Chapter 2 - The Lights Come Up

CHAPTER 2: THE LIGHTS COME UP

The next two weeks passed in relative quiet, the tension largely forgotten, or at least subsumed. In fact, it would have been totally forgotten — Zola would definitely have repressed his feelings of lust for a girl who was practically his daughter — except that Ntombi kept reminding him of that attraction in numerous small ways.

While cooking dinner one night, Zola was chopping vegetables at the counter. Ntombi came to stand at the sink to wash out a pot, and stood with her hip touching his, occasionally rubbing back and forth as she scrubbed.

While watching television, Ntombi occasionally sat on the far end of the couch from Zola. When Sanele was not around, she would extend her legs just enough so that her feet would be resting against his leg. Often his hand would drop naturally to her calf and rest there for a while, before he became aware of it and hurriedly removed it. Zola never noticed the brief grin that Ntombi would flash when this happened.

One morning as Zola was sitting down to breakfast, Ntombi came down the stairs. As she walked past the table toward the refrigerator, she ran her hand lightly over his shoulder and neck, sending a line of gooseflesh down his spine and all the way to his toes.

These events, and many more like them, kept Zola on a roller coaster. One moment he would be relaxed and blissfully unaware; then Ntombi would sweep past, and he would be a jangling ball of nerves and confusion. Finally, it all came to a head one Friday evening.

The three of them were watching the news and snacking on chips and popcorn, when Sanele suddenly stood up. "I'm bored to death, guys," she announced.