“You must not let those flies sit on your face,” she said gently in Setswana. “Why not find something to brush them away with?”

The children looked up at her uncomprehendingly. “They do not speak Setswana,” said a voice from inside the office. “They’ve just been brought in and they haven’t said a word.”

“Kalanga?” asked Mma Ramotswe.

Mma Potokwane shook her head. “We assumed that, but apparently not. One of the housemothers speaks a bit of Kalanga and she tried to get them to say something, but she said they did not understand her at all.”

Mma Ramotswe fished a handkerchief out of the pocket of her blouse and passed it to the girl. The child took it gingerly and dabbed at the boy’s eyes, then at her own.

“That’s better,” said Mma Ramotswe encouragingly. “Keep the flies away.”

“I think they both have an eye infection,” said Mma Potokwane. “The nurse is coming to take a look. She’ll give them some eyedrops. It usually clears it up.” She turned to Fanwell. “And here you are, Fanwell. We don’t see very much of you, do we? How is your auntie?”

Mma Potokwane and Fanwell’s aunt had been childhood friends, and Mma Potokwane always asked after her.

“She is very well, Mma,” said Fanwell. “She is getting fatter.”

“That’s good,” said Mma Potokwane. “She always enjoyed her food. I remember that. She was very fat when she was a girl—very fat.”

Mma Potokwane looked at Zebra. “And this dog?” she asked. “What does he want?”

“The same thing that all dogs want,” said Mma Ramotswe. “Somewhere to live. Some people to look after him and give him food.” She hesitated briefly before adding, “And children to play with.”

Mma Potokwane did not respond for a few moments, but then she turned to Mma Ramotswe and shook a finger in admonition. “Are you trying to tell me something, Mma Ramotswe?”

Mma Ramotswe affected nonchalance. “Are we trying to tell Mma Potokwane something, Fanwell?”

Fanwell was more direct. “Yes, Mma. We’re asking her to—”

Mma Ramotswe cut him short. “What Fanwell means is that we were wondering whether one of the housemothers might like a dog to play with the children. He’s a very friendly dog.”

Mma Potokwane looked down at Zebra, who stared back up at her, his tail wagging to and fro.

“He likes you, Mma,” said Fanwell.

One of the children—the boy—now reached forward and patted Zebra on the head. The dog, surprised at first, moved towards him and licked eagerly at the child’s face. He licked around his eyes, making the boy chuckle with joy.

“That’s the first sound he’s made,” said Mma Potokwane. “The first sound since he came here.”

“See,” said Fanwell. “This dog is good at looking after children. He’s cleaning up that boy’s eyes.”

“Inja,” said the child.