A slight breeze was catching the thin and gentle spray from the fountain in the middle of the park, wafting it over towards some of the surrounding benches where it fell, like mist, on one of the many homeless men who started their wandering day in Joubert Park. Lindi walked into the cloud of spray and tilted her head so she could feel the contrast between the warming glow from a rising sun and the chill droplets of water.

It reminded her of the Seatons’ old home in Observatory, how she and Ralph would shriek as they ran in and out of the watery arc of the lawn sprinkler. She remembered how Maude used to shout at Kagiso for joining in, telling him she didn’t have an endless supply of clean clothes for him, though her job was to ensure that that was precisely what Ralph and Lindi had at their disposal. Ralph would always end up stark naked but Maude never let her do the same, especially if anyone outside the family was around, and that included Kagiso. ‘Girls don’t do that,’ she used to say.

Lindi looked across at Kagiso, who was watching her. So much for modesty, she thought. There was a café just across the street from the park. Lindi and Kagiso walked towards one of the gates.

‘You are lovebirds. You need something to remind you of this happy day!’

One of the many hawkers came towards them, a camera swinging from his neck. ‘Madam, don’t you want a picture with this handsome man of yours?’

‘And who says he is so handsome?’

‘Well, a pretty lady like you can only have a handsome man,’ he shot back, beaming.

‘Is that what you tell all the girls?’

‘Only when it is true, madam.’

‘Now that’s what I call a sales pitch. Come on,’ Lindi said, turning to Kagiso.

He hesitated.

‘You see, your beautiful lady, she wants a little memento. And me, I need the business. People have been staying away these last few days.’

‘Come on, you’d be doing him a favour,’ she said, prodding Kagiso.

All those rules about not drawing attention to yourself, blending in with the crowd, Kagiso knew he was about to ignore every one of them. It was turning out to be that kind of day.

‘All right. But we are in a hurry. How long will it take?’

‘Just let me take the photo and you’ll have your picture now-now.’

The man positioned them carefully, pulling and pushing their shoulders into place so that you could see enough of the fountain behind them. He shouted at one of the vagrants, telling him to get out of shot. Lindi felt Kagiso’s hand on her waist. Kagiso turned to look at her just as they heard the electronic swipe of the shutter.

‘Okay, follow me and I will organise your picture.’