I washed three cars by myself and they still hadn’t arrived. I took those three customers for a fool and had earned enough money for the day, so I prepared to leave. Just as I packed everything up, a white Mercedes AMG parked right behind me. The woman driving wore big sunglasses and didn’t even bother to get out of the car after she had parked. One thing that annoyed me most about these rich people was how they expected you to go to them whenever they wanted to ask about something. Why did she park at the car wash if she didn’t want to get out of her car?

I placed the buckets down on the ground and walked over to her car. She rolled her window down and took off her sunglasses.

“Hello, did I catch you at the wrong time?” she asked while fiddling with her phone.

“Eish sorry mamazala, I’m working alone. I can’t manage. It’s better if I just close unless majita a fihla net so.”

“What if I told you, nna ake nyake majita ke nyaka wena, and please don’t you ever call me with that silly name again. My name is Julia, and you are Thabo, right?”

Okay! Things were getting interesting. How the hell did she know my name?

“Oh, don’t look so surprised. A very handsome boy like you is very hard not to recognise. Look my dear, I prefer my car washed at my place. These boys have very sticky fingers and I have too many valuables that I keep in my car. So, how about you come and wash it for me?” she smiled. “Would you mind putting your number in here so I could call you when I’m free? I’m a very busy woman, but for you I can create some time,” she said with a seductive smile, handing me her cell phone.

As I typed my number into her expensive phone, I began to feel unsure about whether our conversation was really about me washing her car or something else entirely. Either way, she was too old for me, old enough to be my mother, and I would never stoop that low.

I handed back the phone to her. To my surprise, she took out her purse and started counting money, which she handed to me and said, “I hope this will be enough. I like paying in advance, just so we don’t encounter any problems in the future.”

I scratched my head, feeling a little dumbfounded. The money in my hand was about a couple of thousand rands. How could someone pay so much money for their car to be washed? I opened my mouth to say something, but she beat me to it, “Come on now, call it an advance payment, unless of course you want me to take my service elsewhere…”

Okay, fine. I was not into older women, but I was not about to say no to so much money…hell no. I quickly responded, “No…there is no need for that. I’ll be glad to assist you, to…to wash your car ma’am–”

“Arg, don’t be silly. It’s Julia for you, you can even call me ‘babe’ if you don’t mind. I’m not that old you know. Expect my call at any moment lover boy. I can’t wait to see you again,” she said as she reversed her car, her eyes focused on my manhood. I must say, it was a little disturbing to see her react that way to me.

The minute she drove off, I picked up one of my washing buckets and placed it upside down so I could sit and began counting the money she gave me. It was R4 500 Could I be dreaming? Did that woman just give me four-point-five just to wash her car?

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think Thapelo will do with all that money? What would you do?