Thuli took a sip of water, then picked up her napkin and wiped her mouth. “All fair and square and perfectly legal. And it’s going to be happening quite soon.”

“Thuli!” Her father’s voice was louder this time. “Enough. I want you to apologise to Mr and Mrs Mokae for your behaviour. Right now!” He turned to Mpumi with a rueful smile. “I’m sorry. My daughter’s a bit of a firebrand.”

“Chip off the old block eh, Moses?” Mpumi’s laugh was forced.

He looked at Thuli, and so did his wife.

“I’m sorry,” Thuli said quietly.

“I’m surprised,” Mrs Mokae said. “A young girl like you, joining in an adult conversation. And you encourage this sort of behaviour, Moses?”

But it was Thuli’s mother who answered. “We do, Portia. We like to think that our children are aware of the world around them, not cushioned from reality. But still, I must add my apology to Thuli’s. One thing we have taught our children is that they should always be respectful to others. I am not saying Thuli shouldn’t have joined the conversation. However, she should have spoken respectfully and not raised her voice.” This time it was Phindile who raised her glass for a small disdainful sip. “Please excuse the enthusiasm of youth.”

The rest of the meal passed mostly in strained silence. The dessert looked delicious, chocolate mousse and raspberry sauce, but Thuli hardly tasted it. All she wanted was to leave this house, these snooty people, escape from the glances of the good-looking boy seated across the table from her.

She looked at him quickly, and he caught her eye. Wait! Was that…? Thuli could have sworn that a smile had raised the corners of his mouth. Just for a second, and then it was gone.

*****

“Wait! Please wait!”

Sebastian was running down the driveway, waving at Thuli. She stopped and waited for him to catch up with her.

“You forgot this.”

He was carrying her sweater. Thuli wished she could tell him to keep it; that way he wouldn’t have to talk to her any more. And then she caught the drift of what he was saying.

“My mom. I’m sorry. She doesn’t mean to be rude. It’s just the way she is.”

‘Well then,’ Thuli wanted to say, ‘she should think about changing that.’ But she didn’t speak. There had been enough stress for one day.

*****

In the study of Mpumi Mokae.

Mpumi is on his phone, talking in a low voice.

We only hear his side of the conversation.

• Yes, sir. They came for lunch.

• As well as can be expected.

• We’ve broken the ice. And he’s caught a whiff of what a better life can be like.

• Tomorrow? Certainly, sir. Yes, we must move quickly. It sounds like they’ll be mobilising any time soon. Unless there are going to be more negotiations?

• No? I didn’t think so.

• Very well, sir. As soon as I have seen him again, I will let you know. I’ll tell him we need an answer from him very soon.

*****

Moses was sitting at the table, his head in his hands. “I don’t know, Phindi. It’s a good job. Great salary.” He lifted his head and a gleam of hope lit his face. “Who knows? Maybe I can do as much good on the inside? That’s what Mpumi said part of my job would be. Transformation. Addressing the need for change.”

“Hmmm.” Phindile’s voice was noncommittal. She was standing at the ironing board, pressing one of Moses’ khaki work shirts.

“What? You don’t think so?” Moses raised his head and looked at his wife.

“I don’t know, Moses. It’s all so sudden. Mpumi coming back here. Appearing out of nowhere. And then that awful braai. It was as clear as daylight that Portia didn’t want us there. I’m sure she ordered the servants to dust down the furniture after we left.”

“Oh, come now,” Moses said. “She wasn’t that bad…” He caught his wife’s straight stare and laughed. “OK, maybe she was. But that doesn’t answer my question. Do I go for this interview or not?”

Phindile picked up the iron. “Follow your instincts, Moses. And remember, don’t take this job on my account, or because of the children. Money isn’t the most important thing in the world.”

“Not even when our trusty old vehicle is about to give up the ghost?”

Phindile laughed and blew her husband a kiss. “Not even then, my Moses. Not even then.”

*****

New Message

Sebastian Mokae

Hey Thuli

Hi

Sorry to get you on Facebook, but I didn’t know
how else to get hold of you.

That’s okay. How are you?

Cool. Sorry again about the braai.

You call that a braai? More like a banquet.

Yes, well. My parents don’t know the meaning of small scale.

🙂

So. I was wondering.

Yes?

Are you doing anything on Saturday morning?

No, not really. Why?

I thought maybe we could meet. At that mall close to you?

What for?

I don’t know. Just to talk. Hang for a while.

I’m not sure …

Nothing heavy. It’s just…

Yes?

I really liked the way you spoke up. I just thought
it would be you know, cool to talk a bit more.

We can talk here. On FB.

Sure we can. We can also talk face to face. You know,
without screens and keyboards.

Now there’s an idea…

I’m full of those. Trust me.

So maybe I should actually hear some of them? You know,
like, my ears hearing your real life voice.

Sounds like a plan.

OK. Sure. Saturday morning at the mall.

10.30?

Can we make it 11? I need to make up time with my study group.

Cool. See you.

Thuli logged out of her Facebook account. Sebastian Mokae. She was getting to like his name a little better.

***

She liked it even more after she and Sebastian had met at the mall. She’d arrived a bit late; her study session had taken longer than usual to wind down.

“Where are you dashing off to in such a hurry?” Anele had asked.

“Sorry, haven’t got time to chat.” Thuli shoved her books into her bag and then ran to catch a taxi. Nomsa and Anele were her oldest friends, but she wasn’t ready to share the news about Sebastian with them. Not yet. She’d meet him, see what he was like first.

***

Tell us what you think: What would Portia do if she read this Facebook thread?