When I hear the plan for keeping me safe, I am not pleased.
“Go and stay in Mozambique?”
“We’ve already spoken to your father’s cousin there,” Ma says. “The family is happy to have you. Of course, this is just a short-term solution. After BK’s trial, we’ll see how things look, if we think the danger is over.”
“But … Mozambique?” I protest. “I mean, the official language is Portuguese.”
“So? Paulina and Moreira are Tsonga, same as us, like many in the southern part of Moz. Their Xishangana is similar to our Xitsonga. But you know they speak English too, from that time they were living in South Africa.”
“But what about school?”
“You’ll go to school in Manhica with Noemia for the month or two you’ll be there,” Papa says.
“Noemia!”
She’s the same age as me, but we have zilch in common. I remember the family from when they came to stay with us in Bushbuckridge a few years ago. Noemia was too good to be true, boringly sweet and saintly. All the adults compared us, and I felt like I couldn’t win; she was so much kinder and more helpful and generally better-behaved than me.
“We need to think of a way to get you out of here and over the border without BK and his thugs guessing what we’re doing,” Ma is saying, all thoughtful.
“Can’t I rather just hide out with Galamba in Tshwane?” I plead.
“In his res? By the way, most people don’t know your brother transferred from UJ to Tuks, and we need to keep it that way, so they don’t go after him too,” Papa says, smiling at me. “Foreign travel, Chansenga. Lucky girl!”
I’m not feeling lucky, that’s for sure.
“Can’t you just be a little less honest for once – for my safety’s sake?” I beg Ma.
Her eyes flash. “You dare to say that to me?”
My face goes hot. Mostly I admire her for her integrity, but now it’s affecting my life, and not in a good way.
Just when I’m getting somewhere with Hakelo!
I can’t even explain to him why I’m going to be disappearing from school for a while. I’m forbidden to tell anyone, even Xongisa, in case it reaches the wrong people.
“I won’t be around for a bit,” is all I can tell people.
Xongisa thinks she knows why. “Because you’re post-traumatic after what happened, of course. I’ll miss you.”
Hakelo’s reaction is a big disappointment.
“Too bad,” he says. “We could have had a good thing. But I’ve always liked your friend Xongisa. She’ll suit me fine.”
“Wow! Nice, Hakelo.”
I restrain myself from whacking him hard with my bag, and walk away. I don’t know if I should warn Xongisa, or let her learn what he’s like for herself. I know she likes him and, if I say something, she might think I’m just trying to put her off him so I’ll still have a chance when I come back.
When I return from exile, is how I’m starting to think of it.
***
Tell us what you think: Is Chansenga’s mother wrong to put integrity before her own daughter’s safety? Or is it Chansenga who’s wrong, to even suggest that her mother should be less honest?