Afrika (21 page)

“That's Hendrik and his daughter, Ginger.”

Themba quickly flung his rucksack onto his back. “You need to see them alone.”

“Stay!” she begged. “Don't you want to meet them?”

“No,” Themba firmly shook his head. “This is between the three of you.”

“Are you sure?” she pleaded.

“Yes. I'll call you later.”

She wondered if she should hug Themba like her mother did with her journalist friends. Instead, she waited to see what he would do. He shook her hand folding the fingers one way and then the other – the African handshake. Then he hugged her – a quick one, but a hug, nevertheless.

“I got something for you too,” Kim said as she pulled back. “It's from my mom and me.”

Themba was still holding her hand. He gave her fingers a little squeeze. “Thank you,” he said as he took the plastic bag.

“Don't open it now,” Kim said.

But there was no danger of that. Themba had disappeared. He'd cut behind the street vendors and made his way toward home.

After a moment Hendrik and the young girl approached, but Kim couldn't help looking once more at the spot where Themba had disappeared.

“Kim, this is Ginger,” said Hendrik.

“Hi,” said Kim, finding her voice.

“Hey,” said Ginger, in a pleasant voice, much like her father's. She was a slim girl with a big smile. “Is he your boyfriend?” she asked.

“Ginger,” Hendrik warned. “Be polite.”

“It's okay,” Kim said with a laugh.

“Is he the friend who contacted me?” Hendrik asked.

Kim nodded. “He didn't want to impose on the time we have left.”

They fell silent and started walking toward the Botanical Gardens. Trees formed an arch of green foliage over their heads as they walked down the lane. They could hear frogs croaking in the nearby ponds. In the middle of the gardens was an outdoor tearoom.

They selected a table on the edge of the terrace. Close by, noisy birds fluttered in cages. “When do you leave on the plane?” Ginger asked, after they had ordered their drinks.

It was so warm that Kim fanned herself with the menu. “Tomorrow night,” she said.

“When will you come back?”

Kim thought about it for a second. “I don't know.”

“Where's your ma?” Ginger asked.

Hendrik frowned at all the questions, but Kim answered patiently. “Working late, no doubt. She'll be here soon.” She made herself look at the birdcages behind her. She really wanted to stare at Ginger's skin and hair – compare them to her own – but she knew that would be rude. Themba's words:
The white world of your mom
, rang in her ears.

Hendrik poured out his tea. Beads of condensation formed on the side of Kim's Coke glass. “Ginger, Kim's mother has been covering the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I told you about that.”

Kim was relieved to have a topic to talk about. “This morning Mom sent off her final dispatch,” she said.“
Whites Only signs are gone. Black and white children mix in schools. But the Pandora's Box, which was opened long ago, has put a spell on this country that will take generations to heal. This is Riana van der Merwe reporting from Cape Town, South Africa.”

Hendrik laughed. “I can just hear her.”

“What's a Pandora's Box?” Ginger asked.

“A girl called Pandora opened a box that she wasn't supposed to and all the troubles of the world flew out,” Kim said.

“Your mother is right. There are many challenges ahead of this country,” Hendrik said, stirring sugar into his tea.

“Why?” Kim asked picking up her Coke.“Why is it so hard for people to admit that they're wrong?”

Hendrik shrugged.“Ja. I suppose it's the hardest thing a person can do. To admit that everything upon which their life is built is false.” For a second he didn't look at her. Then he added. “I was wrong, hey. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let other people's definitions matter to me.”

Kim looked into her father's eyes and saw a strange mix of warmth and regret. “Maybe one day I'll understand,” she said.

The odd thing was, she
did
understand. Not everything, but more than she had before.

Riana rushed up to their table, flustered and on edge. As soon as she joined them Kim could see that. Hendrik was also tense, but, after Riana had ordered, he tried to get her to relax.“
Gee ‘n bietjie vir my daai handjie,”
he said giving her hand a little squeeze.

“Ms van der Merwe, will you come back to South Africa soon?” Ginger asked politely.

“Well,” Riana said with a tight smile, “I hope so.” While they waited for the food to arrive, they spoke about the weather and how it had turned warm very quickly.

“We're not related,” Ginger suddenly asked Riana,“are we?”

“No, but you and Kim are.”

