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Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 9:49am On Aug 02, 2018 |
only adults where she was.
“Take care, my child,” her granny
said.
* * *
They slept under a thin blanket
on a foam mattress on the floor
of the garage. It was cold and
she was thankful for Parks’s
body pressed up against her,
although he stank of liquor and
sheep fat from the braai. She
turned her head away, but he
pulled her closer. “Mmm … you’re
so warm. Come here.” He was
handling her under the blanket,
fumbling drunkenly. “Now you
have me all to yourself. Are you
satisfied?” But he didn’t wait for
a reply. He started kissing her.
This time she told herself he
would wear a condom. She had
brought one, and he would use
it. “Wait,” she said pulling away.
She started scrabbling through
her bag. But by the time she had
found it Parks was fast asleep,
snoring drunkenly. It seemed so
unfair.
Busi couldn’t sleep, not in this
strange place with these people
who didn’t care about her. She
thought of her grandmother
alone at home, worrying about
her. How long could she go on
lying to her? She thought of
what Unathi had said. And the
doubt crept in again. What was
she doing?
But she was like a thin branch
blowing in the wind. All Parks
had to do was sweet talk her
and the doubt blew away. Then
all she wanted was to be held by
him and treated like a princess.
She was his sugar baby. And so
when he wrapped his arms
around her in the morning and
said, “Good morning, beautiful,”
she smiled. No one else made
her feel as special as he did. He
leaned up on one elbow. “Hey,
I’m glad it’s just the two of us,”
he said. “Did you call your
grandmother? She must be so
worried.”
“When will you meet her, Parks?
When can we tell her about us?”
“You’re joking, of course.” He
looked at her like she was
having him on.
“I hate lying to her,” Busi told
him.
When he realised she was
serious, he jumped up from the
mattress and pulled on his jeans.
“I need a smoke,” he said. He
was angry now. But she was so
sick of keeping him a secret. She
wanted to be able to walk in
public with him. If her granny
met him and saw that he was
serious about her, she would
come around. She was sure of it.
“Wait here,” Parks said, feeling
in his jeans pockets. “I must
have left my cigarettes in the
house.”
Busi got up too, folded the
blanket that had been covering
them, and waited for him to
come back. She listened to the
stirrings around her, the
morning sounds. There were
voices coming from the big
house, a dog barking. Why was
he taking so long? Maybe he had
gone to the shop nearby. He
could have told her, invited her
along. She waited some more,
but now she needed to use the
bathroom badly. Finally she
could not keep it in and went
over to the big house.
The women stopped talking as
she entered. They looked at one
another, smiling smugly
amongst themselves. “Where’s …
where’s … Parks?” she asked
them.
“He’s gone,” the younger of the
two said.
“Didn’t he tell you?” the other
wanted to know.
She didn’t believe them, but they
went on talking to each other
and ignored her standing there
in the doorway. When she had
been to the bathroom she went
outside to see if his car was still
parked in the road. She froze
when she realised it was gone.
She called him on his cell phone,
but it went onto voicemail. So
she went to sit on an old car
seat in the yard and started to
play with a scrawny dog and her
mangy litter. The dog looked like
an overgrown rat: grey and
matted with her brood hanging
from her worn, dried-out
nipples. “You poor thing,” she
said to the dog. “Some people
shouldn’t be allowed to keep
animals.”
Slowly the rest of the people
living in outbuildings on the
property started to wake and
come out into the yard. But they
all ignored her, except for one
who asked for a cigarette. The
little children with their runny
noses stared at her and giggled.
“Do you perhaps know where
Parks is?” she asked them, but
they just stared at her and ran
away.
* * *
She was feeling hungry and
thirsty, so she decided to walk to
the shop herself and get
something to eat – a packet of
crisps and maybe a juice. Maybe
she would find him along the
way.
Where was he? As she started
walking along the strange
streets she felt anger rising up
inside her. How dare he treat
her this way? And soon she was
in tears. She wouldn’t go back to
the house. She couldn’t. So she
kept walking.
Eventually she found a petrol
station and a little café next to it.
When she emerged from the
messy staff bathroom behind
the building, a taxi was filling up
at the petrol pump. She walked
over to the driver and asked him
if he was going in the direction
of Khayelitsha.
“On a Sunday morning I can
make a plan for you, sisi, if you
have twenty rand? I’m just
coming off my shift, so you must
talk quickly, sisi.” She thrust the
twenty rand into his hands and
climbed in next to him. It was
the last of the cash Parks had
given her.
As they swung out onto the
tarred road, she asked him, “Do
you know a taxi driver called
Parks? His real name is Thando,
but I’ve forgotten his surname.”
The driver smiled at her.
“Everyone knows Parks, my
sister,” he said. “Why do you
want to know?” |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 9:43am On Aug 02, 2018 |
Chapter 14
Parks’s friend’s house was in
Mandalay. It was a double-storey
– so grand. It had windows and
balconies all over the show. And
it was set in a big property with
trees and a huge, enclosed yard.
It reminded Busi of the house in
Romeo and Juliet – the way Mr
Ntlanti had described it, with
Juliet calling Romeo from the
balcony. Their English teacher
had a way of making you see
things in your mind. Yes, it was
just like this.
Parks’s friends seemed nice
enough, but she was the
youngest there by far. They
ignored her mostly, and so did
he. She sat and watched as they
played pool and drank beer. She
watched Parks as he laughed
with them, burped with them,
cheered for Swallows. There was
an enormous flat-screen TV in
the lounge. From time to time he
came over to her in the old
armchair where she sat, trying
to look relaxed. “Are you all
right?” he asked her, and when
she nodded he went back to the
pool game, laughing and joking
nechommies. She realised that
she didn’t know a great deal
about Parks at all.
The women were braaing
sheeps’ heads outside on an
open fire. She knew they were
talking about her, but what did
she expect? She felt alone and
out of place and wished her
friends were there with her.
They could chat and laugh about
the older women who thought
they were so smart. And the
men, with their beer bellies. But
her friends were far away. All
she had was Parks. He was her
lifeline, and he was ignoring her.
* * *
By ten o’clock Parks was already
way over the limit. Busi was
worried because she knew the
cops were cracking down on
drunken driving. Parks had told
her that one of his friends once
spent the night locked up and
he’d had only four beers. “Sleep
here – it’s not a problem,” said
his friend’s wife, putting her arm
around him. “The girl can sleep
here too.” She flashed Busi a
fake smile.
“Yes, you can’t drive, Parks!” The
woman’s husband staggered
over.
“Enkosi,” slurredParks, crashing
into the table as he went for
another beer.
Busi sneaked out and around
the side of the house to phone
her granny. “I’m sleeping over at
Asanda’s, Gogo,” she lied.
“I’ve just seen Asanda. She came
here looking for you. Busi,
where are you?” Oh no, thought
Busi. She had been caught out.
“Gogo, you didn’t hear me right.
I said I’m sleeping over at
Lettie’s. I’m tired. It’s been a long
day.” She knew that her granny
didn’t believe her. She could tell
by the silence on the other end
of the line. But all her
grandmother said was, “Be
careful … Will there be an adult
there?” And suddenly Busi
wanted to laugh. There were |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 9:18am On Aug 02, 2018 |
“Well, you shouldn’t worry. I’ve
got enough of my own stuff to
worry about. I can’t be worrying
about you too,” he snapped.
“I thought something had
happened to you …”
“You don’t have to worry about
me. You’re not my mother, or my
wife!” He was shouting.
That was it. She wasn’t his
mother. She wasn’t his wife.
What was she to him?
“You are a big, juicy secret in his
life,” Asanda had told her. “I bet
you he’s married with a bunch
of kids.” They had all laughed
out loud, Busi probably the
loudest. It had seemed so
absurd at the time, but it wasn’t
funny any more.
“Where do you want to go?”
“Anywhere.” She stared out of
the window. It didn’t matter.
“Do you want to go back to
school? Do you want to go
home? What do you want?”
“You’re the driver!” It was going
horribly wrong, thought Busi. It
wasn’t meant to be like this.
“Come, I’ll take you to eat
somewhere. Are you hungry?”
His voice was softer. He wasn’t
so angry any more.
She really wanted to talk – to tell
him how frightened and alone
she had felt. But the words were
caught in her throat.
He took her to the Spur at Fish
Hoek and held her hand across
the table. “I’ve missed you,
baby,” he said, looking deep into
her eyes. But this time it would
take more than those words to
make it okay. He could just turn
on the charm – she knew that
now. But Parks knew how to
bring someone around. And
when he started talking about
his childhood, he had her in the
palm of his hand all over again.
