As we drive into the airport, we can see the Legogote on the leftside horizon. Closer to the road, a sweep of green is dotted with small trees.
We circle a traffic island crammed with indigenous-looking vegetation, and Rhandzu exclaims, “Look at that cute vervet monkey on the branch!”
She really is different from other girls. There’s no holding back, pretending she’s not impressed.
It’s a small airport, not many cars going in and out at lunchtime on Saturday.
“We want Public Parking.” Rhandzu points to a sign.
As we get out of the car, I stare at the long thatched building, and the fever trees outside.
The roar of a plane taking off on the other side of the building makes my heart give a little kick.
“We need to go somewhere we can watch the planes,” Rhandzu urges.
“That was the plan.”
Inside the building, it’s cool and dark.
“Let’s check out what’s upstairs,” Rhandzu suggests.
It turns out to be a Wimpy, and there’s a table for two free on the small outer deck with a view.
We order, eat, and watch the planes. I look at Rhandzu as a plane takes off. Usually I’d be thinking about flying away. Today I don’t want to be anywhere except here, with this girl.
I watch passengers coming down the steps that have been pushed out to the plane that’s just landed. One man is wearing a business suit.
We’ve finished eating and I stand up so I can watch the latest arrivals entering the building below. When I look at Rhandzu, she seems sad.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “It feels wrong to be enjoying myself. When Nkokone died like that.”
The red feeling takes hold of me. I want to punish her for wrecking everything and destroying my good mood.
“Sorry.” She shakes herself. “It’s weird, and cruel, how good things come all mixed up with bad. I remember how bad I felt the first time I laughed after Nkokone died.”
“It’s also difficult if one person is happy and the other … you know?”
“But if we really like someone, we accept their bads and sads.”
It hits me that maybe it was childish of me to resent her for thinking about her brother for a moment.
“I suppose.” I don’t know how to talk about feelings and shit like that.
Rhandzu wants to pay for her share of lunch, but I remind her I invited her.
She says, “Fine, then I’ll buy you a drink next time we’re at the tavern.”
I say, “How about tonight?”
“All right.”
Two dates with her in one day. She must like me – and I must like her more than I’ve been letting myself realise.
We take the wide stairs down to the ground floor, and when we reach the bottom I see that passenger in the suit striding along towards the building’s central entrance/exit. He’s surrounded by people come to meet him.
I recognise Jodie. Rhandzu and I pause, waiting for them to pass.
“Come to welcome Daddy home,” I sneer.
“We’ll be hearing about the stuff he’s brought her,” Rhandzu predicts.
Jodie sees me. She gets that look I don’t like, and seems about to break away from her family and come over. Then she notices Rhandzu and her expression turns puzzled.
I know why. Rhandzu isn’t my usual sort of girl. Perhaps she’ll think I’m busy neutralising her, the lie I told Wandile.
Thinking like that makes me feel uncomfortable with myself. Am I embarrassed to be seen out with Rhandzu? Ashamed? When I’ve just realised how much I like her?
We watch Jodie hurrying to catch up with her family. Then we follow them out of the coolness of the building.
“I love that you thought of the airport for today, Zwelo,” Rhandzu says. “Thank you.”
***
Tell us what you think: Do you agree with what Rhandzu said about accepting people’s bad or sad moods, or should we try to get them to snap out of it?