Archive for the ‘Metrorail Mondays’ Category
Change in Focus
Posted byThe train is running at a gentle pace. No rush this morning – it’s right on time. The mood in the carriage is pleasant. Surprisingly this carriage has no broken windows.
Scarves, jackets, gloves and beanies are the preferred clothing against the bite of a winter morning.
At Goodwood station a man in his mid-twenties enters the carriage, recognises someone standing on the other side, and walks over to him. The whistle blows. Within seconds the train responds with a gentle jerk.
“Howsit bru?” he greets the friend.
“On the ball bru; your side?” the friend returns the gesture.
“No worries bud” he replies.
“By the way what were you busy with during Youth month?” the guy in his twenties enquires from his friend.
The older friend gathers his thoughts for a moment. “Well as the youth leader at church, I took the initiative to reflect on the youth actions of 1976, 1980 and 1984,” he answers thoughtfully.
The young friend looks surprised and curious at the same time. “But why is the emphasis on the youth of 1976?” he asks.
“The ‘76 uprising was the first major form of resistance against Apartheid which really got the world’s attention. Subsequently the international community imposed all sorts of sanctions on the South African government,” the older one explains.
He continues: “I’m of the opinion that the following uprisings of ‘80 and ‘84 were just as important as ‘76 in order to keep the momentum and sustain the pressure. It was the uprisings during those periods which gave birth to the United Democratic Front and many other civic organisations. Leaders such as Alan Boesak, Ebrahim Rasool, Jakes Gerwel and Desmond Tutu stepped into prominence speaking out against the injustices of Apartheid, taking the National Party head on. These were the leaders who inspired, motivated and encouraged a generation who stood together as one fighting the odds against one of the most powerful oppressive governments on the continent of Africa, bru”.
“Wow, but where is the youth of today?” the young friend asks.
“That’s exactly my point buddy. I guess we lost direction. We are unemployed, we turn to crime, we became materialistic. We disregard the counsel of those who paved the way for us. In my view we are rudderless. Instead of partying and having a jol on Youth Day we should have embarked on a national strike against corruption, cronyism, nepotism and mediocre government officials. We are facing a new revolution but have become complacent and silent.”
“Only when all youth of all colours come together and let their voices heard and show collective concern for the current political climate in this country… only then will Youth Day celebrations make sense to me,” the older guy explains passionately.
“But we must do this. We must stand up and be counted. How about next year?” the young friend asks with excitement.
“Let’s wait and see buddy. One thing is sure. Things can’t carry on in this way.” Almost whispering, he adds: “Change is inevitable.”
We’re at Salt River station. Table Mountain, visible in the distance, is covered in white. A storm is looming.
***
Urban Dictionary
howzit – A colloquial South African greeting which is a shortened form of “How is it?”.
bru – A term used by English-speaking South Africans meaning “brother” from the Afrikaans word “broer”.
jol – A colloquial Afrikaans term meaning “having a good time” from the Afrikaans word “jolyt” meaning “jollity”.
Captured
Posted byFinally rain is predicted. Bucket loads of rain too. Capetonians quietly release a sigh of relief. The Almighty finally instructed Mother Nature to look with favour upon the province.
The voicemail lady is somehow in tune and promises that the trains are only five minutes late. She has a ‘not-to-worry’ tone in her voice.
“I’m nogals excited for the predicted rain that’s coming. My garden was in dire straits,” a guy says to the friend next to him as he pulls up his jacket collar to shield him against the morning breeze.
“Spare a thought for the homeless and vulnerable,” the friend replies.
“Yeeeesss,” he whispers through his teeth, sounding impatient.
He then takes a glance at his watch; followed by a stare into the distance down the railway line.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’ the friend asks curiously. “What are you thinking?” the other one asks.
The friend is silent for a moment then with a twinkle in his eyes says: “The train has been capture.”
They burst out laughing.
