Chapter 1

 

I had a really fair childhood with the dramatic incidents here and there. We got what we wanted most of the time. My parents always did what was best for us. All we had to do was just be good children and make them proud. We all made mistakes but mine didn’t feel like it. Growing up in Bloemfontein can seem like something exciting but for me it was not. I just felt so out of place. Every holidays we had to go visit our grandparents in the small town of Petsana(Reitz). This was where I found myself or so I think. You know when you reach high school and start thinking of boys as more than friends. I was at that stage in life. I used to go there mainly to get spoiled by our grandparents but life had other plans for us.

Everything was happening so fast though. The more I think about it, the more I find it funny.  Bloemfontein might have been seen as a privilege but my heart was at Petsana. High school years are the funniest. You think you have your life sorted out but nothing. I started dating only when I was in Standard 7(Grade 9). It took so much convincing. His name was Tshepiso. The boy was doing the right things. He lived two streets away from my grandma’s house. I always had to find excuses to go out so I can spend time with him.

 

Everything was going well until my baby sister saw me with him at the corner of our grandma’s street. Instead of telling our sweet grandma or keep it to herself, she decided to tell our uncle and it was a disaster. I remember this other other time my grandma asked me to go buy things at the spaza and my uncle decided to go with me. The trip was not pleasant at all. I was supposed to meet Tshepiso at the spaza. What happened when we got there was funny to say the least. My uncle decided to walk behind me so to not make the guys at the spaza aware we are walking together. The worst thing Tshepiso did was walk towards me from the shop. I could not tell him to walk away in time. Before he could say even ‘Hello’ to me my uncle got infront of me so quickly and gave him a warm klap and after that told him to stay away from me. The poor boy was in awe and quickly ran away. That was so embarrassing for me. I felt so sorry for him and wanted to check if he was ok. My uncle made sure that I stayed in the house for the next few days with the never ending chores. His luck ran out when my grandma said I should go play with other kids and he got a job. I could go back to my boyfriend and spend more time with him. We planned so much. I remember how we planned to go study and RAU(University of Johannesburg) and build a life there. It was always so emotional when we have to go  back when  because the holidays were over.