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Chapter 15
Godfrey's Story
My name is Godfrey, I am an uneducated soul. My parents were so poor we sometimes had nothing to eat for days. We tried to grow food, but where we lived the rain did not fall most of the time.
My memories of my father were that he was always drinking with the other men in the village. They would drink a brew made by a little old woman; they all sat outside her house getting drunk. Sometimes they would start to fight, next day they would be back there again and they would all be good friends. We were all very frightened when my father came home, he would beat our mother or any one of us children.
My mother worked very hard, she would be in the field trying to grow some vegetables, she would cook and wash. If she failed any of these chores she would be beaten by my father. Sometimes the police would come, but they were all men and did the same to their wives. Because of this they did nothing, my poor mother was the source of the problem in their eyes. They told her that if she done things properly my father would be happy with her.
My life was hard, the hunger, the beatings and watching my poor mother suffer. One day I could not accept this anymore, I ran away from my village. I was young; I had no idea where I was going. I walked into the bush, the first night sleeping outside on my own, I was so scared. There were so many noises from the different animals; I thought I was going to die. Next morning I walked and walked, I drank from a stream and ate some wild fruit. Night came and I could see some lights, it was a farm. I waited until the lights went out and slowly I crept towards the building. There were children’s bicycles; I had never seen these before, only in pictures. There was a football; other toys were also lying around the garden. These children were so lucky; their lives were very different to mine. I found some food on the floor; I think they must have left it for the animals to eat. I was so hungry that I soon put all of this food into my stomach. There was some meat; I had not eaten meat for a long-time. I picked up the football, should I take it with me I thought, this would be stealing, I was always taught not to steal. I decided that I would take it; this would be the start of my life as a thief. Suddenly the light came on; I ran and ran so fast I did not stop. In my panic I dropped the ball, I was too frightened to stop and pick it up. I slept under the stars that night with a full stomach; the sounds of the animals did not frighten me anymore.
I spent a long-time living in the bush. I would raid houses looking for food and anything that could be stolen. I got new clothes from people's washing lines. Many times I would have to run from dogs that were guarding the houses but I was never caught.
I had no idea where I was, how far away from my home, maybe a long, long way away. I met some boys one day, they told me of a small town three days walk from where I was. It was a good place to live they told me, and I could get work there. I made up my mind immediately; I was going to find this place.
I walked for three days, the sun was hot, my body was burning. Finally I found what I was looking for; the night had drawn in so I slept in one of the doorways to a shop.
I was woken with a kick to my back, there was a man shouting. I moved quickly away calling him some names, he chased me for a short distance but I was too fast for him. I watched him open the door and go in; I think he was the owner of the shop. I started to walk around, the town was so big and I had never seen this many people together. There were shops selling everything, in my village we had a small shop but the shelves were always empty. I had no money, so I went into a restaurant and asked them for some food. I came away with some rice. I walked around all day trying to take in my new surroundings. Day finally turned into night; all of the shops were closed. There were a lot of bars, the men sat outside drinking their beer out of bottles. This reminded me of my father, I wondered if these men were going home to beat their wives and children. I asked for money in these bars, some people would give to you, others would chase you away.
As time went by I met other boys who like me were living on the streets. They showed me how to steal from the shops, how to beg, and how to inhale petrol. I had noticed that they all carried a small used plastic water bottle around with them. There was a small amount of liquid in the bottom, they would inhale this liquid and over a short time they would change. They were like my father, they were drunk. I started to use the petrol; it made me feel that nothing was going to hurt me anymore. I would feel drowsy all the time, like I wanted to go to sleep. I found myself being too slow to run away when I stole things. When the people caught me, they would give me a beating; others would also join in and beat me.
There was a point when I was taken from the street by some people from the church. They fed me and clothed me; I did not have to steal anymore. They also stopped me using the petrol; my body was coming back to life. For this kind deed I had to repay by basic chores, it was easy work.
Time came for me to leave the church, I was very sad, I liked being there. They found me a job at a small guesthouse; there I would also have a room to sleep. The job was good, I enjoyed it very much until one day they accused me of taking some money. The money was gone, but I did not steal it. They threw me out onto the streets; I was back where I had started.
I returned to a life of stealing from people, anything I could take I would. I was now a man, or I thought I was. I planned things more, the town was small and if I was seen stealing and got away people would find me. Sometimes I would see something and steal on impulse, but this was always a risk.
