She passes by me
Gives me a look and smiles
She taps her drunk son
They stop at my stand
‘Sweetie I need water’
I pick a small cup
She takes it down
She leeks of liquor

Her son smiles at me
I fake a smile back
He raises his ‘tusker’ can
As if to toast for his drunk mother
I nod and turn away

She picks a pen with shaking hands
She leaves her number
She signs my book and asks her son to do the same
‘ thank you’ I utter
‘ it’s okay sweetie. I know this is hard plus thanks God you are pretty’
She walks away unsteadily
I look at her and smile sadly
She would make such a beautiful sober friend.

always winnie

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