Teenager's Tale

THE ORIGINAL LOVE

  In every street there is always that girl who gets every guy talking and my street was no exception. Mrs. Motshegwa, who was a Serowe-born married to the only lawyer I knew at that time, was a catch for all the men around and drove them crazy with her mostly-denim shorts and long, yellow legs that went well with her well-gifted behind. She sure was a sight to desire for whenever she mowed her front-yard garden. Serati, her 16 year old daughter, was just as crazy hot and ran Mike and his boys’ league.

  In my division, most of my mates’ dream girl was named Esther Normans. The girl was actually my first crush. The difference between crush and lust is that when you are eight like I was, it was as real as it came. She was eight like most of us, and light in complexion. With shoulder-length hair and round brown eyes, she was the “it” girl.

  Every boy my age wanted her to be theirs and considering the fact that some of my friends were better looking, I doubted myself. One by one they failed to win her. Truly, she was a beauty, that little girl and it was no surprise for her to lair so much attention. Some boys bought her chocolates and other gifts, while others told her jokes to try and impress her. The advice of the older boys was failing and many withdrew to re-launch while others gave it all up. She just laughed, went back to her friends to play doll house or whatever and that was it. I was one of the last few to try to woo her.

  Personally, I was also just too love-struck and the girl made me believe in myself whenever I was alone. I looked at myself in the mirror days prior to my mission launch and saw the power of my looks. But I would almost give up whenever I saw her as well as the other boys and just saw myself as nothing. It took me about two weeks of preparations before I could garner enough courage to go for the dive. One day on a sunny summer Tuesday after school, I was with my best friend in our pick-up van, telling him about my plan to get Esther. I had written her a letter at school. With all the little English I could write down at that time, I had crafted a magic portion that I hoped would make me rise amongst the fallen.

  ‘This is the letter. Even though the English is not that perfect, I hope it will do wonders. Everything I feel about her is in there,’ I explained. He read the letter and started laughing. I looked at him with amazement and embarrassment on my face.

  ‘Like I said, the English is not…’

  ‘No! It’s not the English. What makes you think you’ll succeed where others failed? A lot of guys have tried; guys a lot better than you. Roy tried and failed but his parents are rich and all. Botho also did try but also failed and he’s cute, rich and smart in class. What makes you think you’ll succeed? You haven’t even impressed her in any way,’ he ridiculed. Wow, so much for a friend, yeah?

  Materialistically and all that other stuff put aside, my best friend was right. His words made my heart sink. All my strength and morale went down. Roy and Botho were some of the kids who resided in the neighborhood. Not only did Botho have the mentioned aspects, he was also a very good dancer for his age. The boy could almost count for the American rapper Lil Bow Wow, who was one of the most relevant acts of the time. Maybe he was right I didn’t stand a chance. But then again, all that I felt for Esther brought back some of the confidence I had lost as I watched her from my bedroom window swimming with her cousin and brother in their kiddies' swimming pool later on in the late afternoon. All I needed was another plan. Nothing can bring down a kid with a crush.

  That evening as I watched television with my family, I couldn’t get myself to think straight. Ideas were rolling in my head and none seemed perfect. Just when I was about to give up, I saw a doll being advertised on television during a commercial break. It was going for P25. Knowing Esther as someone who loved dolls, I jumped with joy shouting, 'That's it!' forgetting my parents were there.

  ‘What is it son?’ asked my dad with a confused look. I turned to him and my mother with a pleading face on - puppy eyes and all.

  ‘Mum, dad, I need a favor from you.’

  ‘Ok, we are listening,’ dad responded.

  ‘I need my week’s lunch money in advance, please,’ I pleaded.

  ‘Why exactly?’ asked my mother.

  I thought for a while and then continued. ‘Well, Bagomotsi and I are buying this video game and it’s about P30. He said he’ll contribute P15 and I contribute the other half.’

  ‘Ok then, but your weekly lunch money is P10, son,’ dad said.

  ‘I have P5 in my savings box,’ I added with a smile.

