Everything was so good and easy thought Thembi as tears flowed down her eyes just a few years ago her life was normal and easy, “When did everything fall apart?” It was all so fast her parents got divorced and then a few months after… her mom died and she had to stay with her father and his new wife Priscila and her daughter. Thembi had hope until she lost her friends at first it was just her parents divorce but then her mom’s death and then she had to deal with her evil step mother and sister and then her break up and just when her friends gave her some hope…she found out they were all fake friends and they all hated her “Thembi!”called her step mother “yes!”Thembi said as she wiped her tears and ran downstairs “do you want to be late for school!?, you have been in that room for too long now and you have not fixed your hair yet” Asanda her sister came downstairs and said “Leave it, mom, she won’t get it, let’s go without her”
***
They left Thembi all alone
Thembi knew that without her stepmom, she would have to walk to school and she knew she had to do her hair and get her lunch box quickly
Thembi was 15 and she was very interested in fashion but after her mom’s death she stopped being interested in fashion because although her father never supported her in her dreams, her mother was always there for her and she knew that her mother loved her a lot
***
Thembi finished getting ready and she left the house and she had no money for transport.she decided to walk fast and just when she was about to enter the school,she saw Thabo,her ex boyfriend he broke up with her saying that he thought she was cursed,he ignored her and got in she suddenly started crying *gggrrrrrrffff* her stomach growled and she sat on the floor outside the school and ate up her sandwich her ex friends Sihle and Shantel came and stared at her with disgust as they walked past her she quickly wiped her tears and went to class where the English class was about to start ,she sat far at the back next to an entry desk and there was her English teacher MS Moyo,she was one of the nice teachers and she sometimes helped Thembi grow hope and confidence with everything happening in her life especially after her father left her with her step mom and sister everybody greeted MS Moyo as she got in the class and started teaching but today it was different for Thembi because she was just not feeling too well so she was not focused she hid her face behind her book and quickly fell asleep
Then Thembi felt someone gently waking her she slowly opened her eyes and she saw a very handsome boy
She quickly stood up and she saw that there was no one else in the class,she was heading to the door when the boy gently held her hand and said “not even a hi?”
She looked at him and she felt her heart beating “I have to go to the bathroom” said Thembi as she left the class and she did not see him again till afterschool and neither did she see her sister Asanda she waited for her stepmother to come to pick her up for hours until she gave up and walked back home
She found her stepmother and sister sitting down and watching TV “you forgot to come to fetch me mama Priscila” said Thembi as she closed the door behind her. Her stepmother looked at her and answered”you just came back and you are already disturbing us, why did you not just stay there!? In case you don’t remember… I am not your mother so it is not my responsibility to pick you up at all just because both your parents left you!” Thembi felt so heart breaking as she quickly ran upstairs to her room she cried in her room until there was no tears left.she changed into her riped jeans and her cropped hoodie she looked in the mirror and it felt like joy suddenly squeezed her sorrows and she quickly did her homework and when she was done she went downstairs to get some food and her stepmother and sister where still relaxing watching TV she stared at them thinking about how heartless they were to her “stop daydreaming and go make us some food” said her step mother
“And there’s no salt so here’s some money to go buy it” said her step-sister Asanda has she gave her a R50 “don’t forget my change” Asanda added her stepmother looked at her again and said”what are you starting at!?go quickly because we are hungry and you didn’t have to dress like you are going out to some fancy place but just go quickly!” “Sorry” said Thembi as she opened the door
She went out and she could see that all the boys eyes were on her and for once she felt very happy and she just felt loved and the moment she got in the shop right at the corner she felt as if she was about to get a heart attack. it was the boy she saw in class”the handsome boy?” Thembi thought to herself as she passed next to him to get the salt Thembi could not reach the salt but the boy helped her since he was a bit taller”thank you” said Thembi as she paid for the salt and ran out of the shop before she could faint and she could not believe she was blushing.she saw him running to her and she stopped and stood up for a moment “hey” the boy said “hi” she replied “you are so fast that I lost my breath following you”Thembi sweetly giggled and he said”By the way, what’s your name,I am Calvin” “Thembi”she said smiling back and he smiled and said “well…almost forgot to give you this” he said as he gave her some money.”oh why are you giving me money?”asked Thembi “it was your change but you forgot it so I decided to give it to you myself” said Calvin “thank you so much,my sister would have killed me if I didn’t bring her change”Thembi said as she suddenly found her self hugging Calvin
