The family was used to teasing each other — no strict boundaries between parents and children. They lived like friends most of the time. That's why such matters involving the boys were openly known, treated more as jokes than serious talk.
---
At dawn, Rajabu got up from bed, grabbed his bucket with soap and a bathing mug, and stepped outside. He knew well that if he delayed even a little, the bathroom would soon be crowded and he wouldn't get the chance to bathe early. So he rushed quickly to the tap.
As he filled his bucket, the door of the next tenant's room opened. Hanifa came out, wrapped in a kitenge from chest to feet, followed by an older woman — still beautiful, time hadn't taken that from her yet. The two arrived at the tap, and the young girl reached it before her companion, so the older woman had to wait for Rajabu to finish or for someone else inside to come out.
None of them spoke beyond the initial greetings. Silence hung in the air while Rajabu and Hanifa kept stealing glances at each other. They quickly averted their eyes whenever the older woman happened to look their way. Neither of them wanted to give the impression that something was going on — they both wanted to keep it quiet.
When Rajabu's bucket was finally full, he walked toward the bathroom. The two women remained, and the older one placed her bucket under the tap, staring at the bathroom door he'd gone through. She sighed softly.
She said nothing, nor did she ask the younger girl anything, though Hanifa was clearly watching her curiously. The older woman just stayed quiet — she didn't want to raise unnecessary questions.
In these kinds of rental houses, one innocent question can bring you new trouble you never expected. Things easily get twisted until others start facing problems because of it. To avoid all that, she simply zipped her mouth shut. Once her bucket was full, she lifted it and went quietly to bathe.
---
It was Monday morning. The first student to arrive at school was Siyawezi. She looked neat, her clothes carefully pressed, entering earlier than usual. She found the school doors still closed and sat on the veranda, waiting, her eyes wandering across the football field. A few people were passing on the nearby road — some heading to work, others to their morning routines.
After waiting for a while, Monica arrived, finding her friend sitting with her bag on her lap. They greeted each other warmly, and Monica sat beside her. The classrooms had just been unlocked, but the teacher on duty hadn't arrived yet. That gave them time to chat freely before they'd be told to start cleaning, as most students never did anything unless pushed.
"Girl, why didn't we see you at Rama's place on Saturday? You said you'd come!"
"Things just got mixed up, that's why I didn't make it. I really wanted to go," she lied, hiding the real reason that kept her away.
"Well, we stayed there a long time that day," Monica said. "We chatted, then his younger sister came. We hung out for a while and left later. They live such a sweet life over there."
"Wait — Rama has a sister?" Siyawezi asked, surprised.
"Yeah, an older one. And there's another brother too, who stays with their dad. He just didn't come to visit."
"I always thought he was alone. Even those relatives he used to live with — he's really private. I still don't understand why he came to study here when his family could send him to any fancy school they wanted. That guy's a mystery."
"I ask myself the same thing," Monica said. "His mom's got money, and his dad's even richer. But he chose to live like this, staying with his aunt. He and Frida — they're so much alike, always so close."
The moment Monica mentioned Frida, Siyawezi almost rolled her eyes in disgust but stopped herself to avoid showing it. The name alone spoiled her mood — the girl being praised was the same one linked to the boy she'd quietly admired for a long time.
Her cheerful morning instantly turned dull, and she went silent. The two stayed that way until they saw a male teacher inspecting classrooms. They quickly stood up — if he found them sitting idle when cleaning time had already started, it could cause unnecessary drama.
"Looks like it's Gobosi's duty today. I'm not trying to mess with that guy this early," Monica muttered, walking toward the classroom. Siyawezi followed, replying, "That man doesn't just scold — he humiliates you till sunset. Once he starts talking, you'll regret being born."
"Exactly! I'd rather someone slap me and be done than deal with his endless nagging. Let's drop our bags, grab the brooms — our class is already clean anyway."
"And whoever didn't sweep on Friday better brace themselves," Monica laughed. "That man will eat them alive with words. If he were a woman, people would die of high blood pressure from his mouth alone."
Like most students, they gossiped about teachers behind their backs — especially those who annoyed them the most. Even though the teachers were just enforcing rules, the students saw them as irritations, not guidance. But then again, no routine pleases everyone — not even adults older than them truly follow order without complaint.
---
"Hey, girl! You've heard the new gossip about that kid from Mbagala? This city's wild, you won't believe what's going down."
"Spill it, sis! You never miss a thing — what's the tea this time?"
"Word is there's this young chick, looks innocent, but she's like a cargo ship — carries small or big loads, no problem. Whether it's a truck or a motorbike, once you pay, it's a go. I got this from Vero when we left class — apparently, some guys from here have already been with her and can't stop praising."
"Wait, what? These grown guys from around here are sleeping with that little girl?"
"Not just them — even some married men. They give her money, and she opens up for them like nothing."
"If my dad ever did something like that, I'd disown him on the spot."
"They even gave her a nickname — The Café chair. Once they call her that, you know they don't mean anything holy."
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