Themba was glad when the school day was over. It had been tough, new teachers, new classmates, and a whole world to get used to. But once out the school gate he was reluctant to return to the sad house with just his mother. It didn’t feel like his home, not like the house in Soweto where he had lived all his life.

“Hey, Themba. Pssst!” He heard his name. “Over here!” Themba looked to see where the voice came from. It was Bust, one of Prince’s gang. He was tall and skinny, and now he was popping his head out from behind a wall.

“Yizapha!” Themba didn’t wait around. This sounded like some excitement! Checking to see that no one was watching, he followed Bust around the corner to a small open space between two houses. The ground was concrete and spray-paint tags were scattered on the walls of the houses surrounding the small area. The guys’ school bags lay on the sandy ground around the edges.

“Walk faster, boy, we don’t have all day,” said Vusi, as Themba swung towards the group.

“What do guys around here do after school? I mean it’s not like the girls are chasing after you,” replied Themba, trying to joke in a cool way.

Vusi looked at him accusingly. “Are you saying girls don’t go for me?”

Bust laughed. “Oh, Vusi, when did you go with a girl anyway? In fact, Vusi isn’t very good at lots of things. Do you remember the last time shoplifting?” He looked at Themba, “Vusi walked out and the tag was still on the shirt. BEEEEPPPP!” The guys laughed and gave each other high-fives – except Vusi, who scowled at Themba.

Then a smaller boy, Zolani, looked serious. “But, amakrwala, surely we shouldn’t go back to the old ways now that we are men.”

“Chill, we’re just having fun right now,” drawled Prince. “Besides, no one else is around to hear us.”

Themba swung his bag down and it hit Vusi on the leg.

“Careful, you stupid,” hissed Vusi, and pushed Themba who lost his balance and fell to the ground. Now all the guys were laughing at him and he didn’t like that.

He sat up, and pulled Vusi’s foot from under him. Vusi fell heavily.

“Sorry, mfethu,” he started saying, holding out his hand now that they were even. But Vusi was furious.

“Too late for that now. Who told you to speak to me like that, boy?”

“Vusi, I said I am sorry. Kanti unjani na wena, can’t you take jokes?”

“No, kwedini, now you’re frightened.”

Vusi stood up and pulled Themba roughly towards him. “Wanna say something now, boy, ha, boy?” His head was moving side to side as if he was looking into Themba’s eyes one at a time. Themba pulled his face back, trying to get out of the situation. But then Vusi stamped his foot onto Themba’s. It was excruciatingly painful, and Themba got mad. He punched Vusi on his cheek. Vusi swore, punching him back.

“Hey, hey! Stop it you guys,” Bust said, and stood up to pull them apart.

But Prince pulled Bust back. “I want to see what this boy is made of,” he said. By this time Themba was on the ground underneath Vusi. His punches landed on Vusi’s face as Vusi tried to grab both Themba’s hands together. Themba managed to tip him over and scramble away.

Vusi was gasping for breath. Themba jumped up quickly, waiting for Vusi to attack. But Vusi got on his hands and knees and coughed, holding his neck. Then he got up and dusted himself off. It was clear that he did not want to fight again. He touched his bruised eye. The group was silent.

Themba’s mouth was bleeding. He had a cut on his lips from some of the knocks he took.

“Ring, ring, ring. I doubt you guys want to fight again. We can all see and the decision is unanimous. It is a draw, gentlemen,” said Prince, standing up. He took both their hands and like a boxing referee he lifted Themba’s hand. “Not bad, Joburger.” Then he lifted Vusi’s hand. “And without you, we would not know what this guy is made of.”

Prince pulled their hands together, but Vusi shrugged him off. Themba was prepared to shake hands but he didn’t want to look stupid, so he also put his hand down and looked at the ground. They all picked up their bags. Themba waited for the others to walk in front of him. He didn’t trust them to walk behind.

The boys drifted to their different homes. Bust was the only one now walking with Themba. Themba jerked his head. “My house.”

“Hey, whose car?” asked Bust, pointing to the black Golf 3.

“It was my brother’s, but he’s past,” said Themba. “Now I use it. My brother taught me to drive.”

Bust whistled, clapping Themba on the back. “Usiskhokho mfana, you have itransie! All the girls going to be after you, abamoja mfethu, the beautiful ones!”

Themba said nothing but was pleased at his words. Yes, he was a man, with a car. Wait till Lettie knew he wasn’t just an ordinary schoolboy. And the other guys. Then he’d get some respect.

“Hey, did you walk into a wall?” a man joked, walking past. Themba touched his face, feeling the sore parts. He got angry with Vusi all over again. What a coward, with all his friends around him, to pick on the new boy. But he was lucky they had decided to accept him, rather than all beat him into a pulp. If his old friends were here nobody would mess with him. But since he had arrived not one of them had even phoned. Just a message or two on Mxit. He was alone here, and he had to make his own way with not even Joseph to guide him.

***

Tell us what you think: What did you think of the way that Themba handled Vusi? What do you think is the best way of handling bullies like Vusi?