An Act of Love

THE heat in the taxi was almost unbearable. It was mid-winter but with all the windows shut and the heater on, the air barely reached the lungs. Squished in between the other passengers, all Luthando could think about was what she was about to do. Not even the skinny woman’s elbow digging into her right side could make her more uncomfortable.

The taxi jolted over a pothole and the little bundle on her lap stirred, then wailed. Luthando’s unpractised hands picked him up and put him on her shoulder but no amount of back patting or shushing sounds would placate him. He screamed even louder. The Elbow glared at her. Luthando tried to reach for the half-empty bottle of milk inside the bag between her legs but couldn’t reach it while still holding the screeching child.

“ Give him to me.”