Two months ago…

About half an hour into her lunch break, Thando enters into a coffee shop, carefully watching her step. She bends down a bit to tighten the grip on a loose stiletto sandal. She is not sure what she should buy for her husband who is waiting in the car outside. She pulls her smart phone out of her handbag and calls him.

“Hey sweetheart, what should I get you?” She waves down the waitress.

“A cappuccino will be enough for me, thanks babe,” says John.

“Hello ma’am, how can I help you?” the waitress asks, wiping the table with a napkin.

“Can I have two cappuccinos and a chicken mayo sandwich?” Thando pulls out her purse and takes out her bankcard.

“Coming right up! That’ll cost you R96,10,”

“Oh it’s not as expensive as I thought it would be!”Thando said, swiping her card.

“Here you go ma’am, two cappuccinos and a chicken mayo sandwich.”

“Thank you very much, enjoy your day.” she says.

As she leave, she drops one of the cups by mistake. It spills all over the floor and she steps into it. She slips and loses her balance, bumping into the woman behind her.

“Oh come on! Now look at what you’ve done!” snaps the woman.

Both her hands are in the air as if to show everyone who was inside the coffee shop that somebody had stained her white skirt with cappuccino.

Thando quickly realises what happened.

“Oh no! I’m so sorry! Thando says, putting her hands on her head.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you crazy?” shouts the woman.

“I really apologise,” Thando says, searching through her purse.

You ruined my skirt!” barked the woman.

“I will pay to dry clean your skirt. Here is my business card, please call me,” Thando says, mistakenly giving the woman John’s contact number, thinking it was hers.

Only months later would Thando realise that the woman’s name is Ruth.

***

Tell us: What do you think of the first time Thando and Ruth met?