She pulled out and said “anyway, I need to rush home so I guess I’ll see you tomorrow” she was about to walk away when he held her hands and said I’ll walk with you since I stay down the road too” they slowly walked together and she found out that he stayed right next to her house “goodbye”they both said at the same time. Thembi smiled as she got in the house but as soon as she saw Asanda’s angry stare she got worried as she said “what?” With a very low tone
“Don’t ask me “what” when I told you to be fast because I am hungry” “you took so long!” “I had to wait for change but I am here now so I’ll cook quickly”
“Whatever” said her assanda as she grabbed the money from Thembi hands rolling her eyes at her.thembi did not feel sad anymore or angry but she had hope and she just felt like she was in a whole new world “where’s your mother?”asked Thembi “she went out somewhere and she said she won’t be back till tomorrow night and she said I must tell you that you better take good care of me and the house till she comes back” “and the rest is not your business” “but who is going to take us to school and whose gonna pick us up then!?”shouted Thembi “you speak for your self girl,she left me some money for food and transport so you will sort yourself out” “how much?” asked Thembi “not your business”said assanda as she went upstairs
Thembi suddenly started thinking about Calvin “I’ll fetch him in the morning and maybe I can walk with him after school”thought Thembi as she made supper
***
**TTRRRRRRNNNGGG*
Thembi’s alarm rang. after so long Thembi was waking up with joy and she was so much more happy because at least today she won’t have to deal with her step mother Priscila since she went out.Thembi went to wake Asanda but today it seemed like things were not just different for her but it was also different for Asanda was already having a bath. and it was this morning that Thembi thanked God for the joy he gave her and Thembi promised herself to be strong and to forget the past and to make sure that her stepmother and sister never affect her in any way and she promised herself to focus so much in school .she decided that this morning she would eat before leaving for school.she ate and she styled her hair just like a celebrity and she looked very beautiful “not bad”said Asanda “but you need to leave now and it’s not like you are going on a date and anyway my boyfriend is picking me up and we are walking to school so I am not using transport so you need to leave before he comes here because I don’t want him to see that I have a ugly cheap girl for a step sister”
Said Asanda “you have a boyfriend?, girl you are still 12!you are just in grade 6″and what if something happens to you!?,you know what…I’ll just walk with you anyway”.said Thembi “excuse me!? there’s no way that I am walking with you Thembi !!” ” Do you even know how embarassing that would be!?” “Just because you are in grade 9 that does not mean you can have a boyfriend and I can’t so please leave me and my boyfriend alone you jerk!”said assanda angrily
“Well..
***
Someone is knocking outside*
“It must be my boyfriend, Thembi you need to disappear now!”
“Whatever,” said Thembi as she took her bag and held Asandas arms dragging her towards the door” “leave me!” Screamed Asanda Thembi opened the door and was so shocked to see that Calvin was there with a little boy around Asanda’s age
Asanda looked at the boy her age and said “Busiswe whose this guy?”
Thembi was standing and just staring at him while he was smiling while staring back at her “this is my big brother Calvin” said Busiswe as he held Asanda’s hand walking with her leaving Calvin and Thembi behind
“That’s your brother?” asked Thembi
“Yes” “it seems like they get along well”
Said Calvin as they slowly started walking behind assanda and busiswe “you look great ,I use to see you in school sometimes but I did not know how to approach you till yesterday” and it’s really too bad we are not in the same grades, or I would have been staring at you everyday “said Calvin “I thought you are in grade 9” “oh no uhh, yesterday I just came to wake you up because I saw you sleeping from out the window,it’s too sad the teacher did not see you and no student woke you up” “yes but at least you were there for me”Thembi said smiling at him “so you are in grade 10 right?”
“No 11,” said Calvin “wow that’s cool”
***
Before they both realised it
They were already in the school Thembi could not help herself *** she kissed him and she could feel her lips gently resting on his lips she then moved and she felt so shy suddenly “uhh, I guess I’ll see ya at break ” said Calvin as he rushed in his class Thembi got in her class