The street was full of cars and taxis loading and off-loading passengers, eager to do their weekly shopping.

“What happened here?” people asked. “What have these young boys done?”

While the attention was on the boy who had been caught, the other boy, taller and older than the first, ran past Zinhle. He moved aggressively, dodging people on the pavement. He ran fast, trying to escape, with people chasing after him.

At one point, someone caught hold of his jacket, but he pulled away, shouting at his pursuers, and ran on down the street again.

Suddenly Zinhle heard: “Sawubona Zinhle.” It was the woman who had chased the boys out of the supermarket and down the street.

Zinhle looked at the woman, while she tried to catch her breath, gasping for air. She thought she recognised her, but she wasn’t sure. Then suddenly she realised – it was Jabu! What was she doing here?

Embarrassment welled up inside her, and she quickly turned her back on the woman.

Then, “Ngisize! (Help me!)” said Jabu, suddenly feeling faint. Her legs gave way and she started sliding down towards the pavement.

Zinhle turned and rushed over to her, prevented her from hitting her head on the concrete. She helped Jabu up, and steadied her on her feet.

“Can you help this woman?” Zinhle asked the shopkeeper, taking Jabu into the shop. The manager provided white plastic chairs for them to sit on. Zinhle noticed sweat pouring down Jabu’s face as she sat down. She pulled out a bottle of water from her bag and offered it to Jabu, who drank half the bottle in one gulp.

“You’re so kind,” she said. “I nearly fainted.”

Zinhle held her cold hand and wiped her face with a tissue. Zinhle could not believe that Jabu was saying kind words to her. The last time she had seen Jabu, she had been out to dinner with Busiso and Jabu was so angry with her. But Zinhle was feeling guilty about it, and now wanted to make it up to Jabu.

“I didn’t eat breakfast and I’m feeling so weak,” explained Jabu.

“Just rest, Jabu,” said Zinhle. “I’ll be back now.”

Jabu wondered if she would see Zinhle again. Perhaps she was just looking for an excuse to run away herself.

People continued with their shopping, while Zinhle went to the supermarket to find something for Jabu to eat. When she returned, Jabu was leaning back in her chair, with her feet outstretched.

“Here, eat this,” suggested Zinhle.

While she was eating the doughnut, Jabu started talking to Zinhle.

“You have to be so careful at month’s end,” she said. “I left my bag in the trolley for one minute at the supermarket, when I took something off the shelf. When my back was turned, one of those guys took my purse out of it. At least they did not take the bag, I suppose!”

Zinhle shook her head, commiserating with Jabu, who was sipping more water. When she had recovered a little more, Jabu said: “I really need to phone Busiso to fetch me.”

Zinhle did not want to hear Busiso’s name again. She was trying to forget what had happened.

Jabu looked into her handbag, but she couldn’t find her cellphone. Scratching around in her bag yielded no results. “They must have taken my cellphone as well,” she complained to Zinhle.

After a pause, Zinhle said: “You can use my phone.” She handed Jabu her Samsung.

“You have been so kind to me,” said Jabu, smiling at Zinhle, while looking into her hazel eyes.

“Sorry, what did you say?” asked Zinhle. Zinhle had been distracted, thinking how she could disappear quietly. She did not want to see Busiso when he came to fetch Jabu. He had caused her too much pain already.

***

Tell us: What do you think Jabu is doing in Vryheid? Why is she being nice to Zinhle?