Age:
High School
Reading Level: 3.8
Chapter 1: Glossary
Xhosa - An ethnic group found in South Africa. Also the word for the language spoken by Xhosa people
Wors - Sausage
Mamela - Listen
Taxi-rank - A cab stand where young men hang out running errands for the cab drivers, hoping to be allowed to drive the cars at night, after work
Mkhuluwa - Elder brother; young man who is a mentor; a young man boys look to for guidance
Kwerekwere – Slur used when describing foreigners
Qotho- A combination of firm, strong, independent, and honorable. Comes from the sound a rock makes when it hits something and does not break
Muti- A potion given by South African witch doctors, believed to have magical powers.
Umfakazo – Evidence. A Zulu word
Qha – Only, done, enough. A word of exasperation.
Mxm – A click exclamation produced with the lips. It is used to show irritation or annoyance.
Kankati – A boy who becomes the leader in the group of boys in the forest going through the traditional Xhosa ritual of manhood.
Umgidi – Xhosa festival or party that is held when a boy returns from the Xhosa ritual of manhood. It is meant to welcome him back and celebrate his home coming.
Chapter 2
Cela—Request
Note 1: Xhosa has three main clicks; C-clicks, Q-clicks, and X-clicks.
C-Clicks
Note 2: The Ch-clicks are the softest. It usually shows amazement.
***
Something horrible happened.
Precious finally got to spend a night with her crush.
Xanti.
“I’m weak, girl,” he’d whispered, his fingertips scraping her shoulder and elbow. “Forgive me.”
She couldn’t help giggling at the beautiful man’s silly words.
For a weak person, he had a pretty strong hold over her.
Maybe not at first.
She first heard about him when the car boys and popular girls from her class were talking.
The car boys, those rebellious, dangerous young men, and the popular girls shouldn’t talk.
Shouldn’t flirt. Shouldn’t get along.
But it was that very hint of danger that drew the girls to them.
But that wasn’t what drew her to him.
No, his hold only began when she saw him visiting her school.
He looked less like the boys from her class. More, he looked like the hero Makoma. Strong. Brave.
Handsome.
It got worse when she spoke to him about books, and he could keep up.
Chapter 3
After that, she could not stop thinking of him.
She tried to be where he was all the time but was too scared to speak to him.
Until recently.
When she heard about the Friday bash, she knew he’d be there.
Her time of the month struck. She had piles of assignments. Her parents would never agree to let her go.
She decided to go anyway.
Telling her parents she was going to do her homework with Hlumi, she headed out.
Her parents didn’t know she and Hlumi stopped being friends six years ago.
