the white cab waited – engine running. stooping, he hugged her warmly. at 07:30 in the morning, she smelt of freshly plucked roses. she is seventy-two. he is forty-two. “how is she?” she moved her head from side to side. “resting.” her belgian accent quite strong. she looked into his eyes – warmly. he was returning home for six weeks. “remain positive.” she reminded him. he looked into her eyes and the butterflies fluttered in his heart. “take good care of yourself.” her eyes mirrored his own thoughts and feelings. she stroked his cheek. “bring you back to me as you leave me today.” they hugged again. she kissed him on the neck. he pressed her to him. both of them trembling. she opened the gate, and he stepped through it, ashamed to look back. her heart mirrored his shame. soon as he touched down in gaborone he texted her. “arrived safely. glad i met you.” her response was as if typed the moment he left her. “same here, handsome. my daughter said ‘you’ll love the tall chinaman’ she was right.” he smiled in recollection of the joke about his post-chemo complexion. he shut his eyes – memories of the three days of laughter in her daughter’s guest house for cancer patients came flodding back. “you take care of her.” he tapped on his phone as he waited for her response. “i will. she says to tell you not to forget your medications.” his eyes gave in to his shame – and sweet tears raced down his cheeks.
September 7, 2016 at 17:00
You’re going to get tired of seeing my face on post. But, I love these writings always a pleasure to read.
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September 7, 2016 at 17:02
can never get tired of seeing your face. it’s always a pleasure to read your thoughts on my posts.
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September 7, 2016 at 17:06
That is nice of you. This was a lovely story
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September 7, 2016 at 17:12
thank you!
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September 7, 2016 at 17:19
You’re welcome sweetness
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September 7, 2016 at 18:01
Skin color/ pigmentation / racism as it determines a huge part of human vision…..nice analogy with post chemo pigmentation ….easier to say some truths slanted .
Nuanced ….Nice moving post.
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September 7, 2016 at 18:40
well thank you. this story isn’t about me but i get teased a lot about my complexion and chinaman is mentioned quite often. in fact, in some parts of nigeria and most of botswana a light skinned person is referred to as ‘chinese’
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September 7, 2016 at 19:26
I have been reading Patience Agbabi recently , it was quite a revelation. Thanks for explaining the nuances , I was sensing yet not fully getting. Finally it is a sense of being an outsider and a sense of shame for not belonging……that is poignant here.
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September 7, 2016 at 19:31
i like her works too. my favorite is ‘Bloodshot Monochrome’. didn’t think it was possible for you to score more points with me. impressed.
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September 7, 2016 at 19:54
regarding the shame – it works in two levels. first, the use of chinaman doesn’t take away the fact that he was accepted into the family – hence the three days of laughter. on a second level – his shame was not breaking down in tears. in spite of the live he feels for her daughter and herself – he must remain brave. her shame is not showing she didn’t want him to go. she has come to regard him as family.
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September 12, 2016 at 06:40
In my time of trying to forget about my eye problems. I read this again. My grandmother called me a white man’s baby, because I am light skinned. My mother is native American Cuban and columbian she is a light brown skin. My father is black very dark skinned. My grandmother who is my father’s mother she is a light brown. Funny and crazy how she doesn’t think I am his due to me being light skinned But, my brother is dark like my father my sister brown like my mother. I am the light than them all but yet out of me and my siblings i look exactly like my father i am just lighter.This story made me think of it.
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September 12, 2016 at 08:21
Some people say crazy things. I like the way the story compliments his complexion. The was very captivating helped ease my mind from it’s worries
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September 12, 2016 at 09:01
true. it’s the one invaluable lesson my parents taught me.
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September 12, 2016 at 09:20
nice lesson. don’t ever forget that.
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September 12, 2016 at 13:02
I won’t
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September 13, 2016 at 14:42
all the best for today, Morgan.
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September 13, 2016 at 14:57
Thank you
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