The bus is late… again. I am left shivering on the side of the street… again. Thirteen minutes pass before I see the graffiti-stained bus speeding down the street; it shrieks as it arrives at a sudden halt in front of me and the doors burst open. Obnoxious school kids fill the bus, laughing and talking loudly. I grit my teeth in annoyance, biting down my tongue to stop myself from screaming profanities at them. Not that they wouldn’t deserve it.

A short, makeup-indulged girl tumbles into me and laughs. I grunt irritatedly and shove her off.
“Watch it!” I snarl; my face probably turning greenish by now. I ignore the glares of the bus driver and the snickers of school kids gossiping about me. I just wish everyone would shut up, but instead, I am greeted by students avoiding eye-contact with me and moving their school bags onto the seats next to them, disallowing me from sitting. Arrogant, undisciplined, slimy little-

“Hey loser, on yer way to the nearest homeless shelter are ya?” a sweaty teenage boy in sports clothes arrogantly yells at me. I glare directly at him, looking into his beady black eyes that are laced with amusement. He pompously sits with his legs spread-out and arms folded in his self-entitled throne at the back of the bus. The kids around him giggle but continue to avoid looking at me for longer than a quick glance. The furious tides of my despair rise to the surface and I prepare to lash out – but I am interrupted by the screeching of the bus tires as they stop at an excruciating pace. The doors open and the cold, cruel wind wraps itself around me, I am just as unwelcome out there as I am on this bus.

This Old Mandarin Tree

I celebrate and sing myself as I climb through the tree!
Climb a little higher!
Children’s laughter rings through my ears.
The gorgeous sun beams against my back,
A sensational feeling!
My name is called but I run farther away, determined to make it to the top.

I slide from branch to branch,
Gliding with ease, every movement memorised.
Arm, leg, lift. Left arm, right arm. Pull.
Green leaves, summer breeze, wonderful life!
My small steady hands. Swift and quick!
I reach the tree’s end and gaze at the top of passing strangers’ heads.
The summer sky is luminous for the grey clouds have gone home to rest.
Birds flying, people gathering, and the wind is singing!
It sings a melody so euphonious, my ears are in Heaven!

From the top of this old mandarin tree I am invincible!
I can see everything from here but nothing sees me.
I will never come down!
I rest against a branch and pick a mandarin to eat.
Peel its skin, let its divine flavour fill my insides.
Bliss! Every one of my senses is ignited!
The leaves move in the wind and I close my eyes,
Embracing her gentle hands that push my hair back.
The sky has turned a mesmerising orange!
The sun kisses my nose!
We hold each other tight and find comfort in one another’s company.

This is home. Right here. This feeling is home.
From this soil, these roots, these leaves;
They are me.
I celebrate and sing them!

Some photos of my cousins and I in my Nonno’s garden, besides “the old mandarin tree” 🙂