The thought came clear as day light; she hasn’t had her period for more than three months now. It couldn’t be of course. She was starting school in just a week’s time and was going to matric. Excited about all sorts of things; Varsity, boys and late night fun. But mostly she longed for the freedom of being so far from home, of no curfew, of “No you can’t wear that it’s for church”.

There was a plan in place. It has always been there from the day she saw the lawyer’s attire her grandmother’s employee used to wear to court. She knew she just had to wear it. There was something about it, about this dream of being a lawyer. She couldn’t quite figure it out yet, was it the status that comes with it, the power or was it just for financial security? All were good reasons in her mind.

The thoughts were interrupted by her mother’s calling voice.

“Nothemba,” her mind was so far she didn’t even hear her call. “Nothemba!” the voice called again, this time it was loud it made her jump back to life.

Nothemba was a promising name. She had a promising future and just a hope for the family. Her mother worked long hours at the hotel. She usually worked from 8am to 11pm, if lucky, there would be breaks in between and there could be none at all. It was easy dodging her.

“What is wrong with you?” she asked with parcels on both sides, “Go get the other parcels,” she jumped from her bed. She could hear her baby brother’s excitement in the house. A day with food is always a good day. From a walking distance she could see the yellow Shoprite plastic bags where the taxi had dropped her “ma” as she would call her.

The plastics were heavy. It was her mother’s fortnight. Even though she didn’t get paid enough she always made sure they had food, they never went to bed with an empty stomach. She had come way too far; they lived in a place where the houses fell apart when it rained. One roomed or two, you were lucky if you lived in a three roomed house with sewage running all year long.

She grew up with her cousins but she never really fit-in with them. As a result she spent most of the time alone. She found peace in being alone, she enjoyed her company. Eighteen years later she still kept to herself. Nothemba had always been serious.

“Walk faster,” her mother called out again, this time sick of her pace. She always told her she would never get a husband because all she did was read books and she was no good with house chores.

“You’d better find a husband who won’t mind going to bed with an empty stomach and a good book,” this was a smart thing her mother had ever said, it made her chuckle somehow.

“You walk like you’re walking on eggs.” She said when she was at the door.

“What did you buy?” Nothemba changed the topic. She knew her mother would go on. Mothers never stop once they start. The question was rather silly; there is no way she was going to count the things she brought.

“Food,” she said at last. The answer was short but it was enough. She didn’t really expect an answer.

“Umakhulu says you’re pregnant,” her mother said again. This made her jump a little but she wanted to remain calm. “Rumors have been going around, people are talking you know, everyone thinks you’re pregnant.”

Her mouth was dry at this point, she wanted to reassure her mother she wasn’t but how could she. What if she was?

“People like things,” she said trying to look cool. The truth it she was worried, what people would say. What they would say about her mother, a disgrace in the family. Most importantly she worried how her mother would take this. She could see the same hope in her eyes she has always had for her.

“I hope they are wrong,” she said quietly as if trying to convince herself.

Nothemba turned away. She had tears in her eyes. She couldn’t bare watch her mother take her side like this, in this situation. People were right. If her calculations were correct she was four months now.

***

Tell us what you think: What should she do if she is pregnant?