atom11:A Way of Seeing
A Way of Seeing
“The tree was easily identified. It stood a short distance from the main entrance to the ministry, a large acacia tree with a single wide canopy that provided a wide circle of shade on the dusty ground below. Immediately beside the truck were several strategically placed stones — comfortable seats for anyone who might wish to sit under the tree and watch the daily business of Gaborone unfold before him. Now, at five minutes to one, the stones were unoccupied.”
The man approached the tree cautiously. Staring at Mma Ramotswe, it seemed as if he wanted to say something but could not quite bring himself to speak.
Mma Ramotswe smiled at him. “Good afternoon, Mr Sipoleli,” she said. “It is hot today, is it not? That is why I am under this tree. It is clearly a good place to sit in the heat.” The man nodded. “Yes”, he said. “I normally sit here.” Mma Ramotswe affected surprise. “Oh? I hope that I am not sitting on your rock, Mr Sipoleli. I found it here and there was nobody sitting on it.” He wade an impatient gesture with his hands. “My rock? Yet it is, as a matter of fact. That is my rock. But this is a public place and anybody can sit on it, I suppose.”
Mma Ramotswe rose to her feet, “But Mr Sipoleli, you must have this rock. I shall sit on that one over on that side.”
“No, Mma,,” he said, hurriedly, his tone changing. “I do not want to inconvenience you. I can sit on that rock.”
“No you sit on this rock here. It is your rock. I would not have sat on it had I thought that it was another person’s rock. I can sit on this rock, which is a good rock too. You sit on that rock.”
Quoted from Morality for Beautiful Girls (Smith, 2001, pp.120-121), as read in Experiential Landscape: An approach to people, place and space (Thwaites and Simkins,2001, pp.ix).
