4

FOUR

*BOKANG*

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Things went well at the gathering except of course the situation with my dad and Gigi. I got to meet new people who were supposedly relatives and the food was also great. I drove back to my place at around 20:00 and I was exhausted. I went straight to the shower then went to bed. The next day I got ready for work and I looked forward to it. I got to the staffroom and only Hunadi was there, the Geography teacher.

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ME: "Hi"

HUNADI: "Good morning teacher. Oh what a wonderful day to be alive"

ME: "Mmh"

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She was somehow overly excited to see me and I couldn't quite understand why. I plugged the kettle to boil water and took out my cup from the cupboard

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HUNADI: "Did you see the list?"

ME: "List? What list?"

HUNADI: "The camp list of course. You and I are one of the 4 teachers that'll go in this school"

ME: "Oh! I didn't expect to be picked since I'm new"

HUNADI: "Oh come on you're an exceptional teacher and the students can't stop praising you"

ME: "Thank you "

HUNADI: "This is a great opportunity for you and I to get to know each other"

ME: "I suppose "

HUNADI: "I cooked yesterday and I brought lunch enough for the both of us"

ME: "That's kind of you"

HUNADI: "A man's got to eat"

ME: "So tell me, who's your top student in matric?"

HUNADI: "Oh Bokang, I'm sure by now you already know the star of the school Pulane Masemola. That girl is bright and I really hope she doesn't get distracted. Bursaries and universities will be fighting for her next year"

ME: "She's really smart"

HUNADI: "Oh look at the time. I need to prepare for my first class. Don't forget our lunch date later "

ME: "I wouldn't miss it for anything "

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She walked out and I remained in the staffroom alone, drinking my coffee.

**PULANE**

"Morning koko"

Those are the only words I was prepared to say to her for the day and I couldn't even look at her in the eyes. I was upset that she failed to protect me when I needed her the most and I felt all alone in this cruel world. She grabbed my schoolbag that was on the kitchen table before I could.

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GRANNY: "I'm sorry, Pulie"

ME: "I don't believe you, koko"

GRANNY: "I'm old and I could die anytime. I promised your father that I'd make sure you do better in life when he was on that hospital bed"

ME: "I'm getting late for school"

GRANNY: "I made you breakfast. John bought us ..."

ME: "Not a mention of that man's name, koko. I'm sick of it"

GRANNY: "Fighting won't help"

ME: "We're going for a matric camp next week and I'll need some money"

GRANNY: "It's okay I'll give you something from my pension grant"

ME: "Thank you"

GRANNY: "At least eat something, please"

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I sat down and she dished up for me. We were both quiet until we finished eating then I walked to school. I wasn't as early as usual so I couldn't get the time to read my favorite novel like I usually did. One thing about me is that I am organized academically and not a day would go to waste.

..

ME: "Hi Chomi"

TSHIDI: "Why the long face?"

ME: "Ugh you know me and my problems"

TSHIDI: "So did you get the money for the camp?"

ME: "My grandma promised to give me something"

TSHIDI: "That's better. I was worried you'd not go"

ME: "I wouldn't miss anything that boosts my academics and you know it"

TSHIDI: "I can't believe we'll be out of this school soon"

ME: "Varsity awaits Chomi"

TSHIDI: "I just want independence"

ME: "Yeah! But I guess I'll never have that"

TSHIDI: "Chin up, chomi. Things might just work out"

ME: "How?"

TSHIDI: "I don't know maybe John could die"

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We both laughed at the silly joke and surprisingly, my mood became better. The first lesson started and the day just got even more hectic.

**BOKANG**

The matric class was something I always looked forward to because the students were smart and didn't give me any hassles. I got to class with papers for Physical Science class test and I put it on my desk.

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ME: "Good afternoon, good people"

ALL: "Good afternoon, sir"

ME: "I have papers for for physics class test and then I also have results for your last maths test. I must say I'm really impressed that most of you managed to get 60% and above and only a few got around 50%. Keep it up coz it's brilliant and then again I want to say congratulations to our A student who managed to score 95%."

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I looked at her and she smiled. I smiled back at her and she stood up with so much confidence to come to the front and take the papers.

..

ME: "Well done, Pulane. Keep it up!"

PULANE: "Thank you sir, I try"

ME: "You're a star and you'll go far if nothing distracts you"

PULANE: "Thank you"

ME: "I hope you're coming to the camp"

PULANE: "Of course I wouldn't miss it"

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She took the papers and distributed them amongst the other students. I couldn't stop looking at her and I admired her beauty and brains. I somehow felt like I was a being irresponsible for falling for a school kid but I really needed to know about her. While I was checking information about the students I noticed her 18th birthday was near and I needed to get her something. I also couldn't stop thinking about the day I found her vulnerable and I was worried about her.

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**JOHN**

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I got home in the afternoon after a long day at work and I needed to hear my beautiful Pulane's voice. My wife was cooking and even though we were not in love anymore, she still took care of me because of the marriage

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ME: "Hi"

HER: "Hello, John"

ME: "Something smells great"

HER: "What do you expect me to say?"

ME: "I'm not in the mood for fighting today"

HER: "You're back early. Are your mistresses unavailable?"

ME: "My soon to be wife is still busy"

HER: "With what? Reading on how to destroy marriages?"

ME: "On how to take care of a man. Something you should have read on years back"

HER: "I won't stand here and be insulted by you"

ME: "There's the door, Patricia. Oh I forgot you won't leave because you love my money"

HER: "How dare you?"

ME: "Did I hit a nerve? You're nothing without me, woman. The only good thing that came out of the marriage is our children. Or should I say our daughter because that son of yours is as disrespectful and useless as you are."

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I walked to my bedroom