As a pupil in Laêrskool Louis Trichardt, I was tormented by white Afrikaner boys because of my short tiny body and my big eyes. Most the white people thought I was cute, so they would often defend me and try to protect me from the bullies. “Kort kaffertjie” and “Groot oë” are only some of the names they would call me. As time went by, I grew a thicker skin. Their actions and remarks just bounced off me, and that benefited me in Hoërskool Louis Trichardt because now I could grow into a strong individual.
The hound would not stop barking when I was there. Its bark was loud and vicious, yet I had no fear. Why would I be; we had one in our house too...
As we entered, he held my hand and led me into the house. The distinct smell of roses filled the room. The porcelain vase in which the roses were in was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. The family portrait against the peach wall was painted by his cousin. The cabinet along side it was carved by his grandfather. The different curves and the wood that was used, made it look so ancient, even though it still shined. The cabinet, which apparently has been sent down from one generation to another, is the one thing that he does not appreciate.
When I was seated along side him, I could not help but notice the twinkle in his hazelnut eyes. His skin looked smoother and creamier than usual. His thin luscious pink lips revealed his Colgate smile and deep dimples in his cheeks. “My mum will love you!” His voice sounded in my ear and his hand over mine reassured me that I will be accepted.
Philip de Beer was right, his mother did love me. She adored me and so did the sister. The mother was so sweet and we really hit it off. I was well behaved; used my fork and knife, patted my lips constantly, and chewed slowly with my mouth closed. I giggled softly at each joke and I gave intelligent responses.
But the hound kept barking...
Philip and I were madly infatuated with one another. We had so much in common and we were so incredibly happy together. His touch always gave me a chill but his thin luscious pink lips against my thick juicy lips brought absolute excitement!
While we were enjoying the dessert, the hound stopped barking. The sound that replaced the barking was a winning crying sound. I could hear the hound panting, but it started barking again, and this time it was not vicious. I saw headlights. “Mum, when is Pa supposed to come back home?” Her face turned almost pale and the sister excused herself from the table and ran upstairs. There was a rattling of keys and the hound’s sounds got more amplified in the silent dining room. The door opened, and the footsteps echoed in the passage way. “Liefie, eks terug van die vergadering,” was what turned her so damn pale!
Mr De Beer walked into his dinning room and saw me sitting along side his son and across his wife. “Wat maak die kaffer in my huis?” he barked. The fear in that room was so intense. The hound barked louder and louder and so viciously. Mr De Beer stared at me with cold hazelnut eyes which were filled with loath. He moved towards the portrait and looked at it, and then he looked at the cabinet along side it. He unlocked it and before I knew it, he had a long hunting rifle in his hand. My heart started pounding out of my chest and beads of sweat were formulating on my forehead. I stood up and said: “Ek is so jammer Mnr De Beer.” I slowly started stepping towards the door with the rifle pointed at me. The mum was saying something which I could not hear. All that I could hear was the hound’s barking and Philip’s voice in the back round, until I heard a sharp click of metal against metal. That was when I ran out, without looking back. I ran so fast that the hound could not get close enough to take a bite. I ran almost three blocks until my heart could not allow me to keep going. My body threw itself on the lawn of some corner house. I lay there, crying involuntarily for what seemed to be hours, but then, I could smell his scent hovering so romantically and tantalizingly over my nose. I opened my wet swollen eyes and Philip was looking down into them. He kept apologising and asking me to forgive him. In my heart I wanted nothing else but to be with him. We were in love...
But like a dog barking against a closed door. A door locked with chains with a sign saying ‘NO ENTRY’ maybe it is ought to be ‘WHITES ONLY’.
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1 comment:
I read this a while back, it was just so moving that people would rather hold on to small differences that see any further.
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