“When I was a little kid …,” he
said, looking out at the rolling
waves washing up on Fish Hoek
beach down below, on the other
side of the railway tracks, “my
dad used to go off for long
periods of time. I missed him so
much. But when he came back I
was so happy to see him, and he
spoiled me.” Busi listened to
Parks and imagined him as that
little boy. “We would take a train
ride to the beach, just us two,
and he’d teach me to catch fish.
But then, one day, he left
without a word to me. I used to
stand by our gate every day
waiting for him to come back,
but he never did …”
He had hooked her again –
drawn her back to him with his
sorry story. She imagined him as
a little boy waiting for his dad to
return. She put her head on his
shoulder. His story was so sad.
After their meal Parks lit up a
cigarette. He pointed towards
the sea.
“Is that a whale?” he asked.
“Maybe it’s a shark,” Busi
laughed. He was back and she
was happy.
* * *
As he dropped her off, he said,
“You wanted to meet my friends.
I’ll introduce you to them
tomorrow. I’ll meet you outside
Jake’s.”
“Sure,” she said. Isn’t this what
she had wanted? But when
Parks had gone she panicked.
What would his friends think of
her – a schoolgirl? |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 9:12am On Aug 02, 2018 |
Chapter 13
Busi was up early. Today would
be different, she decided, as she
pulled her hair into shape. Today
she’d start with a new attitude,
beginning by being nice to her
grandmother. How could she
have been so mean? “What do
you want, Busi?” her
grandmother asked as she
placed the hot cup of tea on the
table in front of her. “I don’t
have money to give you.”
“Want? I don’t want anything,
Gogo.”
“Yes, you want something. I
know you. Why are you being so
nice to me?”
“I made myself a cup, Gogo, so I
made you a cup too. That’s all.”
“Thank you, my child. Now, are
you feeling better?” the old lady
wanted to know, still frowning
at her.
“I’m feeling a whole lot better,
thank you, Gogo.”
“I’m sure it’s your period that’s
on its way.”
Busi kissed her grandmother on
her soft, wrinkled cheek and
rushed off out of the house. She
would be on time for school
today, instead of running into
Harmony High just as the
prefects were about to lock the
gates. This new attitude was
helping her to cope with not
knowing what had happened to
Parks. Today she wouldn’t worry
about him. She had left her cell
phone at home. It wouldn’t
bother her that he didn’t phone.
She would get through this day
– without him and without
thinking of him.
* * *
But life has its own plans.
“It’s him! Come quickly!” Zinzi
came running towards Busi
during first break. “Khawuleza!”
“What are you talking about,
Zinzi?”
“It’s him – Parks. He’s waiting
outside in a big, black car.”
“What?”
There were wolf whistles as she
rushed to the school fence.
Everyone knew about her and
Parks by now. Everyone was
talking. She felt their eyes
following her. So what? Soon
they’ll find someone else to talk
about. That’s what Unathi had
told her once. “People talk, Busi.
It’s human nature. Soon they’ll
get tired of talking about you
and find someone else to gossip
about.”
Zinzi was right. There he was,
sitting behind the wheel of his
fancy car: big sunglasses, big
smile, blowing big smoke rings
into the chilly autumn air.
* * *
Busi was so pleased to see Parks
again she didn’t notice that the
car was identical to the one she
had seen at the hotel – the same
car that appeared in her
nightmares. The prefect
stationed at the gate couldn’t
stop Busi as she pushed past
her. “I thought you were dead,
Parks,” she gasped, when she
was in the car and in his arms.
“Dead, baby? Why dead?” he
laughed, throwing his head
back. They both heard the siren.
Break was over. “You better go
back,” he said.
“No. I’m coming with you.” She
couldn’t just let him disappear
again. Not now. She couldn’t go
through the torture of waiting
again. She looked out to see the
prefect writing her name in the
detention book. “Will you write
me a doctor’s letter?” she asked
Parks as he pulled away from
the kerb. “To get me out of
detention.”
“Of course I’ll write you a letter,”
he replied, with that impish,
irresistible smile of his. At the
stop sign he leaned over and
hugged her so tight, she cried.
“Why the tears, baby?”
“I’ve missed you so much. Where
were you?”
“Taking care of business …”
“You could have phoned. Why
didn’t you answer my calls?”
“I phoned you this morning.
Your cell was on voicemail.
That’s why I came to look for
you.” A car hooted behind them
and he pulled away again.
“Where were you?” she asked
again.
“I told you, I had business.” She
could hear that he was angry
now. She shouldn’t be asking so
many questions. But she needed
to know.
“I’m sorry, Parks. I was just
worried.” |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 9:06am On Aug 02, 2018 |
“You’re a little warm – a bit of a
fever. I’ll give you somepills.
You’ll soon feel better.”
Busi ate a cooled scone with
thinly spread apricot jam and
sipped at a scalding cup of fresh
tea. Then she took the two
Panados her granny had given
her and went back to lie on her
bed, where she watched the
evening shadows darken and
turn to night. Where was he?
“I was young once,” she heard
her grandmother say as she
shuffled about preparing for
bed.
“Goodnight, Gogo.”
“Goodnight, my child. Are you
feeling a little better?”
“Aha, a little.”
“Good. Have a nice rest. Lala
kakuhle…”
Her grandmother shuffled along
to her bed on the other side of
the room. As usual she bumped
her leg on the edge of the bed
and instead of cursing, sang
praises to Sweet Jesus. Busi
couldn’t help smiling. She
listened to the creaking
bedsprings as her granny
climbed under the blankets and
turned this way and that until
she got comfortable. Soon the
old lady was snoring away
peacefully.
If only Busi could fall asleep so
easily.
Where was he? Why didn’t he
phone at least – tell her
something, anything? She
needed to know that he was
alive – explanations could follow.
She thought of that disgusting,
grinning gaadjie. Would he tell
Parks that he’d seen her?
“What goes on in his head?” she
had asked Parks once.
“Fog, baby,” he had answered,
“just fog. But he’s good with a
gun. You see, he doesn’t think.”
“Not enough of a brain to have a
thought,” Busi had added. Parks
had thought that was so funny,
he had laughed out loud.
How she longed for him. It had
been days. And still no word. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 8:59am On Aug 02, 2018 |
“So, why aren’t you at the
hospital at his bedside then?
Why aren’t you with him in his
hour of need?”
“I can’t leave my grandmother.”
It was a stupid excuse, she
knew. But he didn’t question her
further and his expression
softened.
“I was worried about you, Busi.”
His voice was quiet now, and full
of concern. “It’s dangerous, Busi.
What you are doing is
dangerous.”
She didn’t have the energy to
fight back. What could she say?
And when there was another
knock at the door and the sound
of girls giggling, she was so
relieved, she laughed. Her
friends burst in looking a bit
worse for wear from the night
before. Asanda still had some
make-up on. “Hey, Unathi
sprinted to get here ahead of us,
Busi. He must really like you,” she
teased. Unathi rolled his eyes.
“I just came to tell her that what
she’s doing is dangerous,” he
told the girls.
“Well, we’ve come to take her
clothes shopping at Wynberg
station. Xoli got such a nice top
there for only R5,” said Lettie.
“And it’s girls only, boyfriend.”
“I get the message,” said Unathi.
“Loud and clear.”
* * *
“I don’t care about clothes any
more,” Busi complained as they
got into a taxi to Wynberg. She
didn’t care about anything –
except what had happened to
Parks. They sat in a row at the
back – Asanda, Lettie, Busi,
Ntombi, and Zinzi squashed in
between them.
“So he didn’t show?” said Lettie,
“It’s not the end of the world,
chommie. Forget about him.
Move on.”
“Yes, forget him,” agreed
Asanda. “I’m a one-chance girl. If
a boy says he’s going to call and
he doesn’t, I give him one more
chance. If he does it again, he’s
out. If boys get to know that you
won’t take shit, they won’t give
you shit! Or if they do, they’re
not for you.” But whatever they
said, Busi couldn’t forget about
Parks. How could she?
They got out at the taxi rank in
Wynberg and walked over to the
street stalls, where they started
looking through the piles of
pretty tops on sale. It was then
that she saw Parks’s taxi
stopping on the other side of
the road. She watched as the
gaadjie helped an old lady off,
nearly falling in the gutter
himself as he handed over her
plastic shopping bags. She
strained to get a glimpse of
Parks. She wanted to run across
the road, but a Golden Arrow
bus pulled up in front of the taxi.
