It was a cold and rainy morning. Mama was dressed in her warm coat and scarf. “Thoko,” said Mama, “I’m going into Cape Town for a job interview. I’ll be back in time for supper.”

Gogo and Thoko watched through the window as Mama walked into the rain. Poor Mama! Gogo said, “Brrr, it’s too cold to stand here, I’m going back to bed for a little while.”

Thoko poured her favourite cereal into a bowl, added some milk and gave it a stir. And that’s when she got her brilliant idea. So, when she had finished eating she filled a pot with water, and then looked in the fridge to see what she could add to it. Ah, last night’s leftovers of pap and gravy! Thoko plopped the leftovers into the pot and gave it a stir until the pap broke up and the gravy turned the water brown. Then she stood on a chair to peek into the food cupboard.

“What are you doing?” asked Gogo, coming into the kitchen. She was still wearing her fluffy pink dressing gown.

“Making soup for Mama to have when she comes home cold and hungry,” said Thoko.

“What a lovely idea,” said Gogo. “Let me help you.”

Gogo looked into the pot. “What’s this?” she asked.

“Leftovers,” said Thoko.

“That’s a good way to start soup,” said Gogo, “but we need something else.”

“I know,” said Thoko. “Peaches! Mama likes peaches.”

“You don’t put peaches into soup, Thoko,” said Gogo. “What we need is a carrot.”

Gogo peeled and chopped a carrot. Then she added it to the pot and put it on the stove to boil. Next Gogo added a handful of split peas. Thoko went to the cupboard and came back with a packet of ginger biscuits.

“Mama’s mad about these,” said Thoko. “They will make the soup taste very nice.”

Gogo laughed. “Oh, Thoko, nobody puts biscuits into soup. What we need is a can of tomatoes, an onion, a spoonful of vegetable stock and a pinch of salt.”

Gogo opened a can of tomatoes and let Thoko add it to the soup. Then she threw in the vegetable stock and started to chop up an onion.

Soon, tears pooled up in Gogo’s eyes. “Eish!” sighed Gogo. “Chopping onions makes me cry, and crying makes my nose run. Please stir the soup gently while I go and blow my nose.”

Thoko stirred and watched all the soupy things that Gogo had added go around and around. The only thing she had added were the leftovers. It wasn’t fair! This was meant to be Thoko’s special soup for Mama − not Gogo’s!

So while Gogo was away, Thoko went to the cupboard and found something special that she knew Mama absolutely loved. Quickly, she added it to the soup and stirred it in. When Gogo returned she said, “Mmmm, now it’s smelling like special soup!”

Thoko and Gogo let the soup simmer for quite a while. Then Gogo turned off the heat and said, “Now it’s ready to warm up just before Mama comes home. Come, Thoko, I’ll read you a story while we wait for Mama.”

While Gogo read, Thoko fell asleep. And the next thing she heard was the front door opening and Mama calling, “I’m home!”

Mama looked cold and tired, but she had some good news. She had got the job!

“I’m starving!” said Mama, taking off her coat. “What’s that lovely smell?”

“Thoko’s made some soup for you,” said Gogo.

“Thank you, Thoko,” said Mama. “That’s just what I need to warm me up.”

As soon as Mama had changed into dry clothes they sat down to eat.

“Mmmmm,” said Mama, “this is delicious! What is it that’s making this soup taste so special?”

“I added some of that nice vegetable stock,” said Gogo.

“No,” said Mama, “that’s not it. I can taste …”

Thoko kept dead quiet. Gogo frowned.

“Yes, something yummy and sweet!” said Mama.

When all of the soup was finished, Mama went to the food cupboard and said, “Now I have something that I have been saving for a special occasion.” But Mama couldn’t find what she was looking for. “Strange,” said Mama, “I was saving three pieces of my favourite chocolate for a special occasion.”

Thoko kept her head down. She could feel Gogo staring at her.

“Thoko,” asked Gogo, “what have you done with Mama’s chocolate?”

Thoko started to cry as she told Mama that she had added the chocolate to the soup. But instead of being cross, Mama laughed, “So that’s what made your soup taste so special!”

“And it is a special occasion,” smiled Gogo. “You got a job today!”

Thoko dried her tears.

“You know, Thoko darling,” said Mama, “it was very thoughtful of you to make soup for me. What do you call it?”

“Thoko’s special soup,” said Thoko.

“Well, it really is the best soup I have ever tasted,” said Mama, giving Thoko a big hug.