No Turning Back by Beverley Naidoo

need to get up until later. They had probably only gone to sleep after the Saturday late-night crowds had gone home. Swinging himself over, he dropped down quietly and sat in one corner. The cold rose through the concrete floor. With tall buildings all around, the early-morning sun didn’t reach the yard. Time seemed to pass slowly. If only Jabu had been lying on the outside of the pile of malunde, Sipho might have tried waking him without disturbing the others. But Jabu was tucked right in the middle of everyone.
    The sun was high when the gang woke up. No one seemed particularly surprised to see Sipho sitting there. Even Jabu was still half asleep at first and just nodded his greeting between yawns.
    “Did your new boss give you the sack?” Joseph wanted to know.
    When Sipho explained he had come just for the day, Joseph lost interest. A little later as they were walking to the main street, Lucas asked Sipho about Mr. Danny. Was there any place fora pozzie at the back of his shop and was he friendly? Sipho explained that the yard at Danny’s Den was completely closed in. And although Mr. Danny had taken him in to work for him, he didn’t like malunde hanging around in front of his shop.
    The gang spread themselves out between a restaurant, a cafe, and a take-out shop. Sipho stood with them, putting out his hands when a customer walked by. Not having eaten since the night before, he was also hungry. But when Vusi asked him if he ate roast meat every day with Mr. Danny, although he said “no,” he suddenly felt guilty. When he went back to Mr. Danny’s home, there would be a meal waiting for him—as much as he wanted to eat. What surprised the others, however, was that Sipho didn’t have any money with him.
    “You must be hiding it, man! How can you work for that white man and he doesn’t pay you?” Joseph was disbelieving and his hoarse voice cut into Sipho.
    “He gives me food and clothes. It’s only money he doesn’t give. But I think he’ll give it to me at the end of the month,” explained Sipho.
    “Hey, that’s funny. You didn’t ask? What kind of boss is it who doesn’t give money?” Joseph shook his head and made a face. He seemed to be suggesting that Sipho was either a liar or stupid.
    “]a, you must ask your boss,” Vusi added casually. “Everyone has to pay.”
    Sipho didn’t like the way Vusi was looking at him, and he was grateful that Lucas was nearby.
    Later on, the gang decided to go to Parktown. They would spend the rest of the afternoon at the Zoo Lake and “ask money” from people having an afternoon out. There might even be a chance to slip into the zoo itself. Sipho wanted to go too, but it was in the other direction from Mr. Danny’s house and he was worried that he would not be back in time.
    “When you are malunde, you are free!” Joseph laughed openly.
    It was tempting to go along with them. Sipho had never been to a zoo before. Would it matter so much if he was a bit late? But before he could say anything, Jabu announced that he was staying behind in Hillbrow. There was a film he wanted to see at the bhiyo. He was friendly with the person on the door for the afternoon show, and if it wasn’t full up she would sneak Jabu and Sipho in.
    The film had lots of shooting and fast cars chasing each other. Jabu’s friend, the attendant, had whispered to them to go to the very front row. They were so close to the screen it was almost like they were in the action themselves. Sipho and Jabugripped their seats as their car hurtled full-speed around the sharp bends of a narrow mountain road. Each time it nearly went over the edge, they gritted their teeth. Finally, when the car chasing them crashed and burst into flames, they cheered with others in the audience.
    When it was all over, they walked out arm in arm into the street. Sipho could tell from the pink light that it was nearly time for him to go. But he held back. He was enjoying himself here in Hillbrow.
    “It’s true