The 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!”