It Takes Two

by Haden, Ross;

  “Of course, dear,” Mrs Jinks said. “I’m glad you’re showing such commitment to your academics.”

  “Bye, Thabi,” Lusi said, hurrying off.

  Trust her sister to drop a bombshell and then disappear.

  “What am I going to do?” she asked Mrs Jinks, as the counsellor gave her a glass of water. “Sim lives with us. He’s my best friend’s boyfriend.”

  “You’re going to have to lay a charge,” Mrs Jinks said firmly. “It’s a serious crime. People like that get away with far too much. Do you know how many women are raped in South Africa every day? It’s horrendous. And Lusi’s only fifteen. She’s a child still. You need to get her to a doctor so he can examine her for evidence. It’s a terrible thing, this, but we’ll be behind you all the way. The whole school community will be behind your family. You don’t have to do this alone.” She lifted the phone receiver. “First we need to report this to the police. Would you like me to do it for you? We can ask them to come here to the school if you prefer. It’s probably easier than having them come to your home, if the perpetrator is living there. And we can’t expect that poor child to go to the police station. Not in her condition.”

  Thabi’s head was whirling. What was she supposed to do? It was all her fault. She’d brought Lusi to Cape Town, she’d promised to look after her, and she’d failed. She’d led her into danger, in her own home.

  “I’m going to have to tell my mother,” she said, blowing her nose. “She must decide what to do. I’ll phone her, and …”

  “You realise Lusi can’t go home to your house,” Mrs Jinks said. “Not with her rapist living there.”

  Thabi’s stomach dropped. “I’ll have to tell him to go,” she said. “Oh God, I can’t do that. He’s my friend. I can’t believe he’d do such a thing.”

  “You have to,” Mrs Jinks said. “She’s not safe there.”

  Thabi burst into tears. “I wish I’d never inherited all this money,” she sobbed. “It’s just brought me trouble. Everybody wants things from me. I’ve tried giving Lusi everything she wanted, and now her life is ruined. And I’m going to have to report my best friend to the police, and it will break Motso’s heart. I just don’t know what to do …” and she put her head down and wailed.

  “Come, come, my dear,” Mrs Jinks said. “We’re here behind you all the way. I think the first thing to do is to tell your mother. She’s Lusi’s parent, and Lusi is ultimately her responsibility. Maybe she can come to Cape Town and help you sort it out? She can speak to the police and you won’t have to talk to your friend alone. She can do it for you.”

  Thabi nodded. “OK. That’s a good idea.”

  “Lusi can come home with me until your mother gets here,” Mrs Jinks said. “She can’t go back to your house while that man is there.”

  Thabi swallowed hard and took out her phone. She dialled her mother’s number. “Mama, it’s me. Lusi is in trouble. Can you come right away?”

  Mrs Malebane spoke rapidly into the phone.

  “She’s on her way,” Thabi said, drying her eyes.” She’ll be here first thing tomorrow morning.”

  ~•~

  Mrs Malebane was grim-faced when Thabi picked her up at the bus station the next morning.

  “Mama, we’ve got a meeting at the school,” Thabi said, lifting her mother’s suitcase into the boot of her car. “The school counsellor needs to speak to us.”

  Her mother nodded. “Will Lusi be there?”

  “I think so.”

  Thabi knew that look on her mother’s face. It said, “Don’t mess with me. Don’t talk to me. Don’t get in my way or cause any trouble. I’m on a mission.” Her stomach knotted up.

  “Mama, I’m sorry,” she began. “I … I …”

  Her mother’s jaw was clenched. “I don’t want to talk about this now,” she said. “First I want to see Lusi.”

  A few minutes later they drove into the school. Thabi led her mother to the counsellor’s room. Lusi was there already, her face pale and drawn. She looked even more nervous when she saw her mother. She didn’t get up from the chair, and her eyes were on the carpet.

  “Mrs Malebane,” Mrs Jinks said, “it’s so good of you to come all this way. As you can see we have a serious problem. Lusi has been the victim of an act of sexual violence, and we cannot allow the perpetrator to get away with it.”

