In the morning Mpho finishes preparing for school then goes to her parent’s room to kiss them goodbye. To her surprise her father is not there.

“Mama! Where is daddy?” she asks, concerned.

“I am sorry my love. Daddy decided to leave. He hasn’t told me when he will return. He told me he needs time on his own to figure out this situation we are in. He told me he doesn’t know how he is going to deal with not being your biological father,” says Basetsana.

“See what you have done, Mom? Everything is a mess. One whole big mess!” says Mpho angrily. She storms out of the house.

A taxi hoots as it pulls up to the kerb next to Mpho. She climbs inside and finds a seat close to the door. She looks out of the window. The sun’s rays break through the clouds but she feels grey inside. She can’t help the tears that stream down her face. She feels like screaming ‘Ahhhhhhhhhhh’, letting the emotion that is trapped inside of her free.

Her mother’s words run through her head. “You are not Joe’s daughter. Mongezi is your father.” How can that be?

Her thoughts are interrupted by her phone buzzing in her pocket.

“Hello honey!” Joe says when she answers it.

“Hey, Daddy. It’s nice to hear your voice,” says Mpho.

“Honey, I just called to let you know that you will always be my baby. You are my little girl. I was the one who saw your first footsteps. I was there for you. I had sleepless nights while you were a baby. There is no way I am giving up on you.”

“I am grateful Dad, to hear that,” Mpho whispers.

“Honey just know that the fact that you found me gone from home does not mean I have left you. Mom and I need just need to be apart for a bit,” says Joe. She can hear the concern in his voice.

“Thank you Dad for not leaving me,” she says before they hang up.

Mpho gets out of the taxi and heads in to school. She takes her father’s words to heart – one day he will come back. One day they will be a family again.

***

Tell us: What does this phone call to Mpho make you think about Joe? What do you think it will take for Basetsana and Joe to work their problems out?