Three boys strolled about not far from the lady selling vegetables on the side of the road. Sipho, the tallest, closed in on the two as if to tell a secret.

“I don’t think there’re drugs in there Rali, maybe you’re just jealous of their big cars?”

They were surveying a two-storey white house at their street corner. The house was surrounded by high walls that had nasty rolls of razor wire on the top. The community was battling a substance abuse problem and Rali had told his friends that a popular drug known as nyaope was manufactured in the house. Now the friends were working to expose the drug dealers and have them jailed, hopefully.

“There are no children in there, Rali?” Ndo said, absentmindedly.

“I don’t trust a house that has no children.”

Sipho shot an impatient look at him. “What do you know about children Ndo, you’re twelve?” he said irritably.

Ndo felt bullied. He adjusted the frame of his eye-glasses. Sipho was a year older than the two but liked acting as if he were their big brother.

Rali thought Ndo had a point because only muscled men in nice clothes and jewellery were seen going in and out of the property.

“I think we should come back when it’s dark,” he said. His friends looked at him questioningly.

“And what must we tell our parents going out at night?” Ndo asked Rali. Maybe a problem for him but Sipho lived with his grandmother and was a bit of a mischief.

“I’ll come,” Sipho said while concentrating on the structure of the house. Ndo looked him up carefully and hoped that he was not planning to come scale over the wall.

Sipho added, “Don’t worry boys, I’ll come.” They studied him and it was clear that he had made up his mind.

Rali’s mother was protective, therefore, he agreed.

“Alright.”

“Cool,” Sipho accepted.

“Let’s go.” They followed him, Rali, the shortest and Ndo, the fatty. They were quite a trio.

They were walking on the pavement when Ndo spoke, “What if the people living in that house are dangerous?”

Sipho was readily annoyed by Ndo and often without reason.

“Jeez Ndo, they’re obviously dangerous, that’s why we’re to going to call the police,” said Sipho. Ndo felt bruised, he looked down. He then turned to speak but to no one in particular:

“But police let criminals go?” Sipho glanced at him and said nothing. Ndo thought either Sipho did not understand him or simply acted mean. They walked on silently.

Cars drove by, and a girl wearing school uniform appeared at a distance and she was heading their way.

“I’ve a plan to make sure that police do their job,” Rali announced. And Sipho, who had been keeping a serious face, gave him a sudden puzzled look. But Ndo knew that it was like his friend to say things like these; Rali was smart. They had been friends long before Sipho’s family moved into their neighbourhood.

Rali explained, “We must make this a media case, so that people can get involved in it.”
Easier said than done. Ndo was still thinking this suggestion through when Sipho recognised the schoolgirl. Her name was Fifi and they all knew her. She was the quiet type who often walked alone. Rali liked her a lot but he would rather jump off a cliff than say ‘hello’.

Sipho beamed with glee from readily sensing the fun he was going to pull out of this coincidence. The boys found themselves quiet all of a sudden; Fifi was now about three metres away from them. Ndo felt uneasy, knowing Sipho’s pushiness and recalling Rali’s promise to speak to Fifi the next time they come across her. Rali wished he were elsewhere…

That’s when Sipho shouted recklessly, “Here’s Fifi, ask her to be your girlfriend, don’t be a coward!” He was tugging Rali by the arm in an effort to make him block Fifi’s way but Rali baulked and dug his feet to the ground like an ox frightened by the butcher’s blade. Sipho persisted, pulling and laughing foolishly this time.

“Tell her man, she won’t bite you!” It was a game to him.

And Rali, visibly angry, spoke through clenched teeth, “Let go of my arm!” At this time Fifi moved to the side and calmly walked around them, avoiding the skirmish with ease before walking on unbothered. Rali yanked his hand from Sipho’s hold.

“You’re stupid!” he fumed, then hurried away, hurt and embarrassed. Sipho remained, a boastful smile on his face. Ndo stood close by, wondering why they were even friends with Sipho.

Tell us: What do you make of Sipho’s behaviour towards his friend, Rali?