GIFTS

On my way back from grocery shopping, I was alarmed by a young security man’s fascination with this ‘brown’ woman. He looked my way and made a loud sigh. He walked towards me. My first thought was that he was trying to help, as I had two heavy loads I was trying to balance, whilst walking carefully down the slope. The slope was meant for trolleys too. He walked towards me, smiled and touched my arm. I don’t know where the words came from but I just shrieked..”DON’T!” I shook my head and moved on with my heavy bags. Gestures are sometimes my other mode of communication, when Google translate is tucked away somewhere in one of my bags.

I was surprised. This was a first. I normally get stared at, in a land where brown skin girls and boys are rare. My trick with dealing with stares is just to smile and stare back. It seems to work, as heads quickly turn the other way. I feel I have found my solution, but this touch was unexpected and quite uncomfortable. It got me mumbling to myself whilst walking.

With my load, the discomfort about that quick encounter, left me thinking about what I should have done instead, but I kept walking. I definitely kept a record of his face and may see him again at the local mall.

I’ve written about my very busy road before, where cars and motorcycles confuse the pedestrian…me. It normally takes me many minutes to cross, but I wait patiently. The security men at my apartment block have noticed my strategy and once in a while come over to help me cross. As I was replaying the encounter in my mind, I looked up and saw a helping hand moving my way. He walked with his arm stretched stopping cars and motorcycles. He held my hand and dragged me with my bags across the very busy road.

I was extremely touched. My low had turned into a high. As he speaks no English , I used my language of gestures to show my appreciation. This lightened my experience with the young security man earlier. I had a smile on my face whilst I took the elevator up to the sixth floor.