Rogue

Chapter 7 - New Girl

Chapter 7 – New Girl

The rest of the week-long holiday passed without incidence. She spent most of her time poring over the maths textbook or helping Ouma. Unlike the other young people in the area, she spent her time working.

She straightened her uniform, brushed Sera’s hair and picked up her schoolbag. Brian was asleep, and, although he demanded to see her before she went to her “nu skool”, she didn’t have the heart to wake him up. She wrapped him in a blanket and carried him next-door. Ouma would look after him until the afternoon, when Zahra would fetch him and Sera until she got back. The arrangement wasn’t one Leto was entirely happy about, since it meant giving Ouma and Zahra taking over her responsibility, but she had to compromise.

Ouma smiled at her as she put Brian down and tucked the blanket over him.

“Those colours look nice on you, my girl,” said Ouma. “Come here, I want to give you a hug.”

She smiled in response and was surprised by the strength still left in the old woman’s arms. They were thin and covered in paper-like skin, but still retained warmth and gave her a comfort that she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Your Ma would have loved to see you, going off to one of the best schools in the country on your own merit.”

She swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat quickly and tried to hide it as a cough.

“Thanks, Ouma.”

Apprehension rose in her throat as she entered the school grounds on her own. SUVs, German cars and sleek limousines lined the parking lot. The noise coming from the hundreds of students was incredible. High-pitched laughter from the girls as they air-kissed their cliques and the rough greetings of the boys mingled in the brisk, autumn air. She observed them quietly. She was relieved to see that there didn’t appear to be any racial separations. Africans, Indians, Europeans and Asians mixed freely with each other. She heard horrible rumours before about schools like Eastbrook where the students would separate themselves according to skin colour. She was glad Eastbrook didn’t have that atmosphere. She slipped through the different groups as she made her way to the auditorium. Morné had told her to report to it when the first bell went, and she wanted to be early. It wouldn’t hurt to make a good impression on whoever else was already there.

“Leto!” She glanced around, wondering how anyone knew her. A whistle drew her attention in the right direction. Morné waved to her as he herded some grade 7s into the auditorium. She grinned back and counted the grades until she found hers. The line was shorter than she expected – until she realised that half of her class were prefects. She shrugged her packed schoolbag into a more comfortable position and filed into the auditorium after the other grade 11s. A few of them gave her curious glances before whispering to their friends and then moving on with their conversations. None really seemed fussed that there was a new girl starting in the second term – or maybe they didn’t notice her really. She couldn’t tell.

The assembly was like any other school assembly she had. It started off with a “welcome back,” then a talk about how short the term was (she wondered how teachers ever got any work done in every term was as short as the principal made it seem) and the upcoming June exams. An orchestra played the school anthem, which she found to have a surprisingly uplifting tune. Her old school didn’t have anything as fancy as an anthem. She found her thoughts drifting with the music. Sera would be at school already, if she got there safely. Brian would have probably woken up by now. She hoped that he wasn’t too upset that she’d left him behind without greeting. Maybe he’d forgive her if she got him a sweet from the tuck-shop during break. But then there was always the chance that Sera would complain. She smiled to herself. If she went about it diplomatically, she would be able to handle Sera. Sometimes, dealing with her siblings was the most taxing thing in her life.