Grade 8, PUSH
Once there was an old woman who lived next to a river; her name was Margret. Margret once lived with her husband Petros and her grandchild Keketso. Margret’s husband died five months back, and now Margret has stress about how is she going to feed her granddaughter. Margret lived in a small township which is called Kliptown. She lived near the river; it was the only house at that place, but the people in the township don’t want to live near it, because one day it might rain hard and their shacks would flow with the river.
Keketso was fifteen years old, and lived with her grandmother. Keketsos’s mother died when she was two years old. Before she died, she said to her mother Margret, “Mom, please look after my daughter as I go now, and remember I will be watching you and her every day of your lives.” Margret replied, heartbroken, and said, “I will take care of your daughter, my child.” Margret had lost many of her loved ones, but she was trying to be strong for her Keketso.
One beautiful Monday morning Keketso wakes her granny up like usual. Keketso is trying her best to take care of her grandmother because she is the only one she’s left with in the family. Keketso calls her grandmother mom and granny calls Keketso Keke.
“Granny, wake up, your breakfast is ready and your water to bath I ready.” Keke always does this in the morning for her beloved granny. Granny wakes up and eats, then baths. “Mom, I always wanted to ask you this question…” “Ask, my child,” says granny.
“Mom, why do you live next to the river?” “My child, I don’t stay next to the river because I want to. It is because a long time ago, the government built flats. They said to the community come with your identity cards and everything important to register for houses. As a community we went there and got the flats. I lived there; it was very nice and peaceful; me and your grandfather lived there and it was big enough. We had everything, lights, water, everything you can imagine. Then one day, the government came and said from now on you are paying rent which is R2000 a month, but because we couldn’t afford it, they kicked us out like dogs. We went to the community centre and to the police, but they both said there’s nothing they can do. From the police station, they said we should go to the community centre and we slept there for a night. We didn’t sleep peaceful and comfortable. In the morning, they told us they have sorted our problem. We were happy that finally they did something. They took us to a small township called Kliptown. There were a lot of shacks there, but there was one small shack next to a river that looked like a toilet, but then then they told us we would live there. We were so devastated, but me and your grandfather made a plan and extended and decorated the place. That’s how we got here, my child, but I am working hard for you to get a better life. I am saving my money for you and me because I want to buy you a surprise.”
“What’s that, Granny?” Keke asks.
“If I tell you, it wouldn’t be a surprise,” says Granny. “My child I’ll see you later, you know I work five jobs and I will be late. Goodbye, and have the greatest day.”
Granny gives Keke warm kisses before she leaves. Keketso goes to school. Meanwhile Granny is working hard as she can, she works five cleaning jobs, she works at a market, a mall and two houses. When Margret gets paid, she just puts her money in her saving account. She does not want to use the money. She wants to give her granddaughter a better life, as she will also leave this world soon because she is very ill. But when she checks her money as soon as she gets paid, she sees it will be affordable to buy a house. Margret takes her phone and calls Keketso. “Good evening Granny, is everything fine?” “Yes, my child, you remember that surprise I was talking about?” Granny says.
“Yes, Granny.”
“Come here at Home Affairs, my child,” Granny says.
“I am coming now, Gogo.”
Keketso was by Home Affairs as soon as possible.
Receptionist: Afternoon Granny, can I help you?
Margret: Yes, I am here to buy a double-storey.
Keketso: Granny, you can’t buy a house here.
Margret: I made a mistake. I already bought the double- storey. I just came to ask if these house papers are fine.
Receptionist: Yes, Granny.
Gogo and Keketso are jumping happily because they bought the house. Granny says, “Keketso, this is your house, my child, treat it with love and kindness even if I am gone.”
Gogo and Keketso lived happily ever after in their beautiful home.