PLAN B
“There is a plan B to the world
cup”, Uncle Victor says.
“Its FIFA soccer politics”, my brother says
“It’s because of Zimbabwe’s
political situation”, I say
“Guys, the world cup is good
business for everyone”, Auntie Florence, Uncle Victor’s wife, says
It is a year away from the world
cup, and the vuvuzelas are being blown into the air to distraction. Some
destitute man of our street has made it his plan B, teaching enthusiasts how to
blow a vuvuzelas. There is always a plan B to everything in life. I can’t run
away from home, from the noise, for I have no plan B against these vuvuzelas.
And, in most cases it becomes THE
PLAN, I am thinking, I am on my way back from the town centre; one and half
kilometer sweet walk to home.
“Hello Bhudi, there is a job in
this white man’s place”.
“Is it, I am not really looking
for a job”, I am always scared of strangers thinking they know what I needed,
wanted at that moment of contact. But he persisted
“He is distributing world cup soccer
T-shirts to kids at a preschool day care. So, this white man needs general
hands to help him, and he is paying a hundred bucks.”
I could do with a hundred bucks, I
thought.
I needed a plan B to my depleting
cash in my pocket, but I tried to refuse. It’s not safe in the suburb, anymore,
especially with the hive of activity around the world cup. Everyone is looking
for a quick bug, but eventually, I agree. This guy who has approached me has
also approached another guy who has been walking behind me, all the way from
the city centre. I choose to build faith in this safety in numbers.
“The white man wants us to declare
everything that we have before we enter into his property, so what do you have,
guys.”
The other guy who was walking
behind me says, “I have a cell and a hundred Rands.” He gives these to our
benefactor.
“I have 1500 Rands, a cell and these
groceries”. Our benefactor says, “Give me the money and cell.”
“The groceries are not a problem”.
He says as he takes my money and cell.
He leaves us waiting on the front
gate of this property, and goes to the side gate, which is in another street.
We wait for 3 minutes. It is like an eternity, the weight of an event.
The original plan doesn’t always happen,
because it is always too ambitious. It strikes me as I run to the other street
to check what was taking this guy so long. The street is a clear black of the
tarred surface. There is no gate to the property. Blood is exploding in my head
as anger surges. I go back to check on the other guy, the guy is nowhere to be
found. There is a speeding car in the next street. I fold down in the lawns of
this property.
My uncle is not happy about this,
for I have lost him 1500 bucks, but he accepts my explanations. After all, I
was plan B. Auntie Florence was away who would do these accounts payments.
But, of course, the world cup was on-going in
South Africa, which was the plan A.
Plan B.
“There is no plan B”, Stepp
Blatter refuted what he had blurted out.
