Finders Weepers by Penny Lorimer

Author:Penny Lorimer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Published: 2014-04-25T00:00:00+00:00

‘Bathi ubukhathazekile izolo.’ I am told that you were upset yesterday, Bengu began, after writing down Lulu’s name and details. ‘Can you tell me why?’

In a soft but resolute voice, Lulu told how Nyumbane had started pressuring her to ‘be nice to him’ after her family died, how he had persisted and how he had come up to her house the previous Tuesday evening after dark. I couldn’t repress a shiver when she imitated his rasping, insistent ‘Yiza ntombam, ndivulele ndingene. Ndiyathembisa ukuba sizakuba nexesha elimnandi, kwaye sizakwazana ngcono sitsho sibengabahlobo benene. Ndizakukunika into emnandi …’ Come my girl, let me in. I promise you we will have a nice time and we will be good friends. I will give you something nice.

She repeated what she had told me about Boniswa’s promise to take her in, and her failure to fetch her after the Ascension Day service.

‘I did not understand why she did not say anything to me about going on a course. I was worried, but the teachers said it, so I had to accept it. So, I waited for her to … come back.’ At this point her lower lip started to tremble, but after a deep swallow she managed to regain control of her emotions. ‘Then, yesterday, he …’ she paused and swallowed, ‘called me into his office and started saying those things again. And then I told Miss,’ she said, indicating me, ‘and she brought me to Father’s house.’ Lulu gestured at her surroundings.

Captain Bengu repeated the gist of what she had told him, making notes in a small black book as he did so.

‘I want to charge him,’ said Lulu. Her voice tightened.

She had been fiercely insistent on reporting Nyumbane, despite my warning that she in turn might be accused of instigating a flirtation.

‘Miss S wanted to report him, so I will report him. She said bullies should never be allowed to get away with it. If it is not me, he will choose someone else, another girl. That is what Miss S said to me.

‘What I will say is just the truth,’ she stated. ‘If people want to doubt, then they can doubt, but I will know. Miss S always told us to be honest.’

‘If Lulu feels that Nyumbane must be charged for his harassment of her, we will all support her,’ I said, indicating the priest and his nodding wife.

‘Are there any witnesses to his actions?’ Bengu said, scribbling down a couple more words.

Lulu’s face fell. She shrugged and shook her head.

‘Possibly,’ I said, taking her hand, ‘we don’t know. But you could speak to Glory. She’s the school secretary.’

I knew that if nothing could be proved against Nyumbane – neither sexual harassment, nor any involvement in Boni’s murder – he might, as a senior teacher, not only stay at Girdwood but also be appointed the school’s principal. This would mean that Lulu could certainly not stay at the school, and heaven help the rest of the children there.

‘I’ll be questioning Mr Nyumbane about the principal’s disappearance and death today,’ said Bengu.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.