And when she finally got there,
the taxi sped off. But not before
she had caught sight of the
gaadjie grinning stupidly and
waving at her – the idiot. Busi’s
mouth was dry with shock.
“It’s not him,” Zinzi said, taking
Busi’s hand.
“What?”
“Parks isn’t driving,” Zinzi said.
“How do you know? How do
you know it wasn’t him?”
“Because it was a woman
driving,” said Zinzi firmly. “I
went over there to get some
chips. I saw everything.”
“A woman?”
Busi thought of that black car
and the woman staring at her.
She checked her phone again.
Nothing. No SMS, no missed call –
nothing. She sat in silence all the
way back in the taxi, feeling like
she wanted to throw up. And
when the taxi lurched to a halt
near Asanda’s house, she got
out just in time to run to the
side of the road and retch. It
was like her whole body was
turning itself inside out. She was
a mess. And she started to cry.
“Come inside,” said Asanda,
putting her arm around her
friend. “You can wash, and we’ll
make you some tea. Then we’ll
have a fashion show. It will
make you feel much better.” But
Busi just wanted to get to her
bed where she could curl up in
the dark and work out how she
could find Parks.
* * *
“Busi,” her grandmother called
her when she came in, “I’ve
made you something special for
lunch – hot scones. Oh, and
there’s fresh sweetmilk cheese. I
got my pension today.”
“Thank you, Gogo, but I’m not
hungry.”
“You must eat, child,” her granny
said, wiping her hands on her
apron.
“I said I’m not hungry!” Busi
snapped, and flung herself on
her bed. Her grandmother stood
in the doorway.
“What’s the matter, child?”
“Nothing’s the matter! Now can
you leave me alone, please?”
She had shouted and she felt
terrible when she saw the look
of shock on her granny’s face.
And then the tears came, deep
sobs wracking her body. Where
was he?
When she woke up she could
hear her grandmother listening
to Isidingo. Did she have to have
the TV on so loud? The light was
fading outside and there was a
cold cup of tea on her bedside
table. She pulled off her clothes
and climbed into her pyjamas.
“Is that you, Busi?” her
grandmother wanted to know
when she crept past her into the
tiny kitchen. Who else could it
be?
“It’s me,” she answered meekly.
Her grandmother switched off
the TV, and turned right around.
“What is the matter, child? Is
something worrying you? You
can tell me.”
“It’s nothing, Gogo – really, it’s
nothing.”
“I want you to understand
something, Busi, mtwanam. I
don’t have money to give you,
but whatever it is that is
worrying you – whatever it is
that you did or didn’t do – I will
always be on your side. That is
what love is all about, and I do
love you so, even if at times it’s
hard to believe.” Busi bit back
the tears.
“I’m not feeling so good, Gogo,
that’s all – it’s nothing to do with
money.” Her granny came over
to her and lay her cool hand on
her forehead. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 8:53am On Aug 02, 2018 |
Chapter 12
Busi woke up late in the
morning, with a headache. She
felt nauseous. Her granny said it
was because she hadn’t eaten
properly and cooked her some
porridge. But Busi didn’t feel
hungry. She had to force the
porridge down. Parks still hadn’t
called and there was nothing
she could do. She told herself to
try to forget him, but she
couldn’t. And when there was a
knock on the door she rushed
through to see who it was. She
hoped that it wasn’t him and
that it was him – all at the same
time. She would be so relieved to
see him, but she didn’t want her
granny to meet him. It wasn’t
Parks – it was Unathi, looking
tired but still handsome.
“I came to see if you got home
okay?” he smiled.
“What do you care? I saw you
dancing with Felicia last night.”
Busi couldn’t look at him.
“What was I supposed to do? Sit
on the wall? I asked you to
dance, remember, and you said
no – too busy waiting for Mr No-
Show.”
“Actually he phoned,” she lied.
“He was in an accident.” Unathi
raised his eyebrows in disbelief. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 8:48am On Aug 02, 2018 |
“The night is young, Unathi.
You’ll see – I’ll dance with you
later.”
So he too stopped asking her,
dancing instead with all the girls
who wanted to dance with him.
There were many of them, as he
had long legs and good moves.
But still he kept watching Busi
out of the corner of his eye. Why
couldn’t he talk some sense into
her?
* * *
It was midnight when Busi tried
Parks’s phone for the last time.
This time it went onto voicemail.
The number you have dialled is
unavailable. Please try again
later.
Busi was close to tears. Where
was he?
“What if something happened to
him?” she asked Lettie.
“Something like what?” Lettie
wanted to know.
“Something bad, like an accident
…”
“Or something like, maybe he’s
married. Or maybe he’s too old
to come and dance with a lot of
teenagers.”
“But he could have said so …”
Asanda laughed. “I can just
imagine the look on Mr
Khumalo’s face if he pitches up
and wants to come in.”
“Yes,” Unathi added, “Mr
Khumalo said admittance strictly
for schoolchildren.”
“He’s not coming to dance,” Busi
argued now, changing her tune.
“He’s coming to fetch me.” Her
friends looked at one another
and rolled their eyes.
“How well do you know him?”
Lettie wanted to know. “Did you
meet his family? Do you know
where he lives?”
“He lives in Milnerton,” Busi
answered proudly and, as an
afterthought, “His family lives in
the Eastern Cape.”
“Conveniently!” Lettie snapped.
“You know what, Busi? You
hardly know this man. I only
hope you use condoms.”
“I know what I’m doing, Lettie,”
said Busi. “Mind your own
business. Besides, he isn’t HIV-
positive. He said so.”
“Hmm, yes, and he’s so reliable,
Busi!” retorted Lettie.
Busi decided to ignore this
hurtful remark. Anyway, she had
something more urgent to think
about. Where was Parks?
The music had stopped. Happy
young teenagers came tumbling
out of the hall while the team
who had organised the dance
stayed behind to clean up and
pack away the plastic chairs.
Busi saw this as her opportunity
to get away from her friends.
She took off and ran all the way
home. She wanted to go and
look for Parks, but where would
she begin?
* * *
“Is that you, Busi?” her
grandmother called as she
entered their shack.
“It’s me, Gogo!” She was cold
and out of breath. She had taken
off her shoes to run through the
dark streets – too frightened to
slow down or stop.
“I thought you were all sleeping
over at Asanda’s tonight,” her
grandmother said, smiling, as
Busi bent down to kiss her on
her cheek. “You’re exhausted.”
“All that dancing,” Busi lied. “I
left before the end. Asanda’s
being such a show-off, I decided
not to spend the night there.”
Her grandmother smiled. “Girls! I
remember all the fights we had
at school. Then we would hug
and make up.”
* * *
Busi sat up all night – watching,
waiting, listening to the sounds
of the night. Part of her still
expected Parks to come and
knock at her window, armed
with a big smile and a sound
explanation, a can of Coke and a
whole-nut chocolate. His phone
was still on voicemail and she
couldn’t think of a single person
who might be able to tell her
what had happened to him. She
was angry and worried.
She didn’t know what to think.
Where was he?
As the night grew still around
her, a million possibilities raced
around her head. Did he owe
her anything? Did he really love
her? What did she know about
him and his life? In giving her
money and buying her things,
Parks didn’t have to explain
anything to her. And suddenly
she felt like that prostitute in the
hotel. He had bought her sex
with pretty lockets and meals in
fancy restaurants. She wasn’t
sure what to wish for – that he
would come for her or that she
could forget him forever.
As the sun rose she could no
longer fight the tiredness, and
she drifted off to sleep. But
Parks wouldn’t leave her alone.
There he was in her dreams,
opening the door of his taxi.
And there she was getting in,
looking back. But in her dreams
the gaadjiehad gone. In her
dreams a woman sat on the
back seat. It was the woman
from the smart black car, staring
at her. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 8:42am On Aug 02, 2018 |
Chapter 11
“Orange!” Lettie shrieked
excitedly. “I want the orange!”
“Orange nail polish?” Busi
laughed. “Where did you get it?”
“It belongs to my mum,” said
Zinzi. “She has many other
colours …” Ntombi had brought
her sister Zinzi along to help
them dress at Asanda’s house.
They were primping and
preening, doing one another’s
hair and nails and trying on each
other’s clothes.
“Busi! Where’s your head, girl?”
Lettie exclaimed, blowing on her
freshly painted orange nails.
“Get done, or we’ll be late.”
“I can’t wait to meet your
mystery man,” laughed Asanda.