  “Stand up, Lusi,” said Mrs Malebane. Lusi stood up slowly, her eyes still focused on the floor. Mrs Malebane looked her up and down. “Turn around,” she snapped. Slowly Lusi turned around.

  “I’d like a few minutes alone with my daughter please,” Mrs Malebane said.

  “Certainly.” Mrs Jinks patted Lusi’s shoulder as she and Thabi left the room.

  They stood outside in the passage. The bell had just rung, and groups of happy students were laughing and chatting as they went out to break. Thabi wished with all her heart she could turn back the clock. Lusi had had the chance of a lifetime at this school, and now it was all ruined, thanks to her.

  The door opened.

  “Lusi has something to say to you,” Mrs Malebane said grimly. “Please come back inside.” Lusi had tears streaming down her cheeks. Mrs Malebane prodded her. “Go on. We’re waiting.”

  “Thabi, Mrs Jinks …” she began, then paused.

  “Go on,” hissed her mother.

  “I am very sorry. I told a lie. I was scared. I never got raped. It was Vuyo …”

  “Vuyo?” exclaimed Thabi. “Vuyo Cwayi, from Cofimvaba?”

  “Any fool can see she’s at least six months pregnant,” said Mrs Malebane. “She’s only been in Cape Town for three months. If she’d got pregnant here she wouldn’t even be showing yet.”

  Anger flooded through Thabi. “I could slap you, you little bitch,” she growled. “How could you blame Sim like that? We nearly phoned the police. He could have been arrested. Did you think of that, did you, did you?” and she stood up and leaned over her sister, pointing her finger in her face. “Sim is a good guy. I can’t believe you would do something like that. I could just slap you …”

  “No, Sisi, I’m pregnant. Don’t hit me.”

  Thabi strode over to the window and stared out, trying to regain her calm.

  “What are we going to do now?” Mrs Jinks asked. “As I explained to Lusi, the school’s policy is to support our students. But she will need to go for counselling. She needs to take responsibility for her actions and realise they have consequences. We’ve had several pregnancies over the years, and the important thing is not to fall behind with the schooling.”

  Thabi spun around, her eyes blazing. “She’s not coming home with me. I’m not paying all this money every month to a sneaky little bitch who tells lies about my closest friends. She can go home to Cofimvaba. Let Vuyo look after her. If he’s old enough to make a baby he’s old enough to support one. Does he even know about this happy event?”

  Lusi wiped her eyes with another tissue. “He’s not talking to me. He’s got a new girlfriend now.”

  “I told you he was trouble,” Mrs Malebane thundered. “But would you listen? No. And now your life is ruined. You’re going to have to come home to Cofimvaba. No school will have you at this stage. You’ll have to repeat Grade 9 next year. And mark my words, there will be serious consequences for that Vuyo. He will curse the day he was born when I am finished with him.”

  “Please, Mama. Please, Thabi,” Lusi sobbed. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell the truth. I was so scared that you would send me home. I didn’t want to go back to my old school. I wanted so badly to stay here. Please don’t make me go home. I want to stay here with you. At St Matthew’s. I’ll be good, I promise. I’ll do everything you say. I’ll do all the housework. I’ll cook every night. I’ll … I’ll …”

  Thabi looked at her mother. Her kind, hardworking mother, who had sacrificed everything to raise them alon
e. If she punished Lusi she would be punishing her mother too.

  She sighed. Thabi, you are a bleeding heart, she thought to herself. You should really learn to say no sometimes.

  She would learn, soon. But not yet.

  “OK,” she said. “You can stay.”

  Lusi jumped up and hugged her. “I promise you’ll be proud of me,” she whispered in Thabi’s ear. “I won’t let you down.”

  Thabi felt the baby kicking as her sister held her close. That was her little niece or nephew in there. And now that the shock had subsided, she could start to look forward to being an auntie.

  “Just no more lies,” she said firmly. And Lusi nodded. “I promise. No more lies.” As Thabi looked sternly at her frightened little sister, she saw a glimpse of the sweet sister she had once been, and could be again.

  Discussion questions

  •How are Thabi and Lusi different from each other?

  •Do you think Lusi made the right decision, to keep Lusi with her at the end? Why do you think so?

