One Giant Step for a Black Girl Praying to God in a Cubicle

Chapter 1: Learn to Dance in the Rain and Never Forget Your Reflection!

Nandi sat by her window in her faintly lit room as she watched the trees waving to and fro in the cold, grey, crisp winter evening. Her Shiba Inu was laying on her bed snoring cutely after a nice doggie meal. Nandi wondered how her life would be in Korea. She had been one of the few blessed individuals who got a job in South Korea as either a PR managers or stylist or costume designer or producer for KPOP idol groups.

"can you believe it, Ginger? Me? A PR manager in Korea, for an idol group?" Nandi whispered to her Shiba Innu as she still looked outside the window as if the trees would give her an answer to her worries. Ginger was still fast asleep and her snoring had become normal to Nandi as if she wasn't snoring at all.

Nandi thought of all the friends she would leave behind. Korea was 9 hours ahead and there is no way her family and friends here in South Africa would be able to catch her at a suitable time. Korea was also fasted paced, how was she to keep up with all the people she would leave here at home?

Boom! Nandi's thoughts were interrupted by the thunder that ripped through the grey skies and rain poured down covering the ground. She could smell the soil and hear the thumping of the raindrops as they hit the windows. Nandi rushed outside after she grabbed her gumboots from her closet to wear them and woke Ginger up with a loud whisper. She and ginger swooshed outside and they jumped in the puddles up and down and ginger started howling and you know what? What the heck? Nandi joined her in howling. Rain made Nandi think of her younger days when she used to visit her uncle in the village and she and her cousins would chase each other in the rain. Life had been boring in the city but she could count on God to send rain at certain times of the year to keep her memories and sanity alive. Ever since, Ginger joined in on the festivities of dancing in the rain.

Nandi's neighbor watched from next door at the 23-year-old howling like an imbecile outside. She shook her head and carried on drinking coffee and watched the rain from her own window. She had gotten used to Nandi's "weird episodes". But were they really weird ? Has society become so conceited and cold that they've forgotten the beauty of letting go and basking in one's inner child once in a while? Nandi thought people of today had let go of the what true happiness is. They've focused on how they looked and who was watching - something she and Ginger clearly blocked out and were having the time of their lives

"if all the rain where lemon drops and gum drips, ohhhhh what a rain that would be!! Standing outside. . ..no! jumping outside in the rain with my mouth open wide. Lalalalalalala!"

On and on and on and on Nandi sang. She sang her lungs out trying to cover the thunder that was once again ripping through the sky but this time trying to interrupt her singing. Ginger had stopped howling and was standing under the mango tried that Nandi panted herself. She didn't like mangoes. But they reminded her also of the village. Ginger was scared of thunder but she watched as Nandi sang and sang and sang. Who would have thought dogs would be so observant?

Nandi stopped and walked over to Ginger "oh c'mon, Ginger!" Ginger looked at her and howled in protest. "c'mon. Sing with me". Nandi gave up and stared at the sky. She wonder if God also thought she was crazy. She often thought what was going through God's mind when she did certain things. Like when she was younger she wondered if God blushed every time she blew Him a kiss after praying. "Nah" she thought. She closed her eyes and felt the rain fall on her eyelids and run down the sides of her face. She opened her mouth and as she was about to talk to God, rain fell into her mouth and she ended up laughing. She closed her mouth, listened to the rain some more and opened her mouth to pray again.

" God, two things I ask from you. Nope. . . make that three;

ONE: Is to never forget You and the Love You've shown me