Thabi froze. Rape. Her friend Sim had raped her little sister?

“How? When? Why didn’t you tell me?” The words were rushing inside her ears. She stood up and the blood drained from her head.

Mrs Jinks grabbed her as everything began to go black. “Sit down, dear. Put your head between your knees.”

Through the dizziness Thabi heard her sister saying, “Mrs Jinks, Ma’am, can I go? I’ve got to get to Afrikaans – we’re doing a test and I mustn’t be late.”

“Of course, dear,” Mrs Jinks said. “I’m glad you’re showing such commitment to your academics.”

“Bye Thabi,” Lusi said, hurrying off.

Trust her sister to drop a bombshell and then disappear.

“What am I going to do?” she asked Mrs Jinks, as the counsellor gave her a glass of water. “Sim lives with us. He’s my best friend’s boyfriend.”

“You’re going to have to lay a charge,” Mrs Jinks said firmly. “It’s a serious crime. People like that get away with far too much. Do you know how many women are raped in South Africa every day? It’s horrendous. And Lusi’s only fifteen. She’s a child still. You need to get her to a doctor so he can examine her for evidence. It’s a terrible thing, this, but we’ll be behind you all the way. The whole school community will be behind your family. You don’t have to do this alone.” She lifted the phone receiver. “First we need to report this to the police. Would you like me to do it for you? We can ask them to come here to the school if you prefer. It’s probably easier than having them come to your home, if the perpetrator is living there. And we can’t expect that poor child to go to the police station. Not in her condition.”

Thabi’s head was whirling. What was she supposed to do? It was all her fault. She’d brought Lusi to Cape Town, she’d promised to look after her, and she’d failed. She’d led her into danger, in her own home.

“I’m going to have to tell my mother,” she said, blowing her nose. “She must decide what to do. I’ll phone her, and…”

“You realise Lusi can’t go home to your house,” Mrs Jinks said. “Not with her rapist living there.”

Thabi’s stomach dropped. “I’ll have to tell him to go,” she said. “Oh God, I can’t do that. He’s my friend. I can’t believe he’d do such a thing.”

“You have to,” Mrs Jinks said. “She’s not safe there.”

Thabi burst into tears. “I wish I’d never inherited all this money,” she sobbed. “It’s just brought me trouble. Everybody wants things from me. I’ve tried giving Lusi everything she wanted, and now her life is ruined. And I’m going to have to report my best friend to the police, and it will break Motso’s heart. I just don’t know what to do…” and she put her head down and wailed.

“Come, come, my dear,” Mrs Jinks said. “We’re here behind you all the way. I think the first thing to do is to tell your mother. She’s Lusi’s parent, and Lusi is ultimately her responsibility. Maybe she can come to Cape Town and help you sort it out? She can speak to the police and you won’t have to talk to your friend alone. She can do it for you.”

Thabi nodded. “OK. That’s a good idea.”

“Lusi can come home with me until your mother gets here,” Mrs Jinks said. “She can’t go back to your house while that man is there.”

Thabi swallowed hard and took out her phone. She dialled her mother’s number. “Mama, it’s me. Lusi is in trouble. Can you come right away?”

Mrs Malebane spoke rapidly into the phone.

“She’s on her way,” Thabi said, drying her eyes.” She’ll be here first thing tomorrow morning.”

* * *

Tell us: What do you think will happen to Sim now?