Black & White

-16-

C H A P T E R  S I X T E E N

When it was time for break, we all started to pack our bags in order to go outside. Everyone was talking about the debate now.

"Ayize, please stay behind for a few minutes." Mrs Dlamini spoke from her desk. I nodded and quickly shoved my books into my bag.

"We'll wait for you outside." Khumo told me, before he exited the class with Mbuyisa.

I went to Mrs Dlamini desk and stood infront of her. She looked up from her paperwork and smiled at me, "I want you to help me prepare your classmates for the up coming debate in Parktown."

I looked at her confused, "Me? Why? I don't have any debating experience."

"You don't, but you are well informed. I've noticed how you bother yourself with information. You Ayize, you know everything that is happening around you, from sports to politics. You are also my brightest student."

I couldn't help but smile at her words.

"You may not see it yet, but you will become the greatest leader of our generation."

I nodded, even though I didn't see myself as a leader.

After Mrs Dlamini dismissed me, I went outside in search of my two best friends.

"Khumo, that's not how it's spelt." I heard Mbuyisa say as I approached them.

"Hey guys." I greeted them. I took a seat between them on the old and weathered wooden bench and opened my lunch.

"Good, you are here." Khumo said.
"Please tell Mbuyisa that I spelt this word correctly." Khumo pointed at an Afrikaans word in his book. It took me a while to figure out what the word was due to Khumo's messy handwriting.

"Khumo, you write like a two year old. I can't even see what's written here." I told him, before taking a bite of my bread.

"Thank you! I have been trying to tell him that." Mbuyisa said.

Khumo looked at us and placed his hand on his chest, "You know what." He stood up and collected his things, "I'm not going to sit here and listen to you two judge my handwriting."

"Where are you going?"  I asked him.

"To play soccer with the guys." He took his bag and left.

"Well... that was a dramatic exit." Mbuyisa said.

"Very dramatic." I laughed.

Mbuyisa and I ate our lunch while we talked about the latest on politics and the debate.

******

The following day Mrs Dlamini started preparing us for the debate. While other kids went home after school, my class and I stayed behind.

"Okay children, settle down." Mrs Dlamini spoke. We all stopped our conversations and turned to her.

"Before we start, you guys need to understand that we are a team and a team works together. So, we are going to help each other with each other's speeches. No one is allowed to laugh at anyone. We are also going to practice infront of one another so that our arguments work together. Is that understood?"

"Yes ma'am." We answered enthusiastically.

"Good. Any questions?"

Khumo raised his hand. I furrowed my eyebrows at him.

"Yes Khumo?"

"Umm, when is the debate?" He asked.

"The first round is on the 18th of April." Mrs Dlamini answered.

Khumo used his fingers to count, "So.... that means we have 3 weeks to prepare."

"Yes." Mrs Dlamini nodded.

"Which means that for 3 weeks we will be staying behind after school for two hours?"

"Yes. We might stay for longer if necessary."

Khumo groaned loudly but quickly covered it up with a fake cough.

"Is there a problem Khumo?" Mrs Dlamini asked.

"No ma'am. I just choked on my saliva." He said, clearing his throat.

Mbuyisa and I exchanged looks before laughing silently at Khumo.

~*~