She sighs.
Her hand reaches for my face.
It was trembling.
She puts it to my right cheek.
Gently caressing her fingers across the deep scratches.
I put my hand on top of hers.
She smiles.
But she hides her beautiful teeth.
“Are you okay?”
I ask.
I caressed her hand softly.
“Yes, Sher.”
Beautiful white teeth.
“I’m perfect.”
She looks up at the steps.
There were literally a thousand.
We counted them once.
Yes.
I remember.
I found that strange.
I don’t know how to explain.
It was like we just arrived.
But also like we have been here before.
We.
“Let’s get this step climbing over with.”
Nia interrupts my thoughts.
She stares at me.
Then back at the steps.
“I think you’ll have to piggy-back me most of the way.”
She laughs.
“Anything for you, sweetpea.”
The vygies start cheering excitedly.
“Go go Nia go! Go go Nia go!”
iii
WORLD CUP: United For Africa - Making it Last
• by Nastasya Tay (johannesburg)
• Tuesday, June 22, 2010
• Inter Press Service
Perhaps Africa's World Cup began in earnest on Jun. 16, when a despondent green and gold-clad crowd began leaving the Loftus Versfeld stadium even before the end of South Africa's heavy defeat to Uruguay. Migrant African fans felt the first touch of cold post-tournament reality.
Colombia’s election rival: the World Cup
BOGOTA, Colombia — Will the beautiful game give a bicycle kick to Colombia’s democracy?
https://www.globalpost.com/notebook/colombia/100610/colombia%E2%80%99s-election-rival-the-world-cup
************************************************************
You're a good soldier
Choosing your battles
Pick yourself up
And dust yourself off
And back in the saddle
From Waka Waka by Shakira
*************************************************************
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
16:45
At home.
The smell of something burning woke me up.
It was coming from the kitchen.
Mommy had fallen asleep on the couch with The Sun on her lap.
The stove was still on.
It was the rice.
I quickly took it off and went to dump the rice in the bin outside.
Mom was still sleeping when I returned to the kitchen.
I washed the pot.
Filled it with water and put it back on the stove.
I put the plate to high and went into the lounge.
Took the newspaper from Mommy’s lap.
Scanned it over quick then back at Mommy.
She must be tired from the previous night.
Or should I say the early hours of this morning.
Mom was really grey at the roots.
Why she still wanted to dye it brown, I didn’t know.
Some people just don’t want to grow old.
Thank God mom had finally stopped dating.
I don’t know what happened to Jerry, but I never saw him after that day that Mommy got hurt.
The day that Anubis was killed.
I looked at Mommy’s hanging face.
It really wasn’t something nice to behold.
Sad sort of.
I put the newspaper down and went to throw rice in the pot.
It was now nearly 17:00.
Darn.
I forgot.
Thurston was coming around.
We were going to one of the fan parks to watch the World Cup match.
Spain vs Portugal.
Thurston was a big Spain supporter.
But I guess he’d be torn in two tonight.
Ronaldo was one of his favourite players.
I put the stove low and quickly disappeared into the bathroom.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror as I washed my face.
I had cut myself shaving.
I remembered the dream.
Yes.
I was in some building.
Almost like.
A castle.
Yes.
Nia.
I felt suddenly sad.
The dream came back to me in flashes.
Did she really say all those cruel things to me?
My headache started to pound again.
My chest on fire.
Oh, Lord.
What must I do to make it stop?
Please.
Make it stop.
iii
I went to the back yard.
The flowers of the plants were all closed.
The sun was starting to go down.
Perhaps we’d get a glimpse of the moon tonight.
Strange.
I suddenly remembered something.
The dream I had.
That was Saturday.
26th June.
That was the night I dreamt of the wolf.
I was in that dark place.
Nia was there too.
Yes.
More and more flashes came to my mind.
Can it be?
Nia’s call?
The lunar eclipse.
Was it all just coincidence?
She would never have called me if it wasn’t important.
I mean.
She is the one that said she never wanted to see me again.
So.
It bothered me.
It was starting to happen more and more.
The nightmares.
Always the same.
Him.
Of course.
The Castle.
What did it all mean?
What about the black wolf I dreamt about that Saturday?
He looked strangely familiar, but it was only a dream.
After all.
I decided to simply forget about it.
I should do as Mommy said.
Simply forget about Nia.
It was the only way that I would be able to move on.
I went to the bathroom again.
Looked at my reflection in the mirror.
Handsome devil.
Oh yeah.
You’re on fi-ya.
