Molatlhegi sits down on his chair and his ankles are cuffed to the chair. Warden Maluleke explains to him that he isn't allowed to touch his visitor or attempt to get close to her. She explains that she will be in the room and any infringement of the rule will lead to her intervening and ending the visit. Molatlhegi promises to comply with the rule. He would comply with any rule as long as he gets to see his daughter. Pearl walks in with Keeya walking behind her. Molatlhegi can't keep his eyes off her. His chest enlarged, filled with pride for seeing how beautiful she looks. Keeya looks at Molatlhegi, scanning him head to toe, looking for anything that looks like her in him.
"Welcome everyone. Today is a special day. I can imagine how overwhelming this process feels. We, being myself, the lawyer and the prison warden will be observers. Try to imagine that we are not here. I know its weird, but this is the only way we can have this first appointment" explains Thulani to everyone in the room.
"Hello, Tshegofatso. You are so beautiful" comments Molatlhegi.
"Why do you call me that? That's not my name" replies Keeya.
"Oh... I... didn't..." stutters Molatlhegi.
"My name is Keeya Phiri. What should I call you" asks Keeya.
"I am Molatlhegi Molefe. My name can be difficult because it is so old-fashioned. You can call me Mo. Or not call me anything"
"My parents... grandparents say you killed my mom. Is it true."
"I would never ever kill a person. I loved your mom. She was the love of my life. I desperately wanted her to live. What happened to your mom is a tragedy that I will never forget." Molatlhegi couldn't look at Keeya in the eyes. His whole body communicated shame and pain.
There was an argument that could be heard, happening outside of the room. Warder Maluleke stepped outside to check.
"What is this noise that I am hearing" asks Warden Maluleke
"This man here says he should be in the room with his grandchild" the officer replies
"And who are you sir" asks Warden Maluleke
"I am Ntate Phiri. Inside there is my grandchild and you are allowing her to speak to a murderer! What about her rights?"
"Ntate, no one here is breaking any rules. We deal with criminals, we are not criminals ourselves. You will not be allowed inside there. You can wait here outside or go complain to my superiors. Mara if you keep making a noise, we will arrest you and you can be one of our clients here! Officer, make his sit further away please."
Ntate Phiri is escorted away, despite his protest. Warder Maluleke returns to the room with everyone else.
"Why are you in prison? Who did you kidnap" asks Keeya.
"That is a very long, and complicated story. I don't know if there is enough time to do the story any justice."
"You don't have enough time. This visit will have to end in one minute. Plus someone called Ntate Phiri is here. I don't know for how long we can keep him away before he does something stupid. You must finish this thing" replies Warden Maluleke.
"My grandfather is here? Why? I thought he didn't want anything to do with me if I came to visit. He was so angry with me" comments a shocked Keeya.
"So Ntate Phiri hasn't changed. It was him and his wife who got me into this prison. They say I kidnapped you and the courts agreed. That's the long and short of it."
Warden Maluleke tells them that the time is up. As Keeya is being allowed to leave the room first, Molatlhegi asks her a question.
"So Tshegofatso.... I mean Keeya. Will I see you again?"
Keeya did not respond. She walks out of the room and sees her grandfather. Pearl offers to still take her home, but Ntate Phiri insists that the will take Keeya home. The ride back home was awkward. The longer Keeya stayed silent, the more guilt Ntate Phiri felt. His mind wondered what Keeya thinks about him and his wife after seeing her father. He decides to break the silence.
"Keeya, you must not believe anything he said. People in prison are desperate for pity and will do and say anything to get you to feel for them. And I'm sorry about how your grandmother and I behaved in the last couple of days. We were not good examples to you. But this is scary and new for us. We spent all your life protecting you from him and now that he has reappeared, we feared the most ok. You have to believe me."
Keeya did not respond. She remains quiet, as she sat in the backseat of the car. The ride home remains silent, with multiple thoughts leaving the windows misty and causing the way forward to become unclear.
