Chapter Three

The bulk of the 88s’ income came from hijacking and selling cars. They were very good at it, too. They have never had a hijacking gone wrong. Their biggest flaw was that Thabang accepted the first offer that came up, even if it was R200 000 for a semi-new German car. He also kept 50% of all proceeds, leaving the 16 other 88 gang members to share what was left. The 88s were reckless and wild, typical thugs. The best thing they had going for them was their agreement with the local police, that way they stayed out of jail. Well, for the most part since Thabang’s older brother ended up there anyway. It had been a month since the 76 party and the 88s were working hard, trying to sell the 6 cars that had been in their possession for three weeks. Business was not slow, they had just caught too much fish. Usually, they waited for someone to request a car. But Thabang had gone wild and instructed his crew to hijack 7 cars in one week. He was extremely impressed because they had been able to pull it off but these cars were becoming liabilities. The longer they remained unsold, the more they depreciated. Deep down, Thabang knew it was his fault. Besides ordering the multiple hijackings, he had been too distracted to do his job properly. He had focused too much of his attention on S’fiso and Dineo, who had not given him anything worthwhile for his troubles. He never saw them together, except when he was on school duty and Dineo just walked past the BMW. Sometimes without even greeting. He decided Tshepo was probably right; that Dineo would never be with S’fiso, thus, making her a non-factor. He needed to focus on himself and his crew, or they wouldn’t have enough to eat and drink for the coming months.

“Busy with the numbers already, it’s only 6am.” Tshepo said to Thabang when he walked into the living room.

“Listen… drop that girl, okay?” Thabang said, absent-mindedly.

“What girl?” Tshepo asked.

“Dineo. She’s useless to me. And her uselessness is bad for business.” Thabang said, gesturing for Tshepo to leave. Tshepo left, not sure what exactly Thabang had expected to gain from Dineo when he had already told him not to expect much. Tshepo knew Dineo very well and he also a knew a dead end when he saw one. This was partly why he was one of the smartest members of the 88. He and Thulani could’ve been twins, from different tribes. They were the smart ones, the ones who used logic in the illogical world of gangsters. He and Kabelo walked to school together, Kabelo talking about which girl was next on his list, Tshepo telling him he should’ve given up on his list when Nokuthula rejected him three times. Kabelo turned sour at the mention of Nokuthula’s name. His ego had been bruised, several times. It was as though he had run out of luck that morning because they found Nokuthula standing just outside the school gate.

“Nokuthula.” Tshepo said as he walked past her. She just looked up from her cell phone briefly before returning her focus to whatever it is that she was doing.

“Hai wena.” Kabelo said, snatching Nokuthula’s phone. “Say hello.”

“Hi.” Nokuthula said, rolling her eyes and reaching for her phone. Kabelo was too tall for her.

“That’s not a good idea.” A voice came from behind Kabelo. He turned around to see S’fiso who had just gotten out of his BMW. Kabelo distractedly returned the phone to Nokuthula, not because he was afraid of S’fiso but because he was distracted by the sight of young Dineo emerging from the passenger seat of the same BMW. Even Tshepo was distracted. Dineo walked past S’fiso without saying a word. S’fiso kept his eyes fixed on Kabelo and Nokuthula.

“So, S’fiso we can’t even joke around as schoolmates without you coming here and barking?” Kabelo asked eventually.

“There are many girls who live on your territory, joke around with them.” S’fiso said before getting back into the car and driving off.

“Hau? He’s leaving?” Nokuthula asked.

“Yeah, he’s not on duty today.” Dineo said, too quickly, she realised. She noticed that Nokuthula, Tshepo and Kabelo were all giving her the same look. The look that seemed to be asking her why she knew the schedule and – more importantly – why S’fiso gave her a lift to school. Before she could think of a way to change the subject, the school bell rang and she darted into the school yard.

“Hey! Dineo!” Nokuthula called out after her.

