Kagiso woke up early Saturday morning, the day of the party. Senatla had said that she should meet them at school. Reggie would drive them out to the dam in his car. Kagiso decided she would ride her bike to school and park it there instead of having her mother drive her. That way her mother wouldn’t accidentally see the others.

She got out of bed and started going through her wardrobe. She wanted to wear the perfect outfit. She dropped her swimsuit in her bag. Senatla said they would likely go swimming in the dam. Kagiso knew how to swim but didn’t really like it. She was not a strong swimmer so preferred to paddle around in the shallow areas.

She began pulling out clothes and trying on different combinations. Nonofo came into her room. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“Trying to find something to wear.”

“To a sleepover? What does it matter?”

Kagiso had always been close to her sister. But since they’d been in Kloofsburg they’d drifted apart. Kagiso was so lonely and unhappy and Nonofo so happy with her new friends, that they had little in common anymore. But that was going to change. “Can I tell you a secret?” Kagiso said.

“Sure.”

“You promise not to tell anyone, especially Mom?”

“OK, I won’t tell anyone.”

“It’s not a sleepover. It’s an all-night party at the dam,” Kagiso said smiling.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” Though she was only thirteen, four years younger than Kagiso, Nonofo was often more sensible. “You don’t even know these people.”

“I know Senatla. She’s my friend. I’ll be fine.”At six o’clock, Kagiso got on her bike and yelled back into the house, “I’m leaving!”

“OK Kagiso, have fun. We’ll see you tomorrow morning!” her mother yelled out the kitchen window, where she stood washing dishes.

When Kagiso got to school, she found Senatla waiting for her. “The others are waiting for us around the corner,” she said.

Kagiso locked her bike. “I love what you’re wearing,” Senatla said. “Did you get it in Joburg?”

“Yes, I did.”

“It must have been great living in a big city. So many shops and places to go.”

“Yes it was,” Kagiso said. A week ago she would have said how great Joburg had been, how much better it was than Kloofsburg, but now she was hopeful things would be changing. She might end up liking this place as much as the city. The party tonight might make all the difference.

They walked around the corner and there were the others. Reggie’s car was an old kombi with plenty of room for everyone and their stuff. “Guys this is Kagiso,” Senatla said.

Marike stepped forward. “Kagiso, I’m so glad you could come to my party.” She put her arm around Kagiso’s shoulder and introduced her to Reggie, Themba, and Connie.

“OK, now that we’re all here, let’s get going,” Reggie said.

Everybody got in and they headed out of town to the dam. It was still light out when they arrived but the sun was low and soon setting. They made a big fire after collecting wood from around the dam. Reggie set up camp chairs and put on his music in the car. It had powerful speakers. Marike handed Kagiso a glass of red drink. “Here, have some of my special punch. Watch out, it’s alcoholic.”

Kagiso drank slowly. She’d had alcohol before but not often and she didn’t want to get drunk and act silly. She danced with the other kids. They seemed nice; she wondered what Senatla had been afraid of. They grilled meat on the fire. She was having such a good time. For the first time in a long while, she was not thinking of Molly and Tumelo in Joburg and wondering what they were doing without her. Instead she was having fun with new friends. Things were really looking up.

* * *

Tell us: Are you happy for Kagiso? Why or why not?