Absent without leave

Zuki’s job is on the line when her baby’s nanny gets sick

- NQOBILE NGCOBO

THE chair was empty, the PC had not been logged on and the documents had not been signed and sent to Mr. Zulu’s office.

“Oh no! Where is she?” Aviwe gasped in panic. “How can she not show up on an important day like this?”

Aviwe grabbed her cellphone to try to rescue her boss from this dire situation, but all she got was Zukile’s voicemail.

“Hi, this is Zukile Bhengu. I cannot take your call right now. Please leave a message and I will get back to you.”

She heard another voice behind her. “Aviwe, please tell all the staff the meeting will begin in 15 minutes. I expect everyone in my office five minutes before.”

Aviwe nodded and tried to call Zuki again. “What am I going to do now? Who will sign these documents and present the business assessment? Oh, Zuki, you are in so much trouble.”

It was 10am. A toy dog sat on floor, a nappy next to the bed, a cellphone on the side table, and a baby slept peacefully on Zuki’s chest. Somewhere in the distance a phone was ringing.

Eventually, the sound woke the baby, who immediately started to cry. Zuki was forced to open her sleepy eyes and deal with him. Then it dawned on her that she’d overslept.

“No, no, no,” she exclaimed, as she gathered the screaming baby in her arms to answer the landline.

“Where are you? I’ve been trying to contact you since 8am!”

“Aviwe, I am so sorry, it was the baby. I can’t even remember what time we eventually got to sleep this morning. Cover for me and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Zuki sat with her crying baby on her lap and cursed her nanny who had called in sick yesterday, leaving her stranded.