Characters

The short story “We gotta number there” by Rayda Jacobs follows the relationship between Richard and Jennifer Cook, the rich white couple, and Jonas and Lucky Mbulu, their poor black South African employees.

Richard Cook is a rich white man living in South Africa. He owns an antiques shop, a large house, and a car. His wife, Jennifer, works in a real estate office. Richard's first meeting with Jonas Mbulu, a poor black South African man looking for a job, makes readers expect a conflict between the two. However, the two men end up understanding each other’s needs and develop a respectful relationship. At the same time, the relationship is never one of equals. Jonas’s attitude towards Richard remains an overly polite one, and Richard does not seem to encourage him to change.

Shona Mbulu (Jonas’s daughter) is also mentioned in the story, as well as Muriel, the Mbulus’ resentful neighbor. The collective character of the villagers is also present in the story. They play an important part in highlighting racial tensions in post-apartheid South Africa.

You can find the characterizations of the Cooks and the Mbulus in the following pages.