As she got up from the table Dirk came up behind her. “Walk behind the twins,” he said. “Next to me. Act casual, like you’re talking to me.” Ntombi wondered what on earth was going on in his mind, but she did as he’d said and they made their way out of the dining room together. It confused her that he wasn’t even talking to her. He was being rude, dialling a number on his cellphone, waiting for a reply. She was about to pull away from him when she heard a phone ringing ahead of her.
“It’s Daddy’s spare phone,” said one. “You’ve got it, Lindi, haven’t you? I wonder what he wants now?” The other twin fished it out of her shiny little yellow bag. She took one look at it and cut it dead.
“Lindi,” said the other. “Why did you cut off Daddy?”
“It wasn’t Daddy!” the twin snapped.
“But only Daddy has that number,” said Sindi.
“So it was you!” roared Dirk, next to Ntombi. The twins spun around.
“What are you talking about?” asked Sindi. But Lindi said nothing.
“Those threatening SMSs that Ntombi got? They came from this number,” said Dirk triumphantly. “Give me your phone, Ntombi.”
She handed him the phone and he held it close to Lindi’s face so that she could see. She looked away.
“What a s’gedlembe,” laughed Sindi. “You should get yourself the latest one, like ours.” Ntombi looked at Sindi in disbelief. But she saw that Lindi didn’t look her in the eye.
“You know nothing, you can prove nothing!” Lindi spat, and then turned and walked away quickly. Sindi tried to follow, but Ntombi grabbed her arm.
“You can’t just walk away. I have proof – I still have all the messages.”
“We can take you to the police,” shouted Dirk.
Sindi burst into tears. “You don’t know what it’s like,” she cried. “Daddy will kill us if we don’t win the competition. And he can’t help us like last time.” She shook Ntombi’s hand off her arm. “I don’t know exactly what Lindi did. But she was doing it only because we have to win. And you have to let us win – you have no idea what will happen to us if we don’t!” and she started wailing loudly.
Lindi came back. “Shut up, baby!” she cursed her sister. “Stop talking.”
“Listen,” said Ntombi. “I will tell your father about these SMSs. And the police.”
Both girls’ heads whipped around in shock. “No!” shrieked Sindi, while Lindi started walking towards Ntombi as if she was going to hit her.
“Go ahead,” said Ntombi bravely. “Hit me like you hit your sister. You will only get into more trouble with the police. And with your father.”
Lindi shrank back. She looked down at the floor. “Please don’t tell him.”
Dirk and Ntombi looked at each other. “We’ll think about it,” said Dirk. “We’ll decide after the competition. Maybe you’ll be lucky, maybe you won’t. And if you do anything else – well then, you’ll be the ones going down, girls.”
The twins walked off, hissing at one another. Ntombi couldn’t believe she was feeling sorry for them. She remembered that field of roses from their father. They carried a high price, she realised. “Thank you, Dirk,” she said quietly.
“No big deal,” he said.
Mahlodi came up behind them. “What was all that noise?” she asked. Ntombi told her a quick version of the story as they got ready for the first practice. Mahlodi was shocked.
“I can’t believe they could do such a thing,” she kept saying. “They’re witches.”
In the flurry Ntombi had nearly forgotten about Alex. But there he was, waiting with everyone else for one of the final rehearsals. He looked down as she walked in, avoiding her eyes.
“Why don’t you tell me anything?” Mahlodi begged. “What else has gone down? Last night you were romancing, today you and Alex won’t speak to each other? Tell me, girlfriend?”
“Quiet!” shouted one of the coaches. “Ntombi, please start with your solo.”
Ntombi had to gather her strength to get through the morning. Back in her room at lunch time she found herself telling Mahlodi everything, laughing and crying all at once.
“Ah, girlfriend,” said Mahlodi, “I’m sorry. What a guy. And I even gave you those condoms.”
“Don’t remind me,” said Ntombi. “By the way, I threw the condoms at him,” she added. “You should have seen his face.” She couldn’t help giggling, with tears still in her eyes. Mahlodi joined her, and for a few minutes the girls fell about the bed shrieking with laughter.
