Chapter 9 — Generosity in a Time of Need

"Okay, okay," she said, raising her hands in surrender as she realised how jumpy and nervous Qhawekazii looked.

"Tell me, where are you going? Maybe I can help you," she said in a soft and calm voice.

"Umlazi," she said. "I'm going to Umlazi. Where can I find the taxis?"

The woman pointed just opposite the street.

"All those taxis are going to Umlazi," stated the woman.

"There's a rank manager that you can ask which taxi is going to the section you're going to."

Qhawekazii glanced at the taxis.

"He's dark, wearing a cap and he has a big tummy," the woman described him.

Qhawekazii nodded and when she was about to leave, the woman asked her if she had any money for the taxi fee. She pinched her left breast and felt the money bag was still there.

"Yes, I do," she replied. The woman took off her big warm jacket. "Take this. You're very wet. Those drivers won't be happy with you if you make the seats wet," she handed her the jacket and she gladly grabbed it and wore it. It was big enough to cover her thighs.

"Thank you," she said with a relaxed voice.

"I will find a way to return it to you." t

The woman curled up her lips and waved her hand down as a sign not to worry about it. She then grabbed one of her muffins in the small plastic bag and handed it to her.

"Hold your breath with this while you in the taxi," she offered again her generosity.

As much as Qhawekazii's tummy was full from the earlier meal in Thami's car, she did not want to seem rude by rejecting the woman's kindness. She took it and shoved it in the pocket of the big jacket.

"Thank you so much, Ma," she was thankful once again and the woman just nodded with a smile.

After Qhawekazii crossed the street, safely this time, her eyes saw the dark man with a big tummy wearing a blue cap. She ventured to him and asked which taxi was going to section C. The rank manager pointed the second taxi, she thanked him and scuttled inside it.

When she sat on a window seat, she sighed, realising that she was finally going to meet her mother. She rested her head on the seat as she was extremely tired from running. The taxi didn't wait for too long after she hopped in. The last two passengers came in a few minutes later. She was happy that she was finally going to leave the horrible city.

When turned her head on the window; she saw the woman still standing and looking at her side. When their eyes met, the woman thumbed up with a grin and Qhawekazii smiled as she waved.

On the way she couldn't stop thinking about how her journey was almost a complete failure. After Thami tried to rape her, she wanted nothing to do with the city anymore but to go back home.

Perhaps she should have agreed when Luthando offered to accompany her. None of this would have happened if she was by his side. The thought of Thami, acting like a nice guy, to even think she thought him and Luthando were much alike sickened her. The guy was fiendish and a bastard.

Now all she could hope was for her to arrive safely to her mother, because she also had no idea what Umlazi had in store for her. She only heard stories of good things about the place, but she also knew every place had its own criminals, especially if you were new in the area.