The Real People Outside [REV.]

Vindicated after my beloved explained his attempt

to improve our standard of living failed to bring it

on par with those of his colleagues - beautiful people

who never go to Pretoria Station as it is below their

status, never make bus trips to the Cape - they fly,

never waste time reading but gym every day

Exquisite, long-finger-nailed women, well-cared

for houses with expensive possessions, good-taste

clothes resembling the Queen of England’s yellow

hat and crimplene look-alike coat - while I, he was

sorry to say, went to work like a tramp carrying a

big, unwieldy bag, wearing an unflattering, bright

Floral sack - the house a mess, study a den of iniquity,

kids’ rooms sources of evil; sulphur and brimstone are

too good for us - we drag him down to the level of a

hobo in sackcloth and ashes and IT IS ALL MY fault,

a low crocodile failing to instil discipline because

I live in eternal chaos and confusion

I change his life into a low-key living hell; I read

books and have theories but can’t atone for being

BAD housekeeper, terrible cook with bad taste in

clothes, wearing no make-up, lacking finesse, style

and sophistication - oh, did he forget to mention

his lovely colleague’s glamorous daughter who

Won several beauty contests, and another colleague’s

son - Victor Ludorum for academic & sport prowess

while our kids live in squalor; and June, back from

visiting friends, recounts the same experience as

yours truly, the Ice Princess, living the same kind

of non-life, reading books - taken to task for

Her dishevelled hair, boring earrings and daft dress,

listens to my experience, and with a mischievous

smile, agrees we live in a different world from the

REAL people outside…

[8 July 2014]