Sam soon found out that Xolani was a guy who meant what he said. When Sam asked him, he helped Sam look for a job. Xolani knew someone who worked on the shop floor at Mohammed’s Supermarket. They were looking for weekend casuals and Sam got the job.

So Xolani had been true to his word about helping and Sam felt, whatever the girls said, that Xolani would be a true friend. Now Sam could start saving money.

Things felt hopeful at last. He had the beginnings of a plan to rescue his sister, he was making a new friend, and Zinhle had smiled at him at school. As he packed the shelves he daydreamed about that smile. He hadn’t spoken to her since that first day at school but he had caught her looking across the class at him several times.

“Sam, get a move on,” Mohammed shouted from the front desk.

“Yes sir,” said Sam and started to pack the shelves of cereal boxes faster.

Still his mind wandered. He could not stop thinking of Zinhle. As he turned to pack the next aisle he heard someone humming one of his favourite songs – Kings of Leon’s Manhattan. When he looked up there she was. Zinhle was reading the back of a box of cereal and humming along to the tune.

He opened his mouth. No words came out. He watched as she went to the till and took her purse out. And then he saw the distress on her face as she realised she didn’t have enough money for her groceries. He knew that feeling. He remembered his mother that day when they had to leave half the weekly shopping behind. He remembered how it felt when people stared at them as if they had no business being in the shop.

He saw Zinhle begin to panic.

“Sorry Miss, but I think you dropped this back there,” Sam said, running up to her and tapping her on the shoulder. He held out a fifty rand note.

Sam could see the shock and confusion on Zinhle’s face. He knew how the other girls had been gossiping about him at school. “That one is bad news chommie. You should stay away from him,” he had heard Thando say to Zinhle.

“Are you gonna pay or what?” Mohammad was getting impatient with her.

“Your money, take it,” Sam said and put the fifty rand note into her palm.

* * * * *

Zinhle waited for Sam to finish his shift and when he came out of the shop, she handed him the missing fifty rand note, that she had found at the bottom of her bag.

“Keep it.” He pushed her hand away.

“No it’s your money. Please take it back,” she persisted.

“It’s fine. I would like to give it to you,” Sam replied firmly.

“Please take it back. I don’t want to feel like I owe you anything,” Zinhle said, and pushed the money into his hand.

Sam looked at her closely. He could see that she really meant what she was saying, but having her so close unsettled him – and made him wonder what it would be like to have his arms around her. Her hand felt so soft and gentle.

“It’s getting late, so I’ll take the money back if you let me walk you home to make sure that you get there safely,” Sam said, taking the money from her. She did not protest so they began to walk together. Neither of them spoke. But Sam could feel hope slowly creeping into his heart. He couldn’t help but wish that he could do this every day.

“Uhlala phi?” Sam asked softly.

Zinhle hesitated for a moment then pointed, saying, “Behind that park.”

“I hear that park is not safe to walk through at night.” Sam moved closer to her. He was so close she could feel his breath but she didn’t mind being so close to him. In fact she felt safe, knowing that he was there to protect her.

“So what’s your story?” Zinhle said, pulling herself together.

Sam looked away for a moment. Then he realised that this was his opportunity to set the record straight and that maybe she would see him differently if she knew the truth about him.

He started telling her about his sister and how they were separated after their mother and father died and how he landed up at The Haven Children’s Home.

They walked slowly and Zinhle nodded and listened intently. How could someone go through such trauma and still be OK? she thought to herself. She kept thinking of her own mother and how she had started taking pain medication to numb herself from feeling so bad after her husband, Zinhle’s father, died. But all that did not seem nearly as bad as what Sam had gone through.

“Wow! How can you be so normal after all this?” Zinhle said, and squeezed his hand.

“I guess Mr Sotshononda has really helped me to cope with everything.”

He accompanied Zinhle to her street then waited as she walked to a beautiful yellow house and disappeared inside.

He walked home feeling like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

“I guess talking about it really helps,” he thought, as he took the taxi home.

***

Tell us what you think: Will Sam be able to care for Sinethemba if he rescues her? What is difficult in child-headed households?