Uhm.
iv
“I hope you don’t mind that I asked Simoné along?”
I can’t believe the words that were coming from Thurston’s mouth.
I immediately put my hand to the door handle.
I told you.
Uhm.
You’re on fi-ya.
“Melissa is joining us. Didn’t want you to feel like the third wheel.”
Thurston.
He always had my back.
But Simoné.
“I’m not so sure, man. I suddenly don’t feel too good.”
Thurston laughed out loud.
“I’m not kidding. Rather take me home.”
I panicked.
What if she finds out?
Uhm.
Uhm uhm uhm.
You’re on fi-ya.
“Sherwin, Relax.”
Thurston didn’t slow down.
“You know you like her. You know she likes you. Any guy would kill to be with her. She wants you. You have it all on a platter. Don’t be a fool.”
“What do you mean she likes me?”
I asked.
He looked at me.
Idiot written all over his face.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing. That’s just you. Blind to what is right in front of your eyes.?
??
Thurston and his big brother speeches.
“Do you remember that time you told me about the first time you were apparently forced to play spin the bottle with her and her friends.”
He puts his hands into the air.
As if to say that he didn’t believe the fact that I didn’t want to play.
Still with that old story.
He believed that.
That I was uncomfortable playing.
But he was insinuating that I wanted to.
Because of Simoné.
Because I secretly wanted to kiss her.
That was true.
I did.
I remember that day well.
It was during that December holiday of 1990.
That was the best holiday of my life.
The saddest too.
Uhm.
We played spin-the-bottle of course.
It was my turn to spin.
Uhm.
Umf.
The bottle stopped.
It was pointed right at Simoné.
I swear.
I didn’t force it to do that.
It just stopped.
And pointed straight at Simoné.
I could feel my cheeks go warm.
Natasha Jantjies started singing.
Sherwynne and Simoné.
Sitting in a tree.
K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
I looked awkwardly up.
Simoné was smiling broadly.
She then closes her mouth and bites her lower lip.
Her eyes suddenly different.
I wasn’t going to chicken out.
Not now.
I was nervous though.
I walked over to Simoné.
Went on one knee.
I remember well what Daddy taught me.
A lady must be treated as a lady.
You may never take advantage.
You must let her make the move.
I took Simoné’s hand in mine and kissed it softly.
She made a slight gushing noise.
She giggled.
Then she just sighed.
As if her eyes were suddenly longing.
Longing for more.
I blushed and went back to my spot.
Simoné looked strange.
Not disappointed.
Like she was not really here anymore.
With us.
Uhm.
“What about it?”
I asked.
Not sure where this was heading.
“I am going to tell you something I have never told you.”
Thurston was sure being serious.
“Whenever you tell that story, you’re eyes change. It goes yellow.”
I looked at Thurston.
Was he drinking?
Maybe he shouldn’t be driving.
Too much lemonade.
Same as Simoné.
“It’s true. It goes yellow all around your irises.”
He didn’t seem to be debating with me.
He was saying it matter of fact.
The Spanish flag flew proud on Thurston’s right cheek.
Portugal on the left.
I was sure he was torn in two.
Ha-ha-ha.
But let go of Spain he simply couldn’t.
The name on his forehead said it all.
Piquenbauer.
Uhm.
I was sure Thurston and I were both torn in two.
Yes.
Oh, Lord.
What must I do.
v
Nia starts up the steps.
Me right beside her.
The guineafowl chi-chi’s and the whole gathering seem to salute.
Nia gushes and tippy-toes further up the steps.
“Wow, Sherwin!”
Nia holds onto the side of the wall and looks at the mermaid that dives quickly into the water.
It swims fast, staying close to the surface till it completely disappears into the dark depths.
“Was that real,” Nia asks astonished.
“It looked almost like the…”
Nia points.
“Yes. Like that!”
She points at the mermaid fountain.
I couldn’t be sure what I was seeing.
One minute the mermaid seemed to move.
Be actual flesh and blood.
Then suddenly stone.
Again as if she was trapped in stone.
Nia tippy toes along.
“It doesn’t feel like I am climbing stairs at all. It’s strange,” Nia says, as she takes another step.
“You are actually only walking straight.”
I say as we are now able to get an aerial view of the gathering.
There sure were strange creatures here.
I couldn’t be sure which were human and which were not.
Again.
Most of them had only vacant expressions.
Only seems to be staring me down.
Nia gushes as she sees the flowers.
She sure loved those scarlet pig faces.
“What do you mean, Sher?”
She asks and takes a coin, from a frog sitting on the sidewall, and throws it into the jukebox.
