Kefentše is nervous when she arrives at school with Tshereletšo; she doesn’t know what to expect. But her girlfriends are happy to see her and immediately start telling her the news about Mr Pootona’s suspension. They don’t know why he’s been suspended, however, and all the students, and the teachers, are asking the same question. In class, Posh gives Kefentše a questioning look but doesn’t say anything.

Kefentše’s plan is to speak to Posh after school, when she doesn’t have Ribs and Minky around as an audience. But the three girls leave together, so Kefentše has no option but to follow. She keeps a good distance behind them and makes up a story about going to buy stationary, just in case they see her.

A taxi hoots and pulls up beside the three girls. Kefentše worries that she’s going to lose them, but only Minky gets in, sliding across the front seat and giving the driver a long kiss. Posh and Ribs wave and walk on. They stop at a spaza shop and buy cooldrinks. Then, a few hundred metres further on, Ribs turns down a side road.

Kefentše walks faster and just as she’s close enough to call out to her, Posh turns into a yard and walks to the back of the small house. Kefentše waits across the street, hesitant. Maybe this isn’t her home, she thinks. She was expecting Posh to live in a much bigger house. After about ten minutes she sees Posh, now wearing a simple green dress, walk outside to hang washing on the line. This must be her home, she thinks, and walks into the yard.

“Kefe! What the hell are you doing here? Did you follow me?”

“Yes. I have to talk to you. Please.”

“Make it quick; my parents will be home soon.”

Kefentše quickly tells Posh everything that has happened since they came back from the Science Trip. She ends with what the investigators told her about needing other witnesses to testify against Mr Pootona. She begs Posh to think about testifying, or at least to speak to the investigators.

Posh: No ways, baby, you’re crazy! I told you reporting him would just lead to trouble. He’s too clever.

Kefe: But if we work together we can beat him. Look, the Department has suspended him; they’re taking it seriously.

Posh: Yes, and look how the whole village is talking; it’s more popular than Generations! I told you before; I don’t need that sort of publicity.

Kefe: But at least speak to the investigators. Maybe they can just take a statement from you or something.

Posh: Listen – my parents think I’m still a virgin, OK? My father’s a preacher for God’s sake! I can’t risk it.

Kefe: But your clothes an–

Posh: Don’t be crazy! They know nothing. I keep all my stuff at Ribs’ house.

Kefe: But don’t you want to see Pootona stopped, and punished?

Posh: I wouldn’t mind, and I wish you luck, but I can’t help you, baby. I’m sorry. Now go! Here’s my Dad.

Kefentše rushes out of the yard just as a chubby, smiling man in a worn old suit and hat and carrying an old briefcase walks across the street. She slows and turns to watch, and sees Posh skip across the yard like an excited little girl and hug her father.

Kefentše is deeply disappointed; she really thought she would be able to convince Posh to at least talk to the investigators. But she won’t push her any more. Seeing Posh in her simple green dress at her simple little house has made Kefentše feel sorry for her. Living a double life and lying to your parents all the time must be a heavy burden, she thinks.

On the walk home she thinks about the girl Maki. Posh had said that she got pregnant by Pootona and ran away from home. Tshereletšo found out from her cousin at school that the family has nothing to do with her, and that she lives with her child in the mekhukhu area near town. Kefentše hopes she has better luck convincing this victim to testify.

*****

As the taxi pushes slowly through the crowds, hooting and bouncing over the rough roads, Kefentše can’t believe there are so many people, cattle, goats, and rubbish, all squashed up together. She’s very thankful that Tshereletšo insisted on coming with her. They get out at the main taxi rank. Maki’s cousin had told Tshereletšo that she sells sweets in front of her mokhukhu, just behind the big advertising billboard on the main road going south.

They haven’t walked far when Kefentše grabs Tshereletšo’s arm and points across the road. “Isn’t that her?” she says. “I think I recognise her from school. And look, under the table – that must be the baby.”

They pull back a little, out of the stream of people walking past, and watch the young woman across the street. She looks older than Kefentše expected; she had been just a year ahead at school. There are only a few loose sweets on the table, and she doesn’t seem to be getting much business. The child pulls himself upright using one of the legs for support, and the table sways unsteadily. Maki grabs his arm and smacks it, pushing him to the ground again and shouting something. Kefentše is shocked at the unnecessary violence.

She waits a few more minutes and then says to Tshereletšo, “Wait for me here”. But just then an empty taxi pulls up under the billboard and the driver jumps out. They watch as Maki gets up, forces a tired smile, sweeps her sweets into a plastic, picks up the baby, and disappears with the driver into her shack. Kefentše turns to Tshereletšo, worried that she has missed the opportunity to speak to Maki in private.

They decide to wait, and less than ten minutes later the driver walks out buckling his belt. A few moments later Maki is back at her table, sweets on top, baby underneath. Kefentše doesn’t waste any more time.

Tshereletšo watches from across the street. Kefentše squats on her haunches next to Maki, her expression grave. She talks fast, and continues talking even though Maki puts up her hands and then turns her back. Still talking, Kefentše picks up the baby. Suddenly something snaps in Maki and she jumps up and runs to her shack. Kefentše follows with the baby and closes the door behind her. Tshereletšo knows he’s supposed to stay out of sight, but the sweets are still on the table. He walks across to make sure that nothing is stolen.

Inside the shack, Maki is sitting on the edge of her bed sobbing.

“Sometimes I think of killing this child because of the terrible things I have to do just to get food! I was a virgin before. Now any man can have me. I suffer every day looking after this child I didn’t even want. You can’t imagine what it’s like, what I have to do to survive. Sometimes I dream that I’ll wake up and everything will be like before; I’m at home with my parents, going to school, playing netball…”

When Kefentše comes out of the shack nearly two hours later she looks exhausted. She holds Tshereletšo’s hand tightly as they walk back to the taxi rank.

“I keep thinking it could be me in this place, Tshere. It makes me realise how lucky I am.”

“But is she going to testify?”

“I don’t know. She said she’d think about it. I gave her Ms Seanego’s phone number. But you know what? I can’t force her. She has suffered so, so much already.”

***

Tell us: What do you think of Maki’s family rejecting her? Is it understandable? Do you know of cases where this has happened?