Jealous in Jozi Read online

  It was scary to see her usually busy mother lying helpless on the couch, like a bird with a broken wing. For a moment Zinzi wished Ntombi was here. She was afraid. Her mom was the only family she had right now and much as she rebelled against her, she loved and depended on her.

  It was as if her mother had read her mind. “I wish Ntombi was here,” she said, wincing. “She would know what to do. She did that first-aid course. I need a bandage to try to strap it.”

  Even though Zinzi had also wished her older sister was there, she felt hurt and angry at her mother’s words. Why was it always Ntombi this, Ntombi that? Wasn’t she good enough? She hadn’t even given Zinzi a chance to help her.

  “I can help you, Ma,” she said. And for the next 20 minutes she found a bandage, tried to help her mother strap it, made her mother tea, and fetched her a Panado. Phew. She cuddled up to her mother on the couch.

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do about work,” her mother said worriedly. “I’ve got no more leave due to me. I can’t take time off. But I know my boss will think I’m useless if I limp around the school kitchen. I’ll struggle to get the meals out on time.”

  “I could help you. I could take time off school and come and help in the kitchen.”

  Her mom shook her head. “What are you thinking, Zinzi? Your education is more important than my silly ankle. No, I’ll go to work tomorrow. But I won’t be able to do the extra hours I was hoping to, to get overtime.”

  Zinzi thought about her father – where was he when they needed him? “Tata will have money. He owes us, Ma. Where is he?”

  The girls had asked their mother countless times before what had happened to their dad. Where had he gone when he had walked out into the night after that terrible argument with their mom? She had always shut them up with, “I don’t know,” or, “I don’t want to think about it.” But now, seeing her mom struggling to cope, Zinzi couldn’t help asking it again. And this time, the answer was different.

  “It’s funny, my girl, that you ask me that.” Her mom shifted on the couch to make room for Zinzi to sit down.

  “Why, Mama?” Zinzi felt a shiver of excitement. Her mom was going to tell her something important. Something about their dad. And secretly she felt pleased that Ntombi wasn’t here to share the news.

  “Because somebody left a letter for me today at work. It was there in the manager’s office when I finished. She said a gentleman had dropped it off.”

  “Who, Mama, tell me who?”

  “You’ll never guess,” her mother teased.

  “Tell me, Mama!”

  Her mother’s face looked serious again. “Your father.”

  Zinzi knew it. She jumped off the couch like she had been shot.

  “What? What did he say? Where has he been? Let me see it.”

  “Hold on, Zinzi. Calm down.”

  Zinzi looked at the expression on her mother’s face. “You haven’t read the letter yet, have you?”

  “Don’t shout at me, young girl,” said her mother. “I haven’t had time. I told you I had to run for the taxi, and then this happened.” She pointed to her leg. “Pass me my bag.”

  Zinzi handed her mom the bag and watched as she pulled out a big white envelope. She tried to peer over her mom’s shoulder. “No, Zinzi,” her mother said crossly. “Let me read this in peace. Go and do your homework in the bedroom.”

  Zinzi hovered. She so badly wanted to know what the letter said. If she watched her mom’s face she would at least be able to tell if it was good or bad news.

  “What are you waiting for? I said go to the bedroom. Leave me. I need some quiet to read this.”

  “Can I use your cellphone, Mama?” Zinzi tried her luck. There was one person she wanted to tell about the letter and she couldn’t wait to send her an SMS. She would say just enough to make her sister mad with curiosity and frustrated that she was so far away from home. But she knew her mom wouldn’t let her take the phone.

  “OK. But no calls. I don’t have airtime.” Zinzi was so excited she couldn’t believe her luck. Her plan was working. In the bedroom Zinzi send a message to Ntombi.

  Hei cc u wnt blv wat hpned hre @ hme

  She smiled to herself.

  Then she turned off the phone and took it back to her mother, handing it to her with a sweet smile. “I don’t want to run your battery down, Mama.” But her mother wasn’t listening. She didn’t hear a word Zinzi said. She was clutching the letter, her hand shaking.

  “What’s wrong?” Zinzi couldn’t read the emotion on her mother’s face. Was it shock? Anger? Was the news bad or good?