But Busi was worried. She had
SMSed Parks the directions five
times and he hadn’t replied.
“Trust me, I’ll be there. And I’ll
never let those girls laugh at you.
I’ll charm them all. Just wait and
see.” He would be there. Of
course he would.
“Why are you so quiet?” Ntombi
asked in the taxi on the way to
the school hall. “Is anything
wrong?” She too had noticed
Busi withdrawing from their
group of friends. Ntombi knew
that Busi was in trouble with
Parks. She recognised the signs.
It had been the same with Mzi –
the lies you told yourself and
others, the promises that were
broken.
* * *
When they got to the hall there
was a bustle of activity. Everyone
was commenting on everyone
else’s choice of clothes and how
this one and that one looked.
“Ujongeka kakuhle!”
“Kwenzeke ntoni ezinweleni
zakho.”
“Is that really …”
“Oh my god, what is Selwyn
wearing!”
* * *
Busi waited outside. It was
getting cold and the rest of the
girls and boys had gone in. She
could hear the music starting. It
was Malibongwe– one of her
favourites. It used to get her
onto the dance floor, no matter
what. But not tonight.
“Are you okay?” Mr Khumalo
asked Busi. “Are you waiting for
your date?” He had come to
check that all the students were
in the hall.
“Yes, he’s been caught in traffic,”
she lied.
“You can wait for five minutes
more. Then you’ll have to come
in,” he warned. “There are quite
a few girls and boys who have
come on their own. It doesn’t
matter at all. We can all dance
together. You don’t have to have
a partner.” It was kind of Mr
Khumalo. But it didmatter to
Busi. She had told all her friends
that Parks would come. She had
boasted about her smart, rich
boyfriend who was a man, not a
boy.
Eventually she was forced to go
inside the hall, but she didn’t
dance. She waited by the door,
nervously checking her cell
phone for messages. When she
could, she ran out to check the
parking lot. “Of course I’ll come,
baby. I’ll be there after ten,” he
had promised.So, where was
he?Her friends were losing
patience with her.
“Come on, Busi, you haven’t
danced all night – come and join
us,” Asanda pleaded with her.
Then Unathi came up and held
out his hand. “May I have the
pleasure?” he asked her. She
hovered between going with
him and running outside again.
He looked very handsome in his
suit and she knew what a good
dancer he was. But if she went
with him she might miss Parks. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 8:37am On Aug 02, 2018 |
She didn’t need the lunch, but
she would run back and take it
from her grandmother’s
trembling hands. She’d give her
a peck on her hollow cheeks to
show her gratitude. And she’d
give the lunch to some hungry
child along the way. These days
she feasted regularly on the
most expensive KFC on the
menu, or Steersburgers with
extra cheese that she downed
with a lime milkshake – double
thick, of course. And every
Friday, as a special treat, she and
Parks would try out a new fancy
restaurant. Money was no
consideration at all.
“Order what you want,” Parks
would say to her. And it didn’t
end there. He was generous.
“And get yourself more airtime.”
Life was so good. She had
almost forgotten how alone she
had felt at the hotel. But at night
in her bed darker thoughts
would creep back in and she
would feel lost and lonely. And
sometimes, just as she was
going to sleep, she would see
the woman’s face staring at her
from the window of that smart
black car.
* * *
“Busi, is that you?” her
grandmother called from the
back yard as Busi came in from
another lunch with Parks. She
had changed back into her
school clothes in his taxi.
“Yes,” she called, as she pulled
off her grey skirt and white
shirt. Should she wear the new
dress he had bought her to the
dance? The dance!
In the taxi on the way home she
had plucked up the courage to
ask Parks. It had taken guts.
What if he said no? What if he
didn’t want to hang out with
schoolgirls and schoolboys?
“Parks, there’s a school dance on
Friday and I’ve told my friends
you’re coming,” she said as they
approached her street. Silence.
Then he laughed and she could
breathe again.
“So, you’ve been telling your
friends all about me.”
“Well, I’m so proud and happy to
be with you. And you’re so good
to me. I wanted them all to
know.”
“Of course I’ll come to your
dance. Friday, you say? Just SMS
me the address. I’ll meet you
there. I’m sure you’ll want to go
along with your friends. I know
you girls – you like to get ready
together.”
“Are you sure? That’s so kind of
you, Parks. I knew you’d
understand. I’ll see you there,”
she’d said, and kissed him
goodbye.
“Sure thing,” he replied, winking
at her. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 8:34am On Aug 02, 2018 |
Chapter 10
So Busi was in trouble – that’s
what everyone thought. Her
friends had warned her, had
grown tired of covering for her.
There was not much they could
do or say to save her any more.
But Busi didn’t care. The love
bug had bitten her and Parks
was all she could think about.
When she thought of him it
made her pulse race. The next
day she missed school, and the
next. It was a joke between
them – how she left the house
every day dressed for school, her
hair tied up and her books in
her school bag. Her granny
would call after her, “Your lunch,
child, you’ve forgotten your
lunch!” |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 8:29am On Aug 02, 2018 |
Chapter 9
“So, did you do it?” was
Asanda’s first question as Busi
got off the taxi on Monday
morning. Busi nodded. “And?”
“It was the best,” Busi said, and
hoped she sounded convincing.
All weekend she had thought
about it. She had gone over it in
her mind. She had felt Parks’s
hands, his kiss. That was nice.
But she had also felt lonely and
cheap. She had tried to push
that part away and only
remember the good things. And
then there was the woman
waiting in the black car at the
hotel. Who was she waiting for?
And why did she stare at Busi?
Part of Busi wanted to tell
Asanda these disturbing
thoughts. But she couldn’t. She
needed them to think she was
still flying high from her night
with Parks …
“So, you’re bringing Mr Parks to
the school dance on Friday?”
Lettie asked. Busi had forgotten
all about the school dance. She
thought how different her life
was now from her friends’. They
wouldn’t understand how small
and childish a school dance
seemed. But she didn’t want to
disappoint them. And she could
see that some of them didn’t
believe that Parks existed. She
would show them.
“Of course,” she said. “He’ll add a
bit of class.”
“That’s if Mr Khumalo lets him
in,” said Lettie.
“He’s old enough to be your
father,” Unathi added. “And
you’re still a minor – until next
week, is it?”
Busi wished he would stop
saying Parks was old enough to
be her father. She didn’t want to
think of him like that. Nobody
wants to think of their father
like that. It made it all wrong! It
wasn’t like that. Parks was her
boyfriend.
“It won’t be a problem,” Busi
told Unathi. “Wait and see.” But
she wasn’t so sure. She hadn’t
even asked Parks if he would go
to the dance with her. He hadn’t
met any of her friends, and she
didn’t know if he would want to.
Besides, they might embarrass
her in front of him with their
stupid girlish talk.
* * *
“She definitely has the love bug,”
joked Asanda quietly in
Chemistry. Busi had caused a
minor explosion at the back of
the class because she wasn’t
concentrating. When the air
cleared of smoke, the teacher
went with Busi to get a brush
and pan to clean up the mess.
Left alone, the class could talk
more freely.
“More like the Parks bug. It’s
incurable, so I’m told,” said
Xoliswa.
“What do you mean?” asked
Asanda.
“Xoliswa means she isn’t the
first schoolgirl Parks has taken
for a drive,” Vuyo chipped in.
“He took a friend of mine’s sister
from Brookland High for a drive
one day. Luckily she jumped out
of the taxi before he got his
dirty hands on her. That’s why
he’s moved on to cruising by
Harmony High. The principal at
Brooklyn found out about him
and threatened to have him
arrested.”
“They should have arrested
him,” said Unathi. “That’s why
this shit keeps happening.
People turn a blind eye. We have
to do something.” He looked at
Asanda.
“Busi is our friend and she
needs us now.” He sounded
worried and angry.
“Busi only wants one person in
her life now,” Lettie said sadly.
