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Tuesday 28 July 2020

Arrival in Cape Town

Leandra dreamed her way through the long trip and soon the rolling fields started to make way for houses. The houses became more clustered and if she looked out the one window the houses became more dilapidated and closer together. The other side of the bus showed simple houses with quite a bit of ground around them most were fenced off in an attempt to create a bit of privacy for the occupants.

As she glanced out at the squatter camp on the other side her eye was caught by bright colours as every now and then someone had tried to uplift their surroundings, a couple of the shacks had some artistic graffiti giving that shack some individuality. One thing that puzzled her was that almost every shack had a satellite dish. She pondered how the people could afford satellite and then she saw some spanking new cars scattered amongst the ghosts of cars past. Some people had strange priorities.

Soon she was at the bus terminus waiting to grab her meagre luggage as it was unloaded from the luggage compartment of the bus. It was good to stretch her legs. She stood for a few moments wondering “What next?”

She didn’t know anyone in Cape Town so had not made arrangements to be fetched. She had booked herself into a Clifton B&B temporally until she got her feet firmly set on her career path when she could upgrade her situation. Her new firm seemed to be fairly close to the B&B.

As she stood breathing in the clean Cape Town air she murmured “Ah 2020! What have you got in store for me?”

She remembered the New Year celebrations where everyone was cheering it in as it seemed to offer such great potential – 2020 eyesight etc.

The driver nudged her out of her reverie and asked if she was sorted. “Do you have someone coming to fetch you?” she asked.

“Um… No!” replied Leandra. “I suppose I should phone an Uber or something.”

“No need,” said the driver as she waved her hand in the air. “A few drivers wait around the bus station in the hopes of getting a fare. I’ve called over my cousin. He is trustworthy and won’t take advantage of a stranger to the city.”

Just then an old, sparkling clean Volksie pulled up driven by a smiling, open faced guy.

“Hi Marvin!” said the driver. “Look after this passenger of mine please.”

With that the driver turned to Leandra and said “My name is Margaret. Here is my card and here is Marvin’s card. If he gives you any sass phone me! But I know he won’t. I’d suggest that you get him to help you out until you get used to the city. Welcome to the Mother City.”

Giving Leandra a huge smile Margaret slammed the luggage compartment closed and made her way back to the bus.

Leandra turned back to Marvin who was hefting her luggage into the car’s boot before turning back to her and asking “Now where to Mam?”

Leandra gave him the piece of paper which had her new address, climbed into the back seat, breathed a deep breath as she thought “Now the bridges are burnt but there are new ones for me to cross.” She settled back into the seat as Marvin slid into the driver’s seat, started the car and drove out of the parking space.

© Vera Alexander.

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