“School has started. I’ll see you at break time.” Dineo said. She couldn’t get away from them fast enough. Nokuthula was impressed but she was more jealous than anything else. She wanted to be the one who got rides to and from school. She wanted to be the one who knew the 76 schedule. Dineo – who had only just started wearing a bra – could not possibly have surpassed her in that department.

*****

It wasn’t often that one would bump into gang members at a mall, but Menzi decided to spoil himself with new shoes. He had bought himself two pairs of expensive sneakers and was in a good mood. That was until he saw Thabang leaning against his car in the parking lot.

“Suka lapho.” Menzi said as calmly as he could. But Thabang didn’t budge. Instead, he crossed his right leg over his left leg and leaned further back against the front of the BMW.

“Let’s talk.” Thabang said as Menzi walked past him to put his plastics in the boot. Menzi joined Thabang and leaned against the front of his car. To passers-by, it would look like they were just two friends hanging out at the mall. No guns in sight, no signs of the animosity that was so rife between the two of them. They couldn’t start fighting in the middle of Eastgate Mall. They were in the suburbs, there were white people here.

“What do you want?” Menzi asked eventually.

“You know, I thought I could be the bigger person and forget that your boy held a gun to my head in my own territory… but I just cant.” Thabang said.

“That happened a month ago and you’re only bringing it up now? What do you want? Do you want him to pay a fine?” Menzi asked. Menzi was the right person to be having this conversation with Thabang because he was S’fiso’s leader. If anyone had to be consulted about the punishment of a gang member, it had to be a gang leader.

“Yes.” Thabang said.

“How much?”

“I don’t want your dirty money.” Thabang said and Menzi rolled his eyes. As if the 88s made their money legally.

“So, what do you want Thabang?” Menzi’s patience was wearing thin.

“Zone 5.” Thabang said calmly, keeping his eyes in front of him.

“Zone 5? Unganya.” Menzi said and Thabang chuckled.

“We can either do this nicely, like gentlemen, or I can use extreme measures to get my revenge. You decide. But I want the territory… and I’m going to get it. By any means necessary.” Thabang said before walking away from the car, whistling. Menzi didn’t know if Thabang had some intel on them or on S’fiso. He didn’t know if Thabang’s plan was already in motion. All he knew was that he had to protect his territory from the 88 gang… by any means necessary. He revved the car a little before speeding off. Something was brewing and he had to contain it before it was too late.

*****

S’fiso took a deep breath before knocking on the front door of Dineo’s house that afternoon. She had been cooking and the smell was what had caused S’fiso to invite himself.

“Hey.” Dineo said when she opened the door. “What’s up?”

“What’s for dinner?” S’fiso asked.

“What?”

“Sorry, it smells so good, I thought I’d come try my luck. Do you have room for one more?” S’fiso asked with pleading eyes. He was so cute, Dineo thought, but his timing was horrible.

“My mom is coming back today so…” Dineo said, laughing at the sudden look of terror that washed over S’fiso’s face. “Unless you want to meet my mom already.”

“No… uhm…” S’fiso hesitated, much to Dineo’s amusement.

“S’fiso?” a voice came from behind, causing S’fiso to get a fright. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?” It was Dineo’s mother with a large suitcase. S’fiso gulped.

“Hello Mom. S’fiso just came to check up on me.” Dineo said casually. S’fiso was sure that his palms were dripping with sweat… Dineo’s mother pushed past him to get into the house.

“I’m gonna go now.” S’fiso said softly but Dineo took hold of his hand.

“What’s wrong? Since when are you afraid of my mom? Or is it because you’re my boyfriend now?” she asked with a smile. She liked the idea of calling S’fiso her boyfriend. She had never said it out loud until that moment and S’fiso frowned, peeling her fingers off his hand.

“I’m not your boyfriend. I was just looking after you while your mom was gone. She’s back now.” He said before walking out, leaving a very disappointed Dineo standing in the doorway. She had never experienced rejection of this kind and she had not expected that her mother’s arrival would be the reason for it. Especially where S’fiso was concerned.