“Mr Parks.” |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 8:25am On Aug 02, 2018 |
CONTINUATION.... * * * Parks flirted with the receptionist when he paid the bill and Busi felt hurt and jealous. It was so soon after they had sex. He should have had eyes only for her. And why did the receptionist know his name? Then another man, about Parks’s age, walked into the hotel. He came over and greeted Parks. Busi could smell utywala. On his arm was a woman wearing a wig, very high stilettos, and a dress that showed off more than it covered. It was obvious that she wasn’t his wife, or his girlfriend. The woman looked at Busi and smiled knowingly. And Busi felt cheap again, umthatha lula. * * * When they got back to the taxi Parks took her hand and kissed it. “Thank you, baby. I love you so much.” That was better. It was about love, not just sex, she thought. “Forever?” she asked. Then he laughed. “Nothing is forever, not even love. Soon you’ll get tired of me. You’ll want a younger man.” “Never!” Busi said with certainty. He laughed again. “Even when I’m old and grey?” Why couldn’t he understand that he was all that mattered to her? He owned her, body and soul. He opened the taxi door and was about to get in when he remembered he’d left his wallet at the desk. He ran back to fetch it. Busi turned around to look for him. That’s when she saw the woman. She was sitting in the driver’s seat of a big, shiny black car that was parked in front of the hotel. The car window was rolled down and she was staring at Busi. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 8:19am On Aug 02, 2018 |
CONTINUATION..... Their room was on the third floor. As they got into the lift another couple squashed in. They had a suitcase and two smaller travel bags. Busi suddenly felt awkward. She and Parks didn’t have any luggage. It must be so obvious to the couple why they were coming to the hotel. She was relieved when the man and woman got off on the second floor. Now they were alone, Parks started kissing her passionately. They almost fell out of the lift when the door opened. “Let’s see our room, and then I’ll take you out for supper,” said Parks. He was so confident. He knew exactly what to do, like he’d been to many hotels in his life. The room was small, but the bed looked new with clean white sheets and a nice duvet. They had their own shower, with hot and cold water! Parks laughed as Busi turned the hot tap on and off, excitedly. At home if they wanted hot water they had to heat it on the stove. Here it was flowing from the taps – as much as you wanted. * * * After supper they sat in the hotel lounge and Parks ordered them drinks. He asked her how school had been and she told him about Unathi. He laughed. “The boy’s crazy about you. You shouldn’t be so mean to him. You’ll break his heart. And anyway,” he said, blowing a cloud of smoke from the cigar he was smoking, “Unathi’s right, baby. You’ve got to think of your future. You’ve got to be someone. Look at me. Where would I be without an education? A successful entrepreneur? No! I’d be like that useless gaadjie.” Maybe Parks was right. But Busi didn’t want to think about Unathi now. This was her night. It was just her and Parks. As soon as they got back to the hotel room Parks held Busi close and started kissing her neck. He was gentle at first, but as he began to fumble with her clothes she could sense his urgency. “Wait,” she said, suddenly shy of him seeing her naked. It was all going too fast and the light was on. “I need the toilet.” “Hey, don’t be long…. The bed will get cold without you.” Alone in the bathroom Busi took off her clothes and wrapped a towel around herself. She felt nervous, but she had come this far – she couldn’t go back now. She wouldn’t. When she opened the bathroom door she was relieved to find that Parks had turned the light off. Now only the moonlight shone through the window. It was better in the dark. “Come here, my sugar baby,” he said softly. She unwrapped the towel quickly and slipped under the sheets. Was she doing the right thing, she wondered? What was he expecting? And then their bodies touched and he started kissing her again and she was lost in the moment. When it was over Parks held her naked body against his. She lay with her back to him and looked out into the night. “Why so quiet?” he asked her. “It’s all right, baby. The first time always hurts a bit, then it just gets better and better.” But it wasn’t that. She was in his warm arms, and yet she felt sick with fear. She had brought a condom in her bag – she had wanted to be responsible. But she hadn’t had the courage to insist that they use one. And now it was too late. “What’s wrong?” he whispered. “Didn’t you enjoy it?” “We didn’t use a condom,” she said softly, expecting him to be angry. But he just chuckled. “Is that all?” he said, kissing her forehead. “Don’t worry, baby – I don’t have Aids,” he reassured her. “Relax. I promise you nothing bad is going to happen.” “What if I fall pregnant?” She shouldn’t have said that. Now she was ruining the whole night in the hotel. But he wasn’t cross. He just pulled her closer to him. She turned around in his arms. In that moment the moonlight streaked through the flimsy curtains and picked up the hazel colour of his eyes. He looked honest, sincere. “You worry too much. I know what I’m doing.” “But …” she stammered. Then he laughed, rolled her over, covered her body with soft kisses, tickled her. “You’re a woman now,” he said, lighting up a cigarette and settling back into the pillows. She curled up and hugged herself. He felt so far away, smoking his cigarette like that. She found she was crying. She didn’t know why she was feeling like this. She should have been over the moon. This is what she had wanted – to be a woman for Parks, not a silly child. So why then did she feel so sad? “I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” Busi whispered into the dark. But Parks didn’t hear her. He was lying back, his eyes closed, a smile on his face. Busi listened to the sounds of the night: the creaking beds in the room next door, the hum of traffic in the distance, someone’s shrill, drunken laughter. And suddenly it all felt so cheap. “I’m going to the bathroom,” she said. But she was talking to herself. Sitting on the toilet she wept, longing for the child who had slipped away. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, looked to see what had changed. Where was the young girl? Who was this woman? Then she saw Parks’s reflection come into view. He was standing behind her. “We must go,” he said, “I must take you home now.” |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 8:13am On Aug 02, 2018 |
Chapter 8
Parks was at Jake’s Tavern at six
sharp. Busi was waiting
anxiously outside in her new
skinny jeansand her silver top.
She knew she looked good. “I
couldn’t wait,” he said, leaning
over and kissing her as she got
in next to him. Then he picked
up a red rose on the dashboard
and handed it to her. “For my
sugar baby. You look gorgeous. I
am the luckiest guy in the
country … in the world.” He
hugged her.
“Which hotel are we going to?”
she asked, excited and nervous
at the same time. What if she
didn’t know what to do in bed
to make him happy? What if she
made him angry, or he got tired
of her?
“That’s a secret,” he said. “Trust
Parks! Has he ever let you
down?”
Busi had never been to a hotel
before and so when Parks
swung off the freeway into the
parking lot of the Formula One
she thought it was the real deal.
She hung back when he checked
them into their room, fearing
the receptionist might ask how
old she was. She didn’t want
anyone stopping them. “Come
on, my baby,” Parks was saying.
He took her by the arm and led
her to the lift. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 1:30am On Aug 02, 2018 |
continuation... “Tonight. I’m wearing the skinny jeans he gave me. I can’t wait.” “And you haven’t had sex yet?” Asanda asked again. “No,” Busi shook her head. “I’m not cheap like some girls. And he knows that.” “Be careful,” warned Lettie. But she knew that once you had the love bug there was no cure except for the pain of breaking up. Hadn’t it been like that with Ntombi and Mzi? It was lucky she had escaped. “Yes, I know, Lettie. Wear a condom, safe sex …” “That too,” said Lettie. “But I meant, be careful of your heart.” “What’s wrong with all of you?” Busi said, “Can’t you just be happy for me?” It was English with Mr Ntlanti. The closer they got to exams the stricter he became. No minute should be wasted, he told them. But it was all wasted on Busi. She couldn’t concentrate on anything. And anyway, it was just too hot for Shakespeare today. Her mind drifted to Parks. Unathi was talking rubbish, she thought. And she let herself wonder which hotel Parks would choose for their first night together. Then Mr Ntlanti started asking questions. He pointed to one of the boys and when he didn’t know the answer he put him straight into detention. Busi couldn’t be in detention that afternoon. Parks was coming for her after school. All she had to do was SMS him. She had to tell him now that she wanted to go to the hotel tonight. Before it was too late and before Unathi messed it up. And she had to get out of class before Mr Ntlanti asked her a question she couldn’t answer. She excused herself, saying that she needed the toilet. In the corridor she took her cell phone out of her pocket and quickly started tapping the keys. Pck me up @ Jakes – ur sugar bby. “Texting your sugar daddy?” Busi flew around. “Are you stalking me?” she yelled at Unathi. She had had enough. “Maybe you’re fooling Lettie and Asanda, but you don’t fool me, Busi. You think you’re too cool for school? That you’re better than the rest of us because of Mr Moneybags? The only person you’ll be fooling in the end is yourself.” “You’re just envious.” “Think what you like. I’m just disappointed in you.” “Disappointed!” spat Busi. “Who are you? My father?” “Have you even looked at the notes I gave you?” Busi could hear that Unathi was upset now. He couldn’t hide that with his anger. She had hurt him. He had spent hours writing those notes and she hadn’t even looked at them. “It was kind of you to give me the notes,” she said. She couldn’t look him in the eye. “The exams are two weeks away. Do you really want to repeat Grade 10? Do you really want to see your friends moving on and leaving you behind?” Busi stared at him. What could she say to him that would make him understand? How could she tell him what Parks gave her? How it was so much better than all of this. That school didn’t matter now. Couldn’t he see how happy she was? “I’m happy – so, so happy. Can’t you see it?” “All I can see is an accident waiting to happen,” he said. “I don’t want to go to school any more, Unathi.” “You’re throwing your life away,” he argued. “And I won’t just stand by and watch.” “You don’t understand …” “Do your parents know?” “They’re in Jozi, chasing their own dreams. Why should they care?” Then the siren went and students rushed out into the corridor and Busi could escape. Life was so strange. Unathi’s attention would have meant the world to Busi only a couple of weeks ago. He was her hero back then, with his big, broad shoulders and his talent on the soccer field. She used to think he was such a man. How things had changed. Now he was following her everywhere and she wasn’t interested. She looked down at her SMS for Parks. Pck me up @ Jakes – ur sugar bby. Then she pressed the SEND button. There was no going back now. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 12:52am On Aug 02, 2018 |
it seems em ban divenpen1 lalasticlala pls help em ban |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 12:48am On Aug 02, 2018 |
stay tune for the next update |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 12:44am On Aug 02, 2018 |
Chapter 7
Busi’s friends ran to meet her
when she walked through the
gates of Harmony High. “We’ve
missed you! How are you
feeling?” asked Asanda.
