“I was joking about the circus troupe,” the woman, Ruth, says. “Sorry about the paint smell. We just had it done yesterday, which is why it’s so cold in here. I’ve had the windows and doors open to get rid of the fumes. There’s a heater over there, so it should warm up quickly enough.” She looks at Zodwa’s bag again. “Is that all you have?”

“Yes.”

“It looks pretty heavy. What did you pack in there? Rocks?”

“Textbooks,” Zodwa replies quickly.

“I’ve always loved books and reading but I never much cared for studying, so good for you! Okay, I’ll leave you to get settled then. I’ll come back a bit later with some bedding and towels and a few other necessities.”

The woman sometimes lapses into speaking to Zodwa in the overly loud and slow way that you’d speak to old people or those who don’t speak your language, using exaggerated gestures for emphasis. Still, she smiles a lot. Zodwa doesn’t know her well enough yet to know if that’s a good or a bad thing.

Without thinking, Zodwa asks what’s been on her mind since she arrived. “Where’s Mandla?”

“Oh, he’s napping and I didn’t want to wake him, which is why I have to dash back.”

The woman walks out the door and down the sandy path in her high-heeled boots. Alone, Zodwa sets her bag down and turns in a circle, taking in her new home. While it has a tin roof like her shack, its walls are built from cement and bricks and there are many windows instead of just one. It’s large and rectangular, almost as big as the Good Times Drinking Establishment. The floor is made of concrete with linoleum tile covering it. Two light fittings hang from the ceilings. In addition to the heater the woman indicated, there’s a wood-burning stove in the corner.

Curtains hang off a cord, separating the bedroom from the rest of the space. When Zodwa pulls the curtain aside, she sees there’s a proper bed and a large wardrobe in the makeshift room. She flicks the switch against the wall and the light comes on overhead. A small kitchen stands off to the side; it’s made up of three cabinets as well as a table with two chairs. There’s a little fridge that looks as though it was made for children and Zodwa goes to open it. It’s completely empty but it’s working. It’s the first one she’s ever had and she wishes she had something to put inside.