To get to the gymnasium she’d have to run, in the rain, across a series of perfectly manicured green lawns, framed by equally perfect hedged beds. Throwing her hoodie over her head, and holding it close to her face, she ran towards the outbuilding, tasting the sweet drops of rain and moving quickly, so that by the time she reached the gymnasium, only the hoodie and her shoulders were wet.

The inside of the gymnasium was lit by large fluorescent lights. It was an enormous school out-building, with a long hall, high ceilings, and lines across the floor, in various colours to represent different games. Closest to the door was the basketball hoop. To Karabo’s relief and slight disappointment, no one else was playing and the balls lay abandoned at the side of the field.

A group of girls were playing netball in the middle court, chatting and laughing as they threw the ball to one another, their words lost in the echo of the hall. Karabo pushed her hoodie back off her head and pulled out her braids. Shaking them free, she pulled her sweater off and made her way to pick up a basketball and walk onto the court. She loved sport and the thrill of moving with purpose to score a goal. Whatever the sport, it allowed her to forget about everything else. It was as if her body just moved of its own accord and even now, practising shooting at the hoop, life just made sense, and she felt herself unwind from her annoying breakfast.

Over and over again, she aimed and shot the ball into the hoop, not noticing the door open. She was completely wrapped up in her own world.

The door of the gymnasium opened again – this time wider – and closed with a bang. Buzz blew in. Karabo looked up to see who it was and saw William standing on the side of the court.

Her heart sank and she forgot to greet Buzz.

‘Hey hey’ greeted Buzz. ‘You guys playing a game?’

‘Just practising,’ said Karabo, turning back to the hoop to take another shot. She didn’t want Buzz or William to notice her look of surprise at seeing William there. Had he just come in with Buzz, or had he been there before? Was he watching her?

The ball swished through the hoop. Goal.

‘Best of five, Karabz!’ demanded Buzz.

Karabo laughed. ‘Sure Buzz, but you always lose,’ she said, as she threw the ball to him. He caught it easily and made his way to the court, bouncing it nonchalantly. Karabo and Buzz often found themselves at loose ends on weekends. Karabo’s mother was working and Buzz’s parents lived in Joburg. He never spoke about them, but the way he avoided family questions told her it wasn’t a subject he wanted to open up to her about.

As Buzz warmed up with a few shots, Karabo watched him and wondered if he let her win, just to make sure she kept on playing with him. But she wasn’t sure. None of the guys liked to lose. It was a definite black mark against their name, especially if they lost to a girl. No, she decided, Buzz just sucked at basketball.

She remembered William. ‘Hey William, want to join us?’ she asked, convinced he would opt out. Too pretty for sport.

He straightened up from leaning against the wall. ‘OK,’ he said, as he moved over to Karabo and Buzz.

‘Ladies first Karabz,’ said Buzz, as he handed the ball back to her. Karabo took the ball and aimed – four out of five shots. Buzz followed with three out of five; William scored five out of five.

Buzz and Karabo stared in wonder, as William physically came alive on the court when the ball was placed in his hands. His slouched, hangdog look morphed as he seemed to stretch up and pop the ball into the hoop, barely moving his feet. Karabo fetched the bouncing ball as William’s fifth shot flew through the hoop.

‘Well done William, you win,’ she said, slightly awestruck. ‘Where did you learn to shoot?’ asked Karabo, her curiosity piqued.

‘America. We lived there for a while. We move around, us English’s’ said William, as though it was his standard one liner answer.

‘Cool,’ said Buzz, less enchanted with William’s score. He felt annoyed that this William guy had just appeared on the scene and was showing him up. Buzz bet that William wasn’t anything worthwhile on the rugby field.

Karabo and Buzz began packing the balls away, talking about the upcoming rugby derby.

‘So I hear Mzi is captain of the A-side,’ said Karabo.

‘Yup. No surprises there,’ said Buzz, ‘He’s a pretty mean rugby player.’

‘Is that Mzilikazi Khumalo?’ interrupted William.

‘Ya, but everyone calls him Mzi,’ said Karabo, ‘How do you know his name?’ she asked, watching William.

He shrugged and walked to the door, talking over his shoulder, ‘One of the guys mentioned his name. Said he’s the head boy or something.’

Before they could respond, William ran across the still wet and rainy garden, back to the main building, leaving Karabo and Buzz looking at each other, before following him out.

‘I’m going to my room before lunch. See you guys in the dining hall later,’ said Karabo, as she left Buzz and William in the passage of the main building. She needed to shower and get some perspective. William confused her. He’d been such a jerk at breakfast, then he’d appeared on the basketball court, played (and won) a game, and then acted like they were all good mates.

She shivered at the thought. It made her feel so uncomfortable when someone blew hot and cold, yet the thought of not getting to know him better wasn’t really an option, because she just felt drawn to him. He was so different, like no one else at Dayeton College. She pulled off her sweaty exercise gear and threw it in the laundry bag. Her stomach growled at her again – it was definitely time for lunch.

***

Tell us: Do you think Karabo’s attitude to William has changed? Why/Why not?