Nangomso is seated at the back of her Life Sciences class with an empty desk between her and Harriet Scott. For social distancing, the class has only 10 students, when usually there would be 20. Just as Mrs Clinton is about to hand out worksheets, the door opens and Prince walks in with his mask hanging around his chin.

PRINCE: Mrs Clinton I am so sorry I’m late. There was unexpected traffic in the corridor.

MRS CLINTON: Prince, put on your mask properly and go find a seat there at the back before I give you a demerit. Traffic my foot!

Prince adjusts his mask and makes his way to his seat near Nangomso.

MRS CLINTON: Okay we’re going to start off with a quiz. I want to see who has been keeping up with all the work I emailed to you these past few weeks.

PRINCE: Great – she couldn’t even wait a week before she handed out tests.

He says this looking directly at Nangomso, which catches her by surprise. She almost drops her pencil case from her shock, which makes Prince laugh a little.

NANGOMSO: Uhm … yeah … you know how she is. She enjoys our misery.

Prince is amused by her response, which makes her happy.

Just then two girls in masks walk into the class. The one girl speaks to Mrs Clinton and the other stands in front of the class.  

AMANDA: Hi. For those of you that don’t know me I am Amanda Jacobs, but obviously all know me. (Removes her mask, annoyed.) I am sorry Ma’am. I can hardly breathe in this thing! I’ll put it back on once I’m done. Anyway, Lerato and I are going around the matric classes making an important announcement. With Principal Naidoo’s permission of course.

LERATO: (Standing next to Amanda and removing her mask.) Yes, we are here to talk to you about the uncertainty around our matric dance. As we had already made preparations for it, we thought it best to discuss a way forward.

AMANDA: The Matric Dance Committee has come up with a couple of ideas we feel will make great substitutes for the actual event.

LERATO: We will be creating a WhatsApp group so we can discuss this further and reach a decision.

AMANDA: Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated. We have lists posted on all notice boards. Kindly fill out your contact information so we can add you to the group. Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your day.

They walk out of the classroom.

MRS CLINTON: Class, I need to go to the office quickly. Use this time to go over the work I sent you. When I come back, we start with the quiz.

She leaves the classroom and a few seconds later chatter erupts. Prince rises and walks over, taps Nangomso on the shoulder, making her jump and yelp in surprise.

PRINCE: Sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you. So are you going to the ‘event’? (Making air quotes with his fingers.)

NANGOMSO: Nope! I wasn’t going to the original event so why would I go to the replacement?

PRINCE: What? Why weren’t you going?

NANGOMSO: My friend Samkeliswa had a date, and I didn’t feel like being the third wheel the entire evening.

PRINCE: Oh I see. Makes sense, I guess.

NANGOMSO: Yeah. You know, you shouldn’t be standing so close to me. Principal Naidoo wants us to take social distancing seriously.

PRINCE: Principal Naidoo is going a little overboard with these rules if you ask me. For all we know, Rona could totally disappear tomorrow.

NANGOMSO: I seriously doubt that.

There is a brief, awkward silence.

PRINCE: Rumour has it that you’re to blame for my two day suspension; the one that almost led to me being kicked off the basketball team.

NANGOMSO: (Stuttering) Uuuh … well, that’s not exactly how … I mean it’s a lot more complicated than you think. I didn’t do it on purpose.

PRINCE: (Amused) How do you ‘accidentally’ snitch on someone, Miss Lukhalo? (Grins)

NANGOMSO: (Fidgeting with her pen nervously) Well, you see, I was telling my friend Samkeliswa about how you and your friends skip classes to hang out at the basketball court. I was just annoyed about how you got away with it. Principal Naidoo walked past us just as I was saying it. So really, he was eavesdropping.

Prince bursts into laughter, making Harriet turn and glare at him. He just shrugs and carries on laughing. Nangomso can’t help but laugh too.

PRINCE: (Out of breath) Wow. Nangomso … I have no words. And I’m rarely left speechless.

NANGOMSO: (Feeling shy) I’m sorry.

PRINCE: (Suddenly getting an idea) You know … I think this means you owe me.

Nangomso is confused and isn’t sure how to respond.

NANGOMSO: What do you mean?

PRINCE: The way I see it, had you not ratted me out to Naidoo, I wouldn’t have been benched for one of our qualifying games.

NANGOMSO: I didn’t hear anything about you being benched, and I–

PRINCE: (Cutting her off) That’s beside the point. You owe me and I know just how you can repay me.

Nangomso raises her eyebrows expectantly.

PRINCE: Leroy is having a small lockdown gathering this week. You have to come with me and I’ll consider your debt paid in full.

Nangomso is caught off guard and can’t string words into a coherent sentence. Just then Mrs. Clinton walks back into the classroom so the students rush back into their seats and focus on their books. Prince doesn’t move an inch.

MRS CLINTON: Prince, get back to your seat right this second. You all should be revising your work, not chatting up a storm.

PRINCE: I’ll take your silence as a yes. I’ll text you the details. (He winks at her then makes his way back to his seat.)

Later Nangomso is sitting with Samkeliswa at break, staring blankly at her lunchbox. Samkeliswa notices and tries to get Nangomso’s attention.

SAMKELISWA: I don’t think staring at your boring chicken mayo sandwich is going to make it turn into something else. (Nangomso doesn’t look at her so she waves a hand in front of her friend’s face.) Hello, earth to Nangomso.

NANGOMSO: (Startled) What? Oh sorry, did you say something?

SAMKELISWA: What’s wrong with you? And don’t say it’s nothing – I won’t believe you.

NANGOMSO: Well … Prince asked me to go to a party with him.

SAMKELISWA: (Surprised but excited) No way! Details! Give me all the details. What did he say? How did he ask? What did you say? What happened?

NANGOMSO: Okay relax, Energizer Bunny. Well, he said that Leroy is having some sort of party and that I should come.

SAMKELISWA: A party? Are you going to go?

NANGOMSO: I don’t know if I should go. There is so much to consider. Isn’t it technically illegal to have large gatherings? And also I–

SAMKELISWA: Let’s not forget that you could catch the Rona. What are the chances that people will be wearing masks? They’ll probably be focused on drinking. Hmmm, is going a good idea, chommie?

NANGOMSO: You’re right … I can’t go. It’s insane to even consider it. I don’t want to possibly end up in jail, or worse – get corona!

They fall silent for a moment weighing Nangomso’s options.

SAMKELISWA: But this is Prince, the guy you’ve had a crush on forever. This could be your only shot at a thing with him.

NANGOMSO: You think I should risk it?

SAMKELISWA: I don’t think you have a choice. When will you ever get another chance like this? You’ll just have to make sure you’re safe; as safe as you can be at a party.

NANGOMSO: Will you come with me?

SAMKELISWA: I’ll bring sanitizer, gloves, and make sure I pray a lengthy prayer. We are definitely going to that party and getting you a boyfriend by the end of it.

NANGOMSO: Maybe if we keep our distance from as many people as possible, we’ll be fine. And we should keep our hands to ourselves.

SAMKELISWA: Yeah, and we’ll keep our masks on the whole time. And we should probably make sure we stay outside. Leroy’s house should have a backyard.

NANGOMSO: I can’t believe we’re doing this! But at the same time I am so excited. But this is insane.

SAMKELISWA: Better believe it, sis.

 ***

Tell us: Would you take a risk like this for a chance to win the guy of your dreams? Is going to a party like this taking a big, or small, risk?