A coloured boy in his teens runs with zest and purpose in every stride, doing the hundred meter dash over an area which is much closer to three hundred meters. He runs ducking and darting through the thicket of bodies that make their way up and down the busy street. His mind is bubbling with the thought of telling the boys about his first sexual experience. This is what he needs to gain their respect and validation.
This is his first giant step into their world and acceptance is on the horizon.
Set predominantly on the stairs outside the local hang out - the public swimming pool with its frayed Grecian style look is perfect for Kelvin’s big reveal to the gang. This is their turf. ‘Ek het genaai!’ ( I got laid) Kelvin blurts out having got their attention. Lira the only girl in the group, exposes a truth Kelvin is not willing to accept. She accuses him of being a faggot because his girlfriend Yolanda is actually a boy.
Kelvin's gloating is reduced to squeamish embarrassment as the boys begin to laugh and make fun of him. His world is sent into a tailspin and he begins to lie and exaggerate about what happened in the park. He only had a blow job but the boys don’t need to know that. Kelvin didn’t see much but in his mind there’s no reason not to believe Yolanda is for real. The menacing ring leader, Brian, instructs Kelvin to bring Yolanda to the pool on Saturday. Immediately Kelvin knows what that means. The boys have a peep hole looking into the girls change rooms and Yolanda would to be the girl of the moment.
When Yolanda and Kelvin meet the next day, he tells her about the boys plan and how she needs to play along to prove that she really is a girl.
After much pleading, Yolanda breaks the news to Kelvin that she is a woman trapped in a man’s body. He is mortified. Teeming with rage he realizes he will never be able to walk the streets of this kasi (town) again. More worried about her own reputation than feeling sorry for Kelvin, she tells him she will make a plan. With no willingness to hear what she has to say and expecting the worst, Kelvin runs off into the street.
The outcome of Yolanda’s plan comes as a total surprise. This could very well gain him the respect and acceptance he so desperately wanted from his peers.