  “Zinzi, please, just leave me. Go and get some sweets. Here’s some money.” She fished out a R5 coin from her purse. “I don’t need you disturbing me now.”

  Normally Zinzi would be delighted to get money for sweeties. But now she didn’t want sweeties. The only thing she wanted was to find out what was in that letter. And her mother was getting rid of her! She stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

  She couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t fair. Just when her mom had started to share her news about the letter from their father, and Zinzi had felt so pleased and excited that for once her mom was telling her something important. And now she had shut her out of the house. She didn’t matter to her mom or anybody. Miss Zinzi nobody, little sister to the famous Ntombi.

  By the time she had walked to the spaza shop and bought her favourite chocolate toffees, things began to feel a bit better. She still knew something that Ntombi didn’t – so there, she thought. What would Ntombi feel when she read the SMS and didn’t know what had happened? And Zinzi wasn’t going to tell her yet. She would make her suffer. She leaned against the shop wall and sucked the sweet until it had nearly dissolved in her mouth. Slowly she started for home again, kicking stones as she walked. She was so caught up in wondering how she could sneak the letter away from her mother that she didn’t look where she was going. She heard Olwethu’s voice as she walked straight into him.

  “Hey, look where you’re going,” he said, and then saw that it was Zinzi and smiled. “Careful, Zinzi. You could have walked into a car.”

  “But I didn’t, did I?” Zinzi answered cheekily.

  “Hey, the last I heard from your sister she was in Beaufort West. I only got the message now because my phone died.”

  Zinzi shook her head. “She’s much too busy to think about me,” said Zinzi sulkily.

  “I’m sure she’ll call soon. She probably can’t phone easily. Come, I’ll buy you something nice to get a smile back on your face.” He pinched her cheek. “Life’s not so bad. She’ll come back soon.”

  They all think I’m a child, thought Zinzi, as she went with Olwethu back to the spaza and chose another treat. I’ll show them.

  “What about you?” she asked Olwethu. “Are you missing my sister?” The answer was written all over his face. She smiled to herself. This would be easy – something she knew she would be so good at. She could mess with Olwethu and Ntombi’s love. Then they’d realise she wasn’t such a baby after all …

  Chapter 4

  The rec room was buzzing with the contestants’ excited chatter as the competition organisers pinned up schedules on the notice board. In the far corner cooldrinks, snacks and cake were laid out on a trestle table. And there were the twins drinking Coke Zeros and looking everyone up and down to see what they were wearing. “I’m going to get myself a juice. Do you want one?” asked Mahlodi.

  “Look at the choice of drinks!” Ntombi couldn’t believe how much food and cooldrinks there were. “It looks like a shop! And there are three kinds of cake to choose from!”

  Mahlodi laughed. “You’d better get used to it, girlfriend.”

  “I think I’m going to enjoy it!” The drink tasted so good after the long, hot journey on the bus. Finally, Ntombi felt like she had stopped travel
ling and could take in her surroundings. She looked around the rec room. The twins were talking at the tops of their voices and laughing too loudly with a man at least a foot shorter than them. A plump young girl with light brown skin was leaning against the wall, looking at everybody, her dark hair elegantly swept back up on her head. “I bet you that girl sings alto,” whispered Mahlodi. And I bet she sings well, thought Ntombi nervously.

  “Shame, I heard she has to share a room with one of the twins. They split them up, you know,” said Mahlodi. And Ntombi felt very sorry for the girl and very glad she was with Mahlodi. Things could have been much worse.

  In the doorway two younger boys were shaking hands. They looked so formal it made Ntombi and Mahlodi giggle. One of them was dressed like a nerd: shirt tucked in, clean white shoes. The other was wearing a suit. “Two professors,” Mahlodi teased. “Definitely gospel singers!” A third guy joined them and made a sign with his hand to greet them. He had a hoody hiding most of his face, and he wore his pants so low you could see his underpants. “That’s the rapper guy, Katlego,” said Mahlodi. “Too cool for school.” Behind him was a tall girl with long blonde hair and very long legs. “And look at that blonde stick insect, trying to get his attention,” Mahlodi added. Ntombi laughed.

