The start of a new school year was filled with much anticipation for Busi Sdudla Lukhele. Her mother had finally promised to buy her the latest top-of-the range Blackberry cellphone if she did well in her studies, well meaning getting at least three distinctions and nothing less than a B in other subjects.

“Three distinctions? Mama, that’s a lot. How about one A, two B’s and the rest C’s?” Busi had protested but her mother didn’t budge.

“I know you’re capable of doing much better than that, Busisiwe.” Busi’s mother had turned her focus back to her sewing, signalling the end of their discussion.

Busi knew it wasn’t easy for her mother to buy her an expensive cellphone; money was scarce for such luxuries. Busi decided to take her mother’s challenge head on, not only for the cellphone but to make her mother proud. Her mother was everything to her and her younger brother, Khaya. She was the sole breadwinner and did everything she could to provide for them; she tried to close the gap left by their father who had died unexpectedly in a car accident.

On the first day of school Busi left her house and walked up to her friend, Lolo Mathe’s house. They had done this routine for many years. Busi would pick up Lolo then together they would walk to their other friend Thuli Bhengu’s house which was closest to the school. The walks to and from school were the girls’ favourite part of the day; they chatted about everything, from the previous night’s television programmes, to school, to annoying little siblings.

It was only seven in the morning, yet the heat was already threatening to make fried eggs out of them. Busi worried about the crowded classrooms and hoped to secure a desk near the window.

“You’re five minutes late, Queen B,” Lolo said, glancing impatiently at her watch. She was standing outside the gate of her house.

Busi apologised as she gave Lolo a hug. She and Thuli were used to being scolded by Lolo for their tardiness. Lolo was the most punctual person Busi knew, and the smartest too. She excelled in every subject and particularly loved Natural Sciences and Mathematics. She wanted to become a science teacher.

“Science is so much fun if you understand it,” Lolo insisted. “I want to teach children to love science.” Busi and Thuli were not convinced and shied away from taking science subjects but they all loved Mathematics and agreed it was the “future”.

Busi and Lolo had been friends since they were little girls of four, attending Mama Rose’s pre-school in a converted garage. They immediately took to each other and became inseparable. They met and became friends with Thuli in primary school, she and her family had moved to their township. Thuli was the total opposite of Lolo; she liked beauty and fashion and often made her clothes, which sometimes attracted the wrong attention from other children who labelled her a weirdo for not dressing like everyone else. Thuli spent hours reading fashion magazines.

Busi knew her friends were unique, loved them dearly and appreciated their individuality.

Tell us what you think: Busi has good friends. What do you value in a friend?