Mrs Malebane was grim faced when Thabi picked her up at the bus station the next morning.

“Mama, we’ve got a meeting at the school,” Thabi said, lifting her mother’s suitcase into the boot of her car. “The school counsellor needs to speak to us.”

Her mother nodded. “Will Lusi be there?”

“I think so.”

Thabi knew that look on her mother’s face. It said, “Don’t mess with me. Don’t talk to me. Don’t get in my way or cause any trouble. I’m on a mission.” Her stomach knotted up.

“Mama, I’m sorry,” she began. “I…I…”

Her mother’s jaw was clenched. “I don’t want to talk about this now,” she said. “First I want to see Lusi.”

A few minutes later they drove into the school. Thabi led her mother to the counsellor’s room. Lusi was there already, her face pale and drawn. She looked even more nervous when she saw her mother. She didn’t get up from the chair, and her eyes were on the carpet.

“Mrs Malebane,” Mrs Jinks said, “it’s so good of you to come all this way. As you can see we have a serious problem. Lusi has been the victim of an act of sexual violence, and we cannot allow the perpetrator to get away with it.”

“Stand up, Lusi,” said Mrs Malebane. Lusi stood up slowly, her eyes still focused on the floor. Mrs Malebane looked her up and down. “Turn around,” she snapped. Slowly Lusi turned around.

“I’d like a few minutes alone with my daughter please,” Mrs Malebane said.

“Certainly.” Mrs Jinks patted Lusi’s shoulder as she and Thabi left the room.

They stood outside in the passage. The bell had just rung, and groups of happy students were laughing and chatting as they went out to break. Thabi wished with all her heart she could turn back the clock. Lusi had had the chance of a lifetime at this school, and now it was all ruined, thanks to her.

The door opened.

“Lusi has something to say to you,” Mrs Malebane said grimly. “Please come back inside.” Lusi had tears streaming down her cheeks. Mrs Malebane prodded her. “Go on. We’re waiting.”

“Thabi, Mrs Jinks….” she began, then paused.

“Go on,” hissed her mother.

“I am very sorry. I told a lie. I was scared. I never got raped. It was Vuyo…”

“Vuyo?” exclaimed Thabi. “Vuyo Cwayi, from Cofimvaba?”

“Any fool can see she’s at least six months pregnant,” said Mrs Malebane. “She’s only been in Cape Town for three months. If she’d got pregnant here she wouldn’t even be showing yet.”

Anger flooded through Thabi. “I could slap you, you little bitch,” she growled. “How could you blame Sim like that? We nearly phoned the police. He could have been arrested. Did you think of that, did you, did you?” and she stood up and leaned over her sister, pointing her finger in her face. “Sim is a good guy. I can’t believe you would do something like that. I could just slap you…”

“No Sisi, I’m pregnant. Don’t hit me.”

Thabi strode over to the window and stared out, trying to regain her calm.

“What are we going to do now?” Mrs Jinks asked. “As I explained to Lusi, the school’s policy is to support our students. But she will need to go for counselling. She needs to take responsibility for her actions and realise they have consequences. We’ve had several pregnancies over the years, and the important thing is not to fall behind with the schooling.”

Thabi spun around, her eyes blazing. “She’s not coming home with me. I’m not paying all this money every month to a sneaky little bitch who tells lies about my closest friends. She can go home to Cofimvaba. Let Vuyo look after her. If he’s old enough to make a baby he’s old enough to support one. Does he even know about this happy event?”

Lusi wiped her eyes on another tissue. “He’s not talking to me. He’s got a new girlfriend now.”

“I told you he was trouble,” Mrs Malebane thundered. “But would you listen? No. And now your life is ruined. You’re going to have to come home to Cofimvaba. No school will have you at this stage. You’ll have to repeat Grade 9 next year. And mark my words there will be serious consequences for that Vuyo. He will curse the day he was born when I am finished with him.”

“Please, Mama, please Thabi,” Lusi sobbed. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell the truth. I was so scared that you would send me home. I didn’t want to go back to my old school I wanted so badly to stay here. Please don’t make me go home. I want to stay here with you. At St Matthew’s. I’ll be good, I promise. I’ll do everything you say. I’ll do all the housework. I’ll cook every night. I’ll…I’ll…”

Thabi looked at her mother. Her kind, hardworking mother, who had sacrificed everything to raise them alone. If she punished Lusi she would be punishing her mother too.

She sighed. Thabi, you are a bleeding heart, she thought to herself. You should really learn to say no sometimes.

She would learn, soon. But not yet.

“OK,” she said. “You can stay.”

Lusi jumped up and hugged her. “I promise you’ll be proud of me,” she whispered in Thabi’s ear. “I won’t let you down.”

Thabi felt the baby kicking as her sister held her close. That was her little niece or nephew in there. And now that the shock had subsided, she could start to look forward to being an auntie.

“Just no more lies,” she said firmly. And Lusi nodded. “I promise. No more lies.” As Thabi looked sternly at her frightened little sister, she saw a glimpse of the sweet sister she had once been, and could be again.

The End