Break began on a good note when Antonia saw Refiloe coming out of the Head’s office, mascara smudged around her red, weepy eyes. “Check it out – bride of the devil,” she couldn’t help joking with Tanya. “Bet she denied it all.”

But Sindiwe disappeared. And Andile disappeared. It was hard not to guess that they were together.

Antonia and Tanya took refuge in the furthest corner of the grounds, and were about to eat their lunch when Ngcebo and his best friend Ratsebe strolled up.

“Hey, girls. We’ve come looking for a little ‘devil-may-care’ company,” Ngcebo grinned, and so began a breaktime joke fest. “Listen, ladies, I’m not a Hindu so I got no sacred cows. Did you hear the one about the Devil, the imam, the priest and the rabbi? They walked into a bar …”

By the time they had finished, Antonia and Tanya were in stiches from all the laughter.

“Ja, laughing is lekker, nê?” grinned Ngcebo.

Still laughing, Antonia nodded and, as she lifted her head, their eyes met, and Ngcebo winked at her. She grinned back.

Then, to her surprise, Ngcebo said seriously: “Antonia, I know you’re white and don’t do the ancestors thing, but do you want to see my sangoma? He’s a powerful guy. He can cleanse all this bad stuff you’re getting. And help you feel the Spirit – know what I mean?”

“Now that might be an interesting new experience! But, no thanks. It will all blow over soon and I’ll survive. Especially since some people have treated me like I’m still human,” she said, giving him a spontaneous hug. “And, Ngcebo, I can’t be ‘cured’ of atheism. I’ve tried; religion is just not for me.”

“No probs. But I’ll still ask my ancestors to help you. Coz I like you. I like independent-thinking people,” he said, tweaked her cheek, and went off to class.

*****

That evening the Kingwills were relaxing, shoes off, chilled wine in hand. Antonia had reported a reasonable day and they were glad to be putting all the nonsense behind them. Then the doorbell rang.

“Ag, please answer that, honey,” called her mom.

Antonia opened the door. She frowned, puzzled and suspicious to see Solomon, Magdalen and a man in an old-fashioned dark suit and carrying a Bible.

“Solomon? Magdalen? Hi … er … what are you guys doing here?”

Magdalen said politely, “Hi, Antonia. Excuse us for the late visit. This is Brother Jacob. Can we come in and talk? You know – about all the stuff that’s been going on.”

I have a baaaad feeling about this, thought Antonia. “Sure. Come in.” She introduced them to her parents, who gave half-hearted ‘good evenings’, and looked mystified.

“Dear lady and gentleman,” began Brother Jacob, “these young congregants have come to me, highly disturbed. They tell me that an upsetting thing has happened at school. That your daughter has publicly denounced the existence of God. Now–”

“Hey – what’s this got to do with you?” Mr Kingwill’s volume rose every syllable.

“Please, Mr Kingwill, please just listen. Hear us out. We are so worried!” Magdalen pleaded.

Mrs Kingwill tried to calm him: “James, James, please. Let’s–”

“We are scared she has a demon; that she is possessed! Father Jacob can help. We can all pray over her … Drive it out!” blurted Magdalen.

Father Jacob smiled calmly and before Antonia’s open-mouthed and bug-eyed parents could get out a word he said: “Yes. With God’s help, I’m confident. All will be well. It’s just the earliest signs – apostasy and a few satanic symbols. No fits and demonic voices yet.”

Mrs Kingwill leaped up. “You mean you have come here to … I can’t even … You bloody fundamentalist morons. Demons? Exorcism? In this day and age? You are the ones with mental problems here. This is child abuse!” she yelled, jabbing her pointed finger accusingly.

Solomon covered his face with his hands. “Oh, oh, oh God,” he whispered. Magdalen recoiled, and, breathing heavily, clasped her hands together and softly prayed.

Father Jacob was unmoved; he just comforted the terrified pair, “Don’t worry, my children. That’s it … be calm … just pray quietly.”

“OK, Annie, stop. Losing it and yelling insults won’t help,” said Mr Kingwill, touching his wife’s arm. He closed his eyes, took a long, deep breath, stretched his fingers out taut then snapped them shut into fists. He thought for a moment, then spoke in a cold, frightening voice that cut like a razor.

“Antonia has the right to freedom of choice in her belief, and to speak about it at school. I know my law. In the same way, you have the right to believe what you want to. But you may not force your beliefs on others – in this case, a belief in supernatural forces. My child has already been harmed by the bullying that came about as a result of religious intolerance. Any more and there will be charges laid. Understand? Now get out.”

Antonia stood trembling as they scrambled out, chased by her dad. “Was I hearing things? Had they really come to exorcise me? What’s next for me in this crazed drama?”

***

Tell us: Some people believe strange or violent behaviour, hallucinations or ‘hearing voices in your head’ are mental illnesses. Others believe they may be caused by demons and spirits entering a body. What do you think? Do demons exist?