The tournament came to an end, all the children prepared their way back to their places of residence. The excitement of the journey was still stirring up and everyone was still crazed by their short experience of the Joburg life. The had witnessed every single detail of the things they had been told about the city of gold. Life there was faster than they anticipated. Most of them had been confined in small environments so, it was a big deal for them to be in such a big place. Rowena did not think that there were buildings that could touch the sky. To her they were really touching the sky. She would spend about half an hour staring at the top where these buildings seemed to be in the sky. She would look until her head turned around. She believed that they were moving too. She hadn't reached the level of realising that it was only the earth that was rotating on its own axis.
The buses that were carrying the children from different towns, took off about the exact time they arrived for the tournament. Even Rowena was still occupied with the excitement of the Joburg experience. Her mind was reviving all the memories of the things she had seen in Johannesburg. Most of these things were new to her. She had learnt something during the tournament. She even met people who spoke different languages. These people were black but they spoke languages she and her peers could not understand. She was fascinated by the diversity of languages and different styles of dressing. They were dressing different colours that symbolised their cultural backgrounds. The Sothos, the Vendas, the Tswana and other tribes.
She was really taken up by the mixture of cultural since she was used to the same ethnic group. The only traditional outfit she was used to was the one that was worn by the Xhosa womens. She even thought it was the only traditional attire that black women wore even those who were not from their ethnic group. So, she learnt a lot by traveling to Johannesburg. She even wished to visit again and stay a little bit longer. She told herself that she would visit again after finishing her studies. The thought took her back when she and Themba were preparing for their journey to Johannesburg. Then her last trip when she was traveling with her aunt which ended up in tears. Those memories broke her heart but they did not change her mind about visiting the city again. She was determined to study hard so that she could taste s glimpse of good life she missed in all her childhood days. She kept fantasising about what she wanted to become when she was old. Her thought took her to those strange white men who were discussing with their matron. Her heart beat faster again while she was wondering about the agenda of that meeting. Knowing Mrs Van Zyl ( their matron) she did not want to take things for granted. Mrs Van Zyl was the kind of person who did not let go easily. If she wanted to do something about any circumstance, she would leave no stone unturned until she get to the bottom of that matter. She could lie low s bit but in the long she would get back to her old habits. So, no matter what it was that she discussed with those men was not something that could be taken for granted. But she decided not to bother herself about it as long as it was not brought forward infront of other children. That should make her to be embarrassed.
The bus arrived in the early hours of the following morning. They were exhausted and feeling drowsy so they went to bed for few hours before they woke to prepare for school. At school there was nothing they could talk about except the Joburg experience. Those who did not go wished they were there too. After the who excitement of the journey they carried on with their daily lives.
The matron started to give Rowena a different look. She was always on her case more than before. This made Rowena an bit uneasy. Sometimes she would be sommoned to the matrony office and would be asked many questions about her family matters. That too made her to be anxious becy she did not know what was behind that sudden interest about her family. She became scared that she would be taken back to the village. She shuddered at the thought of going back to museerat life she was leaving there. Not that she was leaving a perfect life in the centre, but it was much better than in the village. She did not have to work hard for a plate of food. At least she had a bed to sleep in unlike in the village where she was sleeping on the floor with one blanket. She had shoes that she prayed for. At least she was in a safer place.
The matron became a thorn in her neck though. She put more interest in all her moves. She would scolded her even for minor mistakes. Every time she had to be careful of everything she did. As for the letter and the photos the matron took, she did not get them back. The fact the matron kept asking her questions about her while she was keeping the letter was a matter of concern itself, but there was nothing she could do. She kept holding thumbs so that whatever the matron was up to would not change her living arrangements. She did not to go back to her old life again. She prayed everyday for God to make the matron to stop being on her case. That was the kind of life she lived after the tournament. She was determined to do right by everyone who was in charge of the centre because she did not know what could put her in trouble.