The small car bumped down off the highway and onto the familiar dusty roads that led to Lowveld. Trees and shrubs lined the road as the sparse grassland spread either side of it descending into what was always known as the bush.
The car grinded to a halt as its driver noticed a small black object in the middle of the road a few yards ahead. He got out and bent down to pick up the stag beetle and place it to the side so that he could drive on.
Not that he was in a rush or anything. He didn't really know what he was even doing here! It had been a spur of the moment visit, but one he knew that he'd regret if he didn't do it.
In all honesty Max couldn't help himself. After all the turmoil he had endured recently he felt he had to remind himself of the simple life he used to have.
He drove on admiring the scenery as he went, he barely had to look at the road he was following, it was quiet as always. A signpost and arrow ahead caught his eye. Straining his eyes Max read what it said before leaning back in his seat with a sigh.
'Leopards Den'
He continued to drive past it.
"Bad idea" he muttered to himself now rethinking this whole day. Why was he putting himself through the danger of bumping into anyone? Or even the danger of realising what he missed?
He turned down a road in the opposite direction, the scenic route. After a while he stopped the car again and got out to admire the view. As he was on the top of a small hill Max could see for miles, the veldt stretched out before him as the sun shone warmly onto his bare arms. The yellows and greens of the surroundings complimented the bright blue sky as leaves rustled slightly in the breeze. Behind the fence to one side of the road a warthog sniffed around on the floor, Max noticed and walked towards him.
The warthog scuttled away in fear, Max chuckled to himself. The simple things in life were important he realised.
Max clambered back into the car and turned the ignition on. The car started before cutting out again.
He tried again, luckily this time it started properly and he drove off continuing down the road.
Before long the car had turned into the main road that ran through the centre of the small town, it was beginning to make odd spluttering noises so Max slowed down anyway. People moved about either side of the car, visiting the market stalls or chatting with others.
Max leant back and relaxed observing the people in the place he once called home. It felt like only yesterday he was mixing with these people himself, running his business. Working with these people, they were his customers.
Though it hurt to admit it, still after all these years he missed it. Knowing your customers, the regulars that come in every day. It was a different world to running a bar in the city, any one would come in, any given night of the week, though he was proud of the buzz and the atmosphere it created it was not the same friendly one there was round here. And it wasn't just that that he missed, sure enough in the city there's people around all the time but here, he had a close network. He had a stable, what he guessed was, his family.
Though the past few months had been tough on him and he'd spent more and more time thinking about his old life, he hadn't realised how much he missed it until he was back.
The bar came into sight as the car steadied along. Though the framework was the same it didn't feel the same. The sign outside didn't read his name, nor did it encompass the style it once did, his own twist.
Max laughed a little at his early business choices remembering the flashing and admittedly cheap lights he'd had here. Running the bar in Cape Town had meant everything was a lot smarter and swish than the one here, but that's what the people wanted round here, the friendly atmosphere.
The car grunted again and spluttered further. It slowed and suddenly stopped.
Max sighed in frustration. This wasn't even his car! It was a hire one that had to be driven back to Jo'burg by tonight! There was no time for breakdowns!
He realised there was nothing he could do but to get out and seek some sort of help. Fingers crossed he could find a complete stranger who wouldn't question his reappearance in this place.
Then again, the garage was no less than 10 yards away. He had no choice.
Max walked amongst the fuel pumps towards the small building.
"Max!" A voice ahead of him called.
Max looked up and was greeted by a friendly face, "Tim!" he greeted.
"How you doing man?" Tim asked
"Yeah I'm ok thanks, how's business?"
"IT's good man, Ash is still working at the bar" Tim nodded over to the bar
"That's great" Max smiled
"Didn't expect to see you back round here, what's going on?"
"Yeah, erm nor did I. Been in the city for a few days so I thought I'd have a drive round the area"
"Nice one, so you're seeing the family round here then?"
"Not really family now eh Tim?" Max admitted
"Sorry man" Tim patted him on the back
"Was wondering if you could help me, my hire car's broken down, could you take a look at it? Jeeps are more my kinda thing"
"No problem" Tim chuckled as Max showed him the way.
After about half an hour's work on the car they hadn't made any progress. Max had called up the hire company and explained the situation yet they didn't have any available cars to help him get back to Jo'burg. Tim said he couldn't do anything until another mechanic returned that evening, and even then it may be an overnight job.
Great, Max thought.
"Sorry man" Tim shrugged
"Don't worry about it, there's nothing you can do" Max smiled.
"Ash is working at the moment if you fancy a drink"
Max looked over towards the bar, tempting as it looked.
"Don't think I'd be playing it safe" he said
"It'll be fine!" Tim reassured him, "I'll go check see if anyone's about" he grinned.
Max let him disappear off towards the bar, it had been nice catching up with Tim. Though he wasn't a very close friend he had been around since Max first moved into the area, his brother Ash had been one of the first guys he employed at the bar. They were great guys.
"Coast is clear" Tim yelled.
Max made his way over the road, though he knew he shouldn't if no one was about it should be fine.
Oooooohhhh what d'ya thinks gonna happen?
:P
Thanks for all your reviews so far. Emily x
