The children were lined up at the feet of their beds. On their knees. It was a nightly pre-sleep ritual that Vusi was still getting used to. He had never prayed before. It was not that he was a non-believer, he had simply never been told about the Christian God. When his mother was still alive she had told him stories of the Creator, Unkulunkulu, but she had told him that He was above interacting with people on a day-to-day basis. Common requests were to be directed to the Amadhlozi, or Ancestor spirits. But they were capricious and should really only be approached through a Sangoma or witchdoctor.
This Christian God was different. Sister Manon had told Vusi that he could be approached at any time. And you could ask him for anything. Obviously, as with all things in life, there did seem to be rules, although they were implied rather than explicit. One shouldn’t be selfish and one should always give thanks for all. Simple rules that Vusi had not found at all onerous.
And so he knelt at the end of his bed and prayed.
‘Dear God. Hello. It’s Vusi here. I used to live in Alex but now I live here. But it’s the same Vusi. My sister Thandi is also here. Thanks for us being here. It is very warm and safe and there is lots of food. I don’t need my yellow screwdriver any more. That is nice. Thank you for Thandi’s new dress. And for the colored crayons that we draw with. Especially the green one. I like it a lot.’
Vusi paused for a while, thinking. After a short time he figured that he had got the thanking done so he could now get down to the meat of his actual request.
‘Dear God. It’s still me, Vusi here. Please, God. Take care of Isosha. Watch over him and make sure that the bad ones don’t kill him. Thanks. Oh yes, can you also make us peas for dinner tomorrow. I like peas. Thank you, God. This is Vusi saying goodbye.’