It's Me Scumbag
Elder Lister
It's few minutes to 6 o'clock in the morning. You are already walking the streets,eyes darting over the view before you looking for a familiar face.
You see one and hurriedly head over and say hi.
He nods his head and you move on closer. To a door of an alcohol outlet,licenced as a retail outlet. Outside of the door, man sits lazily,smoking and staring at nothing.
It starts drizzling and you duck under an awning. Prominently displayed on it is a politician's name. You try to catch the smoking man's eye. You are not lucky...you stare directly at him,and make open hand movements.
He signals no. He has been seeing you all along. You wait. The need grows stronger now that you are in the vicinity of salvation. You stamp your wet shoes. Trying to keep busy. You ask for a puff from a man whose jaws are working furiously as he crams leaf after leaf of green twigs into his mouth...green saliva clings to one corner of his mouth,as busily stuffs a green biodegradable bag with the green leaves. Collects fifty shillings from his buyer,his eyes bloodshot and blank. No words,just exchange. He sees nothing,except of course,the money and the green leaves.
All the while,your eyes are fixed on the man across the street as you puff on the piece of green saliva soaked cigarette,wondering what's taking them too long. You signal again. To the man across the street. He is no longer smoking nor sitting. He signals yes,and you cross the street and stand next to him. He knocks on the door twice and proceeds to unlock the padlock on the door. You can hear another padlock being unlocked on the inside. You can not wait. So near yet so far away.
Door unlocked,you slither in and the door is closed again. With padlocks. From both sides.
You head to the counter and ask for a 'quarter' ( 250ml divided into four). As you take your 'quarter',there is one,just one knock on the door. The lady behind the counter commands everyone to shut up and blows out the two candles providing light.
A big loud knock follows. And you know things have just gone to hell. Several more knocks follow and a man talks through the padlock opening claiming to know that you are in there. You take a sip of your watered down quarter and wait. Quietly.
After what seems like eternity,there is the sound of the padlock best being unlocked and the lady goes to unlock the inside padlock...salvation at last. It was the police,but they have collected their 'take away' and have gone away.
You sneak outside and cross the street as you head to labour to wait for those looking for day labourers. You pray that you will get to do an honest day's work today and earn. You know that you are screwed if you don't. The money you bought your 'quarter' with was your last.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world of hand to mouth drinking life. In the brave new corona governed world.
You see one and hurriedly head over and say hi.
He nods his head and you move on closer. To a door of an alcohol outlet,licenced as a retail outlet. Outside of the door, man sits lazily,smoking and staring at nothing.
It starts drizzling and you duck under an awning. Prominently displayed on it is a politician's name. You try to catch the smoking man's eye. You are not lucky...you stare directly at him,and make open hand movements.
He signals no. He has been seeing you all along. You wait. The need grows stronger now that you are in the vicinity of salvation. You stamp your wet shoes. Trying to keep busy. You ask for a puff from a man whose jaws are working furiously as he crams leaf after leaf of green twigs into his mouth...green saliva clings to one corner of his mouth,as busily stuffs a green biodegradable bag with the green leaves. Collects fifty shillings from his buyer,his eyes bloodshot and blank. No words,just exchange. He sees nothing,except of course,the money and the green leaves.
All the while,your eyes are fixed on the man across the street as you puff on the piece of green saliva soaked cigarette,wondering what's taking them too long. You signal again. To the man across the street. He is no longer smoking nor sitting. He signals yes,and you cross the street and stand next to him. He knocks on the door twice and proceeds to unlock the padlock on the door. You can hear another padlock being unlocked on the inside. You can not wait. So near yet so far away.
Door unlocked,you slither in and the door is closed again. With padlocks. From both sides.
You head to the counter and ask for a 'quarter' ( 250ml divided into four). As you take your 'quarter',there is one,just one knock on the door. The lady behind the counter commands everyone to shut up and blows out the two candles providing light.
A big loud knock follows. And you know things have just gone to hell. Several more knocks follow and a man talks through the padlock opening claiming to know that you are in there. You take a sip of your watered down quarter and wait. Quietly.
After what seems like eternity,there is the sound of the padlock best being unlocked and the lady goes to unlock the inside padlock...salvation at last. It was the police,but they have collected their 'take away' and have gone away.
You sneak outside and cross the street as you head to labour to wait for those looking for day labourers. You pray that you will get to do an honest day's work today and earn. You know that you are screwed if you don't. The money you bought your 'quarter' with was your last.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world of hand to mouth drinking life. In the brave new corona governed world.
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