He said he would come back

Rowena had never been that happy in her entire life except for when she was with her late grandmother ( Themba's mother) who she missed very much especially when things went bad for her. Her memories went back to the days thu she and her grandmother would go to town to buy some groceries. Her grandmother would buy her nice delicacies and dolls. She still had the last doll her grandmother bought for her. She would put it tight to her chest when she was crying. One other day she was given a good hiding for something she did not even do. She and the woman who was looking after her were coming from the bushes to fetch some firewood. She was tired, thirsty and hungry. The woman's children were playing with their friends. They did not even bother to tend the pot of food that was cooking in the kitchen. The food was burning. The woman bear her with a stick from the bunch she fetched from the bushes. Rowena cried bitterly and there was no one to console her. She held her doll so tight to her chest. She rubbed it as she was crying as if she was consoling it. She was so hurt insomuch that she found herself calling for her late grandmother's intervention. She was hurt even more when she remembered that she was no longer alive. She cried herself to sleep. She went to bed very hungry that night.

Now Themba was there to take her away from all she was going through. She felt like her prayers were being answered. She was goit to get a pair of new shoes and a uniform. Most of all she was finally going to meet her other family ( her uncle and aunt ) who were Cynthia' siblings. It was like a new dawn for her. Her life was finally getting better and she was going to have that sense of belonging she was yearning for. Her uncle and aunt were inquisitively waiting for her arrival too. They kept wondering how she looked like. They even bought her gifts to welcome her. They bought everything they thought would fit her size and age as they never met her before. They were just excited and looking forward to meet their niece who was like a prodigal daughter. Their sister Cynthia went away a long time ago and never returned. They heard that she had a daughter whom their mother died before meeting her. They lost hope that they would ever see her. Themba's arrival brought them joy that they would finally meet their niece. Little did they know that they would wait forever.

Rowena was starting to panic as the day was slowly going to the end without Themba's coming back from his friends. "He said he would come back quickly", Rowena said starting to get worried. Her dreams of being in a train for the first time in her life were starting to diminish. She was seeing neighbours coming and going clapping their hands in disbelief. A group of women from the village were standing closely looking at each other while chatting in low voices. It was clear that they were talking about something that was a matter of concern. There were times they would point at Rowena while they were still chatting in their low voices. Rowena could not make out what they were saying but she was sure that what they were talking about had everything to do with her. She was becoming anxious as she thought that maybe she had done something wrong. She became scared and wished Themba would come and took her way from all the troubles. The day went on and still there was no sign of him. It was in the evening when a group of men and women dispersed. They went to their houses.

Rowena was sitting on the stone in front of the hut watching other children playing. She was disappointed and felt betrayed as Themba did not show up as he promised. She could not help but shuddered at the thought that Themba could have gone and left her behind. She was in the verge of breaking into tears when one of the children who were playing come to her and whispered in her ear. " It serves you right, you are not going to Johannesburg, Themba is dead", the girl said and went away to join the others who were playing. Rowena burst into tears and screamed very loud. Her scream made other children to stop playing and look at her. One of the adults who were in the house came and enquired about her crying. She told the woman that Bongi( the girl who whispered to her) told her that Themba is dead. The woman took her inside and sit her down. She tried to explain that Themba was in heaven and he will look over her as a guardian angel. " He said he would come back", that was all Rowena could say out of her aching heart. She did not believe that Themba had left her again, for good this time.

The woman who was looking after her reprimanded her for not listening to the elders when they try to console her. She told her to stop crying and go to play with other children. The other women tried to intervene by telling the woman to be at least lenient towards Rowena especially during her time of bereavement. They even rebuked the child who told Rowena about Themba's death without the permission of the elders. Rowena's keeper was also protective of her child who was rebuked for being forward. She said that her child made it easy for them to explain the matter to Rowena. As if it was going to be difficult for her to break the news to Rowena. Such a spiteful woman who had no mercy for someone else's child. Rowena's dreams ended up in tears. She was back to square one again. Sad time had hit her again.

Apparently Themba's life was cut short by a boy who was a notorious thug in the village. When he went to bid goodbye to his friends he met this boy at her friends's gate. The boy provoked Themba by mocking him and seizing his stuff. When Themba he tried to defend himself the boy draw a knife and swing it around . Then he stabbed him making it as if he was playing. Themba fell and he lost his breath. When the ambulance was called he was already cold. That was the end of Themba's journey to save Rowena.