Summary

“We gotta number there” by Rayda Jacobs tells the story of  Richard Cook, who is a wealthy white man living in South Africa. One day, he returns home to find a black South African man waiting for him in the garden, together with his wife and daughter. At first, Richard is angry because the family is trespassing, but his wife Jennifer advises him to listen to what they have to say.

The man, Jonas Mbulu, tells Richard that he wants to apply for a gardener position, as he has found out that the Cooks have recently fired their former gardener. Richard, who had problems with the last gardener, demands references. Jonas’s papers show he used to work for an American businessman. The Cooks decide that both Jonas and his wife, Lucky, can start working for them the next day.

After some time, Richard offers Jonas a job at his antiques shop, which pays twice as much money as Jonas makes as a gardener. Jonas is pleased by the offer and accepts, but he also insists on tending to the Cooks’ garden in his free time. When Richard also offers to give the Mbulus a room in the yard, the Mbu...