It is mid-afternoon on Wednesday, when Lelethu meets up with her best friend, Andisa, who has persuaded Lelethu to go to the store with her. Andisa is a picture of radiance in a bright pink dress and matching umbrella, seemingly undeterred by the heat.

Gogo Dinga’s house is on the way to the store, so Lelethu grabs the hat and tags along.

“I want to go past that old lady’s house and see the new arrival,” Andisa says as soon as they turn the corner.

“What new arrival?” Lelethu asks.

“The guy who came into town the other day.” Andisa hooks her arm around her friend’s. “The girls say he looks like a dream.”

“Oh, you mean Ntando?” Lelethu offers.

“You know him!?” Andisa shrieks. “Be honest, could he be my type?”

“Is that why you look like a spring flower?”

“First impressions are everything!” Andisa declares.

“I have to return Gogo Dinga’s hat,” Lelethu waves it.

“Oh good, it’ll be an excuse to go in and get a closer look at him,” Andisa pulls her friend along faster.

When they arrive, Lelethu has to pause to catch her breath but Andisa doesn’t miss a step. She swings through the open iron gate with a confident stride, making Lelethu jog to catch up.

Ntando is perched on a small stool on the patio, meticulously polishing odd pieces of metal. When he notices the girls, he quickly tosses the pieces into his tote bag and rises to his full height. He looks refreshed in crisp jeans, a white polo shirt and a neat haircut.

“Hey, we came to drop off the old lady’s hat,” Andisa says. She snatches the hat from Lelethu and holds it out to him.

His eyes remain glued to Lelethu as he retrieves the hat. “She isn’t here right now but I’ll give it to her when she returns,” he says.

“Alright, we’re off to the store,” Andisa pauses invitingly.

“I need to get airtime. Can I tag along?” he asks, smiling.

Andisa nods enthusiastically.

Ntando picks up the tote bag and heads into the house.

“I wonder what’s in that bag?” Lelethu asks.

“Who cares? It’s our lucky day,” Andisa whispers.

Ntando emerges a second later, pulling the door closed behind him before ushering them out of the yard. He is polite, holds the umbrella and laughs at Andisa’s jokes along the way.

Lelethu doesn’t contribute to the conversation. Instead, she finds herself distracted by the stares and whispers of people along the streets. Some boldly point at the tall stranger and call out, hoping to catch his attention. He ignores them.

“So this is Solomon’s new convenience store,” he almost sounds impressed.

Lelethu watches him take in the mega-store, which has been extended over the years.

“Not quite how I remember it,” he says, his face expressionless.

His reaction is the direct opposite of the look of pure terror plastered on Lelethu’s mother’s face when she steps out of the store. Joyce gasps and reaches for the door frame to keep from falling.

“Joyce Maseko,” Ntando nods.

“Are you alright?” Andisa asks Joyce.

Lelethu’s mother struggles to gather herself. They watch her open and close her mouth, unable to find her words.

“It c-can’t be,” she stutters.

“It’s been far too long,” he smiles.

“No. No. No!” she turns her agitation to her daughter. “Let’s go!”

“What? Why ar-” Lelethu’s protest is cut short as her mother grabs hold of her arm and roughly yanks her away from the others. Joyce drags her to their white Toyota, parked across the road.

“Get in the car! Now!” Joyce barks.

Lelethu sneaks a glance back to the others and catches the satisfied smile tugging at Ntando’s lips. His eyes flicker to meet hers and she shudders as she slides into the passenger seat. Her mother starts the car and recklessly swerves the car into traffic. She ignores Lelethu’s blabbering and drives home in stunned silence.

When they finally reach home, she turns to Lelethu. “I don’t want you anywhere near that man! Don’t talk about him! Don’t even think about him!” she insists.

“Why?” Lelethu looks wonderingly at her mother’s tight face.

Joyce ignores her question and jabs the button on the gate remote. “Don’t pester your father about him either!”

“Why?!” Lelethu repeats.

“Because I said so!” her mother answers too quickly.

As soon as the gate is open, Joyce drives in with equal aggression.

“Why are you so threatened by him?” Lelethu presses on.

“Stop asking me all these questions …” her mother runs a trembling hand down her face. “Just pretend that he doesn’t exist.”

Joyce eases her tense body out of the car.

“I can’t do that now,” Lelethu hops out of the car and slams the door in outrage.

It earns no response from her mother, who disappears into the house without another word. Lelethu accepts defeat and follows her.

When her father returns home that night, they struggle through another silent dinner together. Lelethu is certain that her mother is hiding something, she has never known her to be this quiet.

Tell us: What do you think about Ntando? Who could he be?