  About the author

  Helen Brain is a full-time writer and writing teacher, living in Cape Town. She has published over 40 books for children and teenagers, as well as a memoir and short stories for adults. She teaches creative writing to students all over the world through the South African Writers’ College.

  In her spare time she likes to make carpets, play the piano and read.

  Being a mentor…

  I loved mentoring Mzi because he was so eager to learn. He taught me a lot too, especially about the attitudes and daily experiences of our target audience. It was a very enriching experience and I’m glad I was paired with such an intelligent, talented student.

  5

  TRUTH OR DARE

  Zikhona Gwadiso

  Andisiwe packed her bags wearily. It was morning and she knew she should have done it the night before, instead of going out partying with Siya. She felt tired, and her body hurt from all the dancing, but it had been worth it to spend the last night in PE with her best friend.

  Andisiwe felt sad. It was time for her to leave and she was suddenly doubting her decision.

  “Maybe I should stay,” she told Siya. “Or better still, you could come with me.”

  Suddenly everything felt overwhelming. Siya hugged Andisiwe tightly.

  “I don’t want to let you go either,” she said, as tears flooded her eyes and began to run down her cheeks.

  “Stop it now, Siya,” said Andisiwe. “You’re making me cry too. We’re going to video chat. I’ll call you. We’ll voice chat on BBM if I don’t have airtime, vha?”

  On the bus, Andisiwe spent most of the journey napping. She hadn’t had enough sleep for days. When she woke up from her last nap, she was at Cape Town Central Bus Station. She sat up in her seat and wiped her eyes. She put on her sunglasses, looked out of the window, and scanned the car park. Her aunt had told her she would be driving a red BMW convertible. Andisiwe spotted the car easily as she got off the bus. She was so excited!

  As she approached the car she saw that her aunt was not alone, but with another woman. Andisiwe felt a twinge of disappointment. She wanted her aunt all to herself. That’s how she had imagined her arrival – just the two of them driving around Cape Town together, with the convertible top down, catching up on all the news.

  Wonderful Aunt Mimi was a career woman. She was also very beautiful and glamorous. She had worked really hard to get where she was, and Andisiwe admired her and wanted to be like her one day. She was also so understanding and open.

  “Siwe,” said Mimi as she greeted Andisiwe with a big hug. “Pam, this is my niece Andisiwe,” she told her friend, proudly.

  “Nice meeting you, young lady.” Pamela squeezed Andisiwe’s hand. “You’re just as pretty as your aunt.”

  And then they were whizzing through town in Mimi’s BMW, and on towards Camps Bay. Andisiwe felt so excited and so enchanted by the beauty of Table Mountain that towered above the city. When she saw a huge advertising billboard next to the road she smiled even more. At last she felt close to living her dream of working in advertising. She had completed her studies. There was nothing to stop her now.

  Andisiwe’s mouth dropped open when they pulled up outside the giant gates of Mimi’s house. “OMG, this house is huge! It’s like in the movies …” she gasped.

  Inside the marble entrance hall they were met by a young woman called Maria, who worked for her aunt. She took Andisiwe to her bedroom.

  “Miss, if there’s anything you need just call me.” She smiled at Andisiwe as she put her bag down on a huge double bed.

  “Please call me Siwe,” said Andisiwe, feeling a little awkward. She wasn’t used to having someone waiting on her like this.

  “See you later, darling,” said Mimi as Andisiwe joined her aunt and Pamela in the kitchen.

  Mimi gave her a kiss. “Business …” she said. “Pam and I have to get back to work to pay for all of this …” she said, gesturing around her. “Have fun.” And with that they were gone.

  “Siwe, in about an hour we have to go shopping for a dress,” said Maria, bringing her a coffee while she unpacked in her new room.

  “But I don’t have money,” said Andisiwe, a little confused. Then she added, “And I do have dresses.”

  Maria chuckled. “Your aunt deposited five thousand rand into your account to keep you going for the month. And we are going shopping for a party dress.” Maria shook her head, clicked her tongue, and said, “Your aunt, she always finds excuses to throw a party, that one.”

  At the V&A Waterfront Andisiwe found the dress of her dreams at Topshop. She had seen it in a magazine. She couldn’t believe her luck: it was the last dress and it was in her size.

