“I can imagine. So am I going to see you on television soon?”
Thando emitted another laugh, realising that she enjoyed the effect he had on her. It had been a while since she’d laughed for absolutely no reason.
“I love research work. I’m actually thinking of doing my post-doctorate as well, just to remain in academia. But if I were to work in television, I’d probably be behind the scenes doing research on TV show ratings.”
“So that’s what you want to do?”
“Not really. I want to produce a magazine that targets the youth, especially teenage girls.”
“Why?”
“Teenagers are so impressionable. A lot of them struggle with things like peer pressure, self-esteem issues and boyfriends, to name a few. They feel misunderstood by adults and they long to speak out, but there’s no platform for that. I want to provide such a platform for them. A forum where they’ll feel safe, you know?”
“That’s awesome. Why don’t you start this magazine? I think it’s a brilliant idea, especially for the South African youth. There aren’t many local magazines that focus on them.”
Thando’s timer beeped to indicate that her cycling time limit had been reached.
“That’s my cue to go. It was really nice chatting to you.”
“Wait, would you like to go out for coffee or lunch tomorrow?” he asked, ceasing to pedal.
“I’d love to. But I’ll be busy. A friend and I teach drama at the Jacaranda Youth Centre in Sunnyside every Saturday. Why don’t you join us?”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Sounds like fun. What time?”
“One o’clock, 73 Esselen Street. You can’t miss it.”
“I’ll be there at twelve forty-five. I’ll wait for you.”
Thando smiled at his enthusiasm.
“Okay. Well, see you then.”
“All right. Wait, I didn’t get your number.”
Thando smiled. “Do you have your cellphone with you?”
“No. But I’ll remember it.”
“It’s zero eight three, double two three, two four six three.”
“Zero eight three, double two three, two four six three. I’ll remember it, I promise.”
“I hope so,” Thando said as she sashayed over to the leg press machines, feeling Mandla’s eyes on her. She knew that he was watching her and it felt good.
Chapter 3
3
The next day, as he had promised, Mandla was waiting outside the youth centre by the door. He looked stylish in jeans and a green golf shirt.
“That’s him,” Thando said to Zodwa as she found herself a parking spot.
“Not bad, girl. I’d give him nine out of ten for looks,” Zodwa said as they waved at him.
They stepped out of the vehicle and without hesitation Mandla walked over to them. Thando introduced him to her friend. They shook hands while Zodwa ran her eyes over him critically.
“You’re not bad,” she drawled.
“Thank you, I guess.”
Thando slapped Zodwa’s hand away from Mandla’s and shook her head. “Forgive her. She misbehaves,” she apologised.
“Come on, help us with the costumes,” Zodwa instructed, getting items out of the car.
After they’d hung the costumes in the dressing room, Thando and Zodwa proceeded to the stage while Mandla watched them from the auditorium. Thando clapped her hands as the students trickled in. “All right, guys, I want you to come up here and stand in a circle. Come on!” she yelled, loudly, so that she could be heard at the back of the hall.
A group of students skipped to the stage and gave her and Zodwa bear hugs. The others were running and mock-fighting as they approached. Once everyone finally settled down, they went into their exercise routine without any prompting: “Top of the day. Tip top. Tippity toppity snip snop. Paul pruned Penelope’s pansies, leaving Penelope perplexed!”
This went on for fifteen minutes before Zodwa moved to the middle of the circle. “All right, my wonderful thespians, we’re doing Act I, Scene III. Places . . .” she said, turning the pages of her script. Thando made as if to move away to the auditorium area, but Zodwa grabbed her arm. “I’m going to need you here.”
Then she turned to Mandla and beckoned with her hand. He looked left and right, then pointed to himself, at which Zodwa nodded. Thando’s eyebrows creased as she wondered what mischief her friend was about to get up to.
Mandla walked up hesitantly, scratching the back of his head. When he reached the stage, Zodwa made him get up on it and instructed him and Thando to stand facing each other.
“What are you doing, Zo?” Thando asked, biting her bottom lip. She looked at Mandla and he shrugged his shoulders, indicating that he didn’t know either.
“Antony and Cleopatra!” Zodwa called out to two actors who were already standing together, ready to deliver their lines. “As I mentioned last week, this scene is full of passion. But I want you to always think natural. Thando and Mandla are going to show you how this is done.”
“Eh . . .” Mandla interjected.
Zodwa waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry, I’ll instruct you. Thando knows what to do. Right now, I want Marcus and Pula to observe what chemistry looks like, ’cos a lot of it is required in this play.”
The blood rushed to Thando’s face. She lowered her eyes, hoping that Mandla wouldn’t see the redness in her cheeks, one of the disadvantages of being caramel-skinned. She heard him say, “I don’t mind if Thando doesn’t.”
Thando looked up in disbelief and as their eyes met, she found herself captured by penetrating ebony eyes that made her feel as if they were looking deep into her soul. For the first time she noticed his strong, chiselled features with the most luscious-looking lips that she’d ever seen on a man. He wasn’t just attractive, he was stunningly handsome. A real man.
Focus! she reprimanded herself.
“I want you to take it from ‘Most sweet queen’.” Zodwa handed Mandla her script and proceeded to go and stand out front with Marcus and Pula.
“How do you want me to say ‘Most sweet queen’?” Mandla enquired, looking at Zodwa and then Thando.
“I want you to beseech her. You’re in love with this woman, deeply in love.”
Mandla faced Thando and gave her one of his killer smiles. Goodness, she could hardly breathe, seeing his eyes gleam like that.
Legs, please don’t fail me now, Thando thought to herself as she floated into a world where it was just the two of them on a deserted island.
“Most sweet queen,” Mandla implored with his eyebrows slightly creased and looking serious all of a sudden.
Startled, Thando had to blink a few times to get out of her fantasy world. She gave her script a fleeting glance and started, “Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going.” She walked a few paces away from him and continued, “But bid farewell, and go: when you sued staying.”
She sashayed towards Mandla again. Not taking her eyes off his, she continued, “Then was the time for words: no going then.” Thando moved in even closer to him, reaching