Suddenly Mahlodi stopped laughing. “I can’t believe he is such a player. Well, maybe it will work out better with your boyfriend.”
Ntombi remembered the deleted SMS. “I don’t know. What if my sister was right?”
“And what if she was wrong?” asked Mahlodi. “What then?”
Ntombi remembered how Alex had answered her phone. What had Zinzi told Olwethu? Was Zinzi trying to spoil it all for her, because she was jealous? Surely she could not be so mean?
“Oh no,” she said to Mahlodi. “Maybe I’ve messed up. I need to get hold of him.”
She thought of Olwethu. How could she have believed what Zinzi had said without checking with him? Maybe she had chosen to believe it, so she could feel free to do whatever she wanted with Alex. Maybe Olwethu was waiting for her, loving her still. Or was it too late?
Chapter 17
Olwethu was walking home in the dusk. The woman selling mielies shouted her normal greeting. She liked him – he was always so friendly. But not tonight. He didn’t even hear her. His mind was whirling. What to do about Ntombi?
He had saved money, got time off work, got permission from college – all to go the finals of Teen Voice. He had planned to surprise her. But now she hadn’t even responded to his SMS telling her of his doubts, his fears … but, above all, of his undying love. Had she thought he was a fool, exposing his feelings to her like that? Did she want him to be tough, and to cheat on her like so many other guys? And what exactly was she doing in Jozi? Why had Zinzi told him about the guy who answered Ntombi’s phone? They had been at a club, she had said. Zinzi was warning him. Did she know more than she let on? Was Ntombi with that guy right now?
The sound of his cellphone brought him back to his senses. He took it out of his pocket. It was Ntombi! His heart jumped. Even if she had moved on, he needed to know. He could not bear living in doubt.
But as he pressed the green button to receive the call, the phone was wrenched out of his grip, and he sprawled onto the pavement. His knee hit a stone, his elbow collapsed under him. He jumped up to chase the two shadowy figures disappearing into the darkness, but it was too late. They had vanished. Tears of frustration burnt his eyes, though they had nothing to do with fear, or anger, or the loss of his cellphone. They were there because he had heard Ntombi’s voice saying, “Hello,” and now he couldn’t answer her.
His friend Xolani lived nearby. He went and banged on the door. Xolani’s mother opened it. “What happened, Olwethu? You are bleeding, bhuti, come in,” she said.
“Mama, I need to make an urgent call – can I use your phone?” he begged. But she wouldn’t listen to him as she bustled around finding Dettol, cotton wool, a bandage. Only once she had cleaned his injuries would she listen to his request.
“Sorry, sorry, no airtime. Wait for Xolani. I know he got some today.”
The minutes dragged as he waited, trying to be polite to Xolani’s mother. He thought of Mzi. Were those his thugs robbing him? He was stupid not to be more careful in the dark. The idea of Ntombi with some stranger had hijacked his thoughts. He had trusted her. Surely she wouldn’t have been unfaithful … Zinzi had had a wicked look on her face when she told him. Was she making trouble? Ntombi had told him how jealous she was of her going to Jozi. But to go that far! He just needed to know the truth, and his bus ticket was burning a hole
in his pocket. Would it be wasted money? He could have bought a new pair of shoes.
“Hey, mfethu, what’s up?” said Xolani, shaking his hand warmly. Olwethu told him everything.
“Sounds like you need to go up there and see for yourself,” said Xolani. “Things get so mixed up long distance … Hey, and you don’t want to miss a great show. I would kill to have a ticket right now. They say Loyiso is performing too.”
“Maybe you’re right,” said Olwethu. “Enough misunderstandings and unanswered calls.” As he walked back home, he let his mind wander again. Imagine getting to Joburg and folding Ntombi in a loving embrace, he thought to himself.
