He opens the bread bin. It’s empty. His stomach is growling and his mood changes. He notices the little bit of sugar left in the canister and takes a spoonful in his mouth. Ah, yes! Sugar is such a hunger killer!

His mother suddenly pushes through the door with plastics of groceries. His eyes light up. His young brother comes in, violently pushing him and rummaging through the bags, tearing the fresh loaf of bread and running back outside. To his mother’s annoyance.

His mother slouches on the worn-down sofa and starts counting all the money she has. She probably got it from one of her many gentlemen friends. They come and go in the house. The boy doesn’t know why they give her money but all he knows is that they go in Momma’s bedroom and lock it. What is to follow are moans and screams inside. Sounds that are terrible to hear.

Life was very lonely and hard. His mother barely had the time for him and his brother. She doesn’t help them with homework or even care. If only he had a father like all his friends do. He would teach him how to ride a bicycle. Spin him in the air and play soccer with him.

This other day he had asked his mother who his father was. “I don’t know,” that was her reply. The boy relayed this to his friend. His friend said it was true because her mother told her his mother was a ‘ magosha.’ He didn’t know what that meant but it wasn’t the first time hearing about this.

Everyday he had prayed and wished for his father to come and be with him. He has counted the years till his father would appear. But now this seems like a distant dream. Is it possible that he might never meet or see his father? Well, he doesn’t know but miracles do happen. He will never lose hope.