15 August 2016, at 19:11
I had arrived 10 minutes early for my appointment. To get to my destination, a middle-aged white English man had helped me with the directions. An Indian-looking, chubby young man, wearing a yellow high-vis jacket, had directed me, his accent was very English. Finally, an Ivorian, well built young man walked with me to the Health Centre, in a deep voice he offered: “that’s my Doctor, let’s go – I’m going that way.”
The very cool air-con was blasting. I had been in the waiting room for around 10 minutes. She was with 2 white English ladies. They must have been my mother’s age, if not, just younger. One was pushing her in the wheelchair. They arrived just by the reception. Wearing a pair of owlish glasses, she was pointing and mumbling, very authoritatively.
“How can I help?” Offered the grinning Receptionist. A couple of seconds later, one of my mother’s age mates answered: ”two, ten, thirty-five”. By then, my attention was fully grabbed. Just after the smiley Receptionist had helped the English trio, I curiously asked: “did you say the second of October? That’s my birthday too!” They were smiling and one of the daughters joked: ’’but of course not the year!” I envied my new twin, I complimented her that only if I could reach her age. One daughter reminded me, she is 81 this year. “Ohh really! That’s my year of birth, and I will be 35 this year, her year of birth!” Just then the Physiotherapist shouted out my name, on my way to the Physio Room; I bowed, gave my ”twin” a hug, and thanked her for our brief encounter.
Today, I wish her a happy birthday.
Blessing Kgosi e tsile Kgasa 