“Yes, we were really worried
when you didn’t even make the
soccer game. We know how
much it means to you to be in
the team.” Lettie gave her a hug.
“You must have been really
sick?”
“You could say that …,” Busi
smiled. She couldn’t wait to tell
them about Parks.
“Why are you grinning like
that?” Asanda asked. “Have you
been keeping a secret, Busi? And
we thought you were ill.”
“I was ill,” Busi laughed. “I
caught the love bug.”
“You’re in love?” asked Lettie.
“With who?”
And then she told them about
Parks. How handsome he was.
How he treated her like a movie
star. She watched their
astonished faces as she told
them that he had bought her
skinny jeans and that he was
getting her a smart phone with
a contract!
“You must be joking?” Asanda
couldn’t believe it. “A cell phone
with a contract and jeans.
Serious?”
“Serious.”
“And he took you to the movies
during school?” said Lettie, who
looked like she wasn’t sure she
believed Busi.
“And to lunch afterwards,” Busi
went on. She couldn’t stop now.
“Three courses: starters, mains,
dessert. A steak this big.” She
held her hands apart. “And
chocolate pudding.”
“Oh, I can taste it … stop …
stop!” cried Asanda.
“He’s too damn sexy for my own
good,” she told them, thinking
of the dimple in Parks’s chin and
that slow smile.
“Too damn sexy, that’s for sure!”
They giggled together.
Busi had never felt so popular
before. Asanda hooked an arm
through hers as they walked
back into class. “So tell me, Busi,”
she whispered, “just between
the two of us … have you done it
yet?”
“What?” Busi faked surprise. It
was the one thing she still
needed to keep a secret – the
night Parks was planning at the
hotel. She didn’t want anyone to
ruin that. “No, not yet,” she said.
“He’s not that kind of guy. He
respects me. He says we’ll have
sex only when I’m ready. But I’m
his girl, Asanda. He calls me his
sugar baby.”
“You are his baby,” Unathi
sounded disgusted. He had been
listening from a few metres
away as she bragged about
Parks. Now he came up to her.
“How old are you?”
“Sixteen soon,” Busi said crossly.
“Fifteen now,” Unathi said.
“So?”
“So, do you know that sugar
daddy of yours could be
arrested?” Seeing the look of
horror on Busi’s face, he went
on. “I could report him to the
police if he sleeps with you. A
man who has sex with a girl of
fifteen is committing rape in the
eyes of the law. That’s what it is,
Busi – rape. You are under the
age of consent. Your sugar
daddy umele uyokumvalela
etrongweni. And they should
throw away the key. I bet you’re
not the only girl he’s seeing.”
“I am!” shouted Busi. “And
anyway, I’m sixteen next month.
And you wouldn’t dare report
Parks.” But Unathi had made her
scared. His uncle was a
policeman. What if he checked
up on Parks? What if he followed
them? But she couldn’t let him
see her fear. “Have you finished
with your lecture?” She took a
step towards him so that she
was really close to his face,
“Because I’m sick of listening.”
“You’re just jealous, Unathi,”
said one of the girls who had
come up to join in, “because
Parks can give Busi what you
can’t.”
“And you really believe he loves
her?” asked Unathi. “That he
doesn’t cruise the streets in his
taxi looking for more sugar
babies like Busi to tempt with
treats and promises. And then to
use and dump – like spoiled
goods.”
“What do you know?” cried Busi.
But in that moment she realised
that he knew far too much. Not
only had he crushed her
moment of triumph, but he’d
made her afraid too. She wished
he’d just go. And she was
relieved when a group of his
friends dragged him away. She
tried to forget what Unathi had
said.
“When are you seeing your man
again?” asked Asanda as they
went into class. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 12:40am On Aug 02, 2018 |
you guys should appreciate ma effort wid comment...em nt delaying the post like others so you guys shud drop some comment.i wanted to continue this story next week bt since it has hitted fp em posting every day thats if i av airtime. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 12:37am On Aug 02, 2018 |
continuation..... By the end of the week she was bursting to tell her friends about the life she had been leading. Yes, maybe it was time to go back to school. * * * On Friday morning she couldn’t wait. As she was putting on her school shoes she heard a knock at the door, and her grandmother talking to someone outside. Parks wouldn’t dare come here, she thought. But when she went out she saw Unathi standing there. “I hope you’re feeling better,” he said. She didn’t know what to say. Her granny was staring at her, as if she finally understood what Busi had been up to. Unathi pulled an exercise book out of his bag and opened it. Inside was a whole bunch of papers. “I brought you the notes you’ve missed,” he said. “With exams coming up, you can’t skip anything if you want to pass.” “Missed?” Busi’s granny asked, frowning at her. “I don’t understand.” “It’s extra work, Gogo. I want to do well in the exams. I want to make you proud. You know the classes I’m doing after school? Well, I missed a couple.” Unathi didn’t say anything. He just handed over the papers. He had copied his notes – pages of them. Busi was amazed. He had done this for her? But why? To make her feel bad? To sow a seed of doubt in her granny’s mind? Or because he cared? |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 12:34am On Aug 02, 2018 |
stay tune for the next update.... |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 12:30am On Aug 02, 2018 |
Chapter 6
It was easy, Busi told herself.
When you wanted to do
something, it was easy. And she
wanted to be with Parks. That
afternoon, after they had been
to Steers in Wynberg, he drove
her up the leafy roads in
Constantia. One of her granny’s
friends worked there for a rich
lady. But it was the first time
Busi had seen such huge
houses, except on The Bold and
The Beautiful. “For one family!
Can you believe it?” Parks said.
“Stick with me, baby, and one
day it will be my BMW parked in
that driveway. And it will be you
getting out of it.”
“Really, Parks?” she said.
“Is that what you’d like?”
“Yes. But I wouldn’t paint our
house that colour. And I’d prefer
a Mini Cooper.” He roared with
laughter. It made her happy to
think that he found her funny.
He took her over to Hout Bay,
then on to Camps Bay. Some of
her friends had been there. They
had told her about the models
they’d seen being photographed
under the palm trees. “Not as
curvaceous, or as bootilicious, as
you,” Parks flattered her.
“Don’t you have to be
anywhere?” Busi asked him. He
didn’t seem to have a care in the
world.
“I told you, I’m my own boss,”
he laughed. “The only person
who can tell me where to be and
when, is me.” And when his cell
phone rang, he switched it off.
Next stop was the Waterfront,
where they went window
shopping. Parks bought her a
necklace with a locket on it.
“Now all you need is a photo of
me inside,” he joked. “Would
you keep it safe?”
“Very safe,” she said, looking
into his eyes. He gave her a
lingering kiss, then took her
hand as they strolled down the
mall together, her locket
shimmering silver around her
neck. A woman stopped to stare.
Busi knew why. Here was a
young girl in school uniform
kissing an older man. So what,
she didn’t care what anyone
thought. They didn’t understand.
* * *
On the way home Parks pulled
over into a lay-by and they
kissed. He told Busi that he was
looking forward to more, but
only when she was ready. He
would never force her. He wasn’t
like that. “I can’t wait to see you
out of your school clothes,” he
said as he dropped her off. “Will
you dream of me tonight?”
“Yes … sweet dreams,” she
promised.
