Nangomso is waiting for Prince to come pick her up and take her to the matric costume party. She’s talking on her phone.

NANGOMSO: We spent ages planning our outfits. Finally agreed on Deadpool, and Prince found a place to get a Deadpool outfit just yesterday. I struggled to get a wig, but I already had my leather jacket and pants to match, to go as Domino. You know the ones, chommie?

Nolutho walks into the living room where Nangomso is waiting.

NOLUTHO: That boy is here. I still think I should be the one to drop you off. I really don’t like this.

NANGOMSO: (Springing to her feet.) Mom he is already here so you can’t take us. And you read the email from school. All students and staff who haven’t provided proof that they test negative for covid aren’t permitted to come. There will be screenings done and social distancing will be monitored. We will be fine. I am off; see you later! (Grabs her bag and rushes out of the house.)

Prince’s jaw drops as he sees her walk up to his car. He gets out and opens the door for her so she can get in.

PRINCE: (He gets in and looks at her for a moment.) I didn’t expect you to look this good in leather. I might even go as far as calling you sexy. (He grins.)

NANGOMSO: (Blushing.) Shouldn’t you be wearing your Deadpool mask?

PRINCE: That thing is annoying and stuffy. I am only wearing it when we take photos.

NANGOMSO: I told you we should go with characters without masks, but no – you wanted to be Deadpool. Thanks for making sure you wore a surgical mask back there. My mom would have made you leave, and then locked me away. (Prince tickles her, making her giggle then kisses her hand through his mask, leaving her breathless.)

PRINCE: Come on! We have a dress up party to get to.

When they get to school they have their temperature taken at the gate and sanitize their hands. They are ushered to the matric garden, where they are sprayed with sanitizer and then shown to their table. They are no more than five people at a table and the chairs are spaced out. There is a food and drinks section and a DJ filling the venue with amapiano. Principal Naidoo made it clear that there could be music – but absolutely no dancing.

They find Leroy and Samkeliswa already seated at their table. They stuck with the superhero theme. Leroy is Spiderman and, like Prince, he can’t stand the extra mask. Samkeliswa is Wonderwoman and keeps swinging her plastic sword at Leroy from across the table. Everyone is cheering and singing through their masks.

PRINCE: Naidoo was serious about the extra covid precautions. Look – he even has teachers and the committee members walking around making sure everyone is keeping their distance. (Picking up the bottle of sanitizer placed in the middle of the table.) Note: sanitizer on every table.

NANGOMSO: After the whole thing with students and staff getting infected with covid he had to make sure the school went extra to ensure our safety.

LEROY: I am just glad they didn’t cancel the event.

SAMKELISWA: And I’ll be damned, Amanda and her henchwomen pulled it off. As annoyed as she was that we didn’t vote for high tea, I’m surprised she didn’t sabotage this.

LEROY: I half expected her to go with the high tea nonsense and just let the rest of us show up looking like Halloween rejects to a fancy formal event. (Amused)

PRINCE: Lucky for us her evil side takes time off and lets other people have fun. (Laughing)

NANGOMSO: She was out voted and she knows there was no way around the matrics’ decision. Well let’s enjoy this while we can. You all know the speeches are coming.

A few moments later Amanda goes up to the DJ and takes his mic. She is dressed as a sexy angel.

AMANDA: (Adjusting her surgical mask.) Hey matrics, on behalf of the Matric Dance Committee I would like to welcome you to this once in a lifetime, strange, covid event! You all look amazing. As we come to the end of the school year, I think it is fitting that we end off our time together with a bang. So have a blast, cos this is possibly the only fun you’ll have before finals begin. Lunch is served, so make your way there grouped in your ‘table-bubbles’. Enjoy!

Each table goes to get food and soon all are eating and enjoying animated conversation. Lerato and Amanda walk over to Prince and Nangomso’s able.

LERATO: (Dressed in a sexy witch costume.) You guys look just adorable in your superhero outfits. Absolutely love it. (Sarcastic.)

AMANDA: (Giggling) I hope that you are enjoying yourselves.

SAMKELISWA: Yeah, we were enjoying ourselves before the two of you came. And now that you’ve shown us your costumes, feel free to leave. We would like to enjoy our meal in peace.

AMANDA: Oh relax Samkeliswa. We just wanted to check in; ensure you’re having a good time.

NANGOMSO: Well, you’ve checked on us, and we are having a great time. Now go away so we can go back to having a good time.

LERATO: Good things don’t last forever Nangomso. I would be careful if I were you.

As Nangomso is about to retaliate, Amanda holds up her hands in surrender.

AMANDA: We are leaving. Enjoy! Bye now.

They walk off with smug looks on their faces. The encounter makes Nangomso feel uneasy. Prince takes her hand under the table and squeezes gently.

PRINCE: (Looking at Nangomso and seeing the worried look on her face.) Don’t let them get to you. This is supposed to be a good day, the best day. Now bop your head to the beat with me.

