It’s been two weeks since we recorded with DJ Casino. We haven’t heard from him since.
We’ve also not been earning any money for two weeks. Waves and I head back to Mr. Mahlangu to beg for our jobs back.
Waves speaks first. “Please, Mr. Mahlangu, we won’t leave work again.”
“It’s about more than leaving work. I gave you boys a great opportunity, but you failed to see the bigger picture. I would have done anything for you boys. But you just couldn’t trust me with the truth. Gadaffi, when have I stood in the way of your dreams?”
I bow my head. “Eish, sorry, Mr. Mahlangu.”
Mr. Mahlangu nods. “Okay, you boys may work for me again in the future, but for now, ngiyabonga.”
Waves and I sit in the shade of the four-room house I share with my mother.
Waves speaks up. “Tjo, Gadaffi! We lost our jobs—a sure thing—for a dream.”
I am pissed. “Ain’t you the one who wanted more of everything? Now DJ Casino is in Joburg, doing God knows what with our music!”
Waves calms me down. “No need to fight amongst ourselves. DJ Casino is the one to blame.”
Waves’ cellphone rings. He looks at the screen. “Speak of the devil.”
“Is it DJ Casino?”
Waves nods and hands me the cellphone. “Gadaffi, ringa naye umuzwe ukuthi uthini. Who knows? Maybe he stole your music…”
I pick up the phone. “Ekse, DJ Casino, how’s Joburg…” He cuts me off.
“Can you gents make it to Kempton Park?”
I am excited. “Okay, DJ Casino. We’ll do our best to get there.”
“Okay then. Gadaffi, see you in Joburg.”
We use our last savings to catch a taxi to Jozi.
I feel a bit overwhelmed. “Mfowethu, now I know how you feel.”
“What do you mean?” Waves asks.
“The bubble guts!”
“Bekezela, bro. We’re almost at the promised land.”
I exhale slowly. “Ngiyabonga, mfowethu. Your words put me at ease.”
“You’re welcome. Oh, look. We’re here.”
For the first time in our lives, we arrive at the Joburg taxi rank. Looking at all the different people—different races, different nationalities—I feel so small, yet, somehow, important.
“Gadaffi, do you see where we are? We are definitely fish out of water,” Waves says.
“This is just the beginning. We just have to act like we belong.”
We arrive in Joburg. DJ Casino has a taxi cab waiting for us, ready to take us to the Pavilion Hotel in Kempton Park.
Waves turns to me. “Uphi yena?”
“He’ll meet us there.”
“Ok, let’s go.”
I look around while we drive to the hotel. The busy streets; taxis load up passengers on their route. The rich diversity of local and foreign people on the streets. Tall, monstrous buildings stand erect, followed by exotic cars parked side by side.
DJ Casino meets us outside the hotel. “My superstars. Welcome to Joburg. We’re going to need a whole new wardrobe for the both of you. For now, we’ll hit the Workshop, and later on, we hit Gateway. The plan is to drop your album at Club 777.”
Waves and I both cheer in excitement.
Tell Us: When things go wrong, do you find it easy or hard to stay positive? Why?