His suspicions grew when, the day after the Mthimkhulus arrived, a big-screen television set was delivered from Bradlows. The set was soon rumoured not only to be fully paid for, but a colour TV into the bargain. Philemon, who had long held the honour of being the only one in their neighbourhood who owned a television set – a second-hand, battery-operated, black-and-white Sony Micro Television received from Madam – was very doubtful that a television with such a big screen could exist, and, if it did exist, that it could belong to a black person; and so, like Thomas, he had decided to see the television for himself.

When Philemon arrived at the Mthimkhulus’ house for the New Year’s Day celebrations, it was as he had hoped and feared. The furniture was plentiful, but there was too much for the size of the house, and, therefore, it looked crushed, crammed and crowded. In addition, it was gaudy and ostentatious without a hint of the real glamour and style that had seen Madam (who had natural good taste) and her home and garden featured in several magazines. Having been exposed to the genuine article almost every day of his adult life, Philemon knew that the Mthimkhulus were a cheap imitation of the real thing. Sitshengisiwe was unfortunately taken in by it all, and ooohhed and aaahhed at everything Bodecia showed her. He could not fault his wife entirely; her tastes had been shaped by the Cosmos Nyathis and Silas Mthimkhulus of the world – people who sold second-grade goods solely intended for the African consumer.

The television set was indeed huge, but although technically a colour TV, it could only show images in black and white because the country had not been able to upgrade its infrastructure during the war. Philemon was sufficiently appeased by the lack of colour that, during the party, he joined the men congregated around the TV in order to watch Highlanders play Dynamos. Every minute or two someone would exclaim that it was as if they were actually there at Barbourfields Stadium watching the soccer match; that was how clear the picture quality was. Philemon was not sure if his fellow watchers were taking aim at him through their compliments until someone joked about how they had had to squint when watching the games on Philemon’s minuscule set. Most laughed, forgetting how grateful they had been, not so long ago, just to have a television in their vicinity.