There he was! Just as I got off the cab I found him waiting for me. A man amongst man. He was wearing a blue long sleeve shirt which was nicely tucked in, black trouser, black shiny shoes and a silver watch around his wrist. The kind of a guy that I like. Not a nigga, not a panstula but a nice and clean gentleman. He is tall, dark and masculine and oh I love his moustache.
He gave me a hug, held my hand ( my heart just melted)as we walked to his shack.
“Looking beautiful! You didn’t get lost babe? Frank said.
” Thank you, I didn’t get lost” I smiled.
” Be careful not to dirty yourself babe” my sweet Frank said as he showed me the stinking dirty water randomly thrown out by residents.
I just smiled and felt so safe in his warm firm grib.
” Don’t be surprised babe, I told you i stay in a squatter camp” he said , looking at me.
” I grew up in such an environment babe, so I’m okay” I smiled.
His shack is so clean, so neat. Everything is in place. It’s a very small shack though. I went in, sat on the three quarter bed and my sweet Frank took off my shoes. He lifted my legs and layed them on the bed.
“I bought snacks for you to enjoy while I cook ” he said , giving me a Shoprite plastic loaded with snacks.
” Oh Frank! You are such a gentleman, i smiled opening a packet of potato chips. I felt like a spoiled little brat, wanting to eat everything at once. I mean all my favourites were in that plastic, chocolate, tennis biscuits, altramel castard, 100% juice. I just wanted to bite and sip everything at once.
He switched on the bulb and took out a parafin stove from under the table. He took the 2 litres parafin to fill the stove and he carefully tried to fill the stove. It was impossible for him not to spill cause he doesn’t have a funnel. After he filled a litre into the stove, he then uses matches to light his stove. Fire all over the stove and on the table.
“Ohh my God, babe your stove won’t explode? I said in shock.
” No love it won’t, After the parafin has burnt out then the stove will be okay” he said laughing and looking so relaxed.
I was now on my feet sucking my altramel out of the altramel box.
“Babes relax, go back to bed, I will never do anything that puts your life at risk. See it’s not exploding? See the fire is going down ? Relax my love” he assured me.
I went back to bed, but I didn’t relax as before. I sat as if I’m getting up. I was ready to run should the shack be on fire and I paid close attention to the stove. We were both quite , looking at the stove as the fire decreased.
Eventually the stove was okay. All the parafin he spilled on the stove has totally burnt.
” See babe, all is well now” he pointed at the stove.
” Yeh I see” I replied
“I’m coming babe, I’m going to get some meat from my neighbours fridge. You will be okay love? He asked
” As long as you stove doesn’t explode” I laughed. He gave me a baby kiss and rushed off.
” How long will you take love? How far are you going? I asked.
” 2 minutes” he shouted leaving the door opened.
A minute after he left I heard an explosive sound that scared the hell out off me. I quickly sat up putting my right hand on my chest close to my heart. My heart was beating fast. There was fire all over the stove, this time the fire made black smoke. I quickly got up, held the stove carefully but quickly and put it on the floor, in the middle where there is no item that could quickly catch the fire. I took my phone and dialled his number.
” Hurry hurry your stove is burning hurry before the shack catches fire” I shouted in terror.
” I’ll be there just now” he responded.
Oh my God. The fire grew immensely. I stood up. I thought about pouring water over the stove but then what if it makes the situation worse. I’ve heard terrible stories about these kind of stoves. I stood looking at the increasing flames, I started tapping my foot. If this shack catches fire, a lot of shacks will burn also. I wanted to scream but I hesitated. I called again.
” Hurry hurry hurry, your shack is about to catch fire hurry” I screamed. I could hear that he is running.
” Hhhhhh I’m coming hhhhhh I’m coming” he said.
I need to jump to the other side or else I will not have a way out when this shack burns. I took my bag and his I.d and I jumped to the other side near the door. The fire was about to touch the blankets so I went outside. I looked at the increasing flames, put both my hands on my head. Oh my God everything is gonna catch fire any minute now. I knocked on the shack next door.
” Hi the shack is on fire , please help” I told the guy who opened the doors. Before he could even respond there came Frank. He quickly poured a cup of water on the stove and the fire went off. What a relief but what will we eat now.