“My Fair Lady.”
The frog says in a very high thin voice.
It certainly didn’t fit the bulky body.
Nia didn’t seem to notice.
She selects a song.
“Hotel California.”
She sings along.
We were right at Nia’s Lane.
She’d come here and listen to her music.
She said music is her life.
All part of the parlour queen thing.
She imagined she’d be up on Broadway someday.
Maybe in Vegas like Celine.
That’s why she up and left with The Catch and his cousin Honeybuns to America.
Their gig didn’t work out though.
Thank goodness Nia had the sense to come back home.
Those two remained.
I’m never sure what happened to them.
America is the land of opportunity.
So who knows.
Nia’s Lane was located near the entrance to The Castle.
Nia stares out in wonder at all the jukeboxes seeming to just float in the air.
We had one in the tiny cabin.
Nia liked antique things.
She got that one at a very steep price on e-bay.
Uhm.
Umf.
My Nia sure loved her music.
I look at her as she tippy-toes further up the steps.
“The steps are actually lifting you up. Almost like an escalator. Only it is in tune with your steps.”
I didn’t exactly know how it worked.
But it did.
It also took you to places.
Closer.
Allowed you to see them from above and up close.
You could however not go there.
Only observe.
Climbing the stairs, it remained though.
Each one higher up.
Ever closer to Nia’s Castle.
She had been here before, I remember.
But I was not sure whether she remembers.
I can’t remember what exactly happened here, but I had a bad feeling about it.
Perhaps it was only because I was not sure where he could pop up next.
And.
The Dark could be anywhere at any time.
I looked around as we were nearing the entrance.
Nia tippy-toes and smiles broadly at me.
She sure looks happy.
Not once had she taken her pills.
I found that strange.
What was happening?
“Come, Sher.” Nia grabs my hand as we take the last step.
We run straight to the front door.
He was waiting for us.
Uhm.
vi
“M
y Lady,” he says.
Then looks at me.
His face hard.
He glares.
Uhm.
Not the soft, happy face he shared with Nia only seconds ago.
He seems to tug at his sword.
Then he looks back at Nia.
“I must insist, My Lady, that he be removed.”
He starts pacing around.
“I can’t protect you while he is about.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
Who did he think he was?
Old Lancelot.
I should have known he’d show his face.
I wanted to start talking when.
“And that bird should refrain from entering the kitchen. If you’d follow me, I’d show you what he got up to. My Lady.”
He bows.
Then immediately starts walking in the direction of the kitchen.
I presumed.
Nia simply tippy-toes along.
She smiles at me.
As if she was enjoying being around him.
Umf.
I follow them.
Didn’t like what I was seeing one bit.
Was he real?
Must be if he was here.
Was Nia doing this?
Something was not right.
No.
Something was definitely not right.
We enter the kitchen.
He paces up and down.
As if to say do you see anything.
I look around.
Feathers were all over the place.
One guess who those belonged to.
Before any of us could say anything.
“Chi-chi-chi-chi!”
*Chi-chi-chi-chi*
He runs hysterically into the kitchen.
Shedding feathers as it slips on the floor.
It seems annoyed to be here, but also like it has no choice.
He walks over to the chef.
“Chi-chi chi-chi-chi!”
*Chi-chi chi-chi-chi!*
It sheds more feathers and walks out of the kitchen.
It was as if it didn’t even notice us standing here.
I walk over to the chef.
Shortly behind Nia and Lancelot.
I understood.
It came to make sure that the chef didn’t ruin the queen’s supper.
Umf.
I started laughing immediately when I saw it.
The eisbein being roasted.
The chef kept turning at every shout it gave.
The chef looked human enough.
Again though.
Only the vacant expression.
I wondered if Nia saw them the same.
Probably not.
Utopia appeared different to her.
That much I had been able to figure out.
“I want to be crispy-crispy!”
The eisbein shouted.
Its voice was hard to make out as it was turned more and more.
“If my queen as much as hints with those beautiful eyes of hers that she is not absolutely satisfied with me, I’ll come and roast you myself!”
It shouts.
“Crispy and tender!”
Nia looks at the eisbein in wonder.
Doe eyes.
Taken.
Taken by this thing meant for her to eat.
I wondered if she would have the heart to.
Would it then not see that as disappointment?
Supper was going to be full of surprises.
Of that much I was sure.
Umf.
Lancelot shakes his head and walks out of the kitchen.
Nia sighs then tippy-toes behind him.
“Crispy-crispy-crispy!”
The eisbein.
It reminded me of those socks.