When he got home he sat on his bed with his head in his hands. Imagine getting to Joburg and finding out that Ntombi was with another guy. Should he go or not? If only he knew the right thing to do …
Chapter 18
It was the day before the finals and Ntombi’s mom had arrived. She had travelled up on the bus with Zinzi. Ntombi couldn’t wait to see her and Zinzi. She wanted to find out about her dad. And she wanted to get Zinzi alone to hear the truth about Olwethu. At least now she could look her in the eye. Ntombi could always see by Zinzi’s face when she was lying.
They were waiting in the dining hall. Ntombi introduced Mahlodi to her mom and Zinzi. Her mom looked a little tired from the journey, but she was still glowing. Zinzi was overcome with shyness – or was it guilt that made her look down at her feet all the time? They got some coffee and cake and her mom said how smart everything was and how she couldn’t believe that Ntombi, her daughter, had come this far and was mixing with these famous people.
Zinzi was quiet. She hardly looked at the coffee that Ntombi had made for her.
“I’ve got so much to tell you! I just can’t …” Ntombi could see that her mom wanted to talk about their dad, but not in front of Zinzi.
Sensing the situation, Mahlodi said, “Hey, Zinzi, Ntombi tells me you’re so good at sport. I am a hot soccer player myself. I play for Pineridge Club.”
Zinzi’s face lit up. “Wow, I’ve heard of them – they’re so good,” she said.
“Do you want to come and kick a ball around the field with me?”
“I would love that,” said Zinzi. Then she looked at her mom.
“Yes, go, Zinzi, stretch your legs after that bus journey.”
Mahlodi was a good friend, Ntombi thought as she watched her and Zinzi chatting as they went out of the dining hall together. Mahlodi wanted to rescue Ntombi and give her a chance to chat to her mom, but Ntombi could see that she also wanted to make Zinzi feel better. It must be hard for her younger sister to see all the luxury she had enjoyed since she had left home. But if only she knew the confusion and hurt she had experienced too.
“Mama, have you seen Olwethu?” Ntombi asked. She had to know.
“No, why?”
“Has Zinzi told you anything?”
“No,” said her mom. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know,” said Ntombi, going quiet. “Forget that I asked. Tell me about Dad. ”
“Your father is sorry, Ntombi.”
“Sorry is not good enough, Mama. Where has he been? What has he been doing all this time? Did he tell you that?”
Her mother looked across the room. Suddenly she seemed far away, as if she was remembering something in the past. Ntombi could see the pain on her face. Then she turned back to her daughter. “He didn’t want me to tell you where he’s been, Ntombi, but I think you need to know.”
“Well … was it another woman? You must tell me, Mama.”
“No,” her mother said, shaking her head.
“Well, where then?”
“He was in prison.”
“What?” Ntombi stared at her mom. “I don’t believe you!”
“Why would I lie?” her mom said softly, taking her hand. “I know it’s a shock, my girl. It’s such a long story.”
“You believed it?”
Her mother frowned. “Remember, Ntombi, this is your father. This isn’t Zakes …”
She was right. They were opposites, her dad and Zakes.
“Ntombi, he was tricked by a colleague at work. This man did something wrong at work. But he didn’t want to take the blame. So he set your father up so that it looked like your father had done it, not him, and forged his signature. And then your dad couldn’t face telling us that he was behind bars – it was the shame of it, and knowing the pain it would cause us.”
“And so he just disappeared. Didn’t he think that that would be painful?”
“It was a terrible decision. I’m not saying that he made the right choice, but he did it for the right reasons. He wanted to protect us.”
Ntombi couldn’t believe it.
“He was released the day you left. That’s when he left the letter at my work. It was the first thing he did. He had written it in prison. He is so sorry.”
“That’s not good enough,” said Ntombi with tears in her eyes.
“I know,” said her mother. “It’s complicated. But he loves you very much. He really wants to see you.”
“I just don’t want you to get hurt,” said Ntombi.
* * *
Out on the field Mahlodi kicked the ball to Zinzi. Then they dribbled the ball around. Zinzi couldn’t believe how green and thick the grass was – not like playing soccer in the street where she got scrapes and bruises.
