The Green Briefcase

Mikey’s mysterious briefcase contains a valuable secret for his sister’s future

- Nqobile Ng Cobo

MY BROTHER and I have been living alone in this four-bedroom house for three years now. Ever since my aunt passed on, he’s been the head of the house. And I’ve played the part of the little sister.

As the man in charge, he’s been responsible for taking care of all the household finances. My brother is jobless but somehow he’s managed to keep our home lit on those dark winter nights. Our taps have never run dry. And our tummies have always gone to bed with something inside them. I’ve never asked him where he gets the money from – I wouldn’t dare.

“Good morning, Mikey,” I greet him as I make my way to the kitchen. “Would you like a cup of coffee?” I keep a bright smile on my face as I try to gauge what mood he’s in.

“No,” he replies sharply before getting up and leaving the table.

“You should have said, ‘No thank you’, Mikey. Didn’t they teach you any manners at school?”

He doesn’t find that funny, and asusual he disappears behind the door of his bedroom.

Sometimes it’s hard to understand my brother. I don’t think anyone really knows him, not even me, his sister.

Sometimes we sit together in the evenings watching television. I chat and laugh about the programmes, but it feels like I’m watching alone.

His eyes glaze over and wander off into the distance. I feel like he’s a stranger – my own brother. I don’t know anything about him – only his blue diary knows what kind of a man he is.

All I know is that every time I go to school, he visits his secret friend and returns at 6 pm. And, he never leaves home without his green briefcase.

IT’S Friday afternoon and my friends and I are discussing our upcoming matric finals.

“I’m so stressed out,” Nomusa admits. “My mother will literally kill me if I fail.”