GETTING TO KNOW EDDIE
EVERY one of Marita’s boyfriends is worse than the last,” Harriet sighed.
“You brought home a few frogs in your time,” her mom said, smiling.
“Did I? But this new boy of hers – Eddie! He’s completely unsuitable. His hairstyle. His clothes. His acne. He’s already left school and apparently does odd-job painting for a living.”
“How old is he?”
“Nineteen, I think. And Marita’s only 17, Mom. She says his green hair is ‘just so cool’.
“Hmm. And do you remember Roddie Venter? The boy you went to the Matric dance with?”
“Who, Roddie? Oh, yes. Well, he’s an insurance agent these days.”
Her mom was silent. “Roddie was a nice boy,” Harriet replied. “You liked him, Mom, you said so at the time.”
“Once I’d got past the hyena giggle and the scruffy T-shirts
