“Im off to the gym. See you later.” with that Shingie left the house together with her mum. Her Mum was going to a parents meeting at school. This comes only a week at work after undergoing eye surgery to remove a cataract from her left eye.
Ben was busy with his routine weekend chores. Marking boring essays from an 8th Grade class, thinking about cutting the grass and other chores in the house. Mike was still in bed. Being the youngest child was still taking its toll over him. Mike is a qualified Investment Management and Banking graduate. Of late he slumped into silence to his family. He was in between jobs.
Ben continued working in the quiet house. He decided to make a cup of tea, just to move around the house. The sky soon grew dark and he knew it would soon be raining. Rooibos tea was his favorite. Not that he had much choice at this time of the month. Most groceries were running out in the kitchen, before Ben and his wife shopped at the end of the month. Tea, biscuits, raw peanuts and raisins – what a snack towards the end of the month. He could hear thunder and it started drizzling.
He decided to inform Shingie what to buy from the shops after her gym session. He sent her a whatsapp message with a short list of 4 items. As soon as Ben settled back to the boring marking, his phone rang. He wondered who would call on a Saturday morning. “I can’t find the car keys. I think I lost them but can’t recall where I had them last. ‘ Shingie sounded worried. She explained how she selected a cabbage from a fresh vegetable market. She dropped the cabbage as another shopper bumped her. She suspected the car key slipped off her hand at that point. She searched the cabbage shelf, but could not find the key. She had asked the shop manager to run through the shop security monitors and check if she walked out of the shop holding a key in her hand. This is the last thing a shop manager wants to be asked by a customer to do.
She found the keys where she least expected…
Many thoughts raced through her mind. What if a car jacker picked the key and drove away with their car? The anxious scenarios threatened to overwhelm Shingie, but she forced herself to think rationally. First, she needed to get somewhere safe, away from the hustle and bustle of the market.
“Alright, Shingie,” Ben replied calmly, trying to ease her anxiety. “Just stay where you are. I’ll come over and help you look for the keys. Maybe it’s still at the market.”
Shingie felt a bit better knowing her brother was on his way. She stepped aside, finding a quiet corner in the market, and took a few deep breaths. Meanwhile, Ben quickly grabbed his jacket and headed out the door, determined to help his sister.
As he drove through the looming clouds and light rain, he couldn’t help but feel grateful for the close bond they shared as siblings. They had supported each other through so much, from family struggles to personal challenges. Shingie wasn’t just his sister; she was also his friend.
When Ben arrived at the market, he found Shingie standing by the entrance, looking flustered but relieved to see him. “Did you manage to check with the manager?” he asked, embracing her.
“Yes, he’s checking the monitors now. I don’t know where else to look,” she said, her voice tinged with worry.
They decided to retrace her steps, searching the area where she had dropped the cabbage. As they approached the shelf, something caught Ben’s eye. A glimmer beneath a nearby bench—a small object lay partially hidden in the cracks. He leaned down for a closer look and, to his surprise, found a set of car keys.
“Is this it?” he exclaimed, holding them up triumphantly.
Shingie’s face lit up with relief as she took the keys from him, her previous anxiety melting away. “Yes! That’s it! I can’t believe it was just here all along.”
With a mix of excitement and gratitude, they headed back to the car, forgetting all about the gym and the groceries. As they drove home, Shingie shared a laugh about the chaotic morning, appreciating her brother’s support.
Later that evening, they sat around the dinner table with Mike and their mum, recounting the day’s events. The laughter and camaraderie washed away the remnants of worry, reminding them of the strength they found in family ties.
In that moment, they realized that sometimes, it’s not just about the everyday struggles, but the bonds that hold them together through it all—a reminder that no matter what challenges arise, they would face them as a family. And that was worth celebrating.