THE PAINTED DEBT

The introduction

CHAPTER 2: THE INTRODUCTION

The morning Mr Dlamini was supposed to come, the sun did not rise for Lindi.

Lindi is 19, but she felt 9 again - sitting on the cold floor, watching her mother Miriam fold and refold the same clean cloth. Miriam is 42, but this morning she looked 60, her hands shaking. At the door, her little brother Sipho, 12 years old, stood quietly holding his school bag.

"Mama, please," Lindi whispered, on her knees. "Don't do this. Please don't let them come."

Miriam didn't look up. "Lindi, stop."

"Mama, I'm begging you!" Tears rolled down Lindi's cheeks. She grabbed Miriam's skirt. "I promise you, I will make it in life! My paintings! If I can sell just one, we can start paying him back! We can leave this house, you, me and Sipho, we can leave happily ever after, just like you promised when I was little! Just give me time!"

Sipho spoke softly. "Sisi..."

Miriam finally looked at her daughter, eyes full of tears. "Lindi, my baby, you think I have a choice? You think I want to give my daughter to a 52-year-old man?"

"Then say no!"

"Say no to Mr Dlamini?" Miriam laughed, a broken laugh. "He is the most feared man in Soweto! I borrowed a lot of money from him! A lot! If I say no today, he will take this house! Where will Sipho sleep?"

Lindi looked at Sipho.

"I'm sorry, Sisi," Sipho whispered, crying now.

"No, Sipho, no!" Lindi hugged him.

A loud, heavy knock hit the gate. Sipho jumped.

Miriam wiped her face fast. "They are here. Lindi, please, for Sipho, just sit down and be respectful."

The gate opened. Mr Dlamini walked in like he owned the yard. He is 52, big stomach, bald head shining, gold rings on every finger. Behind him walked his two sisters in expensive traditional clothes, looking at Miriam's small house with disgust. Behind them, two big men.

"Miriam! My in-law!" Mr Dlamini shouted. "I told you, my money is never free. You borrowed a lot of money from me, and now you will pay me with your beautiful daughter!"

"Welcome, Mr Dlamini," Miriam forced a smile.

Mr Dlamini's eyes landed on Lindi. Beautiful, crying.

"There she is. My beautiful young wife. You are perfect to give me strong sons."

Lindi stepped back, holding Sipho behind her.

"I'm not your wife!" Lindi cried. "Mama, tell him!"

"Lindi!" Miriam panicked.

Mr Dlamini's sisters started talking loudly. "This girl has no manners, Dlamini! Look how she is dressed! And who is this boy?"

"This is my brother! His name is Sipho!" Lindi shouted, protecting him.

Sipho tried to be brave, his voice shaking. "Leave my sister alone! She is only 19! You are too old!"

The yard went silent.

Mr Dlamini's face changed. The two big men stepped forward.

Miriam fell to her knees. "Forgive him, Mr Dlamini! He is only 12!"

But Lindi did not apologize. She looked at Mr Dlamini, at her mother crying on the floor, at her brother shaking - and she ran.

She ran out the back gate, through the dusty street. She ran to the only place that made sense.

The old art studio.

Thando was there. He is 20, tall, handsome, cleaning brushes. Her best friend since childhood. The boy she secretly likes.

When he saw Lindi - hair messy, eyes swollen - he smiled that smile she liked so much.

"Yoh, Lindi! You look like you saw a ghost! What's up?"

Lindi couldn't breathe. She walked to him and grabbed his hands.

"Thando, this might be the last day you see me," she said, her voice breaking.

Thando frowned, then laughed. He thought she was doing her usual drama.

"Oh, don't be dramatic!" He teased her, flicking blue paint on her nose like he always did. "This is your passion, Lindi! You'd never throw painting away! You love this studio more than your own house! Remember you told me you'd paint even if the world ends?"

He was smiling. He was still a boy who thought life was simple.

But Lindi's mood was not the same as she usually is. Usually she would laugh, she would fight back. Today she didn't. Today she stared at him like she wanted to memorize his face.

"Thando, I'm serious," she whispered, tears falling.

Thando's smile slowly faded. "Lindi... what's wrong? You're scaring me. Where is Sipho? Is Miriam okay?"

Lindi wanted to tell him everything. That her mother had borrowed a lot of money from Mr Dlamini, the most feared man. That he wanted her as payment.

But she couldn't. If she told Thando, Thando would fight Mr Dlamini, and Mr Dlamini would kill him.

So she just hugged him tight. The boy she liked.

"Nothing," she lied. "Just promise me you'll check on Sipho. He's only 12 and he thinks it's his fault."

Thando held her, confused and worried. "Of course I'll check on Sipho. But what do you mean you won't come tomorrow?"

Behind them, Lindi's latest painting was still wet - a painting of a young girl breaking free from chains.

Lindi looked at it and knew she would never be that girl.