In Snake Park Zamani quickly makes friends with a man named Zenzele. He is much older than Zamani and uses crutches to get around. They have a lot in common, including coming from rural areas to look for a better life in Durban. They are sitting under the shade of a mango tree behind Zenzele’s shack.

“I really need a job,” says Zamani.

“Do you seriously believe you will get rich by working for someone else? In this day and age you need to use your hands and brain to make money,” says Zenzele.

“But how, Zenzele?”

“I wish I could turn back the hands of time so I can be your age, and healthy once again. I’d do so much in today’s world.”

“Tell me how and I’ll go for it. I want to succeed.”

“You see that over there?” Zenzele points at a small modified trailer with one of his crutches.

“Yes I see it,” says Zamani.

“I used to make a lot of money with that trailer. I used to go to town and wait for people who had heavy groceries outside supermarkets. I used to charge them for carrying their groceries from the supermarket to the taxi rank in that trailer.”

Zamani walks over to the trailer. He pulls and pushes it.

“It just needs to have the wheels oiled, otherwise it is still in good shape. You can take it and use it to make some money. It’s a start.”

“Thank you, Zenzele. Tomorrow I’ll wake up early and head to Pinetown.”

“That’s what I’m talking about. Use your mind and hands to get that money. Hustle boy!”

Zamani is full of hope as he heads back to his shack. He negotiates the small footpaths of Snake Park pushing the trailer. He realises that the stiffness he experienced when he first pushed the trailer was caused by it not being in use for a long time.

He feels inspired when he gets back in his shack. He takes out his drawing book and sketches the neighbourhood of Snake Park. He draws for hours until a headache finally stops him.

“Now I’m hungry,” he says. He checks his pockets. He can only use two rand because he has to take a taxi and also pay Zenzele’s friend who will look after the trailer at night in Pinetown. He buys a vetkoek.

Meanwhile, Zamani’s eye has been taken by a beautiful young woman in the shack next door. Her name is Snethemba and she lives with her mother. She is slightly plump, with an easy smile. She is friendly, but Zamani is nervous to speak to her. Sometimes he finds himself smiling just listening to her chatting with her mother, and he loves to listen to her laughing.

“Really, Ma?” says Snethemba, and bursts out laughing.

Zamani’s love for Snethemba just grows. He imagines Snethemba stepping into the yard of his home in Emahlabathini. He imagines introducing Snethemba to the world as his wife. He has only good thoughts when he thinks of her.

He smiles in the quiet of his shack, listening to Snethemba talking with her mother. He doesn’t have much, but for now he feels he has everything. Listening to Snethemba speak is enough.

***

Tell us: Do you think it is possible to build up to being well-off from beginnings like this: as a shopping porter?