Page 111 - The Mending Season

She took a sip of her now-cold tea and thanked me several times for speaking with her.Tihelo was only about four years younger than Mmamane Mabatho but she spoke to me as ifwe were the same age. It made me want to sit with them longer, sip tea and discuss life and everything else. But it was rude to stay when adults were talking, and I knew they wanted me to leave the room. So I went into the bedroom and lay on the bed. In the next room, the two of them were talking in whispers but laughing out loud.I spent Saturday doing school work, just so I could focus on something different. I did homework that was only meant to be handed in on Wednesday. Mma Motseis gospel music came through her front windows like a raging wind. I had no idea why, but I thought the volume was louder than usual. They were songs I had heard so many times that I now found myself humming and singing along as I answered questions about glaciers from my geography textbook.On Sunday, I climbed the lemon tree, lay my back against its trunk and watched people go by. Neighbours stood on each side oftheir fences, discussing children, husbands, wives, work and neighbours. I sawTihelo’s mother and sister sitting and talking on their stoep and wondered ifTihelo was away work­ ing on our story. I heard young people my age walking and talking past our house - but because I was hiding, I could not see who they were. Like everyone else in the township, they were talking really loudly. I heard my name being mentioned. “She hit someone? Tshidiso or the other girl?”“I think Tshidiso.”“Iyol Its no surprise, being raised in that house ...”Their voices trailed off as they moved farther and farther away.So we were still the shameful women of 4 Mabele Street. Not a lot had changed after all, although some people waved and walked on our side of the street - some even stopped to111