  “Bet you she’s got a squeaky soprano voice,” she answered.

  They heard a shout from across the room and then a roar of laughter. Ntombi turned to look what was happening and saw a white boy with a blond fringe wrestling with another contestant on one of the big beanbags.

  “Boys!” Mahlodi said. “They never grow up.”

  The white boy stood up and offered his friend a hand. Ntombi couldn’t help staring. The friend was one of the most gorgeous boys she had ever seen. His skin was smooth and the colour of dark toffee. And what a cute smile! Just then he turned to look at her watching him, and winked. She was embarrassed he had caught her out. And now he was walking towards her and she couldn’t escape. She turned to find Mahlodi, but her new friend was talking to the nerd over in the corner. Then he was at her side and even more handsome close up.

  “I’ve met everyone else,” he said. “Where have you been hiding? You must be the girl from the Beautiful City. Welcome to the big lights of Jozi.” He smiled that killer smile again, and she found she had lost her voice. “Sorry there’s no mountain here for you. But hopefully you will find some other attractions.” He held out his hand. “By the way, I’m Alex, from Alex.”

  “I’m Ntombi,” Ntombi whispered, as they shook hands. He held her hand a little too long.

  Then Alex’s friend came up and greeted Ntombi too. “Ah, Alex from Alex, he does love that line. And yeah … he thinks he’s the next teen voice,” he said, slapping Alex on the back.

  “This is Dirk,” said Alex. “My bodyguard. He’s always right behind me. Thinks I’ll get up to trouble if he leaves me alone for two seconds. And he might be right.” He laughed. Then when he saw the alarm on Ntombi’s face he added, “Don’t worry, he’s my good buddy. We’re in the same band.”

  “Or were,” said Dirk, “until this competition. Now it’s a fight to the death!” They laughed and gave each other a high-five. Ntombi couldn’t believe how cool they were – and in a band! She didn’t know anyone in a band, only in the church choir at home.

  Mahlodi came up and whispered to Ntombi, “Check out the twins.” Ntombi saw them talking to an older man in the corner. They looked like they were flirting with him, the way they moved and giggled. “They’re not stupid. That guy is the assistant to the judges. Look at them charming the pants off him.’

  Dirk flicked back his fringe. “I wouldn’t mind them charming the pants off me. They are absolutely beautiful. Model material. You have to introduce me.”

  “Oh, shut up,” said Alex.

  “Yeh, shut up,” added Mahlodi. “If that’s your taste in girls I feel sorry for you.” And they spent the next five minutes joking around together. In the excitement of meeting these guys Ntombi had forgotten all about the SMS from Zinzi. But then she felt her phone ringing in her jeans’ pocket.

  “Hey, somebody’s bum is singing,” said Dirk.

  “I think it’s you,” Mahlodi said. Ntombi took the phone out, embarrassed. “I’ll be back,” she said quickly.

  “Boyfriends. They won’t leave you alone. I bet he’s checking up on her,” Alex teased, calling after her. But it wasn’t Olwethu, it was her mother.

  “Mama, what’s happening?” she said quietly into the phone, bracing herself for what she was about to hear.

  “Hello, my darling …”

  “Mama, Zinzi said that something had happened.”

  “I didn’t want Zinzi to worry you. It’s nothing, my girl.”

  “So what did she mean?” Ntombi looked around. The organisers were calling the contestants together to tell them about the programme. She was about to miss it. She didn’t have time now.

  “It’s your father …,” said her mom.

  Ntombi froze. “What about him?”

  “He’s come back.”

  “Come ba …. What? I don’t believe it!” Ntombi blurted out. Everyone turned around to look at her. She waved weakly, then lowered her voice. “Is he at home?”

  “No, no, not like that. I mean he’s back in town. He’s sent me a letter, Ntombi, explaining everything.”

  “But what did he say, Mama? You haven’t forgiven him have you?” It was the worst time to hear the news. She didn’t have time to talk to her mother, to remind her that he shouldn’t be allowed to just walk back into their lives after what he had done.

  “Mama, I can’t talk now. I have to go. Please phone me later.”

