When the gypsy met the gorga

Chapter 2: Stefan

"Tell me what constant is?

For I have not known it

Tell me what permanent is?

For I shall never know it

The earth rotates with no pause

just as we travellers move around.."

"UGH!!!Who's that knocking on the door?", I mumbled.

"Stefan wake up!", called Tillie. I groaned, pulling the pillow over my head. "Stefan, Uncle Nicu's calling a meeting."

Uh oh. That got me up. I got up ,washed my face and brushed my teeth at the same time. I straightened my hair with my hands as I  got out. 'Hopefully no one will notice I'm in yesterdays clothes'. It's against the first rule of Romani law- Cleanlinss! My Dad was already going to kill me for being late to a meeting. Everyone was sitting on the benches by the time I got there. I stood outside next to Ferka in case any one got a whiff of B.O. My Dad raised his eyebrows at me but thankfully didn't say anything.

"Now that everyone is here, it is Mother's decision that we move to a new site," said Dad.

 That was too quick. Moving away was normal but this was early. We'd only been at that site for 6 months. I sucked my teeth. Nana must have be mad. That the best site we' had  been in since I can remember. The people around there were nice and accepting and respected our culture at a safe distance, well most of them did. I bent over Ferka, without taking my eyes off Dad. Nana was sitting behind him on a foldable chair in her rainbow knitted jumper, long black skirt and every  necklace she owned. She turned 60 last year but wierdly she looked 45. She only had a couple of prominent grey hairs . She looked fragile but was so energetic.

"You know Rob's daughter Kayla?", asked Ferka. I nodded. "Well her and her gang were talking to the gorga boy at the kiosk."

"That's it?"

"Nana believes that other kids will lose their dji." I scoffed a little too loud. Eveyone turned.

"Stefan, if you know a better place enlighten us", said Dad, sarcastically.

"Uh..no..I..." Then I saw a sign outside the wall of the compound seperating the motorway. "How about Britston?" They turned back to Dad.

Ferka stood up googling his phone."It's near a beach,"he said. Then he turned. "You owe me one", he whisperd. There were nods and agreeing mumbles. Onas turned and gave us withering looks.

"He looks constipated", I said.

"No, it looks like his shit ain't comin out."

"That's what I said."

"Oh.."

"So that's decided",said Nana.

"No!", yelled Onas. "How about Stanton. They have monthly green fairs."

"There's one in Clapton every week which is only 5 kms away from Britston practically glued to his phone.

"Britston it is then", said Nana.

Woah! My Dad agreed with a suggestion I made. Technically, Nana did but still. "We leave in 5 hours", said Dad. Everyone dispersed. Onas turned to us menacingly.

"Hester's in Britston".

"Oh", we said simultaneously.

"Your loss mate. Deal with it,"said Iaan coming over. His nose wrinkled. "Stefan, you reek. Get back into your caravan." Thank God, it was only Iaan. Nana would have given me her lemon grass goop to substitue for soap and that is stronger than B.O.

I ran back, had a shower, changed into a shirt and a pair of cargo shorts, pushed the bed back into the slot in the wall, put my 'washed' mug and plate into the kitchenette drawer. See us romanis are darn strict about cleanliness and hygiene and not a bunch of filthy animals as a lot of people assume. Then I hitched the caravan onto my car and got ready to drive after two hours.

Onas got in the truck with me so he could phone without anyone listening to his conversation. They lived in a relatively large two tiered motor van. Onas was saving up for a caravan, another reason as to why Hester took up a job. Onas just told me she was planning to take up another two jobs to help. Now it looked like she wouldn't even have one.

"I tried to suggest another place but they all agreed. Look babe we'll work it out..hopefully no one will see you working. I'll talk to the boys and we'll come up with something. Yeah, love you. Bye." He turned to me."What am I gonna do man?"

"Who were the boys you were talkin' 'bout?", I asked. He hit the back of my head."OWW!! I was kidding. Look we'll show the kumpania around the place.."

"Howzatt gonna help?!!", he snapped.

"We'll take 'em through ways away from the tea shop."

"Oh-kay but what if they end up running into it anyway?"

"Then your on your own."

"Thanks you dick", he said with a heavy hint of sarcasm.

"Anytime."

We followed the other vans. After an hour Onas wanted to drive so we switched places. On either side of the road were meadows and marshes with little birds twittering and squirrels screeching. Then we saw  a small neighbourhood with small shops.