Read Online Being Celeste by Tshetsana Senau - Free Book Online Page A

squeezed in the middle of the back seat, were just going at it, the
topic. Some were against the poor manager being fired and others were just
outraged by the team’s downfall to even care about someone losing their job.
The man sitting on my left even almost poked my eye at one point, expressing
his views with his hands. He was the one angry about the poor
performance. By the time I arrived and got out of the taxi, all squeezed up,
I’m pretty sure I knew all the stats of the very famous team and how the game
went during the weekend. My clear mind had soaked it all up. Another reason why
I should be driving the antique my mother calls a car.
    I got a sense of normalcy when I spotted
Kate through the store window, packing away some files into a cabinet behind
her beloved counter. She’s organising as usual and she’s in...brown today? I
thought brown was the colour for Thursday. I can’t wait to hear all about it. I
flung the doors wide open and made a grand entrance. Okay, maybe I didn’t put
as much energy into it. I merely used the last strength I had left in my
muscles to force the door open, and hauled myself into the shop.
    Kate giggled when she saw me. “ That bad, huh?” she said, followed by yet another giggle.
    “No, it was fantastic!” I replied. I don’t
get why me being in critical pain is so funny.
    “I’m wearing brown today because I’ve
decided to shuffle up the colours this week. It’s part of me being
spontaneous.” Kate looked very satisfied with herself.
    After hearing her reason, which by the way,
I hadn’t asked for yet, I guess she just couldn’t wait to explain to me why she
was wearing all brown today instead of all blue. Anyway, I kept on reminding
myself that this would be over soon, as soon as the entry form arrived and
someone decided to give her a fashion rescue. Let her see the light from her
transgressions.
    I told Kate about the phekolo this
weekend. Of course she has no problem with watching the shop alone. She even
thought it’s going to be fun, with me surrounded my close relatives and
catching up.
    “It’s such a shame that we are going to
miss girl’s night out,” she said, helping me fold tops on sale.
    “I know. It’s taking so much from our
schedule. At least my sister will be there to help take the weight off hanging
out with mum and dad.” My arms were so stiff from the morning workout, I could
barely fold anything.
    “We can always have girls night’s out on
the Sunday.”
    “Yeah, like mum is going to agree to
borrowing me her car on Sunday night,” I said, leaning against the table. “Do
you mind if I sit, I think I’m about to pass out.”
    “Are you alright?” said Kate looking rather
worried.
    I was still sweating, despite the
cold atmosphere and the fact that it had been an hour since I’d retired from
the gym. And I felt a little queasy. I told Trevor, my trainer, that I felt
like puking after my stint on the treadmill, and he said it was normal for
someone who was out of shape. In fact, he said that it was a good sign. Do you
think he has something against me? He’s trying to kill me.
    “All of a sudden, I don’t feel so good.”
    “You don’t look it either,” said Kate,
rushing over to my side.
    I was sitting on a stool where people sit
when they fit their shoes. I’m dying. You know how you can do almost anything when you’re feeling sick? Maybe it’s because your mental state is a little off.
Anyway, at that moment, I found it appropriate for me to get on my knees. I
dropped from the stool, onto my knees thinking that it would make me feel
better. Maybe I was overreacting, I don’t know. It was rather strange...I’m
sure I heard Kate call it out?
    “Why are you on your knees, Celeste?” she
asked, helping me up back to the stool.
    I was still sweating, but my symptoms were
alleviating. I was starting to feel a little light. “Just give me a minute to
compose myself,” I murmured. Too much exercise for day one? I don’t