Written In The Stars. Mokopi Shale

till I tell you why I’m reacting like this. Then you’ll laugh too.” Pelo walked over to Masedi and was pleased to see her look him up and down.

      “This can’t be happening,” she murmured.

      “It’s happening all right,” Pelo said, sounding pleased. “Totally serendipitous.”

      He took her hand in his and stroked it, looking deeply into her eyes.

      Tshepo stared from one to the other, waiting for an explanation.

      “We met last night,” Masedi explained, unable to drag her eyes away from Pelo’s.

      “This is the guy?” Tshepo asked incredulously.

      “Oh, am I the guy?” Pelo said, clearly pleased.

      “Don’t be foolish,” Masedi admonished.

      “Yes. Tlogela bomatla,” Tshepo added. “This is – uhm . . .”

      “Serendipitous,” Pelo said, beaming while hanging on to Masedi’s hand as she tried desperately to pull it away.

      “Masedi was hoping to rent a space here,” Tshepo said, trying to make conversation. “She says she loves this complex.”

      “Really. How . . .”

      “If you say ‘serendipitous’ one more time I’m going to smack you,” Masedi threatened.

      Pelo grinned at her, making her heart plummet again.

      “I have to go,” Masedi said anxiously.

      “Mhhh, I know. Now. Immediately.” Pelo repeated her words of last night slightly mockingly.

      Masedi threw him a threatening look and started marching out without saying goodbye.

      “I’ll call you!” he called after her.

      Pelo saw her hesitate a second, then shake her head and wave over her shoulder.

      Tshepo directed her goodbye at Masedi’s rapidly retreating figure, then demanded from her brother, “So then?”

      “You won’t believe it when I tell you,” Pelo replied.

      “Try me.”

      * * *

      Masedi lay on Kagiso’s couch, nursing a margarita, having just filled her in on what had happened the previous night while she and Tsholo were in the restroom.

      “Hê! You’re deep, wena man!” Kagiso accused Masedi. “So we drove home and you didn’t even tell us that you had a sex session on the dance floor?”

      “We had nothing of the kind!” Masedi exploded.

      “Well, you admitted that you were turned on,” Kagiso said.

      “You’re not helping at all.”

      “What do you want me to say? It was serendipitous. And I must just add that it seems Tsholo and I were right about this guy.”

      A myriad of thoughts flew through Masedi’s head as she tried to figure out what was going on, how she was feeling, and what her next step should be, if any.

      Would Pelo really call her?

      She had to admit that it was serendipitous that the guy who’d made her body hum the previous night was the brother of one of her most loyal customers. But as long as men believed they were dogs and couldn’t love her in the way that she wanted to be loved, why should she bother?

      “Oh, my God . . . You’re thinking about Brian, aren’t you?” Kagiso moaned.

      “Well, we learn life lessons so that we don’t make the same mistakes over and over again,” Masedi replied.

      “Sure. But why see all men as tarred with the same brush as Brian?” Kagiso asked.

      “Did I tell you what he said to me when we broke up? He said that he just didn’t have the depth of emotion that I needed from him in order to be happy. I spent three years on the arm of this man, grooming him, helping him get ahead, loving and supporting him with everything in my being, and then he had the gall to say that I wanted too much from him.” Masedi was getting all worked up now. “Why would I give anyone else a chance?”

      “You’re just scared,” Kagiso stated.

      Masedi scoffed and took a gulp of her margarita.

      “Of course you’re scared. But you have to give life a chance and enjoy the gifts that love has to offer,” her friend insisted. “After all, everyone has a right to change their minds. That’s what Brian did. But you can’t live in fear.”

      Masedi listened, knowing that Kagiso was right, but still she felt the trembling terror that fills your bones before you decide to take a leap of faith.

      “Anyway . . . We don’t know if he’ll call.”

      “I guess we don’t. But what if he does?”

      “I’ll go on a date and see if there really is anything.”

      Kagiso beamed. “I have to tell Tsholo,” she said, picking up her phone.

      “You’re such a gossip.”

      Kagiso winked. “Caring is sharing, darling.”

      Masedi watched the relishing delight flow over her friend’s face as she told Tsholo all about the encounter, and that she and Pelo had practically had sex on the dance floor the previous night. She couldn’t help but laugh.

      * * *

      Pelo looked over the tidy little work space in the back as the boys packed up.

      “Abut’ Pelo, can I take this bracelet for my mom?” Zakes asked. “She hasn’t been feeling well recently, and I think it may cheer her up.”

      “Are you sure it’s for your mother, or is it for that girl that you have been making goo-goo eyes at?” Drums teased.

      “You’re a fool,” Zakes responded, getting peeved.

      The other boys chuckled at him.

      “Zakes, I don’t mind if you take it for your mother. You should be proud of the progress you’re making,” Pelo said. “But as for girls, you guys really should focus on getting yourself out of your situations first.”

      “A guy can mos look, bra Pelo?” Drums commented.

      “Yes, well, at the end of the day it’s your life and your choices. And if you make the wrong choices, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself,” Pelo told them all seriously.

      “Couldn’t you get someone in to help us with this craft?” Drums asked. “I mean, we can sukkel through it and eventually become good. But maybe if there was someone else to help, it’ll be a bit easier?”

      “I think I may just know the right person.” Pelo beamed as he thought of the beautiful Masedi. “Come now, it’s time I went home and enjoyed my Saturday,” he said, showing the guys out of the shop.

      * * *

      Masedi had got up early that Sunday and driven to her parents’ homestead on the hills of the Magalies. As it was at most a 45-minute drive to her parents’ house, she was prone to just dropping everything and going to see them. Especially after her encounter yesterday. She had just felt the need to go and see her mother. Actually, she was hoping her mom could tell her what to do, look into the future and see how all this would turn out.

      “I’ve been expecting you,” MmaMotsumi said, pulling her daughter into a hug.

      “Of course you have,” Masedi replied, amused. “Lo tsogile?”

      “Ah, we’re well, my girl. But you are troubled. Come.”

      They entered the huge kitchen, where her mother had tea brewing.

      “Papa o