Thato walked along the river bed with his friend Mildred. The river was next to the township where they both lived, right next door to each other. There was no water in the river because it hadn’t rained for months. They were going to collect some firewood.

The two teenagers were happy. It was Friday and they were looking forward to the weekend.

“Woh! Will you just look at the size of that, Thato!” Mildred shouted as she pointed towards the sky. Thato looked up and saw a huge silver aeroplane flying high above their heads.

Thato sighed sadly.

“What’s wrong Thato?” asked Mildred. “I thought you liked aeroplanes just as much as I do.”

But Thato just watched the aeroplane, without saying anything. Mildred linked her arms around his waist. “Tomorrow is Saturday,” she said. “Why don’t we go and watch aeroplanes? We can spend the day at George Airport watching the planes take off and land.”

Thato smiled. “For sure. How was I so lucky to find a girl who loves planes just as much as I do?”

Mildred smiled and shook out her long, glossy dreadlocks. She loved to see Thato happy.

“But now – let’s have a race to see who is the fastest runner!” Mildred challenged him.

Thato laughed and ran along beside his girlfriend. He and Mildred had known each other since they were small children. They had been best friends then, but somehow along the way their friendship had blossomed into love.

As they slowed down, puffing, he was still dreaming about aeroplanes. It was all he seemed to think about these days. Mildred liked to tease him.

“I think you have an obsession about aeroplanes, Thato. Maybe you like them more than you like me?”

“Not a chance,” Thato said, as he grabbed her about the waist and kissed her. “One day I’m going to fly in an aeroplane with you. Where would you like to go, Madame?”

“Well now … let me see, kind Sir. I think a trip to the island of Mauritius would suit me just fine. Or perhaps you could take me shopping in Joburg. And then you could fly me over the Kruger Park. I could look down on all the animals.”

“Your wish is my command, Madame,” Thato said and buzzed around as if he was an aeroplane.

“Good morning, folks. This is your Captain speaking. Ladies and gentlemen, sit back and enjoy your flight.”

However, as much as Thato adored aeroplanes he knew he had to be practical. He was well aware that he would have to go to school for many years before he could train to be a pilot.

Thato also knew he would have to wait many years before he would get the chance to even take a trip in an aeroplane. He was pleased his dad allowed him to visit the airport in George though. The airport was small and he could not get into any trouble. His parents didn’t have enough money to pay for him to fly some-place – but that didn’t stop him dreaming.

*****

The following morning, Thato woke up early. His Gogo was already up. Thato helped her set the table for breakfast. He was anxious to get to the airport quickly. But Gogo told him to sit down and eat a bowl of porridge. Then she gave him some hot tea and bread.

“A young man like you needs to eat. Stop jumping all over the place. You’re making me nervous, Thato.”

“Sorry Gogo,” Thato said as he drank his tea.

She smiled at him. She knew how much he loved aeroplanes. Sometimes she liked to tease him too.

“Who wants to fly in one of those things?” she would say. “It is safer to stay on the ground.”

“One day when I fly all over the world, you won’t say that, Gogo,” Thato replied, laughing.

“Off with you now,” Gogo said. “You know the rules, Thato. Stay well behind the wire fence. And don’t get up to any mischief. Be sure you’re back here by lunchtime. Your father has some chores for you to do for him.”

“I’ll remember!” Thato shouted as he ran out of the house. Then he turned back and kissed Gogo on the cheek.

“Thanks Gogo. I love you.” Then he was off running again.

Gogo shook her head and smiled. She had a feeling that her grandson would fulfil his dream one day.

Mildred was standing by her gate waiting for him. The teenagers walked off happily, arms encircled around each other. They were thrilled at the thought of spending the morning together gazing at aeroplanes and at each other.

Mildred, too, hoped to learn to fly one day. But the reason she wanted to fly was because she wanted to be a vet. That way she could fly all over South Africa tending to sick and injured wild animals. Mildred was as passionate about animals as Thato was about flying. She was determined to learn as much as she could about aeroplanes in the meantime. And this way she could spend her free time with Thato. She thought she was a very lucky young woman indeed.

Never once did the two teenagers think they were not going to fulfil their dreams. They were both well aware that it wasn’t going to be all plain sailing. But for now they knew the only thing they could do was work hard at school. They also both loved reading – anything they could get their hands on. Of course Thato took books about flying and aeroplanes, technical books, out of the library. He knew every single part of an aeroplane. And Mildred read up about vets’ adventures in Africa. One day it would be her treating a sick elephant like the one she saw in the photographs.

In the meantime there was dreaming, and there was each other.

***

Tell us: Both Thato and Mildred seem certain of what they want to do when they leave school. Do you yet have a career dream you are following? If so, what is it?