“What’s wrong with eating amagwinya, Sazi?” asked Denver, reaching into the plastic container Sazi’s sister had put them in earlier that morning. Denver looked around in the classroom when he said that, almost as if he was declaring to everyone in the class how much he didn’t care.

A few of the Xhosa-speaking learners that had also stayed in class during the break didn’t seem to notice the show he was trying to put on. They were too busy having their own Xhosa-fuelled conversations. Or maybe they were thinking about the fun they could’ve been having outside during the break, if the rain hadn’t decided to ruin everyone’s Tuesday.

There were three more amagwinya left in the container. Sazi hesitated before finally reaching for one and taking a bite. Denver tore into his. Athi and Lukhanyo grabbed the remaining two. Selby just looked at all of them and said nothing.

Sazi took a moment to watch all three as they chewed, nervously hoping they wouldn’t spit out their mouthfuls in disgust. His sister had a hit-and-miss record when it came to making amagwinya (or any food for that matter). Sometimes they were too salty and oily, and other times they were exactly what he craved: sweet, soft and moist.

“Tell your sister I want them every day!” Athi said excitedly.

Denver nodded eagerly, licking his fingers.

Sazi was relieved. One less thing for them to tease him about. One less moment for his sister to embarrass him.

“This weather is shit,” spat Selby, looking out of the class’s big windows. “Now I can’t run to the tuckshop to get myself a gatsby.”

“You’re missing out on amagwinya,” replied Denver.

“Hay’ suka! These amagwinya?” retorted Selby, waving them away with disdain. “Even Sazi looks embarrassed to eat them. You guys are just being nice to him. Or maybe you’re just hungry. Hungry people will eat shit.”

Sazi listened in disbelief. He searched his mind, hoping to find a punchy response to shut Selby up. The others just laughed.

Selby continued. “What kind of guy in Grade 10 brings iskaftina to school, anyway? And then he gets all shy when he has to eat it.”

Sazi was stunned. Selby’s mocking words had hit him hard. Ignore him.

Denver looked at Sazi, smiling, but no longer laughing at Selby’s jokes.

At least he wasn’t laughing. In fact, Sazi imagined that Denver was willing Sazi on, wanting him to fire back at Selby. To fight back. Maybe that’s why Denver never really defended Sazi. Or maybe Denver was just glad not to be in Selby’s firing line. The uncertainty always bothered Sazi.

Selby wasn’t done. “Maybe you also gave that Nondumiso girl amagwinya. Bought her with food so she can hook up with you.”

“Just shut up, man!” roared Sazi, slamming the container down on the desk and rising up. He stared down at Selby, who was sitting at the desk in front of him. Punch him, he kept thinking, but just yelled, “Stop talking about me! Stop talking about Nondumiso! Leave me alone!”

Selby seemed taken aback by Sazi’s sudden burst of anger. And then he also stood up. “I’ll break you, sani,” he fired back, his face changing from surprise to defiance. “Don’t think I won’t do it just because I joke with you. Why can’t you take a damn joke?”

“I don’t want your jokes!” Sazi’s heart galloped unstoppably as he said that. “Just leave me alone.”

Selby casually switched his attention away from Sazi for a moment. “What have you been telling this kid, Denver? He thinks he can take me on.”

Denver shrugged.

For the first time since he’d met Selby, Sazi became convinced: the fight wasn’t worth it. Selby didn’t respect him, and that was it. Finish and klaar. And no-one was going to help Sazi. Not Denver. Not Lukhanyo. No-one. The courage and strength he’d mustered slowly evaporated. He sat back down.

Selby also sat back down, feeling his work was done, probably.

Sazi felt defeated.

Selby pulled out his phone. Sazi could see him logging into Facebook.

The group, Sazi thought, worrying. He’s going to post. He wanted to grab the phone from Selby, to break it in two. He could already imagine the post: ‘Sazi bribed a girl with food to hook up with her …’

He saw Selby typing something. It was coming at any moment now. Selby would happily press the ‘share’ button and fuck everything up for Sazi.

* * * * *

A hush finally fell over the class. Mrs Hendricks, the Grade 10 English teacher, had had to repeatedly bang on her table to get the noise to die down. Nondumiso stood near the door, waiting for Mrs Hendricks to give the signal.

“The floor is yours, Nondumiso,” Mrs Hendricks said with a smile, gesturing to her. Nondumiso walked to stand in front of the class, poised. The rows of faces watching her seemed endless. Classmates – upward of 40 – crammed together, all taking turns to look at her, study her. Apart from Mrs Hendricks, Bridget was the only other friendly and familiar face. Nondumiso was thankful to Mike for introducing the two of them.

“Hi, everyone,” greeted Nondumiso, waving shyly at the class.

Just then, roaring laughter come from the back. She looked up to see what was happening. A group of boys sitting next to each other were laughing. Amongst the group was a tall, slender one, who seemed to be leading the laughter … or causing it somehow.

Either way, Nondumiso now had her sights set on him. If this was his way of trying to embarrass her, she’d fight back. She stared at him. There was nothing special about him, she thought. He was light-skinned, yes, and had a neatly trimmed haircut that looked like it came straight out of a Chris Brown music video. So what?

“Selby!” Mrs Hendricks called out sternly. “Stop it, man! Nondumiso’s trying to speak here.”

Selby, Nondumiso thought. His name is Selby.

Just as the noise in the class threatened to rise again, a knock came from the doorway.

Even a few of Nondumiso’s classmates, those whose eyes had been fixed on their phones, now looked up in that direction.

“Come in,” Mrs Hendricks called out.

Nondumiso didn’t take long to recognise the face coming in. It was Sazi. Their eyes met; both widened in surprise. He hesitated, looking unsure. She felt the same. They both quickly looked away. What was he doing here? He hadn’t mentioned being at this school.

“Late again, Sazi!” announced Mrs Hendricks, breaking the momentary silence. “It’s Wednesday, and Monday and Tuesday were the same story!”

“Sorry, Mrs Hendricks. The taxi–”

“Sazi, you’re better than that!” Mrs Hendricks sounded irritated. “You can’t keep blaming taxis.”

Sazi slinked away to the back of the class, with a glance and a gentle wave at Nondumiso as he walked past. She waved back. She watched in disbelief as he went to sit with Selby’s group, going past a few empty desks on his way.

Selby! He’s friends with Selby!

“Sorry for the interruption, Nondumiso,” said Mrs Hendricks, interrupting her thoughts. “You can continue.”

They know my name, Nondumiso thought. You’ve said it twice already. Why do I even have to introduce myself? But she continued, trying her best to remember Mrs Hendricks’ suggested introduction: name, home address, and hobbies (in no particular order).

Two questions kept coming back to her for the rest of day. Had she let Selby make her look stupid? And then Sazi. He was also at Woodlands. What were things going to be like with him?

***

Tell us what you think: Is Selby a bully, or just a forceful character, a leader?