A South African based story which delves into the superstitions and beliefs of Africans and how it contrasts with those of the affluent predominanatly white society. Thembile is culturally rooted and due to her rather simple mindedness is shunned by the other domestics in the area as she detests gossip. Thembile loves her job and the clean smell that surrounds her. The author juxtaposesthe ordered cleanliness of the kitchenn with the grimy horror that knows Thembile by name. A remnant of old superstitions intrudes into the modern world and disturbs Thembile's peace.