10: Martial Arts Instructor

Loud honks of cars deliverd by angry drivers beaten in the hot afternoon sun was the sight to behold upon Catherine's arrival outside the gates of the hotel. The little competition did have persistent candidates. Frustration seemed to roll off in beads of sweat on faces of unlucky drivers with little or no air conditioning in their vehicles as the traffic moved as fast as an asthmatic snail. Waves of heat that rolled in from the atmosphere did little or showed no effect on the fast-walking pedestrians. The market across the road was over filled with activities. The yells of the roadside butcher attracting buyers to his wares by mimicking sounds that could turn heads at a Justin Bieber concert...*yea,he was that good*...The gossiping shop owners generously displaying their wares served along with a good dose of envy to surrounding competitors who scurried hurriedly to eligible customers like predator on prey. Children running and playing along the road with no single care in the world...*or probably careless parents*... Swatting flies like a martial arts instructor,the pepper seller protected himself to return to his sleep oblivious to the world...*yea drifting in the 'kungfu' realm*... 'how one could sleep with all that noise...?...muttered Catherine as she shook her head to snap out of her day dream. The colorful emblem amused her to no end as she wished her friends were here to witness it with her...'her friends'...sarah would have been particularly ecstatic with the singing butcher...she thought sadly as she made a mental note to call them soon. Putting on her black shades,she skipped to catch up with Edward who was rather fascinated by the old bus that seemed to be widely available on the streets.

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Grabbing his bag,he jumped into the front seat of a rusty but stable vehicle followed by an adrenaline filled Catherine who found comfort at the back seat closest to the window...*Take a chill pill...goldilocks*...He told the driver their location who in turn looked back at them to give a welcoming smile and in an accent Catherine could not quite displace, he had said "hello foreigners"...Edward happy with his newly made discussion buddy engaged in a cheery conversation with the old man. She shyly offered a little wave and a barely audible 'hello...' to which he luckily heard and returned with a smile of his own. She later discovered he was called 'Baba Tade' as he spoke with adoration of his grandchild. He started the job as a local driver to meet ends and provide for his large family as his son had passed away the previous year. Catherine already took a liking to the friendly and outspoken old man as he reminded her of her grandfather...'Pops greg'...that had passed away due to old age when she was a child. He shared her blue eyes and had quite the resemblance with her father. He loved to talk and loved to tell stories which never failed to thrill little Catherine with a friendly smile that stuck to her memory even after such a long time. Even though 'Baba Tade' had little knowledge in English,he spoke in ways that could be understood by patient listeners. Edward's face was like a kid in a candy store when he began telling stories of the popular goddess of the city. Not like Edward hadn't goggled for details and history of the 'goddess' but the rich and unfiltered version of the locals was what drew him in. 'Baba Tade' was a strong beliver and follower of the deity and was aquainted with the famous Australian artist 'Susanne Wenger' who was said to have contributed majorly to the 'sacred groove' of the goddess in the past. Catherine wasn't buying most of the story but like a moth drawn to a flame,she was drawn in by the confidence and total belief of the old man as he spoke.He spoke of the artist popularly called 'the white prophetess' with so much gratitude and appreciation that she felt a surge of respect for the late artist. Arriving at their destination,Edward thanked the kind old man as he refused payment and upon persistent pleas,he reluctantly accepted payment which according to him was too big of an amount to handle. A knowing smile crossed her father's face as he slipped off the bus and waved to the grateful teary eyed man. Catherine also waved at the retreating outline of his white and blue exhaust polluting bus skidding down the road...*yea...wave at the bus weirdo*...She smiled as she felt happy and fulfilled to have helped make someone's day.