In the afternoon I go to the library. I wait an hour for a computer to free up and I am half way through typing my job application letter when the computer crashes. They fix it just before the internet goes down. I look at the girl on my right; she was in my class last year. We smile. I see she is applying for the same job. I pack up and go home.

Thuli tries to help me stay positive. She’s a real Oprah Winfrey.

“You will never get a job if you are depressed. You need to exude confidence and positive vibes. If you put good things out into the universe good things will come back to you,” she told me last night. I wonder if Miranda fed her those lines.

Speak of the devil wears Prada, here comes Thuli down the street, heading to our door with a glossy magazine she got from her new BFF.

“Whazupp?” She lies down on my bed and sighs. “You really should change the curtains; they are so last week.” We laugh. Thuli always lifts my mood.

“Why so exhausted?” I ask her as she sighs again.

“Thato!” she says. “We were studying together.” I raise my eyebrows. “You should see his new computer. It, like, practically writes his assignments for him. But look here, I have something to cheer you up.” She fishes in her gold bag and hauls out a glossy magazine. Thuli loves all things shiny and new. “You should read this article. It’s so motivational.”

‘Ten ways to keep your guy’ I read, and roll my eyes. “I haven’t got a guy. How can I keep a guy I haven’t got?”

I see she has underlined number three, that says: ‘Always put on something a little special for when he comes home.’

“What kind of BS is that?”

“No, not that article. Here – the one on the next page.”

“Grateful List,” I read aloud.

Every morning, write down 10 things you are grateful for.

Thuli has five things she is grateful for, before she even has breakfast, I think.

1. University

2. Eating ice creams with Miranda

3. Having access to a huge library with books about everything, and Thato’s laptop, and a sexy lecturer called Mr Nkosi

4. She’s hot

5. Someone called Thato, who is also hot, is very into her.

Me? I have extremely limited access to a computer in the local library, which crashes, and a phone that runs out of data all the time.

“Turn the negative into the positive …” Thuli says, her eyes closed, like she’s chanting.

“Really, Thuli?” I ask her, shaking her awake. “Okay watch this! I’ll give you my positives and negatives.” I know I am over-reacting, but I feel very on the edge right now.

I reach for my twentieth application letter for a job at a call centre and scribble on the back. My pen scratches holes through the page.

Positive and Negative

Positive: I have a brother.

Negative: He’s an idiot.

Positive: I have a best friend called Thuli.

Negative: She is now Miranda’s best friend.

“Who’s Miranda?” asks Thuli, frowning.

“Oh nothing. Forget it.” I flop back on the bed.

***

Tell us: Is Lelethu right to worry she is losing her bestie to new varsity friends? Why or why not?