“That’s a good one,” he says after gathering himself. “But then again what isn’t captured? Apparently all government SOE’s are captured,” he says shrugging his shoulders.
After waiting a second he continues: “We are so far removed from the people shall govern, it’s like we never believed it in the first place.”
The friend nods approvingly. “My life has been captured man; nothing belongs to me. My car and house belong to the bank. My salary just briefly visits me every month. Bills to pay; commitments to meet; if I’m lucky I at least have something left for an end of month braai. At times that doesn’t happen either,” the friend moans without sounding too downhearted.
“Moenie praatie ou bra,” the guy says adjusting his collar again. He quickly turns his face to see if the train is coming. “I told the wife ‘Yes Madame, I’m sorry but you have to cut on shopping, buying; spending just because the money is in your purse. You better cut some corners,’” he explains without checking whether his friend is listening. It’s almost as if he is thinking out loud.
“I don’t have to tell my wife that. She knows the drill. We are just about scraping through. Sometimes sit ôs broeke se agterkant nog annie draad vas,” the friend explains further.
“Wanne kommie trein man?” the guy with the upturned collars asks impatiently.
The friend looks at him thoughtfully. “I think it’s Bob Marley who sings ‘The Zion train is coming our way,’” he says staring down the track.
“Aweh… For a moment I thought that train did arrive… but we shouldn’t lose hope… That train is coming,” the guy with the upturned collars philosophises.
“Yeah, with MetroPlus carriages for all,” the friend adds.
At that moment the signal turns green…
***
Urban Dictionary
moenie – The Afrikaans word is a shortened form of “moet nie” which means “must not” or as in this case “do not”.
praatie – The Afrikaaps word for “praat nie” which is Afrikaans for “speak not”.
broeke – The Afrikaans plural for “broek” which means “(a pair of) pants”.
agterkant – The Afrikaans word for “rear end” which in this case means the “backside of the pants”.
annie – An Afrikaaps word for “aan die” which means “on the”.
wane – The Afrikaaps plural for “wanneer” which means “when”.
kommie – The Afrikaas word for “kom die” which means “comes the”.
“Moenie praatie ou bra.” – “Don’t talk (about it) old friend.”
“Sometimes sit ôs broeke se agterkant nog annie draad vas” – “Sometimes the backsides of our pants are still caught on the wire” (A term used to describe that fact that you’ve just about escaped a situation or as in this case, scraped through your financial situation.)
“Wanne kommie trein man?” – “When is the train coming man?”
Keep Them Safe
Posted byThe heat of a cosy fire welcomes commuters at the entrance of the subway.
“How I wish I could just stand by that galley blik for five minutes,” a lady remarks as she walks pass.
“That’s the idea; die treine loep klaa laat,” chirps a guy who seems to be in charge of the fire.
Winter has officially arrived in Cape Town. The train hasn’t made its appearance yet.
“Hie hol hulle!” the guy at the fire shouts as commuters pass him by.
Two ladies, who seem to be in their thirties, are in conversation as they stand outside the waiting area. A faint ray of sunshine is trying to break through the cold embrace of the early morning.
“I’m so cautious lately that it borders on paranoia,” the lady wearing a black coat says.
“What are you referring to?” her friend enquires looking flabbergast.
“The death of Courtney Pieters has made me extra cautious and more alert. Life is just not the same as when we were kids,” she explains.
“You can say that again. I sat with my daughter of five and had to impress upon her how she must never withhold about strange behaviour from any person towards her, from me,” the friend replies. “I need to know everything, every day,” the friend continues with a stern look on her face.
“The same here; it made me realise that more than ever I need to have a conversation with my child, pay attention to little details, not leave her to watch her favourite cartoons but really take her into my confidence.”
The friend is quiet for a moment …
“I even went so far as to tell my boyfriend not to let her sit on his lap or sleep next to him until I’m comfortable and fine with it,” she softly adds, almost sounding unsure.
The lady in the black coat looks at her with an expression which says: What?
