The day came, the day of Yongama’s return, on his mystery mission. Liyabona wanted to stay at home. But she didn’t want to miss her double English lesson, where they were having an important test. So there she was, listening to the gossip and seeing people’s excitement.

They all filed in to the assembly hall. And there he was, looking the same as ever, with his very short hair and long lanky legs. He was smiling to see everyone. Next to him was a box covered in red and gold wrapping paper.

Finally, after all the Principal’s announcements, Yongama came forward.

“It’s great to be back,” he said. “I have so missed you all.”

“Missed you too, sweetie,” Akhona called out from beside Liyabona, and everyone laughed, and also started calling out, “Missed you too sweetie,” until the Principal stood up to calm them down.

“Today,” announced Yongama, “today I’m here to … talk dirty.”

It took the Principal and two teachers to stand up and look angry for the school to stop laughing and catcalling at his words. Finally everyone hushed.

“I am back here to start something,” he said. “To start something important. A ‘school improvement club’, that looks at the school to work out how to make it better. And the first thing we are going to do,” he said, looking at them mischievously and then picking up the bling-wrapped box, smiling, “the first thing we are going to do is…”

“Have a dance competition!” called one person.

“Start a soccer tournament,” called another.

“Start a Miss and Mister Sol Plaatje High!” called yet another.

“No,” said Yongama. “The first thing we are going to do is clean the toilets. And fix the doors and locks.” And with that he opened the shiny present. He held up toilet brushes, plastic gloves and cleaning materials, a screwdriver, some locks – and the girls shrieked in disappointment and disgust. The boys booed.

But Yongama put his hand in the air for silence and soon everyone stopped making a noise.

“It’s not right that our toilets are the state they are in,” he said.

“We need more cleaners! Why should we do it ourselves?” a boy in Grade 12 shouted.

Yongama pointed at him. “You are quite right, Kabelo. It is not right. It is time we toyi-toyed for toilets.” He put his hand up to hush the laugher again. “But we must not toyi-toyi in school time. That will harm our own education. We must put pressure on the Department to improve our school. You are right. Children who attend rich schools, they don’t have to clean their own toilets. They can focus on their education. But our education is suffering because of toilets.”

He stood looking at everyone, and there was silence, as they waited for his next words. “Nobody likes going to the toilets here. Some girls try not to drink anything so they do not go. That is bad for their education. They can’t concentrate. The toilets are in a mess. That is bad. It makes our school an unhappy, smelly place which is not good for our education. And we want our education to improve – now.

“So while we make a fuss about getting more toilets, proper toilets, we must also improve our school right now. Right now the toilets are dirty and dangerous. Girls are going to the boys’ toilets. And there are no locks. There have been bad incidents, as you know.”

Liyabona squirmed inside. Why did he have to bring this up? She put her head down so he couldn’t see her.

But he was carrying on talking. “And so I am establishing a cleaning committee. Because big things can happen when you start by making small changes.”

Everyone was muttering. Some supported him, some didn’t. And Liyabona? Oh, she supported him.

Akhona nudged her. “He’s like you, chommie, obsessed with toilets. You should join him. And then you can get romantic when you are both scrubbing away at the shit!” Liyabona did not laugh with her. Because she did want to join him. But she also never wanted to face him again.

“So I want at least five representatives from each grade,” he said. “Meet me now, after assembly, and I’ll get your names and numbers. And we’ll have a look at the toilets to see what they need.

“And finally,” he said, “let’s end off with something different, more entertaining. You know we have a poet in our midst. I can’t tell you how proud I was when I read about her winning the big national FunDza poetry competition. I would like to ask her to read her poem to close the assembly.”

Suddenly everyone’s eyes were on Liyabona. She shrank back. “I haven’t got the poem here,” she whispered.

“And it doesn’t matter if you don’t have a copy,” he said. “I’ve got a copy here.” And he waved a book.

Slowly Liyabona went to the front of the school to read her poem, terrified. But again, as she performed she relaxed, enjoying saying her words out clearly into the silent air above the sea of faces below her.

With the last line, she glanced at Yongama next to her. He was looking at her intently. He gave a small nod, and half smile. She knew that he understood that the poem was for him.

***

Tell us: Do you believe that you can make big changes by starting small and basic? Do you have any examples?