The train appears with a shy look on its face. It’s delayed by five minutes.
The driver stops the train with ease and skill, his face hiding behind dark sunglasses, expressionless.
A young guy in school uniform assists an elderly Xhosa lady to enter the carriage by lifting her under her arm. Almost out of breath she says, “Thank you umntwana wam.”
“Pleasure Ma,” he replies with a smile.
He joins two other learners in similar uniform as we leave the station.
The elderly lady holds onto the pole next to the seat not being able to move a step further as the sudden movement of the train unsettles her.
A lady sitting next to the elderly lady looks up, nudges her friend who’s busy fiddling with his phone with her elbow and whispers to him, “Staan op vi’ die vrou.”
Surprised he looks around, sees the lady’s predicament, jumps up and politely offers his seat to her. She smiles and slowly makes her way to the seat. “Let me help you,” he says by offering his hand.
Smiling she places her hand in his and says, “Thank you umfana. These old legs can’t anymore”.
He smiles back at her without uttering a word; assisting her to settle into the seat.
At Maitland station Jerome, the vendor, enters the carriage announcing his arrival by saying: “Isja! Is Rompie hie’. Net een byt en jy’t aptyt. Hoe lyk hulle?”
Then his eyes fall on the Xhosa lady and light up in a flash.
“Auw… Morning Ma Themba. At it again. It’s been a while,” he greets her while walking towards her. The old lady giggles pleasantly at his remarks.
“Forty-five years ago this lady brought me into the world at St Monica Maternity Hospital,” he reveals to curious commuters.
“Die’s my anne’ ma die,” he says as he plants a kiss on her cheek while at the same time putting a chocolate in her hand.
“Thank you, my son,” she says smiling.
“I’ll tell my mother I got you today Ma Themba,” Rompie says still craning over her as he is obviously delighted to see her.
As he straightens up he says, “I must go work now but we’ll speak again Ma,” and blows her a kiss. She smiles and nods whilst waving at him.
“Ma Themba was our neighbour in Salt River for many years. Ek het in haa’ huis groot geraak guys, but the system decided differently, but ôs issie kwaad ’ie. Tomorrow the sun shines again, of wat sê julle? Hie’s my chocolates, chips, sweets and whatever you desire.”
“Today is my lucky day,” he declares as we enter Salt River station.
***
Urban Dictionary
Isja – An Afrikaaps expression meaning “[it] is yes” .
jy’t – The Afrikaans shortening of “jy het” which means “you have”.
aptyt – The Afrikaans word for “appetite”.
anne’ – The Afrikaaps version of “ander” and it is the Afrikaans word is “other”.
ôs – The Afrikaaps version of “ons” and it is the Afrikaans word for“us/we”.
issie – The Afrikaaps version of “is nie” and it is Afrikaans for “is not”.
kwaad – The Afrikaans word for “angry”.