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 "
.
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.
.
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"
.
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"
.
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"
.
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
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