Her friend sees it and quickly adds, “We were friends first, but we are seeing each other for a few months now. It’s not like we know each other for years you know,” with a look of, do you understand now?
“Ok, I get it,” the lady with the black coat says and continues, “My sister who is a social worker said to me the other day; ‘Nicky be careful. Watch your child like a hawk. Don’t let her out of your sight for one moment. Predators are roaming the streets. Child molesting cases are on the rise. Be very careful’.”
For a moment they stare at each other in disbelief, or maybe it is disgust. The silence is disturbed by the train appearing in the distance. The siren resonates from afar as if it’s excited to gather the anxiously waiting commuters.
“I was almost raped in my teens. I was very fortunate and it took me years to trust people again. I made a promise to myself that my child is not going to experience the same trauma ever as far as I can help it,” Nicky’s friend whispers as the train enters the station.
Interestingly it has a hashtag #StopTheAbuse spray-painted on its face.
***
Urban Dictionary
blik – The Afrikaans word for a “tin can”.
loep – The Afrikaaps word for “loop” which is the Afrikaans word for “walk” or as in this case means “run”.
klaa – The Afrikaaps word for “klaar” which in Afrikaans means “done” or as in this case means “already”.
hie – The Afrikaaps word for “hier” which in Afrikaans means “here”.
hol – An Afrikaans word for “run/dash”. It can also mean “hollow” or “a person’s bottom/bum”.
A galley blik is a makeshift tin can stove, usually a 25ltr square bottom tin can for making fire with ventilation holes cut into the sides so that the fire can breathe. It can be used for heat and for cooking depending on how strong the sides are. A galley is an old English term for kitchen. The kitchen on a ship is still called a galley.
“Die treine loep klaa laat.”
“The trains are already running late.”
“Hie hol hulle!”
“Here they run!”
Avoiding Temptation
Posted byThe trains suffered many delays due to maintenance or the lack thereof.
“I got home at 10 o’clock last night,” a guy mentions to a friend next to him.
“You must thank heaven for making it home in one piece bru,” the friend replies.
“Tell that to my wife, buddy. She suspects I’m playing truant, always suspicious, expecting the worst you know,” he explains to his friend rolling his eyes.
The friend looks at him for a moment without uttering a word. The train elegantly gallops to the next station.
You must have given her reason to be suspicious, always expecting the worst, the friend thinks quietly. Different people get off at different destinations, from different backgrounds. Where is this train called South Africa heading? the thoughts rush through his mind. Are we heading for a train smash or are we going to derail? he asks himself and thinks about it for a few more moments.
The guy with the suspicious wife is meanwhile fiddling with his phone.
I think good people will rise to the occasion. Surely they won’t allow this beautiful country to go to the dogs? his thoughts continue while he glimpses at his friend’s phone.
“Ah… That’s why your wife is suspicious; look at all those female contacts,” he observes glancing at the phone. He clears his throat…
“Buddy, that’s not good for a married guy. You are too close to temptation bru. Before you know it you’ve taken the plunge,” he advises his friend.
Smiling with a blushing face the friend closes the screen of the phone and then with a wry smile he looks up. “Just friends man,” he remarks, attempting to brush any suspicion aside.
“I know; I was there too,” he answers the guy who slips the phone back into his pocket. “I had genuine friends as contacts and really enjoyed the chats, but must admit that on a few occasions I overstepped the mark. My wife didn’t deserve that. The lady friend didn’t deserve it either and ultimately it’s about my ego which got in the way. I got a fright when I started to feel no regret for my actions. That was the turning point. I changed my number but above all I changed my ways,” he confesses openly and earnestly.
The guy with the suspicious wife looks at him without blinking an eye.
“Let me tell you something I would like to share with you my friend,” the friend goes on to say without waiting for a response. “A colleague sent me an SMS one morning which changed my perception for the better and the message said: ‘The person who is with you when you have nothing is the person who needs to be with you when you have everything.’ I didn’t recognise the number so I called back to ask who it was. The voice on the other side said: ‘Just a concerned colleague’”.
