At least Monday morning, I can get back to school. At least there I can forget about Tom and my sister. Tom has been calling me all weekend. But I reject his calls. Why would I want to speak to him again – ever?

And when Nomvula phones, I pretend everything is fine. I ask her about the shoot, about how she is enjoying Durban. She asks how Tom is. Fine, I tell her. I don’t say a word about the text she sent him.

At assembly, I stand far from Veronica, right on the other side of Mrs Zondo. I don’t want my friend asking questions about my weekend. Or telling me that I will end up a childless spinster.

In class, I try to smile at my thirty-nine kiddies. I try to sound light-hearted while I explain about litres and millilitres, about grams and kilograms.

At the end of the lesson, I say, “I want you to do some research at home.”

Their eyes light up. They love doing research. They love feeling like scientists.

“Yes, I want you to check in your kitchen cupboards and in your fridge and find six things that are measured in grams or litres. Like sugar or milk or a tin of sardines. And write them down for tomorrow. Exactly how many grams or how many litres. OK?”

Everyone is smiling, discussing what groceries they will check. Everyone except Thabo. In fact, Thabo is scowling. He turns to Vusi beside him and punches him. Hard.

“Thabo!” I scold him sternly. “Why did you do that?”

Thabo looks down at his desk, not answering.

It takes me a moment to realise what the problem is. And then I am ashamed of myself. Of course! I know how poor Thabo’s family is. There probably isn’t much food in their cupboards. In fact, his mom doesn’t even own a fridge. How could I be so thoughtless? No wonder he is upset.

I have to think fast.

“Or,” I say, “Or if you want to be a real researcher, you can go the shop with your book and write down some measurements there.”

It works! Thabo is smiling too now, discussing with Vusi which shop they will go to this afternoon so they can do their research together.

Once again, my class has taught me a lesson: how to see the bigger picture. How to look beyond the obvious instead of jumping to conclusions. It is a good lesson.

I drive home, thinking about Saturday night. Perhaps there is something I missed there too? I must try to see the bigger picture there too? I will talk to Nomvula soon as she gets back from Durban today. I need to understand.

***

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