Lakemba, Wiley Park and Punchbowl.

We (brother Jeff and I) were ‘cruising’ up and down Haldon Street Lakemba when I spied some clothing shops so I said ‘Let me out’ and alighted from the car to explore the shops. I wanted to find a suitable top to wear for a coming birthday party… I was unaware that I was in fact going into shops which sold ‘modest clothing’ and therefore short sleeves were in limited supply. I was empty handed when I began gave up the search and began to walk up the hill to where my brother’s car was parked at the top of the street.

Limping and sore footed I was looking out for somewhere I could rest for a while. I saw a seat occupied by a woman with parcels strewn clear across the space. She was fully decked out in a burka. Her two little girls were playing nearby. She must have caught my glance as she said. ‘do you want to sit down’? And she cleared a spot for me. I gratefully sat down and took a long look at mine host. All I could see were her brown eyes through her little eye opening in her burka. I could tell she was slim and her voice was young.

We gazed at each other and the little girls stared at me. ‘I used to live around here’ I ventured….she straight away was interested….’ I came to Australia ten years ago…and lived at Bankstown, now I live here ‘ she said. I smiled and her eyes smiled. So we sat chatting…She opened a pizza box which had pieces of hot pizza..’.Would you like a piece’? I took a slice. ‘This is my sister’ she said as another young woman appeared in a burka. Her garments were being caught by the breeze and seemed to billow up around her.

I had to move on as I was expected at the car. Although it was just a short encounter, the connection between us was intense and seemed beset with longing and gratitude and joy all mixed together. Two worlds briefly met and I was tearing myself away. I walked on a little and glanced back and saw that she was watching me go….I went a little further and glanced back again.

‘I would never starve in Lakemba’ was my thought, I had no doubt that I would be offered a nibble here and some pizza there. Hospitality was in the air. I hoped she and I would meet again someday when I could take more time in Lakemba.

Christine