“I can’t believe you have the cheek to come back to school after all you have done,” said Princess. “But I guess it’s true. Mafikizolos have the skin of an elephant – in more ways than one.” She looked at the other girls for support. “And then that silly poem you wrote!”

The girls laughed, but they didn’t really sound happy. Lelethu couldn’t believe she hadn’t seen before how they all blindly followed Princess, too scared to think for themselves.

Lelethu felt her fear dissolve into a wave of anger.

“I’m more impressed that you are at school, Princess,” she said. “After all you have done. Aren’t you wor-ried about what will happen?” She saw Princess’s face turn doubtful as she walked off.

“Hello, chommie.” Busi came up to her, and soon Ntombi joined them. “Taste my mother’s cake,” said Ntombi. “I’ve brought left-overs from my sister’s birthday.”

“We read your poem,” said Busi, as they ate the cake. “It was brave. And I realised you hadn’t put the photo on Mxit yourself. So we were wrong to judge you. The only person we need to judge is that girl Princess.”

“I know,” said Lelethu. “And I don’t know how to get her back.”

“Don’t talk like that,” said Ntombi. “Don’t get into a war with her. You’ll be hurt even more. Leave her alone.”

Lelethu couldn’t believe she had been so silly not to see from the beginning how clever and nice these girls were. They were cool, but they were also kind and loyal. “You are real friends,” she said.

“Hey, I liked your poem,” a girl said to her as she walked past. She was a matric girl she didn’t know. All through the school day people greeted her, telling her they had read what she had written. Only a few boys whistled and made comments, but she ignored them.

At break she stayed well away from Princess and her friends. Busi came over and sat with her. “It’s amaz-ing,” Busi said. “Even Princess’s own friends are acting a bit different after what you wrote. They all agreed to go to Sports Day even though Princess said she wasn’t going. They’d never have done that be-fore.”

At the end of lessons Bontle found her. “You OK?” she asked.

“It wasn’t as bad as I’d expected,” said Lelethu. “Lots of people liked my poem. Only a few boys still laughed at me. And it was like Siyabonga said. I didn’t react and so they just left it.”

“He’s quite a guy, that Siyabonga,” said Bontle. “Come, let’s walk home. I’ll get you a chocolate at the spaza.”

“Sorry, Bontle, I can’t. There’s something I need to do. I need to find Pholisa,” said Lelethu.

Her stomach churned at the idea of trying again. Knocking on the shack door, having Pholisa push her out. But she knew she had to do it.

She found the shack more quickly this time. Before she could change her mind, she knocked loudly. Pholisa opened the door.

“I did see what you put on Mxit,” Pholisa said quietly.

Her granny called out from behind her. “If that’s Lelethu, will you go and sort things out? I’m tired of you hanging around here. It makes me sick to look at you so sad all the time.”

Lelethu giggled. “She sounds better.”

“She is,” said Pholisa. “We went to the hospital and she got better medicine.”

Together they went out onto the street. Lelethu bought them a cooldrink with money Bontle had given her. “You remembered my favourite,” said Pholisa as Lelethu handed her a can of Iron Brew.

“I messed up so badly,” Lelethu said. “You must forgive me.” She told the story to Pholisa, not leaving out how she had behaved. “I don’t know what got into me,” she said. “It’s as if that Princess bewitched me.”

“Don’t even joke about it,” said Pholisa. “You know it was you. You can get a bit crazy about things. Re-member when you wanted that dress, the one in the new shop? When we all knew it was too small for you. You didn’t think about anything else. In the morning, it was just dress talk. And then all day. I think if your aunt hadn’t given your mother the money you would still be talking about that dress.”

“I know,” laughed Lelethu. “You must have gone mad.” The picture came back to her of a soft blue dress flared at the waist with white trimmings around the sleeves and the hem. She remembered the gentle swish it made around her legs as she walked – but how tight it had been around her waist. She had con-tinued to wear it until it just about split open. “It was the most beautiful dress in the world.”

“Yes, when you were seven,” said Pholisa, slurping her cooldrink noisily through the straw.

“Oh, Pholisa, it’s so good to be with you again,” said Lelethu. She hooked her pinkie with Pholisa’s. “Friends forever,” she said.

“I should punish you for being so horrible,” said Pholisa.