  “OK, my girl.” She paused. “But, Ntombi, it’s a long and complicated story. I didn’t want Zinzi to tell you anything. Just enjoy yourself, sweetie. Don’t miss out on the fun.” And with that her mother put down the phone.

  Ntombi joined the others and Mahlodi told her that Agnes had said they were to meet in the rec room at 7 the next morning and to wear something comfortable. “Of course that doesn’t apply to the twins,” added Mahlodi. “Unless they’ve found designer tracksuits.”

  Alex caught up with Ntombi as she was leaving the rec room. He touched her on the arm. “Everything all right?” he asked.

  “Fine, fine,” she answered uncertainly.

  “Stay,” he said. “Looks like you need some energy. Come and have some cake with me.” He steered her towards the table and piled up a paper plate with cake and biscuits.

  “You look hungry!” she laughed.

  “It’s not for me – it’s for you,” he said with a grin. “It would be sad to see all this food wasted.”

  “I can’t eat that much!” she laughed. She took one of the biscuits and sat down next to Alex who was already halfway through a big slice of chocolate cake. Just then one of the twins walked past.

  “I can see you’re not watching your weight.” She wagged a painted nail at Ntombi. “You’d better watch out. You know it’s not just your voice the judges will be judging.”

  “If it were about personalities you would come last,” Alex said to her, laughing as the twin tossed her head and walked away. “So,” he turned to Ntombi and looked right into her eyes like he was searching for something. “Hope there wasn’t bad news from home?”

  Ntombi shook her head. “No, no – everything’s fine.” She found it hard to believe that he cared. After all, he hardly knew her. But he sounded really concerned and made her feel like he was really listening, as though there was nothing else in the room that interested him. His full lips and warm eyes were very close. Such a gorgeous guy, caring about her! “My mother was just giving me some news. But nothing serious.”

  “That’s good,” he said. He leaned back and stretched his arm across the back of her seat. She knew that if she leaned back too his arm would be around her.

&
nbsp; Her emotions swirled like a flooded river. Alex here, Olwethu far away, her father back in town. She leaned back and felt Alex’s arm against her neck and shoulders. The warmth of his arm sent her worries away, and brought in a whole new set of feelings. For a moment they just sat there, not moving.

  It seemed as if time had stopped. But then Agnes walked over to them and Ntombi realised they were the only ones left in the rec room. “OK, guys, we’re locking up here now,” she said. “It’s time to go back to your rooms.” Ntombi got up quickly and walked towards the door. She didn’t look back at Alex. She was embarrassed to have been caught chatting to him alone when she had only just arrived. What would Agnes think? She would have to be careful the next day. She would stick with Mahlodi, she told herself. And there was Mahlodi waiting for her in the passage with a knowing smile on her face.

  “Alex from Alex is quite a charmer,” she said. Ntombi tried to change the subject. She didn’t want Mahlodi to think she was like the twins, flirting at the first opportunity.

  “This place will be good for my English,” she said, as if she hadn’t heard Mahlodi’s comment. “I’m not used to everyone speaking different languages like they do here in Jozi.”

  “Looks like you and Alex were getting to know each other,” Mahlodi winked. “He’s pretty hot, don’t you think? And I think he rather likes you too.”

  Ntombi felt her heart jump. “You’re joking!” It came out too loud and squeaky and Ntombi worried that she had given her feelings away. But then again she wasn’t even sure what her feelings were.

  “I can tell these things,” Mahlodi laughed. She unlocked their door and they collapsed on their beds. It felt so good to be able to lie down. “Yes,” Mahlodi joked. “Alex from Alex speaks the language of love. It’s spoken all over the world, you know.”

  “I’m not interested,” said Ntombi, trying to convince herself. “I’ve got a boyfriend at home.”

  “But is he as hot as Alex from Alex? That is the question!”

  Ntombi thought of Olwethu’s familiar face – his smile, the kindness in his eyes and how he loved her. But then she remembered Alex’s sexy smile and wink and how it had felt when they had sat so close. It disturbed her how quickly thoughts of Olwethu had faded and how strongly she was attracted to this guy she had only just met. Perhaps it was tiredness and excitement after the long journey. She wasn’t thinking clearly.