Tale of the Fruit Loops – part deux
Mar 10th, 2010 Posted in Tid bits | no comment »
When we last left our favorite nutty South African loon, she seemed okay. Not nutty at all but a rather studious and reserved older woman who appeared pleasant enough. GFVicki was somewhat taken aback by the fact that her neighbor simply brought FL to the door to introduce her, but perhaps that’s what they do in South Africa, it is a pretty laid back place, after all.
We found out that FL has no way of getting around except to walk. She carries a folding stool everywhere she goes for resting along the way. We also gathered that she charms people into giving her rides here and there. Apparently this is what happened with neighbor, Mr. M. She met him at the grocery store and he ended up giving her a ride.
Upon leaving that very first visit, GFVicki loaned FL a couple books and just asked in passing how she came to be staying with the people down the hill. FL said, “Well, that’s a story for another day.” Ok. Not a problem, right? Sometimes stories can be complex. She left. And she forgot her folding stool (I wish it wasn’t called a ’stool’ I think I’ll call it a seat. Ok that doesn’t sound much better).
In between the first and second FL appearance , we were visited by Manuel, the baboon. The next day we’re driving into town and see FL outside the home where she’s staying, we ask how she’s doing and she says it was a horrible day. Something terrible happened but that’s a story for another day and she wouldn’t go into the details but just to know it was a horrible, scary thing that happened and luckily someone helped her.
SECOND RED FLAG flown —–> In my book of red flags, when you’ve just met someone and they start going on and on about how horrible their experiences are, that’s weird. One must be cautious about such people.
GFVicki told her she left her stool. She said she desperately needed it and would come get it tomorrow.
The next day FL comes a-knocking on the door around 10am. GFVicki tells the baboon tale, FL is all interested and amazed etc. She then asks if she could use the internet and phone. She in the office for a while when we hear her getting a bit irritated and vocal to whoever is on the other end. After a bit of a heated conversation, she walks into the living room, completely exasperated and asks why can’t anyone just answer a simple question these days? Ok, well, I’m on vacay so I dunno.
Then, she suggests calling Baboon Matters about our baboon incident. FL gets on the phone with Dave, the Baboon Matters guy, and tells him the horrible, horrible incident about the baboon getting in the house and how this is important and blah blah. Like she’s the president of baboon incidents in South Africa, or sumthin’. Alright, whatever.
THIRD RED FLAG flown —–> She’s a busybody.
She asks what our plans are for the day. We tell her we’re taking the train – maybe into Cape Town. She goes into a diatribe about how horrid the train is, how nasty and stinky and hot and nasty and stinky and horrid the train is – like riding the subway in New York. Sounds like an adventure to us. Oh no, she gasps, it’s the absolute worst thing you could ever do in your life. Absolute. Worst. Ok, FL, so I gather you don’t like the train.
We drop FL off at her place and Dave of Baboon Matters is waiting. FL and GFVicki get out of the car to talk to Dave. That’s when I make the declaration, “That woman is trouble.” I got out of the car to move up to the front seat and FL shouts to me in a sarcastic tone, “Elizabeth, I hope you like the train. Make sure you get a seat by the window!” I shout back saying I’m sure the train will be perfectly acceptable to us, we’ll be OK.
THIRD RED FLAG flown —–> She’s a persistent, pain in the ass
Part 3: The Tale of Woe



We had only been in Simon’s Town for two days when Mr. M came knocking on the door to introduce Fruit Loops to “another American in town” – GFVicki. Because she is a gracious person, GFVicki invites FL in for a little chat where we hear about how she is in South Africa because she used to live in Switzerland but because visa rules are changing there she had to leave until she gets the proper documents in order. In retrospect, I’m guessing the Swiss kicked her out and filed her status under ‘Nuttiest Fruit Cake Americans In Swiss History.’





