the flower vendor’s flowers wilting? Suggest two possible reasons.— Chapter 3 —
Pre-reading
| 1. | Do you find that you sometimes misunderstand what other people say? Is this because you do not always listen properly or because the explanations are not always clear? Explain. |
| During reading | |
| 2. | What do you find out about Miss Collette in this chapter? |
| 3. | Look at the description of Mrs Misengana: “Mrs Misengana’s ample frame shook like jelly …” What does this simile suggest about what happens to her body when she laughs? |
Miss Collette sat at the wooden kitchen table. “I watched the most amazing symphony concert on TV this afternoon,” she said, dreamily twisting a lock of her long, blond hair between her fingers. “I just love that music! It was recorded in the Albert Hall in London.”
Mrs Misengana took off her apron and hung it on the hook behind the kitchen door. The last thing she wanted right now was chitchatting about a British TV programme with her employer.
“I lived in England till I was ten years old,” Miss Collette added.
“Fancy that!” Mrs Misengana wiped her face with a wet terry cloth.
“I didn’t want to come here,” Miss Collette added, “but my parents wanted to be part of the new South Africa with apartheid gone and Nelson Mandela as president and all that.”
“Very nice, dear,” Mrs Misengana was not listening. She picked up her large handbag. “Time for me to go home,” she said briskly. “I’ll be glad to put my feet up.”
“Of course!” Miss Collette looked concerned. “I mustn’t keep you. You must’ve had a tough day cooking in this heat!”
Mrs Misengana’s ample frame shook like jelly as she burst into shrieks of laughter. “They only had peanut butter on bread for lunch and meat paste on rolls for supper. I wasn’t going to stand in front of a hot stove in this weather.”
“Quite right,” Miss Collette grinned. “They’ll appreciate your hot meat stews all the more on the cold winter days.”
“I’m off now, Thabo!” called out Mrs Misengana.
“Bye, Mrs Misengana!” came a chorus of boys’ voices from the garden.
“Those kids!” muttered Mrs Misengana as she went out the kitchen door. “They sound like angels, but some of them will mug you and take your money before you know it.”
“Go on with you!” Miss Collette protested, but she knew Mrs Misengana was right. She and Thabo had coaxed many boys off the streets, but they did not all stay. Many of them had gone back to their old bad habits, and some had disappeared without trace. What had become of them? Had they gone back to their own countries? Or had they been killed by one of the gangs? She often worried about those …
“You look mighty serious!” Thabo had walked in without her noticing him.
“Just thinking,” she smiled. “What did you do today?”
“Nothing much,” Thabo replied. “I watched TV this afternoon. What an amazing performance! Magnificent!”
“Oh! Did you watch it too?” Miss Collette sat up and her clear blue eyes gleamed excitedly. “I’ve never seen such expertise, such finesse! What superb playing!”
Thabo looked at Miss Collette in total surprise. Fancy her liking soccer. He would never have guessed. A sudden thought struck him.
“I’ve got two tickets … best seats … for next Saturday afternoon … Would you like to come with me?” he said awkwardly.
“I’d like that better than anything in the world,” Miss Collette declared happily. “Thanks!”
“Then it’s settled!” Thabo was pleased. “We’ll go and enjoy the performance and grab something to eat afterwards.”
“Great!” Miss Collette felt like hugging him but thought better of it as Tembile appeared at the kitchen door.
“Any bread left over?” he asked hopefully.
“In the bread bin,” laughed Miss Collette. “But go and eat it outside so that Mrs Misengana won’t find any evidence in the morning!”
Post reading
| 1. | How well does Mrs Misengana know the boys? |
| 2. | Suggest possible reasons why she keeps a careful eye on the food in the kitchen. |
| 3. | Miss Collette says, “Oh! Did you watch it too?” What does Thabo think she means? |
| 4. | Do you think that Thabo has asked Miss Collette to go out with him before? Explain. |
| 5. | Tembile comes looking for bread. Do you think he has not been fed today? Explain your answer. |
— Chapter 4 —
Pre-reading
| 1. | Gangsters are often involved in violent crimes. Can you think of some reasons for this? |
| During reading | |
| 2. | Notice the details that contribute to a scary atmosphere in this chapter. How is the suspense achieved? |
The small cellar stank of unwashed bodies, urine and excrement. High up on one wall, where a brick had been removed, a lighted stub of candle threw a faint glow onto the scene below.
There was no window and a short flight of concrete steps led up to a strong wooden door. An old coal stove was burning in one corner and a rickety chair and an old farmhouse table were the only furniture in the room.
Mlibo looked around apprehensively. The afternoon had been full of surprises. Louis had read the address on the note for him and the delivery had gone smoothly.
Then Lynch, Blade and Terro had picked him up, blindfolded him, bundled him into the back of a van and brought him to this place! Apart from telling him to shut up, no one had spoken to Mlibo. He was scared. Very scared!
Lynch grabbed the chair and sat in it with his feet up on the edge of the table. His finger traced the scar that disfigured his dark weather-beaten cheek. He had won it in a fight to death with the previous gang leader.
He tried to give the impression that he was totally relaxed, but Mlibo could see that Lynch was on edge.
“What’s up?” Mlibo asked cautiously.
“Boss wants to meet you,” Lynch muttered.
Mlibo swallowed hard. Was that a good sign or had they found out that he could not read and had asked Louis du Toit to help him with the addresses? Were they going to punish him?
Mlibo broke
