1 minute read
MinicabElsewhere EvelinaAnissimova
Evelina Anissimova is a multicultural playwright, poet, polyglot & writer. Herplay ‘Body Odours’ has premieredat the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year. One ofher favourite themes is cultural difference.
Ihadneverunpackedmybags,neverdaredtoseeitashome, yourroomfulofsweetairthatswelledandbeatwhenever Icameandhunglikeanoldman'sskinwhenIclosedthedoor. Todayyouhelpedmeliftmybagsintothetrunkofaminicab. Thedriverstoodbyasweranupanddownthestairs.
Advertisement
Hedrove,hiseyesdrippingquestions.Iaskedtostop
amileuptheroad.Thelandlordwantedacashdeposit, asifcashcan'tbetorn,can'tbeburned,faked,bummed, smearedwithsweatorblownawayundertheLondonwinds.
IhadcomethatsummerfromacountrywithanATMaround eachcorner,vomiting,vomitingmoneyandhereitjustspat outmycard.Amansatunderthedispenser.Ithought hewasrestinghislegsbutthenIsawthehabitinhiseyes, andthenthehunger.
WhenIwasaway,youlatertoldme,hespoke. Howwemet,hewondered,andwhere.Whywecamehere. Howlongwe’dbeen‘us’,hewondered,andhowlongwe’dstay. ButwhenIsatbackdownhedrovesilentlyon.
WepulledupbeforeaboxofbrickandIrangthebell. Theroomhadfourwalls,nudelikeawhore’sskin butinthemouldbythebedIcouldmakeoutabulldozer ortheEiffelTowerifIsquintedandbelieved.
Youdidn'twanttokeepthedriverwaitingsoyouleft andIsatdownonthebed.Mister,butwhy, thedriveraskedasyoudroveaway,isshehereandyouthere? YounevertoldmehesaidthatbutIswearIheard.
