Tito changed the subject from Warnick’s murder. “Do you remember that night with Nash?”
They’d had a few drinks and it seemed as if this topic had been hovering between them. It was time it was discussed, Boago thought. He was tired of silence and secrets.
“Yeah, I remember it. We all went up to the lake, the one in the valley. It was a full moon that night, walking in those hills – like it was daylight nearly. Warnick had some whisky I remember. He and Kevin and Conrad drank about half of it before coming and getting the rest of us,” Boago said.
“Yep. They were drunk, all of them. They came to our room and we were sound asleep, Nash and me. We’d had a big game that day, we won I remember. I think Nash even scored a goal. We were out though, really tired. You know, Nash didn’t want to go. I was going to stay behind too. But Warnick started with his shit, bullying us, especially Nash. And Conrad too. He was like Warnick’s shadow. You know how he was.” Tito finished his drink and the bartender replaced it.
“He was wicked when he wanted something. He’d pull anything to get you to do what he wanted. Warnick was a piece of work back then.” Boago remembered how Warnick used to work on the scholarship kids – himself, Nash and Tito – always mentioning that they were from the townships, not really up to the standard of Lyon’s Academy, just there to even the numbers, add a bit of colour. He’d find your weak point and exploit it, then, when you caved in just to get him to shut up, he’d make like he was kidding but everyone knew he wasn’t.” Boago knew it was not right to talk badly about the dead but Warnick was a serious jerk.
“But what happened really? I wasn’t there when Nash disappeared. You remember Warnick wanted more booze. He sent me back to the hostels to get something from his locker. I always think how if I had refused I would have been there to save Nash,” Tito said.
“No, you can’t think like that. It was an accident, that’s all. Warnick swam out to the middle with Vavi, Conrad, and Kevin. They were diving and shit and taunting me and Nash to go out to them. I could swim but I never liked deep water. I wasn’t comfortable. But Warnick started on about how the blacks in the townships can never swim, how they thought tokolosi and other monsters lived in the water. Taunting us, and Vavi and Kevin were laughing and supporting him. I couldn’t take it. I wanted to show Warnick I knew how to swim; I wasn’t just some poor black kid, so I went in. I swam out to them. Nash was alone on the shore. And they just kept on him, on and on,” Boago said.
He didn’t mention that he’d joined in on the taunting of Nash too, once he was out in the water. He didn’t like to think about that.
“And then what?” Tito asked, his voice suddenly urgent.
“Then he came in. It was funny because as soon as he entered the water a cloud covered the moon and it was so dark. I couldn’t see actually. I got nervous and headed out. I heard splashing behind me. I think the others were playing with Nash, like diving under and grabbing his legs, because he kept saying, ‘Leave me alone’. But honestly I couldn’t see properly. I sat on the shore; even put my clothes back on. Then the moon came out again and I saw you returning. You sat down with me. Then the boys came in, but Nash wasn’t there. You asked where he was and that was when I realised something was wrong.”
“And Warnick never apologised, you know. Nash was the best boy among us. He was kind and bright, a better footballer than me. He would have had an amazing life. And that piece of trash Warnick never apologised for what he did.” Tito finished his drink, not hiding his anger. “I’m glad Warnick is dead.”
“It was an accident. Drownings happen. Calm down Tito, it was just an accident.”
Tito smiled, his anger now dissipated by his words. “Yeah, you’re right. We were just kids. It was a stupid accident.”
***
Tell us what you think: Are the other boys guilty of Nash’s death? Can bullying lead to death?