Zinhle woke up to the chattering of people walking down the street. Vryheid was the place to be in the summer. The sun was already streaming into her window, which meant she was running late for work again. Zinhle worked at Natal Mineral Springs and Spa Hotel as a waitress. She was twenty-three, young and gorgeous. Waitressing was busy work in summer because people visited the hotel in their numbers to be pampered in the spa.

Zinhle ran a bath, packed her lunch and started ironing her black and white dress – their uniform at the hotel – before she bathed. She was dressing when she heard an annoyed voice calling from outside.

“Zinhle, don’t tell me you are still in bed? We can’t wait for you any longer. We’re all going to be late because of you.”

It was Nokwanda. Zinhle could hear the complaining voices of the people in the staff taxi as she ran out to join them. She apologized to everyone.

“It won’t happen again. I swear,” she said, fingers crossed. “I knocked off late yesterday. I was so tired that I overslept.”

“I get you chomi, but it’s not the first time. You’ve been late almost every day this whole week,” Nokwanda pointed out. Everyone in the taxi murmured, shaking their heads.

The morning was really busy at the hotel; Zinhle didn’t stop for a minute. At lunch time she found Nokwanda sitting by the kids’ swimming pool.

“Hey chomi, how could you do that to me at the taxi? You’re my friend. You were supposed to defend me,” said Zinhle.

“I had to do it. It’s what a loyal friend should do. Tell you what others won’t, straight to your face.”

Then Philip, the manager, called for Zinhle and Nokwanda to go back to work, even though they still had fifteen minutes left of their lunch time.

“We are always working. No time to talk. I can’t wait to get out of here,” Zinhle complained. “I tell you chomi, one day I will get out of this small town for good. I will have my beautiful house in Durban.”

“Don’t complain. Summer is our best time for tips,” said Nokwanda. “And we will be welcoming handsome dudes at the reception soon. I’m talking about ones with money and sports cars and expensive aftershave.”

“Dream on Nokwanda, ntombazane. You know I’m in a serious relationship now. I don’t do that anymore,” said Zinhle.

“You? You can’t say no to expensive dresses and sport cars. I know you like to show off too. That’s how we roll. Where is the Zinhle I used to know? What has Simphiwe done to my friend? I miss the old you, girl,” complained Nokwanda.

“Simphiwe did not do anything but show me that real life exists away from here,” said Zinhle. “I think you need someone who will do that for you, friend, so that you can grow.”

“Grow, my foot!” said Nokwanda. “You really need to get a life. You two are so boring. I know this is not you. I know you – once a playa always a playa.”

***

Tell us: Do you think Nokwanda is right that loyal friends should tell each other the truth, even if it hurts?