Short Story
Why I hate Jane
By Tiyamike Kathewera

Jane. That’s the name of the girl I hate most in the world. Or is the word hate too strong? Only if you knew how I feel about this girl would you change your thinking.

See, anytime, any day and everywhere I don’t want to hear that name especially if it’s the Jane I am talking about. To me she is the devil personified. Oh! You are wondering. I know. I haven’t told you what tort this girl committed.

Let’s go five years back. Jane and I used to live in the same neighbourhood. Actually she had just moved in. I was 17 at the time, she was 16. I can’t deny now, I was attracted to her. Who wouldn’t? The girl was excessively beautiful.

The first day I had a real encounter with her I was coming from football training. You know how kids in the shanty towns of our society do. “Hi!” I started, “hi” she replied. It was a low tone. “Ah, mhmh, so… you live around here right?” I asked though I already knew the answer. “You mean you don’t see me around here or what… are you serious?” she asked. Her voice was a little bit louder this time around. “Oh! Its you… I forgot…. So what’s your name?” I asked though I also already knew her name. “I have to go, my mum is waiting for me.” Before she could finish that she had already left.

My friends behind started to laugh. It was obvious. They were laughing at me. To tell the truth I was the least talented in our group when it came to issues of approaching girls. Nevertheless, it seemed I was the guy most interested in girls in that same group.

The next time I met Jane I was more composed. She laughed off my insistence that I didn’t know her name. She told me anyway. As time went on we became close and closer. She came to my place often just as I did at hers. I could tell her mum liked me, as a friend to her daughter of course. Especially that I was helping her Jane in Maths and Biology – subjects that she didn’t do well in class. Jane was in form three while I was in form four.




One day Jane came to my place. I was playing Mario. That video game kids in our time liked to play. “Can I play too?” she asked, “yes you can, here,” I gave her the pad. I watched her as she played the game, helped her when she asked me to, especially jumping over those deep holes.

As I helped her do one stunt our heads banged. Our eyes met. I didn’t doubt what I saw in them. We kissed passionately. She apologised for that but I kissed her, again. That was it. Jane was now my girlfriend. It was the envy of my friends. We promised to keep it between ourselves but who wouldn’t want his friends to know that Jane was his girlfriend.

We now started going to school together. I rarely went for training because I was spending much time with Jane. When I decided to go for training she usually escorted me. I could see my friends were jealous. I was deserting them. But don’t blame me. I was in love. I think Jane was in love too. At night I could compose poems for her. She liked them.

She was now my best friend. I could sense she was my soul mate too. There was nothing I couldn’t do for my Jane. I didn’t want her to get hurt, never.

Her mum must have noticed. Yes, that we were not just friends anymore. But I think she also approved of the relationship. There was nothing in me that she didn’t like I guess. I was intelligent, handsome, well mannered and intelligent. She always wanted the best for her Jane.

One day Jane and I decided to spend some quality time at a certain nature sanctuary. It was quiet that day, nobody around. We brought our food and drinks. It always felt good being alone with Jane away from the traumas of school and the like.

We kissed passionately as this was now common in our relationship. We were so used to it that we could even kiss in a minibus – so strange for kids our age I think. But it was just love.






She started touching me all over. I responded likewise. Before we knew it I was a virgin no more. It wasn’t her first time though. It was a wonderful experience anyway. I had no problem with my loss of virginity because I was convinced Jane was my wife, or would be my wife in the near future.

Two weeks later she called me at school. She sat on the door way of school hall. We started chatting. She asked me a question, “George, what if am pregnant?” I replied, “then I would be responsible.” That was it.

Some days or weeks later she visited me at my place. She was stunningly looking beautiful. We took a walk. She told me that she was pregnant, that she went to see a doctor. I was scared at the same time thrilled. I couldn’t take care of her of course. But she told me that her parents would. I was excited. I was going to be a father. But I also noticed that she wasn’t too happy.

Well time went on. We were out of secondary school. Just two three months before her delivery I received a letter. It was from Jane. I was always happy to receive letters from her. I started reading it. There was something strange. She didn’t address me in the normal way, “dear, honey, sweetheart.” The contents of the letter were also disturbing.

She wrote, “George, I was recently listening to some song and it said the truth sets you free. I haven’t been free for sometime. You are not responsible for the pregnancy. I tried to tell you all this while but I couldn’t. Thanks for all the love and things you did to me. I don’t think you would love me anymore. Am sorry but I guess you would find someone who loves just as you loved me. By the way, if the baby is male can I give him your name? It’s me, Jane.” She signed out.

I cried that day. All the love, the hope and affection had just gone to the drain. I thought I was loved but now you see, I was dancing with the devil all along. Now, do you see why I hate Jane that much?