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6
6THE NEXT EARLY MORNING
Boipelo wakes up 10 minutes early before her alarm rings even though she went to sleep just 4 hours ago. Her arm is still very swollen and painful, but nothing worries her more than her daughter who’s still not home by now. Itumeleng had never been a person to go missing or even spend the night out, on the nights she did spend the night out, she’d always a call and let her mother know. This behavior was totally unlike. She goes into the kitchen only to find Reitu sitting on chair and sipping on coffee that seems to have gone cold. She looks like she barely got any sleep.
Boipelo: what are you doing up already?
Reitu: I can’t sleep Ma.
Boipelo: me too. Something just doesn’t feel right.to make matters worse I had a nightmare and there’s this unrest I’m feeling on my chest like something happened to your sister.
Reitu: I’m also consumed by fear. I tried calling ausi Lesego, but she doesn’t pick up. I sent her countless messages, and she left me on read. I don’t know what to do anymore.
Boipelo: I can’t take this anymore. I’ve waited enough. I am going to the police station.
Reitu: me too.
Boipelo: no, you stay here and wait for her and notify me as soon as she steps in through that door.
Reitu: but Ma...
Boipelo: but nothing--- shift I have to get ready. Get my phone and dial work, I need the day off.
Reitu: on it.
Reitu puts the cup down and follows instructions as ordered. Boipelo makes the call to work, and it doesn’t take long until she’s granted the day off. She disappears from the kitchen as the kettle comes to a boil preparing her bath water.
45 MINUTES LATER
THE POLICE STATION
Officer: Ma, I need you to get back, you’re holding the line. As I’ve told you, there’s nothing we can do for your daughter. It hasn’t been 48 hours since she went missing. As you can see all these people behind you are in desperate ned of help just as you.
Boipelo: I hear you, but I know something is wrong. This is my daughter we’re talking about. Itumeleng never spent a day away from home. This is unusual of her. Please officer, huh? Hear me out. Something is definitely wrong.
Officer: did you try calling her or tracking her phone? How does a 28-year-old woman even go missing?
Boipelo: she left her phone behind.
Officer: Mama, I think it’s time you start spending quality time with your kids and get to know them better. I’ve seen cases like this, and whenever this happens, the supposed missing person always comes back home all happy and fine.
Boipelo: Ms. Officer do you have kids?
Officer: I don’t get why that is a question?
Boipelo: I am asking if you have kids because if you did, this would not be happening right now. No mother would sit back and let another mother suffer. We all feel the same pian and we all feel when something is not right with out kids. I am telling you right now that something is wrong, and you don’t seem to even have the slightest will to help me. You’re too engrossed on helping other people like my problem is not even worth your time! Is this what the government pays you to do?! Is this how you’re supposed to treat civilians?!! Do you call this service doing work!!
Officer: then what do you want me to do?! Get busy and start investigating based on your gut feeling and your motherly instincts?! I ma sorry that is not how things work her!! If you don’t have anything more to say, please step aside!!
One of the detectives comes in between and tries to stop the fight. He takes Boipelo aside and talk to her in private.
Det.: ma’am, I am so sorry for that. Officer Nzima must be having a bad day. Her behavior was totally uncalled for, especially towards an elder. I heard your story, and unfortunately as she said, there’s nothing we can do for you at the moment. Technically, your daughter is not considered to be a missing person until 48 hrs later. Seeing how you’re here even though it hasn’t been 48 hrs, there must be something going on. So, when last did you see your daughter?
Boipelo: yesterday, around the afternoon to evening. She left home in a very alarming state. She was not herself; she was drunk and from what I could see she was going out to get more. We had a little fight and that was the last I saw of her.
Det.: what do you mean by fight?
Boipelo: I --- I tried to get her to talk why she was mad, but she refuted and pushed me to the floor and that’s how I hurt my arm.
Det.: was she already intoxicated by then?
Boipelo: yes… she had drank wine while locking herself in her room.
Det.: so, you’re saying you never laid a hand on her. She’s the one who hurt you and ran away.
Boipelo: yes, officer?
