One day I came back from school, tired as usual. It was a long walk to school and back I didn’t notice the distance in the morning because Bongani kept me company. But while we talked I’d have thoughts of me and him running through my mind.

I got home and threw myself on the couch; I was day dreaming of my future with Bongani. But I was brought back to my senses by my parents’ argument. I didn’t really notice how the argument started and I wasn’t even interested in following the quarrel between them.

“I was only approving of Mr. Nyathi’s success,” My mother said.

“You call that a success, eh? A successful person has wealth and riches, how come he lives in a tin shack like us?” my father shouted.

“Haw baba, he has got his degree. And besides, don’t they say education is success?” my mother said.

“No, fool, education is not success! They say education is the key to success, and how is that possible when the Christians say God is the key to everything?” my father disapproved.

I was tired of listening to all of this. I wish the government people will hurry things up, I thought, so I’d have my own room!

Bongani and I had agreed to start our study session at four o’clock, and it was half an hour earlier. I wanted to get out of the house but my parents were not willing to stop with their argument. My father had always warned me not to speak while they are talking. I wondered whether it would be rude of me to just leave without their consent. When the argument began to get worse, as my father threatened to beat my mother up, I decided to just leave.

I ended up on Bongani’s door and knocked.

“Oh, you came early,” he said with a smile, “come in,”

I first hesitated to go inside. I was uncertain whether his guardians were around or not. I recalled my Life Orientation teacher’s words, ”Never visit a boy’s house unless one or both of his parents are around”.

“Relax, sisPhindile is not around,” he said freeing me from my concerns.

“My parents were having a debate. That’s why I decided to come early,” I said embarrassed.

“My guardians often have a debate too, an educational one. And I learn a lot just by listening to them,” he replied calmly.

“Well the only thing I can learn from listening to my parents’ arguments, is knowing the rude things to a hurt a person with,” I complained.

“Don’t blame them, every married couple fights. Besides, they are your parents whether you like it or not. So you have to respect them, understand them and find a way to live with them. You can’t be running away each time there is a problem. As their educated child, you must try to make them see that what they are doing is disturbing,” Bongani advised.

Though I liked listening to his advice, but this time I was paying my full attention to his cute face rather than what he was saying. I was watching his lips moving wondering how soft they were. I was almost drooling.

“Are you even listening to me?” he noticed I wasn’t paying attention to him.

“Yeah, yeah I’m listening. Maybe you are right, I have to do something about their arguments before they get a divorce,” I replied not knowing what else to say.

“Do you think it would go that far?”

“I don’t know. But in situations like this you must consider a divorce,” I replied.

“Oh okay let’s start with our studying now. Which subject would you like us to study this afternoon?” he asked.

Oh God, I was rushing to get out of the house that I forgot my books! How can I be so irresponsible?

“Uhm… I forgot my books,” I said, again feeling embarrassed.

“Uhm, can you remember what you learned today?”

“Actually, today some people came at school from Mzansi Word Bee and I agreed to participate in it,” I said excited.

“Wow what a coincidence, the very same people came to our school and guess what? I joined too!” he replied also excited.

“And wow I must say this is great,” I said a little too excited. Guess we are birds of the same further, I thought to myself.

“Hmm, since we are both on the Word Bee, how about we help each other practice the words that give us a hard time?” he suggested.

“Cool!” I replied giggling. And I knew with a teacher like Bongani I wouldn’t forget a word!

“Okay, how about you spell tremendous,” he said.

“Uhm… that’s T-R-E-M-E-N-D-O-U-S!” I said spelling it out. “Now, how about you spell Unfortunately,”

“Uhm, that’s easy. It’s unfortunate and you add L-Y,” he joked.

“No, no you are cheating. I said spell it out!” I said laughing and he replied by spelling it out.

***

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