Boitumelo felt like he was dreaming when he saw the maxi taxi skidding to a halt in front of his gate. He couldn’t believe how close he was to the freedom he had been longing for. For the first time in his life he was about to have the whole house to himself – for a week! Better still, Lethabo’s grandmother had agreed that he could come and stay with Boitumelo until his parents were back. It was time to celebrate the end of their high school years in style, Boitumelo told himself as he helped his parents carry their bags to the idling car.

“Please, Boi my son. Take care of yourself. Just call us if there is a problem,” said Boitumelo’s father, opening his wallet.

“Come here, my child,” said his mother, smiling broadly. She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek. He mumbled in complaint.

“Here, take this.” His father handed him two blue notes. “I know that you have everything you need … But I can’t leave you without a cent. I hope R200 is fine.”

“Thank you, Papa. Have a safe trip.”

“Goodbye, son. I hope the next time we meet we will be celebrating your Matric results. I’m waiting for the distinctions you promised me.”

Boitumelo laughed shyly.

“OK, we must go now. We don’t want to miss our flight. Please greet Lethabo for us.”

They waved at Boitumelo as the car set off.

“Stay out of trouble!” his father shouted through the open window.

Boitumelo smiled and gave his father a thumbs-up.

“Yes!” He punched the air with excitement as the taxi turned at the end of the street.

He glanced at his wrist watch as he walked back into the house. It was 4pm. He took a quick shower and got dressed. His jeans and T-shirt looked good with his polished white Converse tekkies and blue cap. For the first time he was going to escape his boring life and live a little. The day he had been waiting for had finally arrived. He was ready to do what his parents had forbidden him to do all his life – drink alcohol. For once, he felt like a man. How couldn’t he when he had just finished writing his Matric exams and his parents had left him alone on New Year’s Eve?

Boitumelo was about to leave the house when he heard someone knocking. It must be Lethabo, he thought, as he opened the front door.

“Ao sure, boy. O ya vaar? Where are you going? You look dope, man,” Lethabo said, looking Boitumelo up and down, from his cap to his tekkies.

“Hei, boy. Wat se daar? I was going to your place, monna. What took you so long?” He ushered him inside with a hand.

Lethabo entered the dining room and threw his small schoolbag on the black leather couch. “I went to the chemist to buy medicine for Koko, man. You know how it is… Bomagriza and their high bloods…” He sat down on the sofa, hugging his schoolbag full of clothes.

“It’s the end of the year, bra. And it’s Friday,” said Boitumelo. “We must party like it’s our last day in the world, man. What do you think?” He shook his two hundred rand in front of Lethabo’s face with a smile.

Lethabo’s face lit up, his eyes glued to the money in his friend’s hand.

“I’ve got the money… machankura boy!” Boitumelo sang, sweeping the notes across his face. “And the house!” he shouted, his arms spread wide.

“Eish, boy!” Lethabo said, shaking his head. “Your father, jo. You know how many times he warned us about drinking alcohol when we’re still under eighteen, boy. What if he finds out …?”

“Chill, boy. He won’t. He will only be back after next week, remember? Let’s live a little, man. Re sware bongwana. The girls, bra. Let’s celebrate our freedom, hle monna,” he insisted with a grin.

“OK! If you say so, man. But –”

“There is no but here, skeem,” Boitumelo interrupted Lethabo. “Don’t worry about Papa. By the time he returns from Durban our results will be back. And we are both going to ace those exams. My dad won’t even have time to worry about what happened. He will be celebrating our results.”

Lethabo smiled and stood up. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go. Ga re vaye, bra.”

Tell us: Do you think Boitumelo and his friends are looking for trouble planning a party in his parents’ house?