They are Coming

Chapter 35

137 Chapter 35 In the morning, Sibambene Street is strewn with leaflets, which only add to the sense of confusion and disarray. ‘What do they say?’ Ntando asks Ambition as they jog along the street. They’ve been sent by Freeman to buy a packet of cigarettes and he’s told them to hurry. ‘It’s difficult English.’ Ambition tries to read a leaflet as they run. ‘We’ll ask Freeman when we get back.’ ‘Ah, shame,’ Ntando says, pointing to a house across the street with smashed windows. A woman, the one who recently moved into their line, is fastening a piece of cardboard over one of the broken panes with sellotape, while her son stands by. On this side of the street, they walk past Mbambo’s house, and it’s untouched. ‘Look,’ Ntando points again, ‘3Pac’s windows aren’t broken.’ ‘Maybe he was playing Tupac’s Thug Life when the other windows were being broken.’ ‘And why don’t the thieves break the doorlocks instead of the windows ?’ ‘Go and ask Bra Ngeja,’ Ambition replies. ‘The windows of his house aren’t broken either, but maybe you’ll find cuts on his arms. I saw him carrying a TV down the street last night. He must’ve stolen it.’ ‘And why were you outside in the middle of the night?’ ‘I don’t eat chicken heads like you, mfana! If I did I’d also sleep early.’ ‘But, I still don’t understand…’ ‘Ah… let’s stop talking about it now. I’m tired from running.’ He doesn’t know how to answer Ntando’s questions. He knows, everyone knows, that the windows were broken by Green Bombers, but a kind of loyalty to Senzeni keeps him silent. He just doesn’t feel he can answer all the questions that would follow if he told Ntando, though he 138 can’t understand why he doesn’t know already, his father being a policeman , and his brother being a man with his ear to the ground. ‘Mama sent us a new DVD player and some DVDs from the UK,’ Ntando says, happy to change the subject. ‘Baba says if Bra Ngeja comes and steals it, he’ll beat him up with his truncheon … like this!’ The small boy whips the air with a fist. ‘Good for you.’ Ambition puts his hand on Ntando’s shoulder to slow him down. ‘Maybe Never-Say-Never will copy new dance moves from the movies – that style of dancing with a bottle on his head is old now. Tell me, how did a grown-up learn to do that? Even I can’t do it.’ ‘Maybe you can’t dance because your father can’t dance. Baba says it’s because he’s poor.’ ‘He said what? That’s an insult!’ Realising he’s upset his friend, Ntando backtracks, ‘Well, he said it last night when he came back from work, but he also said that your father is a good man, a good cobbler, and he likes him.’ ‘And your father is also a good man … although he’s a ZANU-PF policeman .’ ‘But he’s never brought a gun home, and I want to hold a gun to see what it’s like.’ ‘Don’t be stupid, you know a gun can explode and kill you.’ ‘Don’t worry, Ambi. You’re my friend, and if my father brings one home I’ll call you to come and touch it too.’ The two boys walk past Lotshe Street, and turn into Zobohla, when they see Nobuhle walking their way. ‘Where are you two off to so early?’ Nobuhle looks tired, as if she’s already walked a long way. ‘Where did you get that sugar from?’ Ntando asks. ‘Black market! But only after walking around the whole township.’ ‘What’s a black market, my Dictionary?’ Ntando looks at Ambition. ‘A place that’s not a white market!’ Ambition doesn’t have a clue, but he thinks this answer makes sense. Nobuhle smiles. ‘Silly you! Is that what they teach you in your class? And what position did you come out in class last term?’ ‘He was number one!’ Ntando interjects before Ambition can reply, his eyes twinkling. ‘Really? Well done.’ Nobuhle smiles, ‘And last year in Grade Four you also came first, didn’t you?’ 139 Ambition, embarrassed, is drawing circles on the ground with his toe...