1.) SETTING
The scene of the story is the Oriental Plaza, Fordsburg, Johannesburg; a shopping centre where shops are owned by Indian people. The Plaza developed as a result of the apartheid governments' Group Areas Act, which forced different race groups to live separately.
2.) PLOT/SUMMARY
Mrs Nebo, wife of a newly appointed Foreign Affairs Minister Clive Nebo, and her friend Margaret were on a shopping expedition. The two ladies came at the portals of the Plaza, each in a chauffeur-driven Mercedes Benz,with their two escorts. Upon strolling the Plaza, Mrs Nebo saw a lovely Indian dress on a dummy in a shop window and decided to go buy it. After she bought a similar garment , she asked wether there was a silk scarf that will match perfectly with the dress she has just bought, but all scarves were not of her interest. She went from shop to shop until she came to a shop of Mr Sakur were she found a silk scarf that she wanted so badly. Afterwards, she took the scarf but was fifteen rands short and so unable to buy it with cash and so decided to get it by offering a cheque to the shopkeeper. Mr Sakur then refused and told her he doesn't accept cheques in his shop. She becomes more and more insistent that she should have the scarf. Her friend, Margaret, has also intervened to defend her but the man remained adamant to his shop's law which was written on a sign in the shop. The two escorts later entered the shop when they heard what sounded like a dispute. Several shopkeepers opposite Mr Sakur's shop heard the dispute and entering, wanted to know what was happening. Mrs Nebo then told them that the man was refusing her cheque and that he think she want to defraud him. After the shopkeepers heard that Mrs Nebo was a wife of a man that has an important figure in the government, Mr Sader one of the shopkeepers warned others of the consequences that might arise. He then decided to persuade Mr Sakur to accept the cheque, but he is not going to change his principles because Mrs Nebo is important or rich. Mrs Nebo told them afterwards that she won't leave without the scarf and chased the two escorts out of the shop to go wait outside. Mr Sader the think of a way to rectify the matter so he bought the scarf to Mrs Nebo and gave it to her as a present. Mrs Nebo was so grateful to him and told Mr Sakur that people like him they won't have place in the new democratic South Africa.
3.) MAIN CHARACTERS
Mrs Nebo
She was the wife of a newly designated Foreign Affairs Minister in the new governnment that will be established after the passing of the apartheid era.
She was rich and owns a mansion and a Mercedes Benz.
She wears very expensive clothes and walked with escorts where ever she goes.
She expects everyone to treat her as important and behaves as if she is superior to everyone else.
She was of medium height, with heavy loins, smooth-skinned complexion.
Mr Sakur
He is a short gaunt-looking man.
Very poor and wasn't having a Mercedes Benz nor a mansion.
He abides according to his shop law and never change that no matter who the person is.
He was shopkeeper, running his own shop.
He was a realistic Muslim who fears no politicians.