As she lay in bed she smiled. The
locket was around her neck,
hidden under her nightie, close
to her heart. He said he couldn’t
wait to see her out of her school
clothes. Well, he would. She had
an idea. It was so simple, but so
clever it made her laugh. And it
would work – she was sure of it.
She wanted to please him, and
school was so boring. She didn’t
need Lettie and Asanda asking
her where she was all the time,
or Unathi following her around
like a bodyguard.
When she woke up the next
morning she packed her casual
clothes in her school bag. After
breakfast she kissed her granny
goodbye and headed for the taxi
rank. But as soon as she got
around the corner she ducked
into the toilets at Jake’s Tavern
and changed. She re-emerged in
jeans and a cute top. Then she
rang Parks. So easy! “Any time,”
he had told her. And he had
given her airtime so she could
call him whenever she felt like it
– day or night. He was there in
five minutes.
* * *
Over the next few days Parks
wined and dined Busi. She ate
food she had never tasted
before in fancy restaurants. He
would leave the taxi with that
idiot gaadjie as they wandered
hand in hand through town.
Parks told her about his big
dreams and ideals. Most of the
time he was in a good mood …
except for when he took calls on
his cell phone. Then he would
walk away so that she couldn’t
hear him. But she could tell from
his body language, the way he
stood all hunched over with his
fists clenched, that he was
angry. And once he’d turned his
taxi around just as they had set
off, and dropped her back near
her house. “Business,” he’d said.
When she didn’t see him, she
missed him all day. But then he
would always be back the next
morning.
The third time she bunked
school he took her up to the
forest. The gaadjie wasn’t there
and they lay on the back seat
and kissed and cuddled. When
she got home she told her
granny that she was studying
after school for exams. And her
grandmother was pleased. It
was their joke – Parks’s and
hers.
Lettie and Asanda SMSed her.
r u ok? wer u bn?
Ndiyagula.
oh! gt wel sn.
They didn’t know how much fun
she was having. She had
another life and it was better
than anything they had. She was
just sad it had to be a secret. She
wanted to tell them about the
crayfish she ate and the perfume
he bought her. She wanted to
boast about the man she was
dating and how good life could
be. He was going to take her to
a hotel for the night. “Don’t be
frightened,” he said. “I’ll be
gentle. You’ll see. You’ll love it.” |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 12:23am On Aug 02, 2018 |
special thanks to the mod for taking it to the front page. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 12:21am On Aug 02, 2018 |
continuation of chapter5 “Steers it is,” he answered. “But next time it will be somewhere fancy … after sunset.” He looked at her. “There will be a next time?” “Yes.” She wanted to tell him she loved him there and then. She had to hold the words in before they came bursting out. No, she would wait until they were somewhere romantic … at night. *** note: pls read carefully so that you won't mix chapter four with chapter five...i forgot to keep much space while trying to type fast. CHAPTER6 wil be updated so stay stune. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 12:14am On Aug 02, 2018 |
continuation wil soon be updated so stay stune. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 12:10am On Aug 02, 2018 |
continuation.... “Well, call us if you get lonely after school.” * * * It was no use pretending that she was working in class. She hadn’t written a line since she got to school. When the Maths teacher, Ma’am Ratsibe, walked around the class checking their homework, Busi hid the page she had been writing on under her arm. “I left my Maths book at home,” she lied. She didn’t want the teacher to see what she had drawn on the page of her workbook – a heart with their names inside it. It was foolish, she told herself. She would never see Parks again. It had been one wonderful afternoon. That was all. But she couldn’t help hoping that he would be there again, waiting at the gate after school. All she could think of was the feeling of his lips on hers. She was bubbling over like the champagne they drank. Every few minutes she looked out of the classroom window to see if he was there, waiting. But the road was empty. It was too early, she told herself. He would come later. * * * When the final siren went all the students pushed to get out of the gates and into the taxis. The drivers were the bullies of the road, hooting and shoving to get in front of each other. She searched for Parks’s taxi. But he wasn’t there and her heart sank. She couldn’t wait again – not with Unathi around watching her every move. So she decided to walk home. It wasn’t that far, and she would save the taxi fare. She could buy herself something nice with the money – some lip gloss for when she next saw Parks. She would show him that she wasn’t a silly little schoolgirl. She watched as the taxis left one by one, bursting with schoolkids crushed together. School ties came off and shirts were pulled out and hung loosely over the guys’ pants as they got comfortable on the way home. She waited until the last of them had gone and then she started to walk, really slowly, down the road. But she got only a few paces when she heard a familiar voice. “Do you want me to carry your bag?” Unathi was there again, following her like a lame dog. She was angry now. Why couldn’t he leave her alone? “Why didn’t you take the taxi?” he asked. “Why didn’t you?” she answered. “To save the fare,” he said. But she knew that wasn’t the reason. He was looking out for her. And she wished he wouldn’t. “To go to Jozi to see your girlfriend?” “I’m telling you, I haven’t got a girlfriend. Thumi and I broke up. Why won’t you girls get it? The way you go on, anyone would think mna ndingudlalani.” “Aren’t you?” As she spoke she kept looking up and down the street for Parks. “You waiting for someone?” Unathi asked. When she didn’t answer he reached out and took her bag, heavy with books. “I’ll walk you home. It’s not safe to walk alone.” What if Parks saw her walking with Unathi? What if he thought Unathi was her boyfriend? Would he drive on? “Oh,” she said, pretending to have just remembered something. “Yhini Bawo,I forgot, I was supposed to stay behind to get help with my Maths. You go on ahead.” “I can help you.” “Thanks, but Ma’am Ratsibe is waiting,” she said. “She’s expecting me and I’ve already been in detention twice for not handing in my homework.” Unathi looked at her strangely, then handed back her bag and turned and walked away. * * * Busi ran back through the school gates. She waited until he had gone around the corner before she went back out onto the street. Her watch said two forty-five. He wasn’t coming. Why would he? But then she heard that familiar, thump, thump, thump of the bass beat pounding out onto the road through the open windows of Parks’s taxi and her heart leapt. And when Parks pulled up next to her she went straight up, put her head through the window and kissed him. It was so bold, so brave. It made her feel like a grown-up. And he kissed her back. “I’m in luck,” he said, a big grin on his face. “I thought it was too late. I thought I’d missed you. To think, if I had come five minutes later you might have gone. Now get in, I’m hungry.” “Khentakhi?” she laughed. She was so happy. “Let’s try some place new,” he said, as she looked back expecting to see the gaadjie. But today they were alone. “He was annoying me,” laughed Parks. “I dropped him at the last traffic light. I booted him out. He’s probably lying on the pavement right now.” “Serious? You kicked him out of the taxi?” “No, I’m just teasing you. I like teasing you.” He winked at her. “I like kissing you too.” As they drove he reached over, opened the cubbyhole and took out a CD, “Hey, I got you some new music.” He slid the CD into the player. It was Ringo – the musician she had told him about when they were at the beach. “Sithandwa sam …,” she sang along. “You like it?” “I like it!” The fear had gone. She had been stupid to be nervous of him. Now it felt like they had known each other forever. “Now, where are we going for lunch? You can pick anywhere. Remember I’m not just a taxi driver. I’m also an entrepreneur,” he laughed. “Money is no object.” But Busi didn’t know any of the fancy places. She knew KFC and Steers. That was all. And they had been to KFC. “Steers,” she said. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 12:05am On Aug 02, 2018 |
continuation wil soon be drop... |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 12:00am On Aug 02, 2018 |
