Standing out from the crowd of faceless masks, Mark saw Lindiwe nestled between her parents. Time seemed to pause. Lindiwe was looking around, hopefuly searching for him as well. She looked so pretty in her cream-white pleated dress and brown boots.

She held her hand over her face, shading herself from the sun’s strong rays. Her other hand was held by her father, who wore his blue police service golf t-shirt, navy jeans and tekkies. Her mother in a soft coloured shirt, jeans and tekkies as well.

They spotted Mark’s parents seated at a table, behind the grass where all the children were watching a play on stage. Lindiwe followed her mother and father towards the table where Mark’s parents were seated.

Mark ran towards them.

Mark’s father had already offered them a drink, while the ladies greeted each other with a warm embrace. Mark touched Lindiwe’s shoulder, then ducked as she turned her head. He touched her other shoulder then ducked again. Then he touched her other shoulder, and when she turned her head, her lips touched Mark’s lips. They hugged tightly and shared a laugh together. Their parents joined in the laughter.

“How are things?” Lindiwe’s father asked. He spoke as if there was a cello in his vocal chords.

“Not too good, I haven’t had a case in months, just scavenging, and the –”

“I was actually talking to Mark”, Lindiwe’s father replied politely. “How’s school, and didn’t you say you were in the chess club? How’s that going?”

Mark’s father downed his drink and smiled at Mark, “go on, son, tell him.”

“Oh, he’s such a shy child,” Mark’s mother intervened.

“Reminds me of my Lindiwe, you’d have to bribe her with something to get a word out of her.” The parents laughed.

“Run along now kids, play where we can see you, ok,” Lindiwe’s father said as he threw some ice in his glass.

“Now, where is this Brother Boswell, anyway, I’d like to shake his hand, he really out-did himself here, wouldn’t you say?”

“That’s true, you read my mind. I mean running such a carnival, could really use a good lawyer. I might as well leave my business card.” They laughed.

“Now, now, honey, we’re here to have some fun.” Mark’s mother said.

“Yeah well, a bit of networking can’t hurt, you know.” They all laughed.

As the children walk away, Mark could spot Brother Boswell hurrying about around the carnival. His beige shirt was drenched in sweat. He used his waist coat to wipe sweat from his forehead. He was marching along ordering his staff, pointing at any small error he could find. He stood over the spinning wheel operator, bent on his knees, as he applied oil on the gears in the wheel’s control box.