Sphiwe just looks at Zinhle. He doesn’t say a word because he is listening to the sound of his heart breaking, again.
Zinhle turns back to him, her arms folded over her chest. “Listen, Sphiwe. Listen to me carefully. This is-”
“How could he? How could Mr Khuzwayo take advantage of you like that?”
“Listen to me carefully, Sphiwe!” Zinhle screams at Sphiwe.
Sphiwe is taken aback. He listens.
“This baby is my way out of this place,” Zinhle points at her belly. “I know it sounds crazy but-”
“I don’t understand. How can you getting pregnant be a way out of-”
“Just be a good friend and listen to me. Please just listen!” she pleads.
“Okay, okay! I’m listening,” Sphiwe says, his hands held out soothingly.
“You are the first and last person I’m going to tell this. I have thought about it long and hard. I need you to be a good friend, Sphiwe. I want you to just listen and not judge.”
Sphiwe nods.
Zinhle looks down at the ground. “Sphiwe, in my 17 years I have lived a tough life. You see for yourself where I live. You know my mother has no job. I have never known safety, comfort and care. My mother leaves for stretches at a time, leaving me alone with no food. She has been doing this since I was ten years old. I have seen things a child is not supposed to see. I have been touched by older men in ways a child is not supposed to be touched.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Zinhle,” says Sphiwe. His eyes have turned glassy, his chest aches.
“Just listen, Sphiwe. I have vowed to never be a victim. Listen to me carefully when I tell you that this baby I’m carrying is my passport out of Amaoti. This baby is my passport to a better life. Sbongiseni has organized a transfer for me to another high school. I’m going to study in Clermont Township now. He has organized a place for me to stay near the high school. It’s a backroom with one bedroom and a bathroom. He has paid six month’s rent and has even bought furniture for-”
“But, Zinhle, this can’t be the right thing to-”
“No, Sphiwe! Just listen and don’t judge!”
“I’m not judging. But isn’t Mr Khuzwayo married? Doesn’t he have a family?”
“I know very well that he has a family. I know my place in his life. I know he wants to keep me and this baby a secret because if word got out he got a learner pregnant it will be the end of his teaching career.”
Sphiwe shakes his head. He is trying to steady his thoughts so he can understand Zinhle. “But aren’t you afraid that by isolating you he wants to get rid of you and the baby?”
“He won’t do that because I told him that our little secret will be out if anything happened to me. I have thought about this long and hard, Sphiwe. He has promised to take care of me and the baby. He has even promised to support me financially so I can further my studies at tertiary next year.”
Sphiwe lets out a sigh. He looks at Zinhle and smiles sadly. “You have really thought this through, Zinhle, haven’t you?”
“I have to look out for myself because I have no family. I didn’t plan to get pregnant but it has happened and I’ll use it to get a better life,” Zinhle says matter-of-factly.
“So who else have you told?”
“I lied to Sbongiseni and told him all my family knows. But the truth is no-one else knows. I don’t have a family so it’s only you who knows my secret,” Zinhle smiles.
“When are you leaving?” Sphiwe asks, looking at her lovely face.
“He’s coming to pick me up tonight. I trust that my secret will be safe with you, Sphiwe. If you let it out all my plans will be in danger. My future is in your hands.”
Sphiwe nods. “Your secret is safe with me, Zinhle.”
Sphiwe grows sad as he walks down the dusty roads of Amaoti. He observes young boys and girls drinking alcohol at street corners. He wonders if their lives are as tough as Zinhle’s. He has a greater appreciation for having a loving family.
When he gets home he finds that MaGumede and Mbali have still not returned from the clinic. Sindisiwe is sitting on the sofa, still sniffling.
“I’m sorry big brother for disappointing you. Please don’t tell Ma,” she says.
Sphiwe opens his arms wide and hugs his sister. “I won’t tell Ma. But let’s make a deal.”
“Okay,” says Sindi from inside Sphiwe’s hug.
Sphiwe takes a step back and looks into Sindisiwe’s eyes. “Sindi promise me you will always come to me if you need to talk. Promise me you won’t keep secrets from me. Promise me you will always come to me if you need help!”
“Okay, big brother,” she says.
Sphiwe shakes his little sister. “No, Sindi. Okay won’t do! Too many young women in Amaoti go through terrible things and have no-one to talk to, no-one they can go to for help! I want you to promise me you will come to me if you need help!”
“Okay, big brother! I promise!”
Late at night, while lying awake in bed, Sphiwe thinks of Zinhle. He sends her a WhatsApp message. She calls him right back.
“I’m in bed, in my new place, Sphiwe! I’m starting school on Monday!”
“How is it in Clermont?’
“This area is quiet. I still need to set up my room, so I can make it homely.”
There is a prolonged silence.
“Okay, Sphiwe. I’ve got to go. Please keep in contact. I will always need your friendly, familiar voice.”
“Zinhle. I wish nothing but the best for you. Call me whenever you need my help,” says Sphiwe, “I’ll always be there for you.”
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“This area is quiet. I still need to set up my room, so I can make it homely.”
There is a prolonged silence.
“Okay, Sphiwe. I’ve got to go. Please keep in contact. I will always need your friendly, familiar voice.”
“Zinhle. I wish nothing but the best for you. Call me whenever you need my help,” says Sphiwe, “I’ll always be there for you.”
***
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