Det.: this is so hard to piece together. Something doesn’t add up at all. Ma’am mind if I ask what a normal day looks like for your daughter? You said she’s not someone who’d go off the radar just like that? What kind of job does she do? What’s her daily routine?
Boipelo: Itumeleng spends most of her days at work. She goes in as early as 9 am in the morning and comes back home around 7 pm and sometimes later than that. At first I did not understand why she spent so much time at church but after learning her position at Holy Grail Ministries and all the work she has to do, I started to understand her.
Det.: Ma, did you just say Holy Grail?
Boipelo: yes, officer… is there a problem?
Det.: was your daughter working as a secretary there and managing some records too?
Boipelo: yes, how did you know that?
Det.: I ned you to give me your contact information now, you might be in danger!
Boipelo: what?! Why? What danger?
Det.: this is my business card, call me anytime you need help. I have to run somewhere really quick. Remember, call me whenever something happens, or you see something out of the ordinary.
Boipelo: detective!! Officer!! Officer!!
The man disappears out of sight rushing as if he finally got a breakthrough. Boipelo is left dumbfounded and disappointed she didn’t get any help. There hasn’t been any call from Reitu too. She takes the business card and walks out of the police station sighing heavily and wondering just where to from here? Where to start looking?
2 DAYS LATER
THE MALEKA HOUSEHOLD
A dark cloud hangs over the Maleka household as news of Itumeleng’s passing were announced just a day ago. There are no words to explain the pain and sadness Mme Boipelo feels as she sits on the mattress covered in dark clothing. That one afternoon when the police came to announce the news, she spent the rest of the evening at a hospital. She hasn’t eaten or moved an inch in two days. She has even run out of tears as all the preparations for the burial are on her shoulders.
Reitu approaches her with a glass of sugar water.
Reitu: Mama, please drink some of this please. Itu would not like to see you like this. I know you’re hurting and so am i. We need to be strong for each other. We only have each other from now on. Seeing you like this hurts me as much as it hurts you. You are not the only one who feels pain, you’re not the only one who lost, I also did. Please share our pain with me. We cannot continue like this any longer.
Boipelo: I can’t--- i---
Boipelo loses her composure and breaks into tears, this time only her dry and hoarse voice is heard--- no tears falling. Lesego’ s mother shifts from her seat to go and comfort as other women do the same too. Reitu leaves the room with tears streaming down. She goes into Itumeleng’s room and locks herself inside. There only she can cry in silence, and no one can see her.
THE HOLY GRAIL MINISTRIES
The youth cheers loudly as loud applause consumes the hall. After spending so much time preparing for the revival showcase, they finally performed, and their performance was loved dearly by the church. Lesego look at the bishop who winks at her as they step down the main stage going to change back into formal attire. She has never felt so loved and important in her life. Being the main character of something of that important did feel great for a change.
THE CHANGING ROOM
Lesego: you guys did great out there. I am so proud of you.
Cindy: it was all because of you. You managed us well and gave us great advice. You really were made for this position.
Palesa: Cindy is right. I wouldn’t have made it back to the team if it was not for you. I cannot thank you enough really.
Cindy: yeah, but did you guys hear the tragic news of Itumeleng’s sudden passing?
Lesego: is that something tragic? I heard she committed suicide because I replaced her.
Palesa: well, I cannot put that past her. But have any of you guys at least visited her house? You know—for offering condolences and stuff?
Lesego: why would we bother when no one’s even moved by her death. It’s like no one knows, even the bishop, he hasn’t said a word about it. I don’t think anyone cares and I’d like to keep things that way.
Cindy: well, it’s not like I was close with her. The lady hated my guts.
Palesa: me too. I know its bad omen to speak ill of the dead but--- she deserves it after kicking me off the team.
Lesego: you guys are so bad.
The girls laugh it off and leave the changing room. The team atmosphere ahs really been different ever since Lesego’ s reign. No one seemed to care about Itu’s death, and no one seemed bothered by it. People moved on as if they never knew her or she never existed. Maybe this was the spell that came with her untimely and unnatural death.
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