  In actual fact, I had P15 and needed an extra P10 to buy the doll. They gave me the money and the following day, it was all systems go. I bought the doll and it came with three sets of clothes and three matching hand bags. The doll had long blonde hair and I could picture my pretty Esther combing it as she laid her head on my lap. I was just too excited! I decided to wait for the weekend before I could tell my best friend about my new plan, and also give Esther the gift. I didn’t want any more criticism from him at that stage.

  Surely, the weekend did arrive. After lunch I went to our usual playground and joined my best friend. He stood a few meters away from the other kids.

  ‘How come you are not playing?’ I asked.

  ‘I’m just a little tired today. What’s that you are hiding?’ he asked with curiosity. I showed him the doll and explained my plan to him.

  ‘Still not giving up?’ he asked with a chuckle that almost tipped my confidence. I stood my ground. ‘I just want to try out my luck.’

  ‘Well then, good luck. But I bet you a buck that she’s going to give it back to you.’

  ‘We’ll see.’

  ‘You’re on,’ he pressed.

  I took a deep breath and started walking towards Esther as she and her friends played. The girl made my heart beat faster than normal, I must admit. It was like one of those moments in Hollywood blockbusters where a guy approaches a girl in slow motion before he makes his move. It was a walk to remember and I had imagined it since the day I first saw her and right then, I was taking it. I hid the doll behind my back and called her. This doll had cost me a week’s lunch money and a month’s savings; a sweet P25. That was a lot of money back then, and it was so hard to get that amount if you were a kid like me. Only love made me sacrifice that much for dear Esther.

  ‘Please God let me succeed in this and I promise I’ll be a good person. So help me God’

  This was my silent prayer as she walked over to me, beautifully glowing as always. I had always heard my mother say this every time she wanted to succeed in something and most of the times it worked, I guess. I just wished the prayer could work for me.

  Her friends followed her as she walked towards me. This made me more nervous and I started getting sweaty, almost dropping the doll at some point in those few seconds. I wanted to abort the mission and run away but that would put me in with the fallen. It was my only chance and I was not going to blow it.

  ‘Hi, Brandon, you called me,’ she said with her cute smile and this calmed me down a little.

  Hesitantly, I gave her the doll.

  ‘Hi, I bought you this…this lovely doll…and I hope you like it…’ and held my breath.

  Her out-of-this-world eyes just glowed even more and she opened them wide before she could express her happiness.

  ‘You bought me a new doll? The latest for that matter! Oh Brandon, that is so nice of you. You are my hero!’ and she planted a kiss on my cheek, her soft pink lips wetting it. I forgot to breathe when she did this and for a moment I thought I was in heaven. Almost everyone had witnessed the kiss, and immediately the small crowd gathered around us. Botho pushed his way through the crowd and faced Esther.

  ‘Don’t tell me you are going to accept a doll over my box of chocolates…’ he charged, ‘…and besides, I’m cuter than him.’ Esther looked him down and spat, ‘Being cute does not count. It all depends on the kind of person you are, and I like the kind of person he is.’ Those sure were big words for an eight year old.

  Her smile lighting up her fa
ce, she kissed me again. Our playmates started a love song, singing to us. I noticed that Botho and some of the guys who had failed to woo Esther were moving away. Obvious hatred and envy was written all over their cute faces. To be honest, I did not care what they thought; Esther was mine and that was all that mattered. My true friend came up to me and patted my back.

  ‘You’re the man. I doubted you but now... you’ve got my respect,’ he declared.

  ‘Yeah, you know how it is’ I proudly said, and we started walking home. I looked back at my Esther and she was smiling at me as she waved me off. I felt so happy. From that day onwards, we were girlfriend and boyfriend.

  They always say growing up is a trap. You see, indeed it does suck when it comes to getting a girlfriend once you are past the love letter stage. It is something I would personally recommend people to continue doing though – writing love letters – because it is just not necessary to go through all the phases people put themselves through before they can get a girl. There is the charming, the first date, second date, the lies and the impressions you have to make on top of all the money you waste calling and texting before a girl can be yours. What a waste of energy, even though it is kind of fun at times, depending on how it goes for you with the girl. Too much unnecessary complications that just makes growing up a trap indeed. All it had taken me was a letter to get my sweet Esther. If the grown-up way fails you, be a kid again. It works wonders.