Career day was one of the days that Mr O had been prepping his students for. He had told them that they should come dressed in the best work outfits for their career choice. Pupils loved showcasing their dreams and aspirations so it was bound to be a spectacular day for all students. Busi came wearing a suit. Exactly the way she had seen on Billions, a series that made her love the law and aspire to be a lawyer.

During school break she had left her lunch box in her bag and left her friends behind to go get it. On her way back, she was stopped by 3 female musketeers.

“And who are you supposed to be, wena? Ka di suit tsa fake?” one of them said.

“I want to be a lawyer,” she said, trying to cut short the ambush and move on.

“You look weak, wena! How are you going to win cases looking like you are barely fed, huh?”

“You look like you are breast feeding twins. Don’t embarrass yourself and aim that high, looking like a mother of 10 kids,” another added.

It shattered her heart into pieces. She instantly felt weak and her lunch box fell from her hands. She took off running and went to the toilets to cry. She then decided to leave the school premises. There was a hole at the back of the school that hooligans used to dodge school. That day Busi felt like it was her turn to be mischievous and leave.

She was going home, even though the streets were not safe. She took a different route and entered one particular street. She saw a burning car that looked like Mr O’s. She slowed her pace to make sure of what she was seeing. It was his.

***