‘Hell, I only asked for a dance,’ said Hilbert. ‘Anyway, why can’t we?’
‘Oh Kaffir,’ she sighed. It was a rejection but her eyes were shining at the music and almost unconsciously her body had started to sway to its surging beat.
‘Get your hands off her!’ Suddenly Hilbert was pushed savagely aside as Akkal Ali from year 12 came bursting out of the crowd of dancers.
‘Hey, what is this?’ demanded Hilbert. ‘What’s it got to do with you?’
‘She’s my sister!’
‘What?’ Hilbert turned back to Shamira. ‘Is this another one of yours?’
‘I said keep your hands off her!’ Akkal gave him another push.
‘And you keep your hands to yourself,’ said Hilbert getting cross. ‘I was only asking her for a dance.’
‘She does not want to dance with you!’ Akkal turned to his sister. ‘You, go home, now!’
‘Don’t you give me orders,’ she snapped back.
‘I said go home!’
‘You go home! I’ll do what I want!’ Shamira’s eyes blazed. ‘No one asked you to interfere, I’m going to have a dance with Hilbert.’
‘You are not!’ Akkal grabbed her by the wrist.
‘Here, steady on now,’ Hilbert said, pushing between them. ‘There’s no need for this.’ But the bigger year 12 boy turned and unleashed a punch with his free hand that just caught Hilbert and deposited him on his back on the dance floor.
But it seemed the quietest spot to be. The lights had come on and the music had stopped and everyone else in the room was shouting at the top of their voices. Godfrey had taken a flying leap from the stage and now had Akkal in a stranglehold while Shamira still shouted at him. The four teachers were all shouting only no one was paying them any attention, and Rayhima had appeared and was trying to get Shamira away from her brother.
There came a lull and Mr Rudge was there. He quietly got Godfrey to let go of Akkal before he choked and Akkal immediately turned back on his sister. But she obviously didn’t need any help from anyone for she let loose a slap that rang round the room and effortlessly shut everybody up.
‘You sod!’ she said in the sudden silence. ‘Why don’t you stay out of my life, all of you!’ She was so angry she was almost crying. ‘Hilbert was only talking to me.’
She went over to Hilbert who was still sitting on the floor, feeling along his teeth to see if they were all still there.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said quietly. ‘Are you alright?’
‘Me? Oh fine,’ he said. ‘I’m getting quite used to it. I get attacked at least once a day by one of your family.’
‘Let me help you up.’
‘No ta! I’ll stay down a bit thanks,’ he said. ‘Just in case you’ve got any more brothers hanging around.’ She very nearly smiled but she was still too upset. She bent down so no one else could hear her.
‘I really am sorry,’ she said. ‘Look, I’d better go or there will only be more trouble.’
‘Yeah,’ he said, finally getting shakily to his feet. ‘Look, do you think you could do me a favour?’
‘What?’
‘Will you stop calling me Hilbert?’
