1. A Night to REMEMBER

Chapter 5

The establishment is quite far from where we were previously and it is in the township.

Passing a sign indicating that we have reached Umlazi, the driver turns left passing through the first shops then turning right.

That is where you are going, he says pointing to the establishment on the right. The lights can be seen from far away but the music is not so loud compared to where we came from. A lot of cars are parked out front, different brands and models, stretching as far as the eye can see. Even from where we are we can still spot a lot of security guards looking after the cars. Just when we think he is going to stop, the driver continues further down.

Just how big is this place? Jessica asks rolling down the window to get a better look but l suspect it is also to catch a breath of fresh air.

He finally stops near the side walk, pointing us in the right direction while also giving us a weird look as we got out. Wait, is this one place? Megan asks him and he nods.

I cannot believe we ever mistook the other side as an entrance.

Wow this place is the definition of a Mansion, Sisipho says what is on everyones mind. Looking around in wonder we slowly make our way towards the entrance because as much as there are a lot of car guards walking about there are also some suspicious characters.

At the front there is a parking area which is currently full. Once you make it through the parking area you are lead straight to the entrance where there must be about twelve guards max, six on each side. They first search your personnel and that is also where you pay the entrance fee. Then you make you make your way up the flight of stairs into an open deck area where on the left is a stage; then an open area where when facing the stage on the far right close the wall there are a few tables; from the entrance on the far right there are a lot of tables which are directly under the building above stretching out into the inside of the building.

Yep! There is no way we are somehow going to make our way past all those guards and get inside, Raven tells it as it is not really helping in any way.

Not to mention the fact that we all look like high school kids especially with the clothes we are wearing. Jessica adds. I know that they are right, we were in such a rush to get out of the house that we didnt even have time to think about anything else or plan properly. If only the legal drinking age was sixteen and not eighteen then we would be short of one year not three, we would somehow easily find a way in.

Lets make our way back to the other side, l think l saw another entrance. Emihle suggest and we go back in the direction we came in. Towards the back of the undercover sitting area there is a mini gate guarded by one guard after that there is a driveway leading into the building where a lot of expensive cars are parked.

Since Jessica looks the most presentable among us, it is decided that we will stay in the side lines while she goes to talk to him.

Waiting at a reasonable distance so we can clearly see her talking to him but we cannot hear their conversation. Anyone with eyes can clearly see that she is flirting with him, she gently carouses his arm up and down; gives him a simile; adding a laughter here and there, throwing her head back while at it.

Seeming to come to an agreement she gives him one last look before making her way back to us.

Well?

What did he say?

Did he agree?

Are we going in? We all ask her at the same time.

Yes we are but l also have bad news, she pauses leaving us in suspense, he wants a drink. This is South Africa after all.

How much does he want? Carmen asks.

He did not clearly specify because he was trying to be covert about the whole thing.

All right, whoever has cash on them must take it out. Emihle instructs.

The only people who actually carried bags are Jessica; Carmen; Sisipho and myself because it was only supposed to be a two way trip and no more than that.

Sisipho pulls out three hundred and myself two hundred.

Yah, lm gonna need a refund after this, Carmen tells us adding four hundred to the pile.

And l am always broke, says Jessica adding one fifty. In total we have one point five, which in this scenario might be considered too low of a bribe and everyone knows it.

Ow come on guys, lets all properly check our pockets l ask but the only one able to come up with something is Emihle who finds a fifty rand note on the pouch of her phone.

In total we now have one thousand two hundred.

Well, its better than nothing. Megan says trying to convince herself more than us meanwhile Jessica is rumbling through her purse looking for something, when she finally finds it she jumps up and down in excitement holding it up in the air in victory.

What are you doing with a pair of scissors? Youre not planning on stabbing someone are you? Raven asks her taking a few steps back just to make sure. A drunk Jessica can do anything to get what she wants.

No, I just want to make you all look presentable.

Whats wrong with what we are wearing? Some of the people in there are not even wearing your stereotypical party clothes.

Yes but they also dont look like underage teenagers. Are you all forgetting that the legal drinking age is eighteen not fifteen and most of us are still fourteen turning fifteen? Realizing that she is right and we have no choice we allow her to do what she wants.

I have to say, I am really great full for my genes which in this situation make me look older than l am compared to some of the people in this group.

Jessica cuts the long dress Emihle is wearing up to an inch above her knee. She cuts it in weave patterns at the end to give it a more natural look or it is probably because she is so drunk she cant even keep her hands steady. For Carmen she turns her top into a crop top.

Im sorry Sisipho but lm going to have to cut your jeans, they draw too much attention, Jessica tries explaining to her but she refuses to see reason, not allowing her to get any closer.

Why? There are people in there wearing jeans and also Carmen but you did not cut her jeans? No!

Yes because they are not wearing bootleg jeans. Who does that in this day and age? I didnt even know that they were still being manufactured them until l saw you wearing a pair.

With Sisipho still refusing, we hold her still while Jessica cuts her jeans about two inches above her knee. Megan only takes off her ugly cardigan because her dressends just below the knee. Raven is also left alone since she is wearing shorts and a tank top. She also cuts my dress to make it shorter.

Are you sure you need those? She asks pointing at my glasses using the scissors.

Yes! Are you forgetting, you always make fun of how bad my eye sight is?

I have a feeling we low-key look like hobos.

Out of all of us Jessica looks the part because as soon as she heard that we would be going out she immediately went to change. Fixing our hair and applying lipstick we head over to the guard where Jessica whispers something in his ear giving me chills all over before she slyly slips the money into his pocket and he lets us through. Dividing ourselves like we did before, we all head out into different directions.