Lerato walked across the carpeted foyer towards her office. She had completely forgotten about the function at Vuka Associates that evening. Her Dad and Busi would worry if she didn’t arrive home at the expected time. She would need to give them a quick call.

Lerato still felt that she needed to check up on her sister, Busi. She knew that things were much better with Busi now, but Lerato still felt responsible for her, and for the situation at home.

Lerato was so deep in thought that she didn’t see Philane until it was too late. Normally he was the one person that she took pains to avoid. But here he was, standing in the foyer, looking straight at her, and she hadn’t even seen him until he spoke.

“Hello, Lerato.”

Lerato recognised his voice immediately, and it brought her out of her deep thoughts about her home, with a jolt.

Lerato stopped in her tracks and looked up at Philane.

“Hello,” she said politely, “how are you?”

Philane was very tall. Lerato stepped back a step. She felt like Philane was towering over her.

Philane was wearing a dark suit, and over it he still wore his black court gown. For a fleeting moment he reminded Lerato of a big bird of prey.

‘A black eagle,’ thought Lerato.

“Very well,” said Philane, formally. “And I trust you are well?”

Lerato glanced up into Philane’s face as she replied. “I’m fine,” she said, a little awkwardly.

To her Philane always seemed to have a small secret smile playing around his lips.

Lerato was never sure if he was serious or not.

Philane made her feel ill at ease, although he was immensely good looking. No one would, or could, deny him that.

“I’d better get back,” said Lerato softly, lamely indicating the direction of her office with one hand.

“My work is waiting,” added Lerato, and immediately felt foolish.

“Off you go, then,” said Philane, “see you tonight, I hope.”

Philane was grinning openly now, but then he turned away from her, towards another lawyer, who was walking towards him, greeting him loudly with, “Philane, my man! Good to see you.”

Lerato moved away from Philane. She was glad of the opportunity to get away from him.

When Lerato got to her office, she shut the door behind her. She sat down heavily in her chair, and took a deep breath. Lerato’s head was spinning. She needed to think for a moment. Her plans for the evening were in disarray.

Lerato had been busy for a week or more on a story she was writing for a competition.The prize was the opportunity to be considered as a scriptwriter for her favourite television show. The deadline for entries was that night. Lerato was determined to finish it, and submit it on time.

‘Time,’ thought Lerato, ‘there is never enough of it. Maybe I should give up the writing thing. Maybe Gugu is right after all.’

Lerato looked around her office. She was doing well at this legal firm. They liked her, and she was a hard worker. There were so many opportunities here. Lerato knew that. She was just about running the conveyancing office single handedly now.

Lerato hadn’t had the chance to get a law degree, like Gugu and Philane. But she had had this chance, and she had started at the very bottom, just preparing the transfer papers, and now she was running everything.

David, the conveyancer, was hardly in the office any more. He had taken rather a strong fancy to golf, and he was spending a lot of time on the golf course.

Lerato didn’t mind. The money was good. The money was a great help, especially at home. And Lerato liked nice things. As she thought that, she looked down at her new shoes. ‘They weren’t quite Jimmy Choo’s,’ she thought, ‘but they were nice.’

‘Andile could afford Jimmy Choo’s,’ thought Lerato, but as she thought that she shook her head, telling herself as she did so, ‘no man is worth a pair of shoes.’

Lerato’s thoughts turned to her home again. She needed to make a phone call. She picked up the office phone and dialled her home number.

“Hello!” It was her father’s voice.

Lerato smiled. His voice always made her smile.

“Hello, Dad,” she said, “how are you?”

“I’m fine, Lerato, my beautiful daughter. And how are you? Not too busy to think of giving your old father a phone call.”

“No, Dad. I am never too busy for that. I will be home late tonight. I forgot to tell you that I have a work function.”

“That’s alright, my girl. You must drive safely, though. You know I worry when you drive alone at night.”

“I’ll be fine, Dad.You know I always lock my doors. Is Busi there? Is she cooking something good for you to eat tonight?”

“You mustn’t worry, Lerato,” said her father, “Busi always cooks good food. She really is a very good daughter.”

“I know, Dad,” said Lerato, nodding her head to herself, “I know.”

“I worry about what food you will eat, my daughter,” said her father. “I know what food they serve at these functions. So little. Little sausage rolls and tiny samoosas. That’s not food. You are too thin, my child. You don’t eat enough.”

“I’ll be fine, Dad,” said Lerato, smiling. “I really must get back to work now. I’ll see you later.”

Lerato put down the phone and turned towards the files on her desk. Lines for her uncompleted story were suddenly flooding her mind, but she pushed those thoughts away.

‘I’ll just have to work till very late, once I get home,’ Lerato thought to herself.

It didn’t really matter, it would not be the first time that Lerato had worked late on a story.

In a funny sort of way Lerato was even looking forward to it. Writing stories always took her to another place. A place where time flew by. A place free of worries. A place very different from the real world that Lerato lived in.

***

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