Chapter 8: The Vampire Pirate's Daughter by Lynette Ferreira
In Business Studies, Mr Williams tells us to form groups of four. Carmine hurries to my desk and predictably, Andrew and John come with her.
Mr Williams explains that he wants us to work on a project about the impact the internet has had on the world and the fact the world has literally shrunk due to the information now available at each person’s fingertips. He tells us we can start immediately, and we drag our chairs across the floor and the scraping noise is loud and irritating.
Carmine, John, Andrew and I sit around the table and Andrew is sitting across from me.
I start the discussion, “I think the internet has not shrunken this country because although the population exceeds fifty million, only about ten percent have access to the internet.”
Andrew retaliates, “But they are building that fibre-optic cable under the sea. This will escalate the use of the internet dramatically.”
I laugh sarcastically. “No. The people in charge are too greedy to make it cheap enough for everybody to use it. Besides, if you had no food, would you…”
Andrew interrupts me rudely, “You have only lived in this country for a short while and as usual your kind has all the answers!”
I gasp insulted. “My kind?”
“Yes, your kind! You come here from your first world countries and then you think you can solve all our problems. All over the world, there is racism against coloured people. In America, in Australia, but because the Europeans in this country gave it a name, it became such a great sin. Around the time they introduced apartheid in South Africa, was about the time slaves were hung and persecuted in America. Don’t come here and pretend to be high and mighty!”
“How did we get from the internet to racism?” John asks embarrassed at Andrew’s outburst.
Andrew knocks his chair over onto the floor as he gets up hurriedly and then he walks to the door of the class without excusing himself.
Mr Williams calls him back, but Andrew ignores him and slams the door when he walks out of the class.
John gets up from his chair slowly and he picks up the chair from the floor. He walks to Mr Williams and asks him if he could go after Andrew.
Mr Williams is red in the face. He is an aged teacher, with grey hair neatly brushed back over his ears and the centre of his head looks as smooth as a baby’s bum and he is most probably three years away from retirement. He says irate, “Tell him to either come back immediately or to meet me at the principals’ office after school.”
John walks out the classroom to follow Andrew.
Carmine whispers to me, “Phew. That was unexpected. I have truly never seen Andrew carry on like that.”
I frown and start to doodle. Carmine looks at my notebook and laugh softly. “You scribble vampire teeth!” Excited she asks, “Have you seen that new movie, the one with…”
Mr Williams interrupts her, “Carmine, do you want to join Mr Andrew Muller in the office later today?”
Carmine answers apologetically, “No, Sir.”
She takes out a book and then she starts to make notes on what we should discuss regarding the project.
The bell rings after what seems like hours.
LATER THAT AFTERNOON my phone vibrates in my pocket and when I answer it, it is Carmine. She says, “Hi, Susie.”
“Hello.” I did not feel like talking to her. I have never been friends with someone like her and she will take time getting used to.
“I thought I would keep you updated about Andrew.”
“Why? I could not be bothered with what happens to him.”
“His dad is the principle, so his punishment is always harsher! It is SO unfair.”
I do not reply. He was rude and attacked me for no reason.
“He is on community duty for the rest of the week and at home, he has been grounded, so now his party might be cancelled on Friday.”
Feeling sorry for Carmine, because I can hear the disappointment in her voice, I say, “You were looking forward to that. I am sorry because indirectly I caused it to be cancelled.”
Carmine hesitates for a moment. “You could make it up to me and have it at your house.”
“No. I told you I am going away this weekend.”
“Cancel. Tell your brother you are sleeping over at my house and then we can have a great party at your house without any adult supervision.”
“No, that would just cause more trouble.”
She sighs. “Fine. Anyway, we are meeting at his house tomorrow to work on the project.”
I say determinedly, “I am not going to his house.”
“Why won’t you come? We should work on this anyway, you know? It has to be finished next week.”
“I’ll be busy tomorrow. Carry on without me; I do not need the marks anyway.”
“You are just being silly now. Do you want him to think you are taking anything he said seriously?”
“No.”
“Well, then you will come tomorrow afternoon.”
I sigh irritated. “Fine, I’ll see, but I have to go now.”
I remember something and quickly I ask before she hangs up, “The principal is Mr Van Heerden and Andrew’s surname is Muller, yet you said they are family.”
Carmine laughs. “Yes, poor Andrew was adopted. He could have chosen a better dad; don’t you think?”
Amanda calls me, so I apologise to Carmine and end the call.
I walk to the kitchen and sit down in one of the chairs around the breakfast table. I watch Amanda pensively. She is making ice-popsicles, but not your usual popsicles, though. These popsicles are A-grade steak, cut into equal square rectangles. She pushes a longer than usual cocktail stick into one end and then she puts it into the freezer to freeze. It is very refreshing on a summer’s day.
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