When the food arrived Hendrik joked about how, at this very restaurant, a gull had once made off with one of his fries. Riana laughed and Kim was relieved that she was beginning to respond to Hendrik's attempts to lighten things up.

At the end, Riana suggested paying for the meal.“
Nee
, man,” Hendrik responded.“I'll pay.” They made a joke of it. Riana holding the tab tightly between her fingers and Hendrik trying to grab it. Kim watched them as, giggling and whispering in Afrikaans, they both made their way to the cash register inside the tearoom.

After they were alone Ginger pointed to the gift Themba had given Kim.“What's in the parcel?” she asked.

“I don't know.”

“Open it,” said Ginger leaning closer to see.

Kim ripped off the paper. Themba's present was a clothbound notebook with a border of bright diagonal shapes. On the cover was the drawing of a turquoise guinea fowl with a polka dotted body and
a crimson headpiece. Under it, penned in a beautiful script, the word
Afrika.

Ginger gasped in delight. “What's inside?” she asked.

Kim twisted the clasp and opened the notebook. Themba had scribbled something on the inside page. Ginger insisted on reading it out loud: “One day I will visit your country, I promise. Thanks for this friendship. Love, Themba.”

Kim cradled the beautiful notebook in her arms. She saw a pay phone on the corner of the terrace and got to her feet.

“Ginger,” she instructed. “Keep the gulls off my fries.”

Kim crossed to the phone and dialed. She heard Themba's voice. Polite and surprised, he shouted. “HELLO?”

“Themba, you nut, it's me. Does it work?”

“It's cool,” Themba bellowed. “It's awesome, as you would say. How did you talk your ma into leaving it for me?”

“Stop shouting! I reminded her that a South African cell phone won't work in Canada.”

“It's perfect,” he said in a normal voice.“I love it.”

“Thanks for the great notebook,” Kim said, through her blurred vision. She swallowed carefully and added: “And thanks for finding Hendrik.”

“Pleasure,” Themba said. He cleared his throat.

“Something I didn't tell you,” Kim said swallowing back the tears. “You were right. I was disappointed at first. But seeing him, talking to him, clears up so many questions I had about who I am.”

“And the girl?” asked Themba.

Kim watched as Ginger skillfully diverted a seagull from picking up one of her fries. “She's fine. Very cute, actually.” Kim's ear ached from holding the phone so tightly. “Will you really come and visit us in Canada?” she asked. “I know my mom could arrange it. You'll need a passport.”

“I'll need a bearskin coat!” Themba said with a laugh.

Kim noticed Riana and Hendrik were still standing near the cash register talking together. Her mother had one hand on his forearm as if telling him something important.

“Will you call me before you leave tomorrow?” Themba asked.

“Yes,” said Kim. “I won't say good-bye now.” She felt a tear trickle down her cheek.

She hung up, rubbed the tear from her face, and crossed to where Ginger sat. “Thanks for watching my food,” she said.

“My pleasure,” said Ginger. The two girls finished off their fries in silence.
It isn't bad at all, having a half sister
, thought Kim.

Table Mountain was far above them. It was a pearly-gray color – very majestic in the summer light. She recalled the day she and Hendrik made the trip up to the top. She would remember this African mountain for as long as she lived.

Ginger pushed her plate away. “What are they doing?” Riana and her father were still near the cash register, but now they smiled and laughed together.

“She's pretty,” said Ginger.

“He's handsome.”

“He's married,” added Ginger. “He's married to my mother.”

“I figured that out,” said Kim laughing, even though she hadn't thought about it.

Riana and Hendrik finally returned to the table. Riana was pale and her cheeks were streaked with tears. But she was smiling. “Took you long enough,” Kim said.

“We thought you would never finish paying the bill,” added Ginger.

Riana glanced across at Hendrik. She looked more relaxed than she had in months, maybe even years.

The girls rose to their feet and followed Riana and Hendrik out of the tearoom. Suddenly Ginger leaned closer to Kim as if telling her a secret. “Are you angry that I knew the truth about you before you knew the truth about me?” she asked. Her voice
sounded grown up and formal, and Kim liked this about her.

“Knowing the truth matters,” admitted Kim, as they walked into the heat of the garden. “But it's what we do with it that counts.”