Nangomso is lying on her bed talking to Samkeliswa on speakerphone.

SAMKELISWA: Are you losing your mind from being held prisoner? I am soooo ready for school to start. I don’t think it’s safe for me to spend much more time alone time with my mom!

NANGOMSO: My mom isn’t so bad. She leaves me alone most of the time. And she is a lot more relaxed now that I don’t have to go school every day. I think she prefers having me home.

SAMKELISWA: Do you think your mom would consider adopting me?

NANGOMSO: You’d like her a lot less when she is waving a thermometer in your face while trying to make you down Med-Lemon and flu meds.

SAMKELISWA: What? What are you even saying? You can’t be serious! (Shocked)

NANGOMSO: While we were waiting for our covid test results she checked our temperatures twice a day. My dad would hide out in his office but mom would find him.

SAMKELISWA: Damn, that is hectic.

NANGOMSO: Yeah, but my mom is so relieved that we all tested negative. She’s even decided we should celebrate with a special dinner tonight.

SAMKELISWA: Mine sobbed for like an hour, and my dad had to make her take a nap. I am glad we’re all in the clear.

NANGOMSO: Well not all of us. I heard that Harriet’s dad tested positive and he is quarantining at a government site. And the school email from Tuesday said there were 10 Grade 12 students and seven staff members who tested positive, and have been quarantined too.

SAMKELISWA: There was an email? Wow, that is a lot of people!

NANGOMSO: I keep telling you that you need to read your emails. So I am guessing you don’t know that Principal Naidoo added another two weeks to our break?

SAMKELISWA: No, I heard about that. It’s the only thing that got my mom in a better mood. I guess having me locked away in this house makes her feel better.

NANGOMSO: I keep thinking we’ll get news of someone dying, and that really freaks me out. Every time the stats come on the News I fear that the increase in deaths includes someone from school … which is scary.

SAMKELISWA: That is really scary. I hope Mrs Clinton recovers. Last I heard she was in the ICU. I feel so guilty cos we might be the reason she is sick.

NANGOMSO: Yeah … Prince has been feeling guilty too. I think having to get tested has really opened his eyes about how serious covid is. I guess we’re all worried about Mrs Clinton.

They fall silent for a moment, in deep thought.

NANGOMSO: I wonder what all this means for the matric event?

SAMKELISWA: (Curious.) Why do you care? You weren’t going to the matric dance. Why does this event matter?

NANGOMSO: Well … I didn’t exactly have a date to the matric dance. And a costume party is way cooler.

SAMKELISWA: Oh I see – now that you have a boyfriend it’s worth going to stupid school events.

NANGOMSO: I don’t think school events are stupid.

SAMKELISWA: Yes you do, and you know it. But don’t get me wrong. I am glad you and Prince are an item now. Look at my bestie – all grown up and dating now. (Talking in a baby voice.)

NANGOMSO: You need to stop. And Prince is the one who wants us to go together.

SAMKELISWA: Don’t act like you don’t want to go too. Now I really hope the event thing happens so you and Prince can go on an actual date. Well sort of, anyway.

Nolutho calls Nangomso.

NANGOMSO: I have to go. My mom is calling me. And you need to stop thinking about my first date. Let me handle that.

SAMKELISWA: If I left it up to you it would never happen. I need to intervene or you’ll sabotage yourself. Anyway, we’ll talk later. Bye. (She hangs up.)

Nangomso goes to see what her mom wants. She finds her in the kitchen staring at her laptop.

NOLUTHO: My baby, you need to see this email from your school.

Nangomso read the email quickly.

NANGOMSO: What? Mrs Clinton has recovered. (Sagging into a chair relieved.) Oh my goodness … I am so glad she is going to be okay.

NOLUTHO: Oh honey, you were really worried about your teacher.

NANGOMSO: Uhm yeah that’s … I mean yes, I was worried. She is one of my favourite teachers.

NOLUTHO: Then it’s extra good she has recovered. But now that Principal is going to want you to go back to school, which is what I dread.

NANGOMSO: Mom we talked about this. I have to go back eventually.

NOLUTHO: I know. Well, I guess the upside is your teacher is going to be okay.

NANGOMSO: (Feeling guilty.) Yeah, it would be horrible if she didn’t make it, especially because it would be our fault. We were so stupid to … (Stops mid-sentence, noticing her mom eyeing her suspiciously.)

NOLUTHO: What do you mean it was your fault, Nangomso?

NANGOMSO: No, what I mean is she probably got the virus from the students. I guess I feel a little guilty cos anyone of us could have given it to her.

NOLUTHO: Oh my poor baby. You know that sort of thing can’t be helped. And you didn’t give her the virus, cos you don’t have it, and we have the proof.

NANGOMSO: I know Mom. Anyway, I should go call Prince. He has been worried about Mrs Clinton too.

NOLUTHO: I still need to get used to the idea of you dating.

Nangomso shakes her head at her mom, grinning, then heads back to her room to call Prince.

PRINCE: Hey, I was just thinking about you.

NANGOMSO: I highly doubt that. I am pretty sure all you’ve been thinking about is playing Call of Duty. I know I come a distant second to your video games.

PRINCE: That is not true. You are more like a distant third. My mom comes second cos she feeds me. (Laughing)

NANGOMSO: Yoh – I can’t really be mad at that. (Laughs) Anyway, how are you?

PRINCE: I am alright. Are you good?

NANGOMSO: Yeah, I’m good. So did you hear about Mrs Clinton?

PRINCE: Yeah I saw the email. I am so relieved. I’ve been feeling so guilty about the party. No matter how we spin it, the party is how we got here. Someone – or maybe a lot of kids – got covid and then spread it throughout the school.

NANGOMSO: We don’t know that for sure. Yes there is a good chance, but we can’t know for sure. Maybe Mrs Clinton got it while she was at the mall or something.

PRINCE: (Chuckles.) Now you’re using my old theories on me. Wow!

NANGOMSO: Okay, maybe I’m trying to help make you feel better. You have been feeling guilty long enough, and now that Mrs Clinton has recovered maybe you can give yourself a break.

PRINCE: I know, but I still feel bad. I am really glad she is okay cos that means we dodged a bullet. Then again, a lot of students and teachers got the virus and passed it on to family members and they might not be so lucky. I wish we hadn’t gone to that party; better yet I wish the party never happened.

NANGOMSO: You can’t blame yourself for that. We just need to be grateful that we are okay, and that Mrs Clinton is okay too. We can only hope that everyone else makes it through.

 ***

Tell us what you think: Is Prince right that the party is almost certainly the source of the infection in the school? Is it right in this pandemic to ‘blame’ people for getting, or spreading, covid?