“Now I’ll go into the goal,” said Mahlodi. “See if you can score.”
The first time Mahlodi blocked the ball – no problem. But on the third shot Zinzi hit the back of the net and whooped with joy.
“Hey, girl!” Mahlodi called, than ran up and gave her a high-five. “You’re really good.”
“Do you think so?” asked Zinzi shyly. “Really?”
“Really. You should join a team.”
Zinzi’s face fell. “I tried. My mother said it was too far to go to the games.”
The girls started walking back to the building. “It must be difficult for you – Ntombi coming to the finals and everything,” Mahlodi said gently. She felt she had to coax the truth out of Zinzi – that way it would be better for her and Ntombi.
At first Zinzi looked suspicious. What had Ntombi been saying to her? But it had been such fun playing with Mahlodi, and she wanted to talk to someone. “It is,” she admitted. “It’s just that she’s so good at everything. And she gets all the attention. My mother isn’t interested in my sport. And she thinks I’m still a little girl. She still hasn’t told me the full story about my father coming back, and I know that’s exactly what she’s telling Ntombi now. I’m sick of being left out!”
Mahlodi patted her on the back. “I know what you mean. I have an older brother who got straight As. When my teachers handed back my tests they would say, ‘Why can’t you be like your brother?’ My skills on the soccer field didn’t impress my parents at all. It was only when I started singing that they took more notice of me. They were so pleased that I was doing something else, something more feminine.”
Zinzi looked up at her and smiled.
“Talk to Ntombi about joining a club,” Mahlodi continued. “I think she’s on your side. And she’s proud of you, you know.”
“She shouldn’t be,” said Zinzi, thinking of what she had done. But Mahlodi hadn’t heard. A group of boys was walking past. They teased Mahlodi and waved. Zinzi smiled shyly when they asked who the “pretty girl” was. She was feeling much better. Suddenly in the limelight herself.
“We all have different strengths. You’ve got to discover what you’re good at and stick at it,” said Mahlodi as they entered the building.
“Practise, practise, practise,” laughed Zinzi. “That’s what our coaches are always saying.”
“And they’re right,” said Mahlodi, “Now, come on. Let’s go and tell your mo
m and Ntombi the good news – how they’ve got a soccer star in the making.”
When they got back inside the hall there wasn’t much time to talk about anything as Agnes came in to call the contestants to the rec room for some final instructions. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m so proud of you, Ntombi.” Ntombi’s mom gave her a big hug. Zinzi hugged them both.
“Zinzi’s got real talent,” Mahlodi called after Ntombi’s mom as she and Zinzi were leaving.Her mom turned and waved back at them.
“I know. I’m so proud of her too,” she said, squeezing Zinzi’s hand. Mahlodi and Ntombi could see the big smile on Zinzi’s face.
“Thank you, Mahlodi,” said Ntombi as they followed Agnes down the corridor to the rec room. “For talking to Zinzi, I mean. I could see it meant a lot to her.”
“She’s really good, you know. I’m just sad you didn’t get a chance to talk to her yourself. I got the feeling there was something she needed to say to you.”
As they went into the rec room Zinzi ran up behind Mahlodi and pulled her back for a moment.
“Can I talk to you?” she asked. “But I don’t want my mom and Ntombi to hear what I’m going to say.”
“Sure. What is it?”
“I think I’ve done something bad,” said Zinzi softly. But before Mahlodi could answer Agnes came out into the corridor and told her that she should come inside for important last-minute tips for the finals.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night before the finals,” was all Mahlodi could say to Zinzi. “You can tell me then.”
“It might be too late,” thought Zinzi as the door closed and she was separated from Mahlodi and Ntombi.
Chapter 19
It was the big day at last. But all Ntombi could think of was how Olwethu hadn’t called her to wish her luck. She was so nervous as she went to join the other contestants backstage in the dressing-rooms, where hairstylists and make-up artists were waiting to make them look their best. The organisers were also rushing around frantically, checking that everything was in order.
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