Chapter 6 - Chapter 5

# Chapter 5
VUSI, AGE 10

The door to the caravan creaked open, and Ma stepped inside, bringing the cold wind with her. Winter was fast approaching. "Vusi, baby, Ma has a surprise for you."

I looked up from the tattered maths book in front of me, and my eyes widened at the sight of the furry little kitten in her hands, which squirmed in her tight grip.

"Aren't you going to say hi?"

My heart swelled with something foreign as I jumped up from my chair and rushed over. Ma never did anything nice for me. I didn't know how to handle this situation.

She thrust the cat at me, as though it disgusted her. "Thatha. Take it."

I gingerly picked it out of her hands and cradled it to my chest, the rumble in my stomach long forgotten. I hadn't eaten a thing in two days because Ma was angry that my teacher, Mr. Jonas, had reported his concerns about my well-being to the Department of Social Development. The referral went nowhere. She'd kept me out of school as punishment.

"Aren't you going to name him?" Ma walked past me in a cloud of alcohol and cheap perfume.

With my nose buried deep in the kitten's fur, I watched Ma pull open a drawer. She turned, looking at me expectantly, and I raked my brain for an answer.

"Whiskers."

Her eyes rolled. "Hawu. How original." She went back to digging through the kitchen drawers as I took a seat at the table with the kitten, stroking my fingers through its matted, mud-streaked fur.

"Where did you find it?" I asked, eyes burning with tears.