After she had spoken, she glanced at Mma Makutsi, who raised an eyebrow. Mma Makutsi understood that there was an impulsive side to her employer, just as there sometimes was to Mr J.L.B. Matekoni. Both of them could act in that way when they were being kind, and then find that there were reproaches from the other. There were two fine examples of this that Mma Makutsi knew about. Mma Ramotswe had acted in exactly that way when she had promoted her to Assistant Detective. Mma Makutsi knew that this had been done in times of financial difficulty when sound economic sense should have dictated precisely the opposite course of action. But Mma Ramotswe had been unable to disappoint her and had gone ahead and done what her heart dictated. And then Mr J.L.B. Matekoni had done just the same thing, had he not, when he had adopted the two children from the orphan farm? Everybody knew that Mma Potokwane pushed Mr J.L.B. Matekoni around and must have browbeaten or tricked him into that decision, but the wily matron knew exactly how to play on his good nature. So this decision was nothing unusual, although Mma Ramotswe would at some point have to own up to Mr J.L.B. Matekoni that she had given this assurance.

“Well, Rra?” asked Mma Ramotswe. “Would you like this job?”

Mr Polopetsi nodded his head. “My heart is too full to speak,” he said. “My heart is too full, Mma. You are a very kind lady. God was watching when he made you knock me over. That was God’s act.”

“That is kind of you,” said Mma Ramotswe in a businesslike tone. “But I think it was something altogether different. Now I think that we should go through there to speak to Mr J.L.B. Matekoni so that he can start you off.”

Mr Polopetsi stood up. “I am very happy,” he said. “But I know nothing about cars. I hope that I can do this job.”

“For years we have had two young men working here who know nothing about cars,” interjected Mma Makutsi. “That did not stop them. So it should not stop you, Rra.”

“That is true,” said Mma Ramotswe. “But let us talk about that later.” She paused before adding, “There is one thing, Rra.”

Mr Polopetsi hesitated. “Yes?”

“You have this job now,” said Mma Ramotswe, “so you can tell us about what happened to you. Tell us at lunchtime today, right from the beginning, so that we know all about it and will not have to wonder what happened. Tell us so that we no longer have to think about it.”

“I can do that,” said Mr Polopetsi. “I can tell you everything.”

“Good,” said Mma Ramotswe. “Now you can start work. There is a lot to do. We are very busy these days and we are very pleased to have another man …”