Zero drove off just as Lucas came out of the locker room. “Are you on shift again tonight?” Fiona asked him.
“Yeah, I swapped. I need to get away from your boyfriend; he’s got it in for me.”
Fiona kept quiet. She agreed with Lucas, but she wasn’t going to be disloyal to Zero by saying it. A customer pulled up at pump three and Lucas looked at the car, but stayed where he was, drinking the juice he had bought in the shop.
“I’ll get him,” Fiona said. That was Lucas, lazy – but he wasn’t the only one. Fiona filled the tank, took the money and went back to where Lucas was sitting.
“God, I could use a holiday,” she said, to make conversation. “My mother used to take us places when she was around. It was nice.”
“Why don’t you take yourself? I go to Joburg a lot, even been to Cape Town a few times. Durban’s great too, especially around Christmas,” Lucas said, leaning back, eating some chips.
“Who has money for all of that?”
“I got some money saved and all. Anytime you need a loan just say. No interest for you, Fi.”
Maybe that was where he got all of his money then, giving people loans with interest. It made her start thinking about the blouse she had on lay-by at the mall. She wished she could get it before the weekend, when Zero was taking her to the Ndigo Jowa concert. If it was with no interest, what would it hurt? She would pay Lucas back at the end of the month when she got paid.
“You know Lucas, if you’re telling the truth when you say there’s no interest, any chance you could loan me P100? I’ll pay you when we get paid at month-end,” Fiona asked, later in the shift.
“Sure.” Lucas took out his wallet. When he opened it, Fiona could see a stack of P200s and P100s. He took one out and handed it to her. “Anytime, Fiona. I mean it.”
“Do you want me to sign something?” she asked.
“No ways. I trust you.”
The next day Fiona went to the mall and collected her new lacy, red blouse. At home, she put it on and she felt happy, for a bit anyway.
She thought about how nice it would be to have enough money for everything she wanted. To have money to go to the beach in Durban or to Joburg for a weekend, like Lucas.
Her mother had taught both Fiona and Claudia to respect money. To plan for things, to be frugal and to save. But it would be nice to live like Lucas, to always have access to money when you needed it. Maybe then Fiona might find a way to be happier. She’d be able to go back to school and help Zero with his plan so he didn’t have to work so hard. Money made things easier.
On the weekend when Zero picked her up he noticed the blouse straight away.
“Don’t you look gorgeous!” he said as she got in the car.
“Do you like it? It’s new.”
“Sure, and it looks great on you. Where’d you get the money for that?”
“It’s the one I told you about; the one I had on lay-by at the mall.”
“So how’d you get it off lay-by? We don’t get paid for another two weeks?”
“Lucas loaned me the money.”
Zero pulled the car into the road and drove a distance before speaking. “Lucas? But I told you to keep away from him. He’s no good. I told you that.”
“OK, yeah, but that’s what you think because you’re his boss. Maybe he’s not the best employee, but that doesn’t mean he is not a good friend.”
“I don’t mean he’s just a bad employee, I mean he’s bad. I don’t trust him. You should stay away from him.”
“He’s alright.” Zero fell silent, the way he did when he was angry.
“Let’s not fight. I want to have fun tonight. We never go out. Just forget about it. I’ll pay him back and then I’ll be done with him.” She kissed him and Zero smiled. It was hard for him to stay angry with her.
“OK. You’re right. I’m sorry I don’t have more money to buy you nice things, like that blouse, and to take you out more. You deserve nice things. But you know I try to save everything I can. It will be better after I get the petrol station. I promise.”
“I know, Zero. Don’t worry. I’m fine. Let’s have fun tonight.”
“Yes, let’s.” Zero pulled her closer to him and for a bit everything seemed better.
***
Tell us: Is it right for Zero to tell Fiona who she can and can’t be friends with?