I was born on the 29th of January, 2010, in a placed called Palms in Rumsig, Johannesburg. My mother did not have a baby shower when she was pregnant with me, and that’s why I got the biggest birthday party when I was 1 year old. It was the biggest day of my life, even though I don’t remember it.

I went to grade R at Rumsig Nursery school when I was 6 years old, and as life went by, I eventually went to primary school at Ridgevale primary school. I was the best student in my class but, because I don’t remember everything that happened back then, let me jump to December 2018.

Back in 2018, I went to visit my grandmother with my baby brother. OH! Sorry, I forgot to tell you about my baby brother. His name is Prosper, and he is 4 years old this year.

We enjoyed our Christmas that year, and it was the best. We also spent our new year there, but soon after that, it was time for me to go home because school was about to open. My mom arrived with my school report card, and I was very excited because I had passed and I was going to grade 3. But I was not really surprised at the results because I was the second best learner in class. Tshepiso was the best learner.

My mom then told me very bad news. She told me I had to change schools, and the news made me so sad that I begged my mom to stay in my old school. She told me I wouldn’t be able to do that because my granny had passed away and, because of that, we had to move to the Vaal. I thought about how I would miss my friends and I felt like sobbing, but I had to accept the situation.

We eventually went to the Vaal, but I didn’t have any friends there. It was very awkward for me, mainly because all the children there spoke a different language than I did. I only knew how to speak English and Zulu, and they spoke Sesotho.

My mom had to look for a school for me when we got to the Vaal, and I stayed 5 days without going to school. She eventually found a proper school for me, which was Laerskool Suikerbos. It was an Afrikaans school, but I got used to it.

I eventually found a new friend called Refilwe, and she was very kind to me. She taught me how the Vaal was and, even though people used to make fun of me because I couldn’t speak Sesotho, she would comfort me and tell me not to mind them.

I eventually became friends with the girls that used to make fun of me. Their names were Grace, Nelisiwe, Siyamthanda, Mamello and Kelebogile, and some of them were actually innocent. They taught me how to be a real Kasi girl and how to be strong. They also taught me that I should never sob. I’ve seen many fights, but they still look very scary to me.

I stopped being friends with Kilebogile (kido), Grace, and Mamello. Nelisiwe still plays with them, but she is still my friend, and I always stick with my honest friends. Siyamthanda understands me and I understand her, and that’s how I know she is my best friend.

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