  When they got home Andisiwe disappeared into her room to freshen up and get changed for the party. When she emerged she found the house empty. “Where’s my aunt?” she asked Maria. “Where are all the people?”

  “The party isn’t here,” said Maria. “Pamela is going to fetch you in ten minutes and take you to Shimmy’s Beach Club at the Waterfront.”

  “You look gorgeous, darling,” said Pam as they drove to the Waterfront. “I see you are into fashion, just like your aunt.”

  They arrived at Shimmy’s, and the first thing Andisiwe noticed as she walked in was a red carpet. Mimi had booked the cocktail lounge with an open bar. Still stunned by the red carpet, Andisiwe sat down on the nearest chair. She looked around for a moment and sighed deeply. It was all so beautiful, and to top it all, from where she sat she had a perfect view of the setting sun.

  The waiter served platters and cocktails. Andisiwe made her way to the bar to order a Sky vodka with lemonade.

  “It’s obvious that you must be the ‘Party Girl’.”

  Andisiwe spun around. A young man was smiling at her. “Here, this must be your drink …” he said, handing her the drink the barman had poured. He was handsome, and Andisiwe could instantly feel the electricity between them.

  “Why must I obviously be the ‘Party Girl’?” she said cheekily, with her head cocked to one side.

  “Well, ‘Party Girl’, my name is Thabo, and …” the young man paused to run his eyes over her, from head to toe, “for starters, those shoes you’re wearing are from Aldo, your aunt’s favourite shoe brand. Besides, there’s a picture of you on the invitation.”

  Andisiwe’s eyes widened. “Impressive. But how do you know so much about my aunt?”

  “She is a very important person in the fashion industry,” said Thabo. “I might have read it in a thing called a ‘magazine’.”

  Andisiwe looked away, frowning slightly as she replied, “Are you trying to be funny, Mr … um, Thabo?”

  Andisiwe excused herself to go to the ladies’ room. There she ran into Pam.

  “Are you enjoying the party?” Pam asked Andisiwe as they reapp
lied their lip gloss. “As always, your auntie has invited some of the most attractive men in town.”

  “It’s raining men!” said Andisiwe.

  “Alleluia,” said Pam, and they burst out laughing.

  “I couldn’t help noticing you talking to a certain young man at the bar,” said Pam, as they rejoined the party. She leaned close to Andisiwe’s ear. “Just be careful, darling. A man’s suit says a lot about him, but some suits are rented.”

  ~•~

  Andisiwe looked across at Thabo and he flashed a smile at her. For a moment she thought about what Pam had said, but she quickly pushed that thought away.

  Who cared if his suit was rented or not? Right now Andisiwe felt herself melting under the warm gaze from Thabo’s soft, chocolate-brown eyes.

  Andisiwe spotted her aunt every now and then throughout the evening. She noticed that Aunt Mimi was busy with her own flirtations, and she left the party early with a sophisticated man in a black tuxedo.

  Thabo moved off for a while, and Andisiwe watched him talking to some guy wearing a red suit and suede, navy Carvela shoes. For a moment she thought Thabo might be gay. But how could he be? Hadn’t he flirted with her? Hadn’t she felt the electricity between them?

  Then Thabo was back by her side.

  “Dear girl,” he said, leaning towards Andisiwe and touching her cheek lightly with one finger, “I have to go. I apologise for having to leave you just when we were starting to get acquainted. It was nice meeting you.”

  “It was nice meeting you too,” she said softly.

  From her position on a stool at the bar, Andisiwe watched Thabo leave. She felt a little disappointed as she watched his retreating back, but her heart fluttered as she noted how well his jacket fitted over his broad, strong shoulders.

  The party no longer held much interest for her after Thabo had gone, and Andisiwe phoned for a taxi to take her home, as her aunt had instructed her to do.

  Andisiwe was home alone the next morning when she heard a car pull up outside Mimi’s house. The gate bell buzzed. Andisiwe peered out of the window. Her heart skipped a beat. There, standing at the gate, pressing the bell, was Thabo. Quickly Andisiwe opened the gate. The car swung into the drive and stopped right outside the front door. Andisiwe opened it to welcome him.