I arrived at my grandmothers house in the back of a truck listening to Reverend Horton Heat wearing the clothing I left England in. My head was fuzzy with sleep and my body ached from laying in a tiny cramped position. Feet were still swollen from flying.
I saw my gran and my uncle. I wanted out of the damned car, waiting for the guy that drove us to open the door was just torture. I really just wanted to get out of the car before I began clawing my way out. It had been nearly two years since I had seen the huge shoulders and clump of grey hair that is my gran. I had missed that smell of perfume and cigarettes. That hug that only my gran knows how to deliver. My uncle was there too. Just as silly and crazy as he had been the last time I saw him, only a little larger with shorter hair.
Next with bags unloaded and being shlept up the path into the big house, my great gran stood at the little gate in the house (the one that stops the dogs from going to the other side of the house. She stood there with her wrinkles and her calm, beautiful face. She had aged only a little since I last saw her. I remember her face so well I used to see it in passing by ladies when I missed her in England, I'd see the pink color of her old nail polish on wrinkled hands and my heart would ache. My greatgran, with her slightly hunched back and her stick-skinny legs stood there with the hood of her jumper up, strings tied under her chin, and her face lit up and beamed as we came in and hugged her, kisses for each cheek and one for her lips. I missed her more than anything. I am glad she is still alive and kicking.
I don't think I can leave Africa again until I no longer have my greatgran to visit. I've missed her so much. Her papery skin and the beautiful wrinkles that mark her out as a lifelong smoker. She told me she ha been smoking since the age of 17. She even moaned at me for not having a cigarette tin to keep my shitty roll-ups in. She is a great believer in class and poise, one must carry oneself with respect and have ladylike manners, I always get a telling off for the metal I put in my face but I don't mind so much, it reminds me of who my greatgran is and how important she is to me. I love her lots.
I will write more another time.
xxxxx
F
