Thulubonge Mpande

Thula brushes her teeth and occasionally looks back at the bucket as it fills with water from the shower. The water is warm when the bucket is almost half full. She rinses her mouth, presses play on her phone and steps into the shower. She doesn’t usually shower twice in a day but today she needed it. Half way through putting on lotion she reaches for her phone and switches to a gospel playlist. She sings along as she completes the ritual. One of her favourite songs begins to play as she finishes getting dressed. She stops in the middle of the room and places one hand on her chest. With her feet planted on the ground, she slowly sways from side to side as she sings. The song finishes and she becomes aware of the steadiness that has filled the room. And before the next song plays, Thula quickly pauses the playlist and continues to sing. Her voice is low but sure as she sings while thinking about her family. The singing turns into speaking and it is not long before she is on the carpet in child’s pose. She says a prayer as emotions and awe blanket her entire stance. The cascade of words eventually subside and end with “thank you.”

“Here, its Mlanga’s number,” she hands Khana a piece of paper and feels a sense of pride when she sees the smile on her face.

“Mhaneeee!! Thank you. Where? How did you get it?”

“Last night. We were working late so Maj. asked the kitchen to bring us dinner. They were already busy cleaning up and preparing for breakfast so they asked Mlanga. She was one of the few people still left in the dinning hall.”

“Of all the people? Imagine.”

“Ne? Anyway, so they dished the same food for everyone. Beef. Barf,” she gestures with her index finger before continuing, “she saw me giving my food to Raymond and offered to get me something else. But I told her it’s fine, I have amagwinya in my room.”

“Yebo magwinya, come through,” Khana claps her hands and they both laugh.

“You were right, she is forward. And you forgot to mention that you invited her to our morning walks.”

“Eish, small talk ne nevs you know.”

“Well she remembered, uthe to text her next time we go.”

Back in her room Thula sits at the edge of her bed. Last nights prayer occupies her thoughts. She looks at the ashes and wax on the plate that she had used earlier this morning when she repeated the same prayer. Feeling slightly adrift, she calls Mpho again.

The last two interviews go by quickly and Thula’s team is done by lunchtime. “Im meeting Mlanga for lunch in 20 minutes. Eek. Pray for me,” Thula reads the sms in Khana’s voice. She excuses herself and rushes to the dinning hall to get a take-away lunch. On her way back, Raymond informs her that Gogo TK is here to see her. A mixture of cold and warmth passes over her. She asks Raymond to conduct the follow-up interviews with Rev. Sobantu and Father Dave incase she is delayed.

“Gogo TK, sawubona,” Thula greets as she walks into the interview room.

“Thokoza MaMpande. Is there somewhere where we can speak more freely? I have already asked Maj. Mwashita for your time.”

“Freely?” Thula thinks to herself and suggests that they go to the hill that her and Khana walk to most mornings. Gogo TK seems intrigued by the suggestion and asks Thula to lead the way. Last time she was here, Gogo TK declined lunch and left before dinner. Thula hopes that she will accept today because she is starving.

“Ungadla sisi, ayikho inkinga. It’s your lunchtime after all,” Gogo TK responds to Thula’s hesitation when picking up her lunch from the table as they walk out of the room.

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