STUDIO83

Auntie's "home" is an alley between an old, dilapidated building and a huge Universal Church. I walk thru the alley as a short cut as I walk to walk. Save for a few scrawny trees, there isn't much shelter.

Its a crispy summer morning and I'm walking to work. Before I turn into the alley I can already hear Auntie. She is a humble, meek old lady, when she's in a good mood. Right now though, the sewerage pipe in her mouth had burst. References to mothers, genitals and odd forms of beastiality flew liberally.

I eventually turn into the alley it begins to make sense why she spewing fire and papsak. The security company in charge of the block of buildings were evicting her. For the fourth time this month. She was livid. The other "housemates" were merely mumbling their protests. Mostly because their mostly stuck in a perpetual state of hungover. But Auntie was hobbling around with her spaghetti legs, animatedly furious.

I was going to pass by without saying much. I had seen this scene many, many times before. I knew by the end of the day she'd be back. So I was strolling by behind her when she turned around. "My friend!", she shouted in a raspy voice. I greeted back and asked her what was the problem. "Ag, dey jus doing dey job", she responded. Her demeanour flipping like a switch. We carried on with our conversation as if nothing was happening.

I had not seen her for many months so asked her where she had been. "I was in hospital, my friend. You see, I had cancer and so they cut off my breasts. But, ag, its life. I'm grateful and blessed." The switch flipped again when they took her favourite blanket. "Haay, jou ma se..." And off she went.

I walked away, dazed and confused.

Poster + Words: Vus