[A few days later a car goes to Mamelo High School looking for Miranda, but she is nowhere to be found.]

Kamo: Friend, friend. (Yelling)

Miranda: Yes.

Kamo: A lady driving a BMW x5 was looking for you. Do you know her?

Miranda: I don’t know, but I have a feeling that you’re going to tell me.

Kamo: Haaa. (looking bored) You are such a bore at times motswale waka, she was looking for you.

Miranda: What for? Who is she?

Kamo: Beats me friend, she looked like a million dollars. Wow, you only see such beautiful women in magazines.

Miranda: Haaa, I know you and exaggerations.

Kamo: This time I’m not friend, I swear.

Miranda: Sure friend. (Rolling eyes)

[When she gets home the same BMW is parked outside her house. She thinks it could be her father, but the car looks expensive and he couldn’t afford it. Who could it be? Was it Aphelele? But he doesn’t know where she lives. When she nears the car, her mother, father, a handsome looking guy and a beautiful woman climb out of it. Her mom looks pissed and her dad disappointed. She can’t read the strangers’ expressions. She just greets and continues into the house, straight to her bedroom. She doesn’t close the door to hear her mother and father talking about her. Her father calls her to the front room.]

Katlego: My daughter how was school today?

Miranda: It was okay dad, your day?

Katlego: It was okay too. Miranda, I have to tell you something. I didn’t tell you this before because we all thought it was the best for you. I want you to know that I love you so much.

Miranda: (Confused and nervous) What’s going on Daddy?

Katlego: Uhm this is so difficult, I don’t know how to tell you this.

Lorna: Gee Katlego you can’t tell her a simple little thing. (Annoyed). Miranda, this is your mother, your dad cheated on me with my ex best friend Riva, so you were conceived. We thought it would be best if you stayed with us. That’s it.

Miranda: (Shocked) Is it true, mom?

Lorna: Of course it is.

Miranda: Abusing a 15-year-old is best! (Looking at her father) How could you just not tell me this all these years? I’ve been suffering all these years, your wife has stolen my childhood and you just watched knowingly and knew that she hates me because of your doings. (Now looking at Reva) How could you sleep at night knowing you abandoned your own blood? You just gave her to a shark you provoked. What kind of people are you? (Crying)

Katlego: My baby, I am so sorry. I didn’t think it was that tough for you. I thought you were getting along, ‘cause every time I saw you two you would be smiling and laughing.

Miranda: Of course she would, she was fooling you

Katlego: I’m so sorry.

Riva: I know that what I did was horrible. (Looking at Lorna) I am so sorry, I really thought we passed that. We talked about it and I thought you let it go.

Lorna: Are you kidding me? You slept with my husband that will never be okay, ever!

Riva: But you didn’t have to take it out on my daughter, you should have hated me not her, she did nothing to you. She didn’t have to pay for my wrong doings and mistakes.

Lorna: You think I planned it? You think I wanted to hurt Miranda? (Crying) I couldn’t help it, it just happened then I got used to it.

Riva: I am so sorry Lorna, I didn’t mean to hurt you, really what happened that night was unplanned. I am so sorry.

Lorna: (Crying) what happened that night?

Katlego: It was when we were fighting, when you doubted if you made a right decision by marrying me. On the other hand, work was horrible so I drank then went to Riva’s place. We both drank and talked about everything, she also found out her boyfriend cheated on her. So we comforted each other, then one thing led to another. I’m so sorry sweetheart.

Riva: So sorry Lorna, we were drunk.

Lorna: (Crying) It’s fine, what happened, happened. If only we talked about this 14 years ago, now I’m a monster in Maranda’s eyes. (Looking at Miranda) I am so sorry about the way I treated you. I took my own frustrations out on you and that was not fair, please forgive me.

Miranda: I hated you for hating me, but now I know you are also a victim of my dad and Riva’s mistake, I forgive you.

Lorna: (Crying and hugging Miranda) Thank you my daughter. (Both crying)

Katlego: Miranda, if you want to go with your mom to Cape Town it’s fine.

Miranda: (looking at her dad) I don’t even know her.

Riva: We’ll get to know each other and if you don’t like living with me, then you can come back. Please just give it a chance.

Miranda: I can’t, I have school and friends here. I can’t just leave anytime I want to.

Riva: You can get a transfer to a school in Cape Town.

Miranda: At this time of the year?

Riva: Yes, they will take you, please Miranda.

Miranda: I can’t.

Lorna: My daughter come with me

[They go outside.]

Lorna: I can just imagine how difficult this is for you, but now everything is going to be okay. If you want to go with her, just go.

Miranda: I don’t.

Lorna: You have to give her a chance sweetheart, you have to have a relationship with her.

Miranda: I don’t have to, she left me.

Lorna: Because of problems. Please Miranda do it for yourself baby, if you don’t like it there, then you can come back home.

Miranda: Is my place going to be available when I come back? (Crying)

Lorna: This is your home sweetheart, you will always have a place here.

Miranda: Okay then.

Lorna: (Hugging her) Everything is going to be alright, you’ll see.

[They go back inside.]

Miranda: Okay then, I will go with you.

Riva: Thank you (looking at Miranda and Lorna)

Lorna: Now we have to ask for a transfer. When are you going back to Cape Town?

Riva: Friday, we still have tomorrow left.

Lorna: Miranda tomorrow we will go to your school

Miranda: I’ll go to school then, we can meet there.

Lorna: Okay then.

[The next day Miranda goes to school. She feels relieved, free and happy, emotions she hadn’t felt in a long time. Not only is she going to Cape Town, but the relationship between her and her mother is going to start to heal. At school, she tells Tshepiso about everything that happened the day before.]

Tshepiso: So when are you going?

Miranda: Tomorrow morning.

Kamo: Isn’t that a bit too soon? So, are you going with that lady that was looking for you?

Miranda: Yes, I’m going with her.

Tshepiso: So, when are you coming back?

Miranda: School holidays.

Kamo: We’ll miss you my friend.

Miranda: I’ll miss you guys too, give me your numbers so that I can call you from there.

Tshepiso: You promise you’ll come back on school holidays?

Miranda: Yes, I promise.

Tshepiso: I love you Miranda, I mean it and please don’t ever forget that.

Miranda: I love you too Tshepiso, and yes, I know that you love me.

Tshepiso: I’ll see you tomorrow morning before I go to school.

Miranda: Cool.

[They kiss and hugg each other then say their goodbyes before heading home separately.]

*****

The next morning, Tshepiso and Kamo went to Miranda’s home to bid her farewell. Tshepiso kissed her one last time before she climbed into the car. This was the beginning of a new chapter for Miranda, a new life. On the road to Cape Town, she could only wonder what her new life had instore for her. Would she and her family finally put the past behind them and what about her romance with Tshepiso. Only time would reveal what was instore for her.

***

Tell us what you think: Do you believe that parents can sometimes take out their hate for their spouse out on their kids?