Menzi parked the car outside the 76 main house just as S’fiso was making his way back from Dineo’s house. S’fiso’s head was all over the place and the last thing he needed was for Menzi to slap him.

“What the hell?” S’fiso shouted, pushing Menzi. This wasn’t good. It wasn’t good for the 76s and it wasn’t good for the people who lived on 76 territory. Nothing good ever came from members of the same gang fighting in public. Menzi, realising that they were attracting some attention, pulled S’fiso by his arm and dragged him into the house.

“What the hell were you thinking pulling a gun out on Thabang in his own turf?” Menzi asked and S’fiso couldn’t be more confused.

“Is that why you slapped me? Because of Thabang? Over something that happened a month ago?” S’fiso asked in disbelief. He honestly thought this was in the past since nothing came of it when it happened.

“It’s not because of Thabang, it’s because your stupid actions have put us in a dangerous position.” Menzi said, trying to contain his anger.

“What did he say? If he wants me to pay a fine, I’ll pay it.” S’fiso said. Menzi sits quietly for a moment. The other 76 members were all over the yard, busying themselves with the multiple household chores.

“He wants zone 5.” Menzi eventually said. “And he’s not willing to negotiate.”

S’fiso sank further into the couch, burying his head in his hands. This was one of the most dangerous situations a gang could find itself in. No gang, no matter the circumstances, was ever willing to trade territory for the sake of squashing beef. Territory was the last resort. Even more so in this case because they were in this position because S’fiso – just one gang member – got carried away and broke one of the most important laws.

“I’ll speak to him…” S’fiso said softly. “I’ll try to reach an agreement.”

“Did you not understand me when I said he is not willing to negotiate? He wants zone 5 and he’s willing to do anything to get it.” Menzi said, irritated. In fact, he was too irritated to even be in S’fiso’s presence so he got up and left. He revved the car wildly and took off. S’fiso had always thought that his love for Dineo would only complicate her life… never did he think it would complicate his own.

*****

Dineo was very happy to be having dinner with her mother after a whole month of living alone. However, although she was excited to have her mom back, her interaction with S’fiso earlier that day kept replaying in her mind. She didn’t understand what she had done wrong or why he had been so upset by the idea of being her boyfriend. Wasn’t he the one who had told her he was in love with her? Wasn’t he the one who had spent the past month randomly checking up on her, giving her lifts and spending time with her? She missed him already. She wanted to confront him, ask him what he was so upset about. But… she was afraid of him again. Not afraid that he’d harm her, but afraid that she didn’t know how he’d react. Would he be the friendly S’fiso or the fierce S’fiso? Would he lash out? Yell at her? She didn’t want any of that so she decided to shove all of those questions deep into the back of her head and forget about him.

“Dineo?” her mother said when she realised she had been talking to herself. “What’s going on?”

“Oh nothing. Is the food good? It was my first time making beef.” Dineo said.

“The food is delicious. What’s on your mind?” her mother asked.

“Nothing.”

“Dineo, here I am going on about my experiences in Paris and you’re not even flinching. What’s going on? Did something happen while I was gone?”

Dineo would’ve loved to tell her mother all about her adventures with S’fiso and her countless rides in the 76 cars. She would’ve loved to tell her mother about the time S’fiso bought her school pants and ice cream. And when they kissed. But she didn’t want to remember all of that.

“Not much, really.” she said, shoving a spoonful of rice into her mouth.

“And S’fiso? Why was he here? Since when do they do house calls?” her mom asked. Dineo chewed her food deliberately slowly, avoiding eye-contact with her mother.

“Uhm… they just took turns checking up on me because I was living alone. So sometimes it was S’fiso, or Menzi or Thulani or whoever was on duty. It won’t happen now that you’re back.” She lied so effortlessly and calmly. Her mother didn’t need to know the whole truth. What was the point? Nothing would come of it anyway.

“Hmm…” her mother said while chewing. “I’m not a fan of this gang violence but at least we do get our money’s worth. I’m glad you were safe. At least I know you’ll be safe when I leave again in two days.”

