and hit the shower. It felt absolutely wonderful to wash off
the past day or so. Then I jumped into the oversized pants and
shirt that looked like Alex’s. Not that I minded, I was only too
thankful.
Before I closed
the door of the cabin, the two empty seats in front of the
fireplace caught my eye. A feeling of tenderness came over me as I
thought about Alex. This cabin would always be special to me. Not
only because of the surroundings, but because it was where I had
found a few rays of light in the dark.
It was strange
to climb into the driver’s seat of Alex’s car. I wasn’t used to all
the luxuries on the inside and took a moment to figure out what was
what. Eventually, with the seat and mirrors adjusted, I slowly took
off. It was nerve-testing driving Alex’s fancy car to my parents
using a GPS on an unfamiliar road. I held my breath for most of the
way. Luckily the road wasn’t busy; I guess it was too early.
***
Chapter 7 –
Red-hot poker
A red-hot poker is a flower, also called a flameflower,
rocket flower or a soldier flower in Afrikaans. In appearance it
resembles a rocket, flame and soldier for its shape and
colour.
I was half an
hour from home according to the GPS when I noticed two black
Mercedes Benz behind me. Their windows were darkened and I couldn’t
make out any figures inside.
Initially I
didn’t mind them much. I switched on the radio and a Locnville CD
suddenly played very loudly. I was impressed with Alex’s taste. I
started to sing along but stopped almost immediately because my
head was pounding and my tongue was super-glued to my palate. Out
of shock I turned the music down a little.
When the second
song ended, the Mercs were still behind me, close behind me, in
spite of the two turns that I had taken. It was a little odd that
they were still there; it made me uncomfortable. The image of a
high speed chase danced in front of me for a moment, but it seemed
too reckless.
I remembered
that there was a small road café just a little further down the
road. It would be a safe option to test my growing suspicion that
they were following me, as it was a busy café.
My palms were
sweaty as I approached the turnoff. I’d have to do it so that they
either could not follow me or couldn’t get me alone if they did
follow me. At least I didn’t feel as uncertain behind the wheel now
as when I had left this morning.
The turn that I
took was sharp and sudden, without using my indicators. The wheels
left an impressive cloud of dust behind as they hit the gravel.
Then I had to step hard on the brakes to slow down as I quickly
approached an old Toyota Hilux in the parking lot. While all this
was happening I kept one eye on the Mercs. Luckily, they continued
at speed without turning off. I breathed a sigh of relief, writing
the whole incident off to an overactive imagination.
It was only
when I reached the till to pay for an aspirin and a litre of water
that I remembered that I had no money on me. I had walked out of my
parents’ home without taking my phone or my wallet. But it didn’t
really matter as I was close to home, so I apologised and left the
stuff on the counter. I walked out, got into Alex’s car again and
slowly drove on.
It was midday,
according to the clock in the car, when I turned into our familiar
driveway. The front door was locked and no one answered the bell.
After waiting a bit and peeking through the open windows, I walked
round to the back door, and tried that. But it was locked as well.
I called for a time or so, but there was no response. It wasn’t
like my parents to be away on a Sunday, except for church. But
church usually ended around eleven o’clock.
They used to
hide the spare key in the soil of the marigold flower bowl when I
was still in school. Sure enough, I found it easily and opened the
back door. As soon as I was in, I took off my shoes. My feet were
blistered and hurting from the long walk the other day. Then I went
to my bedroom to get my phone.
the past day or so. Then I jumped into the oversized pants and
shirt that looked like Alex’s. Not that I minded, I was only too
thankful.
Before I closed
the door of the cabin, the two empty seats in front of the
fireplace caught my eye. A feeling of tenderness came over me as I
thought about Alex. This cabin would always be special to me. Not
only because of the surroundings, but because it was where I had
found a few rays of light in the dark.
It was strange
to climb into the driver’s seat of Alex’s car. I wasn’t used to all
the luxuries on the inside and took a moment to figure out what was
what. Eventually, with the seat and mirrors adjusted, I slowly took
off. It was nerve-testing driving Alex’s fancy car to my parents
using a GPS on an unfamiliar road. I held my breath for most of the
way. Luckily the road wasn’t busy; I guess it was too early.
***
Chapter 7 –
Red-hot poker
A red-hot poker is a flower, also called a flameflower,
rocket flower or a soldier flower in Afrikaans. In appearance it
resembles a rocket, flame and soldier for its shape and
colour.
I was half an
hour from home according to the GPS when I noticed two black
Mercedes Benz behind me. Their windows were darkened and I couldn’t
make out any figures inside.
Initially I
didn’t mind them much. I switched on the radio and a Locnville CD
suddenly played very loudly. I was impressed with Alex’s taste. I
started to sing along but stopped almost immediately because my
head was pounding and my tongue was super-glued to my palate. Out
of shock I turned the music down a little.
When the second
song ended, the Mercs were still behind me, close behind me, in
spite of the two turns that I had taken. It was a little odd that
they were still there; it made me uncomfortable. The image of a
high speed chase danced in front of me for a moment, but it seemed
too reckless.
I remembered
that there was a small road café just a little further down the
road. It would be a safe option to test my growing suspicion that
they were following me, as it was a busy café.
My palms were
sweaty as I approached the turnoff. I’d have to do it so that they
either could not follow me or couldn’t get me alone if they did
follow me. At least I didn’t feel as uncertain behind the wheel now
as when I had left this morning.
The turn that I
took was sharp and sudden, without using my indicators. The wheels
left an impressive cloud of dust behind as they hit the gravel.
Then I had to step hard on the brakes to slow down as I quickly
approached an old Toyota Hilux in the parking lot. While all this
was happening I kept one eye on the Mercs. Luckily, they continued
at speed without turning off. I breathed a sigh of relief, writing
the whole incident off to an overactive imagination.
It was only
when I reached the till to pay for an aspirin and a litre of water
that I remembered that I had no money on me. I had walked out of my
parents’ home without taking my phone or my wallet. But it didn’t
really matter as I was close to home, so I apologised and left the
stuff on the counter. I walked out, got into Alex’s car again and
slowly drove on.
It was midday,
according to the clock in the car, when I turned into our familiar
driveway. The front door was locked and no one answered the bell.
After waiting a bit and peeking through the open windows, I walked
round to the back door, and tried that. But it was locked as well.
I called for a time or so, but there was no response. It wasn’t
like my parents to be away on a Sunday, except for church. But
church usually ended around eleven o’clock.
They used to
hide the spare key in the soil of the marigold flower bowl when I
was still in school. Sure enough, I found it easily and opened the
back door. As soon as I was in, I took off my shoes. My feet were
blistered and hurting from the long walk the other day. Then I went
to my bedroom to get my phone.
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