Hw bout coffee @ KFC after wrk?
Zinhle had texted Simphiwe. She was trying everything to win Simphiwe back after what had happened between them. He had agreed that they might ‘try again’, but things were still tense.
Now all the delegates at the conference arrived early for their cooked breakfasts. Some liked soft fried eggs, others hard-boiled eggs, some preferred scrambled, and although Zinhle wrote their orders down, she sometimes got confused. Her mind was mostly focused on restoring her relationship with Simphiwe.
When people were in a hurry they complained about the food and the service.
“This bacon’s not been cooked long enough,” groaned a middle-aged man. “I like it crispy.”
“Your forgot my sausage,” said another impatient man. “And waitress, please remember my toast.”
Even, Philip, the restaurant manager, was under pressure. “Hurry Zinhle!” he shouted. “Don’t take so long.”
“The kitchen can’t cope,” replied Zinhle. “We’ve been waiting a long time for our orders.”
Zinhle met her friend and fellow-waitress, Nokwanda, in the kitchen.
“Philip’s always moaning at us,” Nokwanda whispered to Zinhle.
“Yes, and we’re doing what we can to get the orders out!” Zinhle replied, grabbing her tray.
All day, when placing orders in the hotel kitchen, Zinhle took her cellphone out of her uniform pocket and checked for messages. She paid little attention to the messages she had received, because there was one she was waiting for. At the end of the day, by the time the last customer had left the restaurant, Zinhle had still not heard from Simphiwe.
Zinhle was both disappointed and worried. She was desperate to restore their relationship to what it had been before. What if she had lost him forever?
“Perhaps I should stop by at his house to see his mother again. She’s not well,” Zinhle muttered to Nokwanda, as they changed out of their uniforms.
“I thought she was better,” Nokwanda said to Zinhle.
“She’s still not well,” Zinhle explained. “The old lady’s just come out of hospital again. She spent two weeks there recently and Simphiwe still doesn’t know why she was admitted.”
“What’s seems to be wrong with her?” Nokwanda asked.
“Not sure.”
“Didn’t Simphiwe ask the doctors?”
“They were not there during visiting hours.”
Nokwanda shook her head.
“Amshiye yedwa.” Let him be, Zinhle…” she said, slipping her feet out of flat black shoes and sliding them into black takkies. “He should be chasing you.”
“But you know what happened, Nokwanda. It was my fault and I have to win him back. Before it’s too late. ”
“Oh Zinhle, iba nesineke. (Be patient.)”
As they walked out of the hotel, a taxi stopped to let one young man out. Otherwise, it was full of weary passengers, some sleeping in their seats, so there was only one space left inside.
“You take it Nokwanda,” said Zinhle. “I’ll walk.”
“Aibo! It’s a long way home. Are you sure?”
Zinhle nodded.
“Are you trying to get fit?” Nokwanda laughed. “Sure you’d rather walk?” Zinhle nodded and smiled at her friend. She had other plans, plans that involved walking.
Zinhle walked around the corner towards town, intent on passing by the supermarket where Simphiwe worked. She might bump into him leaving the shop. But by the time she walked past his workplace, the doors were locked.
“I’ve missed him!” she said aloud.
Impulsively, Zinhle went into a cafe nearby, that was still open, and bought a slab of Beacon milk chocolate, Simphiwe’s favourite, and some oranges for his mother. With determined steps, she walked briskly for a long time, until she reached his home.
***
Tell us: Do you think Nokwanda is right when she says Simphiwe should be chasing Zinhle?