I walked past the Rastafarian beggar on the street, her wares laid out in front her. "Please sister, score us a fiver there."
My heart bled at the sight of her ragged clothes, bare feet and thin, worn face. "Sure, babes. Here we go." I handed her a five rand coin. Our hands touched for the slightest moment and I felt her rough, cold skin on mine. I looked into her eyes and saw only hopelessness.
I carried on walking down the street towards my large, silver Mercedes, and drove home, lost in thought.
I woke up in a fright; cold, stiff and disorientated. I pulled my newspaper over me for warmth, but no luck. I shoved my sister off my side of our makeshift cardboard-box-bed, and shuffled out of the alley. The morning commuters were beginning to make their way down the busy streets, takeout coffees steaming in the icy winter's air.
"Please madam, spare us a coin there." I approached a woman with her child in tow.
"No, tsek. Get away from me," she spat at me. I gazed after her, hurt.
I went back to my sister, Lena. "Sussie, I'm hungry," she said softly.
"I know, girlie, I know. We will get something to eat now." I wondered when. I watched as Old Paulie tried to steal Aunty Margot's money out of her bra while she slept. She swatted him away with her hand and readjusted herself to be more comfortable.
I stood outside the Woolworths Cafe, waiting for the expired items to be handed out. I hastily grabbed two sandwiches before anyone else could get to them. I walked briskly back to my sister.
"Sussie, look what I have for you," I said excitedly to my sister. "They're not even that stale."
We devoured the sandwiches rapidly.
I sat on the dirty ground, my tarpaulin spread in front of me. I had all my handmade bracelets and necklaces laid out in front of me. I made them from old bottle tops, pieces of smooth glass and anything else I found lying around.
I watched as the pretty blonde woman climbed out of her silver Mercedes. Bianca, her name was. She always chatted me and sometimes bought me food and gave me the occasional spare change. She wore big black sunglasses today.
"Hello lady. Hoegandit vandag?"* How is it going today?
She walked towards me with a bottle of Coke and a small chocolate. "These are for you, Abby." She handed me the cooldrinks, wincing as she bent.
"Thank you, thank you, Bianca," I said to her. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing, babes. Don't stress."
I noticed that she had a lot of makeup on. More than usual. "No, what happened?" I insisted.
"Robbie lost his temper again," she sheepishly shrugged, trying to pull her scarf straight. I saw straight away the swollen up eye behind the glasses, and the blue marks on her neck. "That man is a rubbish! Leave him, sister."
She looked me in the eye, and all I saw was hopelessness.
