favorite nonalcoholic drink—Kola tonic, lime juice, ginger beer, bitters, and ice.
While Kubu made a pitcher of the drink, Joy and Amantle worked in the kitchen, slicing cucumbers, washing lettuce, halving radishes, and making a fruit salad.
“Nono is a sweet little girl,” said Amantle. “It is a pity about the AIDS. It is so sad.”
Joy paused. “She doesn’t have AIDS, my mother. She’s HIV positive. She’s had the virus from birth. But she’s perfectly healthy right now. As healthy as you and me.” She went back to her vegetables.
Amantle continued. “And you must be worried about Tumi. You know how children are. Touching and kissing. I am very worried about her. She could pick it up, too.” She finished washing the lettuce. “Do you want to keep Nono?”
“She’s just with us for a few weeks. Till we can find her a permanent home,” Joy said firmly. “Have you finished the lettuce?”
“I think you want to keep her. I do not mind—everybody needs a family, but you must fix the AIDS problem.”
“Fix it? What do you mean?”
“When Kubu told me about it on the phone, I spoke to Wilmon. He knows about these matters. He makes good medicines from his herbs, but not for this. First, we must all pray.” She hesitated. “And then Wilmon knows someone who handles such things. A very wise woman. She only deals with good spells and medicines. She can fix the AIDS. But Kubu will have to pay. You will need to arrange it with him.”
All Joy’s training and education kicked in. Nothing cured HIV. Antiretrovirals only held it at bay—if you could get them. She shook her head.
“Joy? Are you listening to me?”
“A witch doctor? It’s not possible. You can’t fix AIDS. HIV is a virus. You can’t wish it away.”
“This woman can. You know Funile, who lives by the school? She tested positive. She took the special medicine, and we all prayed. And the next test was negative!”
Joy muttered about false positives, then finished the salad in silence. Amantle let the matter drop. But just for the moment.
WHEN THE PREPARATIONS WERE complete, they all sat down around the small dining room table. After Kubu poured the steelworks, they joined hands, and Wilmon said grace. Then they all tucked in.
As they ate, Kubu watched the two girls. Tumi picked out the food she liked best, while Nono, as usual, ate everything she was given. She’s never had enough to eat before, Kubu thought. That should never happen in a country as rich as Botswana.
When the meal was over, Kubu turned to his mother. “Do you recall the Khama family here? There was a girl called Samantha. She’s in the CID now. She works with us.”
Amantle thought for a moment. “Yes, it is a good family. I remember Samantha. She was a pretty girl. Is she married now?”
Kubu realized that he didn’t know the answer to this most important of questions, so he just shook his head. Amantle continued, “Well, I am not surprised she cannot find a man if she joined the police. It is not a proper job for a girl. She should already have several children.” She paused. “It is interesting that you should mention her. I was thinking about her last week.”
“Why was that, Mother?”
“I saw Dikeledi Betse at the café. She is the sister of Lesego Betse. You know, the girl who disappeared last Christmas?” She looked at the two children, who were staring at her wide-eyed. “Never mind. She reminded me of another girl who disappeared in Mochudi—Segametsi Mogomotsi. You remember her, of course. It is nearly twenty years since she disappeared. The police never solved that case, either. Samantha and Segametsi were very good friends.”
Kubu said nothing. This explained a lot about Samantha’s behavior.
It was Joy who responded. “The case was never solved because the police didn’t care enough about it. Probably they were told not to. It’s all part of the corruption in Botswana. The people who run this country are only interested in their own positions. I’m tired of it.”
Amantle and Wilmon stared at her. They were not used to Joy straying outside her social role. She was usually the oil that made the family functions harmonious.
Wilmon said, “My child. You were not even alive when Botswana became independent. And you did not live through the period before independence. We had very little. We were poor. But today the country has cities and factories and employment. We can be proud.” He nodded and leaned back in his