(It is at school, break time)

Khaya: Thank goodness it’s break. I’ve been dreading all the periods. They are draining!

Mlondi: You should go home. You’re in no state to be at school today. I’ll bring your homework.

Khaya: It’d be useless. Mom would drag me back. You know how she is!

Mlondi: She is so defensive and strict. Remember when I walked into your house with muddy shoes?

Khaya: She was going to finish you off with that frying pan. You were lucky that I warned you!

Mlondi: My head would have been flat!

Khaya: And you weren’t going to be able to step outside your house. I was going to visit you regularly, though.

Mlondi: That’s not true, and we both know it.

Khaya: Tshepo! What are you thinking?

Tshepo: Nothing.

Mlondi: You’re not answering the question. What exactly are you thinking?

Khaya: I know what is he thinking. Aha!

Khaya and Mlondi: (singing) Tshepo and the mystery girl, sitting on a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

Tshepo: Just stop it, you two!

Khaya: She must be very special that you think of her now and then.

Mlondi: He hasn’t touched his lunch! Wow! She must be the one you want to take things slowly with.

Khaya: He has realised that he is never without her.

Mlondi: Her tender and pink lips!

Khaya: Her soft boobs!

Mlondi: Her cat walk!

Khaya: Her rare smile!

Mlondi: Her nice and fully packed ass!

Khaya: Her celestial angel voice!

Mlondi: Her electrifying hands, that cause goose bumps!

Khaya: Her smell!

Tshepo: It’s not a she, it’s a he! There, I said it. I am in love with a boy!

(Silence. Tshepo runs off, but is blocked by Khaya.)

Khaya: Why are you running? Don’t you think you owe us an explanation? Huh? And what’s this nonsense you’re telling us?

Mlondi: I don’t get this. It’s too much for me.

Khaya: Is that why you broke up with Nonhle?

Tshepo: Yes!

Khaya: I don’t believe any of this. What is so attractive about boys?

Mlondi: Yeah, what is attractive about boys? What is it that you want from them? Who is this boy who ‘transformed’ you into a moffie?

Khaya: I hope it’s not Thabo.

Tshepo: Unfortunately, it is him.

Mlondi: Holy crap! We shouldn’t have urged you to accept his help. It’s partly our fault, but that ends right now!

Tshepo: It’s not your fault. I’ve always wanted to be with him but I never had the guts to ask him. All the things I’ve done was to fit in. I was afraid of being judged and side-lined. I am into him, take it or leave it!

Khaya: You choose him over us? For heaven’s sake! He is a boy, like you, me and Mlondi.

Tshepo: I know, but I love him.

Mlondi: Holy crap! Are you high? Are you even listening to yourself?

Khaya: You’ve changed suddenly.

Tshepo: Maybe change is for the best.

Khaya: Look, we’re not judging you. We’re too imperfect! But this, we’re not used to it.

Tshepo: I know, but I wasn’t going to lie for the rest of my life to you guys. You don’t deserve that.

Mlondi: What do we deserve then? A gay friend? So this means you’ve been checking us out in the locker room?

Tshepo: You’re now totally loose. How can you even think of that?

Mlondi: I don’t want a gay friend. We won’t have anything in common. No, no! This is all messed up! How can you be so selfish, Tshepo?

Tshepo: How am I being selfish?

Mlondi: Have you even thought about this? Is it fair that we lose our friend because of this sin? Is it fair that your mother won’t have grandchildren to spoil, to play with on her lap as she’ll be getting older? Does she even know about this?

Tshepo: Is it fair that I live a lie? That I keep lying to everyone? Is it fair that I have to live my life trying to impress others, being who people are expecting me to be? I want to live so that one day, I’ll have no regrets.

(Silence)

Mlondi: I am sorry, but I can’t be friends with a fag. Not now, not ever. Homosexuals befriend homosexuals.

Khaya: I also can’t continue to be seen with you. I guess our friendship ends right here, right now. I’ll break all contact with you.

Mlondi: Same here.

Tshepo: I expected your support, but clearly all I did was build castles in the air. You were not my friends from the beginning. Friendship lasts forever. It isn’t temporary or dependent on circumstances. I will miss your company.

(They leave, Mlondi with Khaya and Tshepo alone)

***

Tell us: What do you think of Mlondi and Khaya’s reaction?