The guy with the suspicious wife listens attentively.
The friend continues after pausing for a moment. “We’ve been friends for a long time now Jamie and as far I can see, Marilyn is a good wife and mother to your child. Yes, your so-called friends might be more exciting and entertaining but she’s your soul mate. Remember our conversation when you declared your intention to marry her and wanted my opinion?
I said that is one of the greatest decisions you ever made, remember?”
“Yes I remember,” the guy with the suspicious wife answers without hesitation.
“Do the right thing buddy. This is coming from a concerned friend,” he admonishes his friend again.
The guy with the suspicious wife looks down avoiding the eyes of his friend. He remains like that for a few moments almost looking deep into his heart and soul. Donny is right, he quietly thinks to himself. I did overstep the mark and only felt guilty for a short while. This is getting dangerous.
“We need a driver who can take us to the destination of hope, peace and prosperity for all on this train called South Africa, Donny thinks to himself as we enter Salt River station.
The Magic Potion
Posted byA vendor enters the carriage from the left as the train leaves the station. Immediately he gets the attention of the commuters.
“Fresh from the fountain in the mountain,” he says in a raised voice.
“Tien ran’… tien ran’… Hurry, hurry, is ’n bargain. Daa is nog klom’ waa’ die vanaa’ kom,” he brags as he swags down the aisle.
“Is die regte goed?” a lady asks, almost shouting in surprise.
“Kyk self,” the vendor chirps as he slips the 500 millilitre bottle into her hand.
With an expression between excitement and anxiety she quickly checks the bottle and the seal. “Lyk genuine,” she says to the commuter next to her. He shakes his head in approval.
“Tien ran’; djy moet enjoy baby-girl,” the vendor reminds her as he extends an open hand ignoring the bottle completely. Her purse opens in a flash. A twenty rand note jumps into his hand and without thinking twice he suggests: “Vat die grootman somma een. Return net haa tien ran’ as ie ou nie mind nie, of wat praat ek alles?” he asks with a polite expression and gesture.
The middle-aged guy looks at him with a stern face. Suddenly he smiles and says: “Ok fine; djy het my,” and reaches for his wallet.
“Nog te bietere; koep ’ie ou somma haa bottel of wat sê djy baby-girl?” the vendor suggests turning his eyes towards the middle-aged guy and the lady, who are both smiling politely.
“Djy kry my alwee,” the middle-aged guy says, still smiling.
“Djy kan maa ophou,” Baby-girl adds to the conversation.
“Ek mean ma… Julle sit soe droeg hiesa,” the vendor quips while he balances his produce in one hand and steadies the cooler box between his legs.
“Koellek soelang julle gel. Ek kap ’n paal net hie. Ek het net tien oo,’” he informs the commuters.
A twenty rand appears from the middle-aged guy’s purse.
“It’s fine baby-girl,” he says to the lady next to him.
“You didn’t need to, but thanks anyway,” she responds smiling back at him.
“You’re welcome,” he whispers as the vendor returns her money.
“Baby-girl djy moerit enjoy.”
“Wats jou naam nou wee?” Fonnie quickly asks in the same breath.
She looks at him for a moment, smiles says, “Claire, …en by the way, wat wil djy met my naam maak?” she enquires.
“Aweh, will it virrie laanie langs jou gie baby-girl,” he replies almost without thinking. She blushes and looks down. Her hair falls forward almost covering her face.
“Hi Claire, I’m Giovanni. Cheers on that,” the middle-aged guy introduces himself while he cracks the seal of the bottle. She opens hers shyly and looks up.
“Pleased to meet you; cheers,” she adds with a shy smile.
“Pity Fonnie kannie cheers ’ie. Stocks are limited but tomorrow is another day,” the vendor says with a twinkle in his eyes.