continuation..... * * * Parks pulled into the parking lot in front of the water slides. He grabbed the KFC bag from behind his seat. Then he opened the tub and tossed a piece of chicken at the gaadjie, like he was a dog. “To shut him up,” he laughed. There were other couples strolling down the beach, hand in hand. As they walked down onto the sand, Parks put his arm around Busi and pulled her close. The comforting warmth of his body next to hers made her want to cry. Her granny gave her a quick hug sometimes. But her mom and dad – she couldn’t remember the last time they had hugged her, or held her close. They had been gone for so long. And she realised how lonely she had been. The sea was pearly grey and still, like the sky. Not a wave in sight. Like a magician, Parks pulled one thing after another out of his bag of tricks: a blanket, two glasses, a bottle of champagne, KFC. “Let’s celebrate,” he said, filling their glasses. Busi had never had champagne before. It was what movie stars drank. She had only had a sip or two of beer at a tavern once, with a boy who couldn’t afford to buy her a Savannah. “What?” she said. “What are we celebrating?” “You. We’re celebrating you.” Parks leaned over and kissed her cheek. * * * When they got back into the taxi to go home, it was getting dark. They had splashed in the shallow water. He had picked up shells for her and told her she was clever and funny and beautiful. The champagne made her feel dizzy with love. Not even the gaadjie’s coarse voice irritated her. And when Parks stopped at the end of her road he leaned over and took her hand. “I’ve had such a good time,” he said. “You make me happy. You’re my sugar baby, Busi – so sweet and so cute.” Then he kissed her on the lips. It was different from awkward schoolboy kisses. This was dreamy. His lips were soft and warm and firm. She was lost. When his cell phone beeped with a message, he pulled away, reluctantly. “I could do this all night,” he said. “But I’ve got some business to attend to …” “Bye, cutie pie.” The sound of the gaadjie’svoice startled her. It was the first time he had spoken. He was waving his fingers at her and licking his lips. He had watched them kissing! Ugh! After Parks had left Busi stood and gazed down the road after him. She felt dazed, like she had just woken up and didn’t know where she was. She was still lost in the clouds when Unathi came up behind her. He jolted her out of her dream world and back to the cold, dirty street. “I didn’t recognise the taxi,” he said. “Or the driver.” “A friend,” Busi said quickly. “Of your father’s?” Unathi’s voice was bitter. And when she didn’t reply, he added, “Lettie and Asanda were worried when you didn’t pitch for soccer.” “I don’t see them here?” she said, looking around, “What are you, their messenger boy?” They were cruel words and she saw that she had hurt him. But he deserved it, stalking her like that. She turned her back on him and started to walk home. “Be careful with your taxi driver,” Unathi called after her. “Be careful, Busi. Remember Ebenezer. Sometimes people aren’t what they seem.” Chapter 5 “What happened to you yesterday?”Lettie asked Busi the next morning. “Yes, girlfriend. Aren’t we good enough for you anymore?” Asanda joined in. “Are you just interested in mennow?” “I had cramps again,” lied Busi. “Shame, are you feeling better now?” “I’m fine,” said Busi. “I’m sorry I didn’t wait. I had to get some Panados. Then I went home to bed. You were taking so long with Mr Ntlanti …” Then she remembered Unathi. He had seen her get out of Parks’s taxi and he might have told them. Was that why they were looking at her like that? Was this a test? She would be shown up for the liar she was. And there was Unathi now, coming across the school yard towards them. “Busi wasn’t feeling well yesterday afternoon,” Lettie announced. “She went home to sleep.” “You see, you needn’t have worried,” Asanda said to Unathi. Then she turned to Busi. “Unathi was soworried.” She winked at her friend.“Utatamkhulu.You should have seen him,” she added, imitating his voice. “What if she’s been kidnapped? What if she’s in hospital?” “Every ten minutes,” laughed Lettie. Busi looked at Unathi, hoping and praying that he would keep his mouth shut. When he spoke she looked away. But all he said was, “I hope you’re feeling better now.” “Yes, thank you,” she mumbled. “Unathi thought you might have been kidnapped. He kept telling us some rubbish about a taxi he saw cruising around the school yesterday,” said Asanda, punching Unathi on the arm affectionately. “Hey, I thought you had other things to worry about, Unathi,” Busi said, trying to change the subject. “Like that girlfriend of yours in Jozi. How is she, by the way?” But Unathi didn’t answer. And she didn’t push it. She didn’t want to make him angry or he might tell her friends about Parks. “What you doing later?” Lettie asked as they went back into class. “Do you want to come shopping with us?” “I think I’m going to take it easy,” said Busi. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 11:54pm On Aug 01, 2018 |
continuation wil soon drop... |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 11:48pm On Aug 01, 2018 |
Chapter 4
“Take me somewhere
nice,” Busi said. She didn’t
want to go home. There
was nothing for her at
home.
“I think it’s beach
weather. You been to the
beach?” Parks asked as
he weaved between cars,
then accelerated into the
fast lane. “You ever get
out of thatdump you call
home?”She shook her
head. He was right. Their
shack was small and
cramped and cold. “Well,
you deserve it, girl. Let
me treat you.”
Busi had only been to the
beach twice in her life.
Once, when she was six,
her mom and dad had
taken her to Monwabisi.
She had built a huge
sandcastle and played in
the waves. It was New
Year’s Day and the beach
was packed. Then in
Grade 7 the school had
taken her class down to
Muizenberg on an outing.
Twice – in her entire life.
And she lived so close to
the sea. “Beach weather,”
Parks said again. “Wat sê
jy?” he called to the
gaadjie in the back.
“Beega, beega, make the
circle beega,” the guard
sang. Uyaphara. What
was it – dagga, tik? His
brain was fried, that was
for sure.
“You’re right, Parks,” she
said, feeling braver now,
“It is beach weather.”
“That’s my girl,” he said
and took her hand. She
felt the thrill of his skin
against hers.
“What are you thinking?”
Parks said, smiling at
Busi. It was so easy for
her to talk to him. He
wasn’t awkward when he
spoke to her, like the
boys at school. Talking to
him was like chatting to
one of her girlfriends.
When she couldn’t think
of anything to say he
filled the gap.
“I was thinking about
you – about the way you
make me feel so good,”
she said.
“That’s because I’m a
man who has money and
treats his women well.”
He sped up. They were
nearing the sea. She
could smell it. “This is
only pocket money,
driving this taxi. My other
businesses, that’s where
the real money is. You
don’t get that if you’re a
fool.”
Respectful, intelligent,
handsome … She had hit
the jackpot! But every
kilometre on the clock
was a kilometre further
away from her home, her
granny, and her friends.
And she was out of
airtime! “It’s okay. I’ll get
you home before dark,”
he reassured her. “We
wouldn’t want your
granny to worry now.” So
he knew she was
anxious. He knew what
she was thinking. That’s
what true love was,
wasn’t it? You didn’t have
to say anything. You just
understood each other.
She didn’t stop to wonder
how he knew that she
lived with her granny.
“We’ll stop at KFC. We
can’t go to the beach
hungry.”
“I am hungry,” laughed
Busi. “I could eat a horse.”
“That’s what I like to
hear.” His chuckle was
low and rich. “I’m glad
you’re not one of those
girls who don’t eat. I like
my women curvaceous.”
He put his hand on her
thigh and gave it a
squeeze. “Don’t give a
man scrawny chicken
wings when it’s juicy
meat he wants.”
So he liked the way she
looked. And it gave her
secret pleasure thinking
that Lettie wasn’t his
type. He wouldn’t look
twice at her. She was
skinny and her chest was
flat as a pancake. And
Asanda, well she would
annoy him with her
constant questions and
jokes. No, it was herthat
he wanted – Busi.
Just then her cell glowed
and she let out an, “Oh!”
It was Lettie. Why had
Lettie SMSed her, just
when Busi was thinking
bad thoughts about her?
She turned around.
Stupid, she thought, how
could she be in the taxi
with me?
Wats up? Wer u @?
“My friends are looking
for me,” she told Parks.
“So call them,” Parks
answered, turning the
volume down.
“I can’t,” Busi laughed.
“Where must I get the
airtime? And anyway, I’m
sick of them wanting to
know where I am all the
time.” Parks put his hand
on her thigh again. “They
just care about you,” he
said. “And I can see why.
You’re special. I care
about you too. I’ll buy
you airtime, my baby. I
told you, I treat my girls
well.”
She liked that. She liked
being called his baby. It
gave her a warm feeling.
Nobody had bought her
airtime before. She had
always had to earn the
money to buy it. This was
so much easier. She
closed her eyes and put
her head back and let the
music carry her away.
* * *
Parks was true to his
word. He stopped and
got Khentakhi to take to
the beach – a Streetwise
Feast. And not just R29
airtime – R110! She had
never had so much
before. How could she
thank him?
“Aren’t you going to call
your friends now?” he
teased her. They were
coming up to Sunrise
Circle. She could see the
beach.
“Later,” she said. She
liked the way it sounded
so casual and grown-up.
She didn’t want to be a
silly schoolgirl with him,
on the cell to her friends
all the time, talking
nonsense about boys and
stuff that wasn’t
important. No, phoning
Lettie and Asanda was
the last thing she wanted
to do right now. |
Literature / Re: Sugar Daddy by NaijaTushboy(m): 7:53pm On Aug 01, 2018 |
Encourage me with comment. goodnight pals chapter4 wil b drop 2moro by GOD'S GRACE. |
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