Page 92 - The Mending Season

tenI used to fantasize that I could go to our neighbours’ house and sit with them, have dinner with them and pretend that my family had mysteriously left the township for a while. Whenever I was in trouble as a small child or when in school someone said something about my aunts that made me feel desperately ashamed, I looked longingly at the neighbours and wished that they would take me in. Now that Mmamane Malesedi and Mmamane Mabatho were determined that I stand up for Veronica, I wished for that again.But still I had heard that word. And as I drifted offto sleep I kept being stung by the sound ofit, as ifI had been hearing it for the first time - even as I felt sorry for Beth.In the morning, I looked out at the empty streets. The ris­ ing sun was daring me to come and join its will to prevail but I did not feel ready for battle. I had read that people in cold countries put on a few layers of clothes and heavy jackets to brave sub-zero weather, and that is how I felt that day. My heart wished for a boycott, a strike, riots or roadblocks - any­ thing to keep me away from school. When my mother came into the kitchen to make me porridge, I faked a cough, but Mmamane Malesedi walked in and gave me a look that said, “Don’t even think about it.” Like it or not, I was going to school that day.I even hoped that the taxi to town would overturn and kill us all - or at the very least send me to the hospital for a stay that would outlast any memories of what had happened on the netball court. As we drew closer and closer to town, I92