NANGOMSO: (Teasing him) I’m sure you’re glad that dancing is not allowed or else you’d be forced to embarrass yourself on the dance floor. In fact I’m glad; I am pretty sure Principal Naidoo saved my feet from being trampled. (Laughing)

PRINCE: (Pretending to be hurt.) This coming from the girl with no rhythm! Don’t forget I was at the Grade 9 Camp, and at that dance party thing you kept swaying off beat. If anyone is safe from embarrassment, it’s you.

They laugh and the DJ plays music that makes the crowd cheer – the event is turning into a lot of fun, even with masks, constant sanitizing and social distancing.

AMANDA: (At the mic) Okay it’s fun posed photos time! One table of friends at a time to the photographer please. These covid times pix will go down in history!

Nangomso and her friends are making their way back to their table after the photo session, and Prince is just seated, when she spots Thabile marching over to them. .

THABILE: Hey babe! Miss me? I thought I’d surprise you, and show up here.

Prince stares at her, mouth open in shock. Thabile steps between Prince and Nangomso, places her hand on the back of Prince’s chair and slowly leans in. He seems frozen. Nangomso can’t watch so she runs off. As Thabile is about to pull off her mask so she can kiss him, Prince stands up abruptly.

PRINCE: (Pulling away.) What are you doing? Why are you even here?

THABILE: I am trying to kiss my man. What does it look like I am doing?

A large group are watching this exchange with anticipation. Amanda and Lerato are sniggering not too far off, while Samkeliswa is fuming. The Principal rushes over to them.

PRINCE: You and I are broken up. Or did you conveniently forget that?

THABILE: (Chuckles.) Oh that … come on Prince. That was a misunderstanding. You are my soulmate. I just needed a break.

PRINCE: Look – I don’t know what game you are playing but you can’t totally ignore me for weeks, after breaking up with me for no reason, and then tell me it was ‘a misunderstanding’. I am not interested in playing games with you, so get out of my way! I need to go find my girlfriend.

Princes pushes her aside before she can say anything else. Principal Naidoo arrives at their table just as Prince is about to turn to Samkeliswa.

PRINCIPAL NAIDOO: Miss Sibeko and Mr Gumede, what is going on here? Miss Sibeko shouldn’t you be home? How did you get on to school property? Your parents made it clear that you would be home-schooled for the rest of the year.

THABILE: I am so sorry sir. Amanda sent me an invitation because she didn’t want me to be left out of this amazing event. I am so sorry we didn’t ask for permission, but we were worried that you wouldn’t allow it.

PRINCIPAL NAIDOO: So you didn’t sneak into the event? You went through the covid screening then?

THABILE: No sir I didn’t, and yes sir. I walked in the front gate like everyone else.

PRINCIPAL NAIDOO: Be that as it may, I am going to have to ask you to leave. I will deal with Miss Nkosi later, as she had no right to invite you. Please sanitize your hands, you too Mr. Gumede, and you’ll have to come with me Miss Sibeko.

Samkeliswa walks over to Prince as soon as Principal Naidoo and Thabile have left making sure to keep her distance so she doesn’t get in trouble too.

SAMKELISWA: What the hell was that Prince? Did you and Thabile actually break up? She seems pretty confident you didn’t! I swear, if you are playing my friend I will–

PRINCE: (Cutting her off.) I get it – you’ll break one of my limbs. Can we skip this part? Tell me where she would go. I need to find her and explain.

SAMKELISWA: (Hesitant.) Try behind the library. If she isn’t there, try the bench by the back gate. You better make this right.

Prince rushes to the library. As he turns the corner he finds Nangomso sitting on a large rock behind the building. He makes his way to her slowly. As he approaches, he tries to touch her and she quickly pushes his hand away.

NANGOMSO: Please don’t touch me. In fact, just keep your social distance!

PRINCE: Nangomso, please let me explain. It’s really not what you think it is.

NANGOMSO: (Tears streaming down her face.) Looked a lot like your girlfriend came to see you; check on you. Have you been together this whole time and you’ve just been playing me?

PRINCE: She isn’t my girlfriend.

NANGOMSO: Then somebody should really tell her that then.

PRINCE: (Pleading) I promise you there is nothing going on between me and Thabile. She just showed up here without warning. I haven’t spoken to–

NANGOMSO: (Cutting him off) All of that doesn’t matter. Clearly there is still something between the two of you. I could tell just by the way you were looking at each other … and I can’t compete with it.

PRINCE: I won’t lie and say we don’t have history, cos we do. And I do still care about her. But Nangomso when I am with you it’s different, I am different. You make me feel free and you are such an amazing person. Please don’t let this come between us.

NANGOMSO: You’ve made me different too. You’ve turned me into a liar who skips school, not to mention a humiliated, weeping idiot! I don’t think I’ve ever felt so hurt in my whole life. I don’t want to feel this way. I don’t know why we thought this would work out. I think it’s best if we end things before they go too far and one of us gets hurt. Mostly likely the one to get hurt will be me.

She gets up and walks away. As Prince tries to follow her she turns around and faces him.

NANGOMSO: Don’t follow me. I’ve already asked my mom to come get me. Bye Prince.

She walks away leaving Prince standing there, stunned.

 ***

Tell us: Do you think Nangomso should ‘fight for her man’? Or is she right, that she’s likely to get hurt?