Chameleon

“Kwenzeka ntoni?!” “What’s happening?!”

The match perforated Bulelwa's ear and grandma came in running, Bulelwa began crying with blood running from her head.

The kids were laughing and playing around with the matches

Grandma patched up Bulelwa's ear and made sure to stop the bleeding, but the kids continued to cry. Grandma finished and then...

Grandma whipped out a belt and whooped Bulelwa and Mlungisi, she didn't touch Noah

Later that night Trevor's mother gets back home from work and found Bulelwa and grandma in the kitchen, crying.

What's going on?

Oh, Nombuyiselo, Trevor is so naughty. He’s the naughtiest child I’ve ever come across in my life.

Then you should hit him.

I can't him him.

Because I don’t know how to hit a white child. A black child, I understand. A black child, you hit them and they stay black. Trevor, when you hit him he turns blue and green and yellow and red. I’ve never seen those colors before. I’m scared I’m going to break him. I don’t want to kill a white person. I’m so afraid. I'm not going to touch him.

Why not?

Trevor's grandma never hit him.