Black & White

- 06 -

C H A P T E R   S I X

After a few weeks I was finally back at school. Mama was getting better so I was now able to stay out for longer without worrying if Mama will be okay.

"I haven't seen you in forever, how have you been?" My friend, Khumo asked. Khumo and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember. Our moms became best friends while giving birth to us in our local clinic. Khumo and I became inseparable, which made a lot of people think that we were dating. Khumo is like an older brother I never had. Always there to protect me.

"I'm good. I missed you." I admitted as we walked to school together.

"Really? I missed you!" He grinned widely before pulling me into a bear crushing hug, which made us earn disapproving looks from our neighbours. We quickly pulled away from each other and continued walking.

"You need to stop hugging me in public, you know how these people are." I said, while waving to some of our neighbours.

"I can't promise you that it won't happen again." He winked, making me smack his arm playfully.

"Khumo, there's something I have to tell you." I gulped.

"What's wrong?" He asked concerned.

"I got a job."

"Ayize, that's amazing. That means you can help Makhoza with expenses now. I know I don't say this a lot but I'm proud of you."

"Khumo, I work for a white family in Rosebank. The same house Mama was working in." I blurted out.

Khumo stopped walking. His jaw and fists were clenched. "After everything these people have done to us, you go and work for them, really Ayize."

"It's not like that. I just really need the money Khumo." I explained.

"Ayize, I could have asked my mom to give you a job in her salon."

"The money that Mrs Bosman is going to pay me, is ten times larger than the money your mom is going to pay me."

"Khumo, I'm not as advantaged as you are. I don't have a father that brings food at home every Friday. Mama is all that I have. Someone has to work while Mama is still recovering, and that someone is me. I have to take care of my family."

Khumo's mother owned a small salon, a small shack built from corrugated iron and wooden planks, right outside their house. His father was a miner in one of the gold mines in Johannesburg. They didn't pay miners a lot of money but it was enough to send money and food back home. Khumo's older sister, Lesedi was our Social Studies teacher at school.

"I understand." He started, "But I just hate-

" I know you hate them Khumo, but I have no choice." I cut him off.

" If one of them touches you, I swear to God-

"I'll be fine, I can take care of myself."

I didn't tell Khumo that Mr Bosman was a policeman. But when the time is right, I'll eventually tell him.

~*~

MaKhoza
- a way of addressing a black South African by adding a prefix (Ma) to their surname

Note: Khoza is Ayize's mom's surname