15 years ago…

It is a rainy day. The ground is soft and sticky as the cold wind blows on Thando’s wet face. Even though she is holding an umbrella, she can’t block the heavy rainfall from pouring over her. Her feet are covered in mud, she walks slowly, trying not to get too dirty. She movs towards her boyfriend John, who has his rain-coat on.

“I can’t stay long babe, it’s too cold,” Thando says, rubbing the drops of rain from her forehead.

Thando is edgy after sneaking out behind her mother’s back to meet up with John, who can’t help but notice that she was nervous. He tries to calm her nerves by putting both his hands on her face.

“So did you do it?” asks John.

“Yes, I decide to have an abortion three days ago,” replies Thando, removing John’s hands from her face and squeezing her fingers through his. “I thought about it and you were right babe, we are both too young to raise a child. I had to terminate my pregnancy.”

Thando sneaks back home through the front gate as her mother is finishing up with supper.

“Mama, where is Thando?” asks Dineo, Thando’s four-year-old sister.

Mrs Sibiya angrily switches off the paraffin stove and takes plates out of the cupboard. She is grumpy now.

“Your sister better have a good explanation when she gets here,” moans Mrs Sibiya, holding a plate with the one hand and dishing pap with the other.

“Mama please unlock the door, it’s cold outside,” shouts Thando, holding an umbrella.

Mrs Sibiya shakes her head twice, takes a plate of pap and gravy and serves it to Dineo.

“Mama please, I’m freezing out here!” shouted Thando,

”How many times have I warned you about that boy?!” yells Mrs Sibiya, standing in the door way.

“We were doing school work mama,” Thando says, putting her hands into the pockets of her jeans.

Mrs Sibiya put a doek on her hair, pulled the key out of the drawer and opened the door. Thando breathed a sigh of relief and entered the shack.

“I don’t want you to be with that boy,” yells Mrs Sibiya, waving her finger in Thando’s face.

Thando shoves her mother aside. “I love him Mama!” she shouts.

“You are sleeping under my roof and you will do as I say, young lady!” Mrs Sibiya grabs Thando by the wrist.

“You are hurting me Mama!” Thando pulls away from her mother’s grip.

“Out of my house!” shouts Mrs Sibiya, pushing her daughter back outside.

***

Tell us: Do you think Mrs Sibiya was right to kick Thando out of the house? Why or why not?