Page 85 - The Mending Season

us with a mop and a bucket in her hands. “Girls, go back to class,” she said in Setswana. The other girls stood there explaining the situation to her. She put down her mop and bucket and I turned around to see her eyes fascinated, furious, taking in every detail.“Was she the only one who heard Beth?” she asked. I hur­ ried towards the class and wondered if she would tell Mmamane Malesedi since they knew each other well.When Tshidiso was at school in the township, the sisters had always been ready to march down to the school and demand apo­ logiesfrom the teachers, but now when she came homefrom the private school with thisproblem theyfelt less confident about tak­ ing action. This wasnt their world or their language, so they watchedfrom the sidelines,frustrated and anxious about what would happen next. Malebone and Mabatho said that they did not want tojeopardise Tshidisos opportunity to go to such aprestigious school. Malebone said that she was waitingfor the teachers toput Tshidiso on the spot. I fthey suspended Tshidiso, she reasoned, then they would have her, Malebone, to deal with. Every day, they waited anxiouslyfor the latest developments. Every day in the meeting room, Malebone suggested they take Tshidiso to another school. Malesedi and Mabatho urged her to give it time although neither one ofthem was sure that waiting was the best idea. All three suffered some sort ofincessantpain - from headaches to stomach pains - throughout those weeks o fthe ordeal.85