, Cape Town is really far. Who will you be staying with there? Besides, this is a lot of money, considering that you still have to book a bus to Cape Town,” Nothembile said, not really seeing how this could work out.

“But Mma, we can ask Dabs to let me stay with her until I can find a place for myself. I don’t know when I will ever find a job again if I let this opportunity slip away,” Samkelo said. He was desperate to convince his mother.

“Even if Thenjiwe lets you live with her, the money that is needed is too much, Samkelo,” Nothembile said. “I simply don’t have it.”

Samkelo felt disappointed, defeated.

“I have R800 that I have been saving. I think it might help you, and you can pay me back when you get paid,” said Themba, who had been quiet during the rest of the conversation.

“Thank you so much Bhuti! Yes it will help,” Samkelo said triumphantly. He looked at his mother with pleading eyes, “What do you say now, Mma?”

“Fine. I will phone Thenjiwe and ask her to let you stay with her for a few weeks. You will be leaving on Saturday,” Nothembile said.

Taking out her cellphone, she dialled Thenjiwe’s number. “Hello, Thenji,” Nothembile said.

“Hi Sisi. How have you been? Has Samkelo finally found work? I know how hard it is to find work, even for graduates these days,” Thenjiwe said. She knew that Samkelo wasn’t working yet because she had once asked him for money when she had apparently run out of food before her pay day.

“I am doing fine. Samkelo is coming to Cape Town for work but he needs a place to stay for the first few weeks,” Nothembile said.

“Oh,” Thenjiwe said, failing to hide her lack of enthusiasm.

“So I was wondering if you could let him stay with you for those weeks,” Nothembile asked.

“I’m … I’m not sure about that, Sisi. Uhm … did you say he is still looking for work or he has found work this side?” Thenjiwe asked.

“He’s already got the job, Thenji, but he needs a place to stay,” Nothembile said.

“Well, it’s alright then. He can come and stay with me,” Thenjiwe said, lightening up.

***

Tell us: Would you move a long way from home if a good job came up?