As Isla reached Karabo, she spotted her parents driving up the gravel path towards them and waved to get their attention. They were in the white Land Cruiser – an enormous beast of a car that Karabo adored. After exuberant kisses and hugs from the Hepworths, Karabo and Isla piled into the car, luggage and all, and roared off. For a moment Karabo forgot her apprehension and became wrapped up in the conversation and love of the Hepworth family. Fabian, or Fab as everyone called him, was in the sixth grade and looking to annoy his sister, after not seeing her for weeks. He sat purposefully in the middle of the two friends, beaming from ear to ear, as he heard everything they said to each other.

‘Why do you have to sit in-between us?’ said Isla through gritted teeth, glaring at her brother, hands clenched as she held back from punching him.

‘Oh darlings, why are you fighting already? You haven’t seen each other in two months and now you’re fighting already, please don’t,’ sang Mrs Hepworth from the front passenger seat.

‘He wouldn’t move, and now I can’t talk to Karabz! I’m not going to see her for the next week! She is like the sister I never had, and I’m going to miss her,’ stated Isla continuing to glare at Fab, before lowering her voice and whispering in his ear. ‘Unlike you!’ she spat.

Fab turned and looked at her squarely. ‘You’re a mean cow, Isla!’ he said.

‘Fabian! Enough,’ growled Mrs Hepworth loudly. ‘Pull over, Richard! Karabo needs to sit between our children. I can’t believe that at their age they behave like babies!’ she shouted, as Mr Hepworth swung the car onto the gravel road verge, rather dramatically. Karabo sat motionless until she realised she was the one who had to do something. Quickly, she unclipped her seatbelt and they all shuffled seats. Once back on the road, the radio volume was increased as the Hepworths listened to the midday news and Fab stared out of his window, red-faced and seething.

Isla pulled Karabo close to her so she could whisper into her ear. ‘Karabz, I’m going to miss you like mad. You have to take pics of the dresses that you see in Sandton. I have to look amazing for Mzi’s matric dance. I’ve told my mom, but not my dad. Mom says she will deal with him. You know he is so over protective,’ she rambled, hardly taking a breath before continuing, ‘and Mzi even asked what colour my dress is going to be so he can find a cravat to match. OMG, how am I going to find a dress in freaking Kenton! Mom says she will take me to PE, but I said she has to wait ‘til you get here so we can all go together.’

Karabo’s attention waned after a while. She was as excited about the dance as Isla, but she was worried her mom would cancel again. She wanted to check her phone and make sure. She looked pleadingly at Isla.

‘What? What’s wrong?’ Isla asked as she saw Karabo’s face change.

‘I need to check my phone Isla. Just a second, just want to make sure the flight is at the time I think it is,’ mumbled Karabo. ‘OK’ said Isla, watching Karabo scratch through the backpack at her feet. Karabo pulled her phone out. There was a message from her mother. She held her breath and opened the message.

‘Hi angel, so excited to see you later! Been too long. See you at the airport. Yay!’ said the message. Karabo breathed a sigh of relief. She checked her flight details – all in order – before turning back to Isla, who was still watching her closely.

‘Everything OK?’ asked Isla.

‘Ya, fine. Well, you know my mom. I was just checking she didn’t cancel,’ explained Karabo, her eyes looking down. Isla hugged Karabo warmly, her friendship reassuring. She didn’t have to say anything; Isla just knew what Karabo needed.