The plan was always the same. Nosipho would hide under the trees at the bus stop, waiting for Mr Nkomo to pick her up. She would quickly jump in before anyone could see her, and they would drive away.
Their destination was the old dump site, a few kilometers away from Shiyabazali informal settlement. When they got there, Mr Nkomo would turn off the engine, and Nosipho would start doing what he had taught her the first day. She would perform oral sex on him until he was satisfied. Then they would proceed to vaginal sex, which didn’t take too long. Mr Nkomo would wait a few minutes to catch his breath before they drove back to Shiyabazali.
He would stop at the bus stop, switch off the lights, and Nosipho would jump out and disappear into the dark night before anyone could see her. She would get home, her little brothers already asleep. She took long baths, sobbing painfully, asking God why he would let this grown man do this to her, just because she was an orphan. Why couldn’t God just take Mr Nkomo so that she could be free and be like any other teenager? She felt dirty, she would scrub her body until it was sore. She took almost ten minutes cleaning her mouth, yet everything she did with Mr Nkomo hung around the air she was breathing.
She could not concentrate when she tried to study. Images of Mr Nkomo breathing heavily on top of her would flood her mind. She even struggled to sleep. If she did fall asleep, nightmares would haunt her. She was worried about falling pregnant. But she was also afraid to ask Mr Nkomo to use a condom. Going to the clinic for contraceptives was not an option. She had once seen nurses humiliating a girl her age who had come for contraceptives. They called her all sorts of names in front of everyone.
20:00 was fast approaching. Nosipho decided it was time she changed things with Mr Nkomo. Tonight was the night, she was tired of this life.
“Mr Nk…Nko…Nkomo.”
“What’s wrong Nosipho, you can’t speak now?”
“No…yes…I mean, I can.”
“Then speak! We don’t have a lot of time here.”
“I think we must start using co…condoms…”
“What! Why? Listen here my girl, that won’t happen! I do everything for you. And now you think you can tell me what to do?”
“What if I fall pregnant, Mr Nkomo? Everyone will find out about us.”
“That will be your problem. If you’re afraid of that, go to the clinic, problem solved!”
“B…but Mr Nkomo…”
“But what? Just shut up, Nosipho, and start doing what we are here for. Before you make me angry!”
She wanted to tell him about how her schoolwork was suffering, that the teachers were getting suspicious. But she knew he was not going to be interested in her stories.
Crushed, she proceeded to do what he wanted.
Tell us: What do you think Nosipho should do?