Tabitha’s day out after 35 days of lock down (Part 1)

On the 4th of May 2020, I decided to get in the CBD since our dear President had remembered us the commerce sector by lifting the lock down from stage five to stage two. I grinned happily when I saw the recommendations for those who were allowed to be out there. Thank God, I had a registered business and had a product to sell that is highly in demand. I am selling the cloth face masks that I ordered from my aunt. Yes, they have a very low percentage effectiveness of taking care of the virus but they are good enough to keep one safe. Considering our economy, people look at the value for their money more so by virtue of the face masks being washable, many people are after them compared to the disposable ones. Well, am after the dollars shamelessly, I look for opportunities to get me that extra dollar. One church sister of mine taught me, “If you ain’t ashamed to put it in your purse, don’t be ashamed to look for it”, so yea if it’s legal and right I go for it. I know that corona is very real and the best way to be safe is to stay at home but money-making opportunities leave me with no choice because I need the money. I’ve got a few financial obligations I am required to meet, hence the need to maximise on every cent that comes by.

So, on this day Nath my awesome friend dropped me off in town. He is just that one friend you need in your friendship bag, very loving and loyal. I headed to the office, a place I had missed so much. At the entrance, I received a warm welcome from one of the guards who I click very well with. He is pretty elderly so I call him Sekuru. He wasn’t putting on a face mask so my first question after greetings was, “Sekuru where is your mask and why are you not complying with the regulations?” He told me that their company was yet to deliver them then asked if I had extras. Of course being the organised lady I am, I had the tissue-like two ply meant for give aways so I blessed him with two, at which he immediately gave one to his colleague. I gracefully walked into the elevator, my favorite one. It felt good being back at work.

As I reached the 6th floor where I work, it was all sombre, there was no one at the reception. How I miss those guys who normally occupy those empty chairs I was looking at. They always give me a hard time but I love them, work is not work without them.
All corridor windows were closed and no one had bothered to switch on the lights so it was a bit dim. It really looked like such a dead place to me.

I got to our work station, Office 617, and oh yes, someone was in as I didn’t have the keys. There was King Solo busy punching on his laptop. He greeted me warmly, the corona way and asked if I was selling face masks, which I gladly confirmed he became my first customer for the day. We chatted for a long time about our families, COVID-19, opportunities to be embraced during these times, it was fun. Tinashe, a guy from the next office joined us, he saw the scarves that I was selling and bought one plus a face mask. The day was really going well for me, I had two other people who had placed orders. One of them being Rusere, my favorite taxi driver. When I was about to leave the office around 1400hrs, I looked for him and went to meet him. I then gave him a client Tinashe and didn’t mind a joy ride though deep inside I knew that I wanted him to help me deliver my last order for the day. We started catching up on our way to dropping Tinashe, he indeed is one crazy guy but I love his big heart. We picked up two more people along the way since transport is scarce. We dropped Tinashe off at Helensvale shops and he bought us some drinks. En route from there we picked up three passengers again. Just as we passed Sam Levy’s we got to a police road block and two of the passengers were asked to disembark because of the need to practice social distancing. Well considering the scarcity of transport, I didn’t consider that necessary. Rusere pleaded with the police but they were adamant so he asked the two guys to drop off and wait for us ahead but unfortunately they couldn’t do so as they were called by police in some army green tent. We tried to wait for them to no avail so we then picked two more people. They told us they had been waiting at the bus stop for two hours and no ZUPCO so they had decided to stroll to town.

I managed to give my last client her mask along the way, she was so scared to be caught by the police without one. She was elated when we finally got to where I had asked her to wait. One of the passengers liked my product and bought one. It was a pretty good day for me but don’t get too excited Tabitha, the day is not yet over.

My nightmare started when I got to the rank, I felt all my energy being sapped as I saw crowds of people waiting for the buses. I started searching for my bus to Crowborough and couldn’t find it. I then decided to join the Kuwadzana bus queue, I could take a walk from Kuwadzana to Crowborough. The distance was not so bad, about two kilometres. Three buses filled whilst I stood in the queue where we were 30 cm apart and the bus was carrying thirty-five passengers only. It honestly made no sense to me, considering how people were squashed outside, then only to exercise social distancing in the bus. The Crowborough bus then arrived, I rushed to the queue but didnt have any hope of getting a seat, by then there was no bus at the former queue. Just as I pondered on who to call for aid my awesome brother called and told me he was now in town. I rushed to where he was parked and he topped up my masks since I had more orders to be delivered the following day.

I don’t know how I am going to do it, because yes we are in stage two but incapacitated. We just don’t fully understand how to comply with the preventive measures. The “put on a mask” for everyone has become a joke. I saw different kinds of masks, people are improvising, it’s not everyone who has money to spare on a mask. It’s so sad that some people still believe that as black people we are immune to the virus. I just pray that it spares us. Of course some are caught in between poverty and the pandemic. They just need to be out there to feed their families.

Some are like me who can’t miss that extra dollar, when opportunity arises. I just can’t help it but find myself out there hustling although trying my best to stay safe. I know very well that I am more safe in my jungle than out there.