Dineo choked. Her mother leaving wasn’t new to her but she suddenly felt vulnerable. She suddenly felt like she was alone. Granted, she hadn’t been getting special protection when her mother had left her alone for the first time but the awkwardness between her and S’fiso would surely make things more difficult this time around.

“How long will you be gone for?” she asked.

“Two months, three destinations.” Her mother said excitedly. Dineo faked a smile to cover up how she really felt.

*****

Nokuthula left home early the following morning and lingered near the tuckshop at the corner of the school. She didn’t want to go to school with Dineo and Atlegang. She needed some time to process her feelings, to re-evaluate her life and figure out what she was going to do about these new developments. Part of her wanted to confront Dineo about her relationship with S’fiso – if that’s what it was – but another part of her felt guilty for being jealous of her friend. She bought two cigarettes and a box of matches and sat on a brick near the tuckshop, contemplating whether or not she should light one and smoke it. She was distracted by loud music coming from a car. A red Audi parked right in front of her and out came a stylishly-dressed Thabang.

“Don’t do that…” he said, taking the cigarettes from Nokuthula. She didn’t say anything, she just looked up at him and got up from the brick, preparing to leave. “Don’t go. Tell me what’s got you so depressed on a Wednesday morning.”

Nokuthula stood for a moment, considering if Thabang was the right person for her to confide in. Maybe he was because he was highly unlikely to go to Dineo and tell her everything Nokuthula would say. Maybe he would just offer her a shoulder to cry on. She wasn’t counting on him for good advice or even to offer her solutions.

“You won’t understand, it’s girl stuff.” Nokuthula said.

“I know all about periods. What do you need? Do you have period pains? Do you need Nurofen?” Thabang said confidently and Nokuthula failed to contain her laughter.

“Not that kind of girl stuff. I’m just going through something with my friend.” Nokuthula said, unable to find the right words to describe the situation.

“Okay… why don’t you get in the car and I’ll go get you some breakfast and you can tell me about it?” Thabang said, already opening the passenger door for Nokuthula. She hesitated for a moment.

“I have to go to school.” She said.

“Thuli… I’m offering you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” He said, still holding the door open for her. Nokuthula had an internal debate; she didn’t really want to go out with Thabang but she also really wanted to go out with a leader. Maybe if she couldn’t have S’fiso, this was the next best thing. After convincing herself, she got into the car and fastened her seatbelt. She wasn’t sure of what she was doing, but she wasn’t going to be upstaged by Dineo and her new boobs.

Thabang drove to a local shisanyama and ordered two breakfast specials. Nobody would ask why Nokuthula wasn’t at school because this was Thabang’s territory and nobody questioned him or his guests. Nokuthula had never had such a full plate for breakfast; her grandmother usually made porridge. If they had meat, they had only one kind of meat at a time. Never bacon and sausages and boerewors all at once. With eggs, even. Thabang watched her as she ate. Thabang loved it when he felt like he was a hero and in that moment, he was clearly Nokuthula’s hero because she had clearly been very hungry.

“So, what’s going on with your friend?” he asked after some time.

“It’s just… I was a little jealous of Dineo. I feel bad about it because we’re friends.” She said in between bites.

“Jealous of her? Why would you be jealous of your own friend?” Thabang asked.

“I think she’s…” she hesitated as if she had just remembered who she was talking to.

“You can tell me. I promise, what is shared at this table will stay at this table.” Thabang said, hand on his heart. Nokuthula knew better than to trust an 88, least of all Thabang. She was supposed to be loyal to the 76. But what if he was being genuine? Nokuthula had always believed that under the whole gang member façade, all of these boys were really kind and sensitive human beings.

“I think she’s dating S’fiso…” she said and Thabang’s eyes bulged. “I’m just jealous because I’ve always had a crush on him.”

“Hmm… she’s dating S’fiso… that’s interesting.” He said, taking a generous bite out of his sausage. “That’s very interesting.”