Zinhle was annoyed with her friend. After she had finished clearing a table after lunch she found Nokwanda in the toilets.

“You know how people used to call us sluts behind our backs Nokwanda. I don’t want to go back there. What are we going to say to our children, friend? You are the one who needs to get a real life,” said Zinhle.

“Aw, now you are planning to have kids? Who says anything about children Zinhle? I do not have time to be my own nanny.”

“I didn’t mean it like that, Nokwanda. I am talking about the future. Change is good. You can find a man who will love you chomi. Not a man who will only buy you expensive things, eat your cake and go,” said Zinhle.

“You sound like an old lady, baby girl,” said Nokwanda. “When did we last go out to lunch, like have lunch at a restaurant? Mmm – those yummy desserts with strawberries! Don’t tell me those aren’t good memories.”

“It brings back bad memories too. People saying bad things – which you know are true. I don’t wish to go back there,” replied Zinhle.

“Wow, my friend. You really have changed,” said Nokwanda. “The last time I checked, you went out to eat pie at Chicken Pickin. That’s the cheap life.”

“I enjoy it at Chicken Pickin. I know it’s hard for you to believe,” said Zinhle, “but being somewhere with someone you really love makes it fun. It doesn’t matter where you go, even the cheapest places.”

After lunch, when all the tables had been cleared at the hotel restaurant, Zinhle sat alone at one of them. She replayed her lunch conversation with Nokwanda. I really love Simphiwe, she thought. But what if my friend is right and I am too young to be in a serious relationship? Maybe I need a man who will take me to dinner, sometimes, and buy me expensive dresses, sometimes. Simphiwe can’t do that while he is earning peanuts.

As if he could read her thoughts, Simphiwe called.

“Zinhle, I’m here baby. I came to fetch you. It’s late, or are you working long hours again today?” He was still talking on the phone when he joined her in the dining room.

She kissed him hello.

“Baby, let’s go. You look tired. I feel like telling them that they are working you too hard. They shouldn’t be treating my princess like that,” he teased.

“And you should sue the Chinese at the shop where you work. They make you work long hours and pay you peanuts baby,” said Zinhle. “You have responsibilities now. I am one of them,” she teased back, but she was serious at the same time. They both laughed.

“Let’s rather not talk about our jobs now. I had a rough day at work already,” said Simphiwe.”

As they were walking home they noticed a smart Audi driving up. The driver stopped next to them and asked for directions to town. You could tell he was from out of town from the NUZ number plate. And he just reeked money.

Simphiwe gave him directions. Zinhle looked back at the car as it drove off. That’s a guy who could spend money on a girl, she thought. Feeling guilty, she took Simphiwe’s hand, but she had seen how he had also looked enviously at the car. That owner was living a life that Simphiwe could never afford, with his job.

***

Tell us: Do you think Zinhle really has given up her old life?