During Science the intercom blares over the school.

“Would Bongani Shongwe report to the Principal’s office. Bongani Shongwe to the Principal’s office please.”

My heart is in my throat as I wait in reception.

“Come in Mr Shongwe.” The Principal is standing in the entrance to his office. He signals me in. After a long, unsettling silence, he speaks.

“Mr Shongwe, as you might be aware, your tuition fees for this month are outstanding and the month is almost over. Do you–”

“My tuition sir?” What I have feared most is happening.

“If my memory serves me correctly, two years ago a boy who looked and sounded exactly like you was registered as Bongani Shongwe…”

“I wasn’t aware about my fees. I’ll have them paid before the end of this week.”

“With what money Mr Shongwe? You have defaulted on the payments for, in fact, the past two months.” He takes off his glasses. “You are aware of what will happen if you don’t pay?”

“Yes sir,” I say quickly.

How can my father’s company stop paying my fees, just because he is on strike? They’ve never been late or missed a payment before and my results are excellent. I think of Ivan’s dad who owns the company. My dad’s salary doesn’t even cover the monthly amount that I owe. And my mom, well, no hope there…

I’m about to plead with the Principal and try to explain about the strike, but before I can he says, “That’s all,” and I am dismissed.

Ivan is waiting for me in the quad during break.

“What were you called to Principal for?” he asks as he tosses popcorns in the air and tries to catch them in his mouth.

“Outstanding tuition.” I say this like it’s no big deal.

“I remember dad saying something about some strike. So they went ahead with it huh?”

“Yeah…”

“It better end soon. Dad’s company is losing millions.”

Is that what Ivan is worried about, I think. That his father’s company will lose millions. What about my family who’s struggling to keep going? What about me being kicked out of school because the fees aren’t paid? I feel like the popcorns he keeps tossing so casually – some landing in his mouth, some on the ground. His father could buy the factory that produces the popcorn, I think. Soon my family won’t be able to buy a single packet from the store.

In the taxi on the way home I check Lebo’s profile for the hundredth time on WhatsApp. She’s been offline since our first chat. I read the conversation we had over and over again. It means so much, regardless of how short and vague it was.

Her smooth skin, round cheeks, extremely curled eyelashes … I’m lost in a Lebo daydream.

When I get home I find my mother ironing.

“Ma, the school wants to know when I’ll pay my fees.” As I am telling her about the Principal calling me in, my father enters, grabs a chair and sits down.

“They are still refusing our demands.” He slams his fist onto the table. “Now they are threatening to fire us if we don’t go back to work by the end of this month.”

It’s clear that the strike will not end anytime soon. If it continues longer than a month, I will still have outstanding fees. I have seen a number of students come and then go because parents end up unable to pay the sky-high fees. And now I might be next. I can’t leave Troye High. I am doing really well. It’s my ticket out of here. I’m teased enough by the boys in my area and it will only get worse if I have to leave school. I think of the boys from the spaza. What if they are right?

My mother leaves us and I sit down opposite my father. It’s hard to know where to begin, he looks so defeated. I clear my throat.

“Kunenkinga (What’s the matter)?” he asks.

I go around in circles in my head. How can I expect him to solve this big problem? “The school asked when I will I pay my fees.” I fix my eyes on the table.

He takes off his cap and rubs his head. “Sizozama (We’ll make a plan),” he says and he goes to his bedroom.

What plan will that be when my father’s salary doesn’t even cover one month’s fees?

***

Tell us: Do you think it’s fair that the mining company has stopped paying Bongani’s fees while his father has downed tools?