EXTRACT FOR
Sable
(Kelly Addams)

The taxi swerved around a pothole and Erin grasped her seatbelt and closed her eyes while her best friends Debbie and Su-Lin chattered unconcerned in the back seat completely oblivious to the nightmare playing in Erin's mind. From the front she had an unobstructed view of what lay ahead. The frantic and seemingly suicidal motorcyclists, the road that appeared to be more crater than tar, women and children risking life and limb as they dodged between speeding trucks and buses with woven baskets of fruit and snacks balanced on their heads. It was her first time in Africa... her first time to stray further than the short hop from her British Midlands home to the Spanish Costas. Now she was outside of Europe, outside of her comfort zone, and decidedly nervous. The driver didn't make her feel any safer either as a mixture of booze and body odour wafted across her. She hoped they didn't have to go much further but resisted the urge to ask the question, she seriously didn't want to risk distracting him, he was erratic enough without her drawing his limited attention.

Giggles broke out as her friends spotted the white sands and azure of the Indian Ocean, the scruffy buildings had ended, now Erin dragged her eyes from the road and gazed out of the side window. This is what they had travelled for, pristine beaches and palm trees, warm and crystal clear water all under a tropical sun.

***

It had taken Debbie weeks to convince her narrow minded and unadventurous friend to spread her wings, phrases like "For God's sake Erin, you're twenty two, not ninety two," or "You should be partying like tomorrow will never come," or "Let your hair down babes... just for once!" were used repeatedly until the shy and introvert girl finally agreed, albeit reluctantly. Now she stared at paradise and a smile slowly formed on her lips, it was beginning to feel good. There was a scent now, from outside, a scent that chased away stale alcohol and sour sweat, an ocean smell, spices, she even imagined that she could catch coconut wafting from the palms. Entranced she allowed herself to relax, so what if the driver whiffed of booze, there were plenty of times she had driven after a heavy night, she had probably been surrounded by a smog of stale alcohol also... didn't mean she was drunk, and it didn't mean he was drunk either.

Erin turned in her seat and glanced into the back, they were holding hands, but that was nothing new, Debbie and Su-Lin were inseparable, and had been since the first time that she met them.

Their relationship had come as a shock at first, and straight laced Erin had stared in disbelief as she witnessed her first lesbian kiss. They had been in the café where she worked part time, in a quiet booth, she had brought the menu for dessert and found Debbie already enjoying hers. Dumbstruck she had stared, long moments passed while she attempted to work out what she should do, was it best to turn and walk away, she could always give them a minute before trying again, she wondered if it would be rude to interrupt them, how would they react, was their kiss public? Or where they stealing a private moment of intimacy? Unsure which option to follow, and feeling rather stupid she was stood open mouthed and staring as they broke their embrace.

"I think she wants to join us!" Su-Lin laughed as she sent Erin scarlet, the waitresses cheeks and neck flushing deeply. 

Both girls laughed as Erin spluttered, caught watching them she struggled to find the words of denial and tripped over her own tongue, flustered and embarrassed she dropped the menu on the table and fled.

Debbie had calmed her as she got the bill, apologising for having embarrassed the pretty waitress she had promised to return and left a tip that far exceeded the norm. Erin had watched the couple depart and shuddered. She couldn't come to terms with what she had witnessed, she had led a sheltered life... Sure, she knew about lesbians, but they were like urban legends to her, heard of but probably not real!

***

As promised Debbie did return, alone, and repeated her apology. "Su is more open and forward than I am," she explained, "I tend to consider others, but Su doesn't give a damn, we are what we are... why hide it? That's her view. Maybe she's right, maybe I'm only half way out of the closet!"

Erin had smiled uncomfortably and nodded even though the conversation was foreign to her, half out of the closet... what on earth can that mean? she asked herself but decided not to probe. An hour had passed and the café had been deserted, without any real excuse to avoid the conversation Erin had allowed herself to relax. Debbie wasn't a bad person, she was witty, intelligent, smartly presented and well spoken. Slightly taller than average she had a good figure, an elongated hour glass. Long strawberry blond hair was pulled back into a loose plait that reached the small of her back, she wore a severe charcoal grey business skirt that emphasised her tight waist and generous hips, combined with a cream silk blouse that barely hid the twin assets that appeared to be straining against their confinement and eager to break free. Debbie had a long face in perfect proportion with her body, but unlike many other women of a similar shape she had a glow that enhanced her beauty, no one would ever accuse her of being horse-faced!

Tentatively Erin shifted the conversation around to age and Debbie revealed that she was approaching thirty two, a statement that created a small gasp of surprise.

"No way, I thought you were only a couple of years older than me." Erin exclaimed in genuine shock.

Debbie grinned and looked the slim waitress in the eye before taking her in from head to toe. "I've got ten years on you I would guess... how old are you, twenty one? Twenty two?"

"Twenty two." Erin agreed, and felt very young.

"Same age as Su!" Debbie stated.

The conversation meandered on for a while, much to Erin's relief it never touched upon the kiss that she had witnessed, they avoided sexuality and any hint of lesbianism. 

We could be friends Erin admitted silently, she didn't feel uncomfortable any more, she actually liked the older woman, she had an aura that fed confidence, so when Debbie suggested that they all meet at the weekend for drinks, Erin nodded her agreement happily.

That had been eight months earlier and now she found herself in the front seat of a rusted and rattling taxi that battled with the traffic heading out of Dar es Salam on the Tanzanian coast. Two weeks lay ahead of her, fourteen days of sun, sand and a slower pace of life. A gift from Debbie.

"Just bring some fun money," she had urged, "I got the hotel and flights at rock bottom."

Debbie owned a large travel agency in town so she always had access to bargains, with a grin Erin had accepted her good fortune and set aside her nerves for once. An adventurous spirit that she had always denied blossomed inside, and she began to count the days with growing excitement.

But now she had arrived, and little did she know as the palm trees rushed by, but her life was about to take a most unexpected turn.