As he bows down to grab the coolerbox Claire quips, “Lekke dag. Djy het nou ôs altwie gekry.”
“Enjoy baby-girl. Julle het somma mekaa gekry, of wat praat ek alles?” the vendor shoots, shrugging his shoulders and winking at her and Giovanni.
“Hoe lyk hulle hie?” he asks as he turns around facing the commuters. “Aweh, julle het somma die gel reg my ma se kinnes,” he says in a happy voice, seeing a guy paying with five ten rands collecting the bottles and dishing them out to the commuters seated next to him.
“Wiet djy hoe lank wag ôs,” the guy protests while opening his bottle.
“Djy het mos ees ’n wedding gehou,” he mumbles moments before the bottle touches his lips.
“Djy wiet hoe garrit, maa net ou Fonnie se personal touch,” the vendor answers shrugging his shoulders again.
The train reduces speed.
Fonnie holds onto the support pillar glancing over to Claire and Giovanni.
“I work in town but due to circumstances, junk status, etc. I decided to give Metrorail a try,” she explains to Giovanni.
“I travel by train and never saw you,” Giovanni says.
“This is my first week but so far so good,” she replies smiling.”
“Maybe I’m the lucky one. You might need a guardian angel; you never know,” Giovanni whispers to her as he takes a sip from the bottle, hiding his smile.
“You never know,” she replies.
Their smiling eyes meet as he lowers the bottle.
“Aweh, Fonnie het mos magic potion sê ek nog altyd.”
Claire’s giggle is just about audible.
A full smile appears on Giovanni’s face. “Daa kry djy my alwee,” he says.
Meanwhile Fonnie makes his way towards the door.
“Moen nettie van Fonnie vegiettie. Nooi vi my oek,” he shouts over his shoulder.
The train is almost at a standstill. Giovanni and Claire’s eyes are now fixed on him. Their eyes are saying, “waavan praat djy?”
“Ôs praat wee. Ek bring môre wee van daai. Allie pad van Ceres af, specially vi julle twie. Soes julle wiet is hie niks waate innie kaap ’ie.”
The train comes to a halt.
“Safe journey guys; hou maa die tien rante reg,” Fonnie greets as he exits the carriage.
***
Urban Dictionary
ran’ – Pronounced “run”, it is the Afrikaaps version of “rand” which is our South African currency.
klom – The Afrikaaps version of “kom” which is an Afrikaans word for “many”.
Vanaa’ – The Afrikaaps version of “vandaan” which in Afrikaans means “from”.
bietere – The Afrikaaps term for “meer beter” which in Afrikaans means “more better / even better”.
koep – The Afrikaaps word for “koop” which is the Afrikaans word for “buy”.
twie – The Afrikaaps word for “twee” which is the Afrikaans word for “two”.
droeg – The Afrikaaps word for “droog” which is the Afrikaans word for “dry”.
hiesa – The Afrikaaps word for “hierso” which is the Afrikaans word for “over here / right here”.
koellek – The Afrikaaps term for the English word “collect”.
soelang – The Afrikaans word for “solank” which is the Afrikaans word for “meanwhile / in the mean time”.
gel – The Afrikaaps word for “geld” which is the Afrikaans word for “money”.
moerit – The Afrikaaps term for “moet dit” which when translated from English to Afikaans “moet = must” and “dit = it” would then each be placed either side of a verb. “moerit enjoy” = “must enjoy it”
virrie – The Afrikaaps word for “vir die” which in Afrikaans means“for the”.
laanie – The Afrikaaps word for “boss” and often used to refer to white people but also as in this case used to refer to someone who appears well-off.
garret – The Afrikaaps word for “gaan dit” which in Afrikaans means“(how) it goes / (how) things are” .
vegiettie – The Afrikaaps word for “vergeet nie” which in Afrikaans means“forget not”.
waate – The Afrikaaps word for “water” which is spelled the same way in both Afrikaans and English.