“No, Pholi, I’ve been punished enough,” said Lelethu.

“OK, Lele. Friends forever,” said Pholisa, and then slurped her drink again.

Lelethu heard a familiar laugh, and looked down to the corner where the hawkers sold fake leather handbags. There were Princess, Pamela and Zikhona walking towards them, talking and laughing like they were the most important people in the street.

“Oh, no, I can’t believe it’s her,” said Lelethu. “Come, sit down here, I don’t want her to see us.” She hud-dled down and pulled Pholisa next to her.

“She’s not looking here,” said Pholisa, peering over the box they were hiding behind. “Who’s that guy she’s looking at?”

Princess turned to see. Down the road, who should be approaching but Siyabonga. There was something friendly even about the way he walked, swinging his legs high with each step, seeming to bounce along the pavement.

“Hi, sweetie,” shouted Princess, crossing the road to join Siyabonga, leaving Pamela and Zikhona waiting on the pavement on the other side of the road. Oh no, thought Lelethu, she’s getting closer.

Siyabonga gave a little wave and smiled at Princess, but looked as if he was going to walk on. That wasn’t good enough for her.

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere, sweetie,” said Princess. “It’s your college dance in a week, isn’t it?”

Siyabonga nodded, looking around as if he wanted to escape. Then he saw Lelethu behind the box. “Lele!” he called out.

Damn, she thought to herself, as she and Pholisa stood up sheepishly. It was as if they’d been caught spy-ing.

Princess’s face looked like thunder, but she didn’t say anything as Siyabonga introduced himself to Pholisa.

“Lele, I’m looking for your cousin,” he said.

“No need to look far,” she said. “Look who’s coming down the road.”

Bontle was on her own. She had seen them and was rushing towards Lelethu with a worried look. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. So you found Pholisa, that’s good. But is that Princess giving you trou-ble?”

“Are you talking about me, bitch?” said Princess, stepping towards Bontle, who took a step back, shocked.

Siyabonga interrupted her. “No, no Bontle, there’s no trouble. But I’m glad to see you. You see, I’ve got something to ask you. Are you doing anything next weekend?”

Princess’s jaw dropped as it dawned on her what Siyabonga was saying. “You invited me to the dance!” she spat out.

“I never did, Princess,” said Siyabonga. “You just wanted me to.”

For once Princess didn’t seem to know what to say. “Besides,” Siyabonga said. “You haven’t been very nice to your friends.” He pulled Lelethu close to him.

“She’s not my friend,” said Princess.

“You’re right there,” said Lelethu. “You don’t even know the meaning of the word.”

The girls stared angrily at each other. Then Princess turned to Siyabonga, her tone suddenly pleading. “I’ve bought my dress and everything.”

“I’m sorry, Princess,” he said. “But I’m asking someone else.” He looked at Bontle.

“You want her, and not me?” said Princess in disbelief. “She has no swag in the world.”

“I think she’s got swag,” said Siyabonga, and then looked shy all of a sudden.

“You’re sad,” she said.

“No, you’re sad,” said Lelethu. “Because you don’t have a real friend in the world.”

She pointed to Zikhona and Pamela across the road. “Do they really care for you? Or are they just afraid of you?”

Princess opened her mouth, then shut it again. Then she turned around and walked back to Pamela and Zikhona. “So aren’t you going to the dance?” Zikhona asked.

Princess made a strangled sound. “You retard. Of course I’ll go somehow.”

Pamela made to put an arm around her.

“Leave me!” Princess shouted and stormed off, Pamela and Zikhona looking after her.

Then Zikhona turned to the others. “Bye!” she called. “See you round, Lele.” And she and Pamela strolled away together.

“Well done, Lele,” said Pholisa. “You are always so brave.”

Siyabonga and Bontle smiled at them both, the kind of smile proud parents give to their small children. Then Siyabonga turned back to Bontle. “So, Bontle,” he said. “About next weekend.” He looked at his feet awkwardly, then looked back at her.

“Glad you think I’ve got swag, Siya,” Bontle said, her eyes laughing.

“Oh, I do, Bontle,” began Siyabonga earnestly. “You know that I …” His voice faded.

“Time to get out of here,” said Pholisa to Lelethu. Bontle and Siya didn’t even seem to notice as the friends walked away arm in arm.