It was Monday. The whole weekend Zinhle had thought about Mr Silver Audi. She had tried to stop herself, but he kept popping into her thoughts.

On that Friday she had told Nokwanda about the new guy in town. About the way he had looked at her. How she couldn’t help thinking about him, fantasizing about him, like a crush. It was stupid; she had only seen him once. But he had seemed to have everything that Simphiwe didn’t – a good job, a fancy car, a life outside Vryheid. A life that she dreamed of.

Today, she decided not to wait for the taxi to work. She needed to walk to work to clear her head. There were lots of people about on the street. The schools were closed and people had come from out of town to spend their December holidays in Vryheid. She went past Sinothile Crèche and the KFC building. She walked fast and got to work early.

It looked like she was working in a different place now that it was holidays. There were lots of smart cars parked outside the hotel.

She went straight to the change room. They were short-staffed and she had to start working immediately. She quickly put on her uniform.

“I’m surprised you are early, Zinhle. I almost called you. This place is busy. I need efficient people like you,” Philip said.

“You are really lucky. I just happened to wake up early today.”

“Please people. Let’s get to work. Customers are waiting for our special breakfast. Make it yummy. Please guys, don’t disappoint me,” Philip urged his staff.

Zinhle was serving a woman and man who looked like they were in their forties.

“Sanibona mama nobaba,” she greeted them, with a smile.

“Hello my child. You look beautiful. You remind me of my daughter.”

“Thank you Ma,” Zinhle smiled. “Are you ready to order?”

“I think we will have black tea with muffins. We have a meeting just now.”

“No muffins for me, my child. They are not good for my health. Black tea with no sugar and a brown bread, toasted sandwich, with bacon and tomato in it,” the man added.

They were friendly and she enjoyed taking their order. They smiled like they really appreciated her.

Zinhle had grown up without parents and didn’t get enough care when she was a girl. These people looked like they would really care for their children. Maybe, if my mom and dad were still alive, my life would be better than this, she thought.

It would have been good to have had a shoulder to cry on when she was growing up. She hoped her parents in heaven would see that she was trying to make them proud of her.

She smiled, looking at the man and woman, still happy in love. “I promise I won’t make you wait very long. Your order will be ready in a few minutes,” said Zinhle.

She brought their order and when they paid they gave her a huge R50 tip. She was so lucky. It was still early in the morning and she was already making good money.

Leaving the table, she looked up, and saw a man sitting alone, at a table in the corner.

***

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