A few weeks later it was Jan’s mother’s birthday and they were at the steakhouse, as was the family tradition. He watched Sindi charming his aunt and cousin – everyone loved her. He smiled – he was a lucky guy! And she could be prouder of him now: he was so much more ripped. His aunt had gone on and on about how incredible he looked.

Then it was time to order and his mood changed. Dammit, he could not eat or drink a thing in these junk-food hell-holes. Any restaurant actually. He sighed – he would have a mediocre salad (if there was no dressing on it), ask for baked potato and see if they would agree to grill him a piece of fish. He could barely watch as the rest of his flabby family guzzled their way through all that poisonous “unclean” fried food.

I wish I was at the gym, he thought. I’m going first thing tomorrow to work off this muck.

Then he caught Sindi looking at him in a puzzling way: really examining him. She looked cross, and hurt. Oops – I wonder if my disgust was showing, he thought. He felt guilty; it was not fair on them. He had no right to judge them. But, still, he was finding eating out with friends and family more and more unpleasant: no one could deny they mostly ate rubbishy, unhealthy food.

The next day, he sat resting at the end of his session, watching the elite builders in their corner. Tariq approached.

“You think those huge guys got where they are with just effort and creatine? Look at the big, big guy of this gym – Anton ‘The Animal’ Fourie over there. Nah, dude … they’re all into it, and HGH – human growth hormone. These days some are even injecting synthol oil straight into the muscle. Oh, and by the way, you wanna know how many rugby players I supply – even at schoolboy level?”

Jan remembered with shock the huge guy – unnaturally huge? – who had shoved him over at the party. He thought about Lebo. Was that muscle “all natural”? He remembered how quickly some of the rugby guys had bulked up, especially when they were in line for a place on the first team.

And they are all okay, he convinced himself. It had done them good, physically and socially. Anyway, he was not competing with anyone or trying to get onto a sports team. He was just doing this for himself, his own self-esteem. So what was the harm, right?

Jan stood up and looked intently at himself in the mirror. He flexed his biceps, traps, abs, quads, pecs. He had grown a lot, but not enough. No way. “Okay, get me some. How much?”

“R600 for one course of six weeks, one injection per week.”

“Jeez! But okay, I’ll find the money.”

He had planned on going with Sindi and their friends to an all-day rock concert that was coming up, but he would have to cancel that, and work some extra shifts. In a way he was glad. Going to the concert would mean he would have to miss his gym session, would have to eat “unclean” food, and would be tired for training the next day.

As Tariq left, Aldo came over. “Jan, did Tariq just persuade you to start anabolic steroids? Don’t worry – I know he’s a dealer. And even though I prefer a natural building routine, I’m not totally against them if used carefully. Adult freedom of choice, hey? But don’t believe him when he says ‘everyone’ uses. ”

“Ya, Aldo, I’m going to start. I’ve slowed right down, man! I need them to get me to the next level, quick.”

“How old are you? You have stopped growing, height-wise, haven’t you?”

“I dunno – I guess so. I grew 10 centimetres in the last six months. I’m on 175 centimetres.”

“Because you know that one of the effects of roids is to close growth plates – you’ll stop growing taller. Check Shorty Smit there – he started serious bodybuilding way too young.”

“You kidding me! I assumed he took it up to compensate for being so short!”

“And if you’re not on a careful schedule, you’ll get acne all over your face and chest and back, like Jabu and Kev.”

“That’s from steroids? But, look, I’m a meticulous guy. I’ve approached this whole thing scientifically. I’ve even kept records and so on. I’ll be okay.”

Back in the showers, Jan felt better than he had for a while. He had been getting depressed about his lack of progress. This was the boost he needed, he thought, as he dressed and then checked his phone. There was a message from Sindi.

We nd 2 tlk.

Cum ova soon as u out of gym.

Damn! He was in trouble. They had agreed to meet at five to plan the concert day out and he had forgotten. And now he had to tell her he was not going. She would be mad, but he would make it up to her. Surely she knew how much he loved her?

He started hurrying out but as he entered the lobby he, like everyone else, jumped at an unexpected heavy thud, the sound of crashing glass and wild shouting and screaming.

He took the stairs in leaps to see what was going on.

***

Tell us what you think: Could Jan still grow naturally taller at 16? What could be happening in the gym? What does Sindi want to see Jan about?