In The Style of Mrs Dalloway: Stream of Consciousness

“The air was in the early morning; like a flap of a wave…” (1).

South Africa
My favorite part of rain is the moments after. I see the rainbow so clearly from across the mountains and the wide open plain. All of them are still asleep, I’m the first of my group to wake up and fill the teapot.

London
I barely slept last night. It’s been two days since my daughter has left for her trip. Two days! I haven’t slept at all. Damn her school. How could they allow children to go to the wild? There’s nothing special about that. Call going to Primark at noon wild. Not going to some random grassy plain in Africa with lions. Those kids won’t come back. My daughter seems to think that by watching Discovery Channel she can survive on her own. That’s what the college experience is about isn’t it? She’s still my baby girl. It’s hot. I should open a window.

South Africa
I breathe in the clean air and it fills my lungs. I try to compare the smell to something I’ve experienced before, but nothing comes to mind. Yes, nothing. It smells like nothing. It doesn’t smell like perfume. It doesn’t smell like pollution. It doesn’t smell like food…yet. I’m confused. I thought everything had a smell. Is my nose blocked? No…I can breathe perfectly well. Look at me, I can breathe!

London
Ah fresh air. Who turns on a siren at 9am? It’s no time for loud noises. But that’s London eh. Where is that iPhone of mine? I hate iPhones. I never wanted one. But everyone says it’s the latest fashion. Everyone has one. I’ll send Amna a message. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll send her a message! Dear Amna…no no no. Dearest Amna. No. My dearest daughter Amna. I miss you and I hope you are doing well. Do not loose that pocket-knife of your fathers. You know how much he loves it…

South Africa
Bzzzt. Shit! What was that? Ohhh it was my phone! Crap. I’m not supposed to have it turned on out here. Cool! I can get reception! I should check if Noor is on MSN. I miss her! A text! From Noor? Oh just from my mom. Aww. She’s so sweet! I miss her too. Wow. I really do. I mean I barely even hugged her goodbye because I was checking if I brought dad’s pocket-knife. Umm wait. Where is it? Oh no! I must have left it by the fire at the last camp-site! We can’t go back there now can we? No… the guide just told me no way. He laughed. She’s going to kill me. I’ll just tell her a monkey stole it.