“Patricia’s mother helped us make scones. It was such fun,” Nonofo said.

“That must have been nice,” their mother said.

Kagiso ate her dinner. She tried not to be jealous about Patricia. She was glad her sister was happy. She ate a few bites of her dinner. Anyway, maybe she would have a new friend soon too. She’d talked a few times to a girl in her art class, Senatla, and today they had exchanged cellphone numbers. She didn’t need lots of friends; one would do. And she liked Senatla. She was a lot like her. They were both quiet and good at painting. Senatla was in the popular group but she wasn’t mean like the others. Just sharing their cell numbers had improved Kagiso’s mood a lot. Maybe she could learn to like Kloofsburg after all.

Her cellphone beeped and she got up from the table to answer it. It was likely a text from Molly: her fortnightly text message saying how she missed her, when Kagiso knew she had moved on with her life and likely didn’t think about her at all. She looked down at her phone and smiled. It was not from Molly.

It was a text message from Senatla. She was asking if Kagiso wanted to go to a party with her – an all-night party at the dam. She said it was probably better she tell her parents she would be spending the night at Senatla’s house near the school.

“What is it?” her mother asked, as Kagiso came back to the dinner table.

“It’s a new friend I made at school. She wants to know if I can spend the night at her house on Saturday. Is that OK?”

Her mother smiled and said, “Sure, that’s great. I’m so happy you’ve found a new friend.”

Kagiso was happy too.

The next day in art class they worked on sketches for a sculpture they would carve out of a block of wood. Kagiso was working on an abstract piece with ovals and a grape vine running through it. Senatla was sketching a mother with a baby on her back. Kagiso looked at her sketches. “That’s beautiful,” she said. “But the mother looks so sad.”

Senatla considered her own sketch. “Yes, I suppose she is.”

“I’m excited about the party on Saturday. Thanks for inviting me,” Kagiso said.

“Yes…I guess. Um…I don’t know…maybe we should just stay at my house. It might be too cold for the dam,” Senatla said.

“Cold? It’s November. I’m sure it will be fine. We’ll bring jackets just in case. I’m looking forward to meeting your friends.”

“Yes…my friends,” Senatla said.

“Why? Is something the matter?”

Senatla hesitated. Where did her loyalties lie? If she told Kagiso the truth, that she was suspicious about why Kagiso was invited, she knew how Reggie and Marike would respond. She didn’t need that hassle. Besides what could go wrong? It was all probably just a harmless prank to entertain Marike and Reggie. Everything would be fine. She’d make up with Kagiso afterwards.

“No, nothing’s the matter,” she said. “You’ll like my friends. I’m sure you will.”

* * *

Tell us what you think: Should Senatla tell Kagiso she does not trust what her friends have planned for the party?