Stealing was not making me rich, it was all about surviving. I was starting to get very lax in my approach; I was being chased more and more. I was getting away but people were remembering me. I was sometimes stopped in the street and was hit by someone for stealing from their shop earlier that week. Sometimes I was caught and everybody wants to hit you. This mob rule can be dangerous; some people have been beaten to death. I was in hospital once for a week after being beaten, it was only because the police arrived that I am alive. When they arrived they let the people beat me until they decided that it was enough. I think they just enjoyed the entertainment. There was another time I was caught; the kicks were making contact with most parts of my body. Suddenly they stopped, into the crowd came a man, he talked with these people for a long-time. Slowly they started to walk away and I was left alone. The man took me to the hospital, they dressed my wounds and gave me some medicine, he paid the fee to the doctor. When I talk to this man, he told me he was a teacher working here in the town. I thanked him for what he had done for me, but it would not stop my life of thieving, I knew nothing else.
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Chapter 16
Richard's Story
I am a foreigner in this country; I came here five years ago. Then business was good, there were only a few of us doing this job. The local people did not want to work, they were lazy, they still are. More people came from my country to sell their wares, so from a few, we became many. Even some local people started selling but they were not so good at the job. Because there were so many people, business became more difficult, also people did not have the money to spend anymore. This place was wealthy once, everybody had money to spend. These days it is quiet, except for the bars, the men still want to get drunk.
I was born into a farming family, cattle was our livelihood. From the age of five I was herding and tending to our cattle. My parents tried to send me to school but I hated it, I wanted to be on the farm. When I was at boarding school I was always running away. I would arrive back home and my parents would be very angry with me. They would take me back, but I would run away again. In the end they gave up and I was allowed to stay on the farm.
The area where our land was had a history of violence, cattle rustling was a constant threat to us. Many times my mother and I would hide under the bed or a table while father was shooting at the rustlers, they in turn shooting back at him. The police and army were nowhere to be seen; they only wanted to be in the towns and cities. People from the nearby farms would come and
help my father; he would do the same for them if they were raided. It was on one of these occasions that my father was shot; he died a few days later. Fortunately the neighbours repelled the attack but it would happen again in the future.
My mother and I were having great difficulty on the farm. We found that cattle were being stolen, this was not the work of the rustlers, it would only be one or two cows. These were criminals from the city, they would kill the cow and the meat would be in the city markets that same day. These people were very well organised, some of the bigger farms may not have noticed two cattle missing, maybe days later they would realise.
Slowly things started to go wrong, the few cows disappearing we could cope with, but what was to come would ruin us. I noticed that the cows were starting to get sick; they started to lose their balance and would keep falling over. One day a cow fell, it just started shaking, after one hour it became still, it was dead. We called the local vet, he came straight away and told us that he would get some samples and do some tests. One week later and a few more dead cows, we get the results, I could not pronounce the disease the cows had but they were going to die, there was no medicine. The vet said that they should be shot, but we refused to do this. Months passed by and we watched the cows die one by one until there was nothing left. We did not have any money to buy new stock, we were finished. My mother told me we would have to sell the farm. I tried to think of some way we could get money to keep the farm, but it was hopeless. My mother sold the farm for little money; we moved to the city, I was so sad.
In the city I was lost, I hated it. My mother was cleaning for people to earn enough money to live. I just wandered the streets during the day looking for something to do. With no education, finding a job was difficult. One day I noticed these boys walking around selling things. I stopped them and we talked for ten minutes, they told me how they got their supplies and where from. I went back and told my mother what I wanted to do. I asked her if she could give me some of the money from the farm sale for me to buy my first bit of stock. After some talking she agreed to fund me, but on condition that I paid her back.
I had been out on the streets for two weeks selling an assortment of things, from cigarette lighters to small hand tools. Business was good, it was hard work but I was making money. Bars were a good place to sell, you would have your regulars who did not want the item, they just wanted to bargain with you. When they cut your price down they were very happy with what they had bought from you. I was happy too, because I was still making a good profit.
I will always remember one January evening. I was still out on the streets selling when a neighbour came to me. They told me that my mother was in hospital, I was needed there immediately. By the time I had got to the hospital my mother was already dead, she had died from a heart attack the doctors told me. The hospital fee took the little savings that my mother and I had. I was now alone, life would be very different.
Over the next few years I walked the streets of the city, some good days, some bad. I tried selling several different things. Clothes could be profitable but were expensive to buy; the cost to set up was a lot. Books were again a good profit but the sales were slow. Music, food, car parts, I had tried to sell most things.
I started to hear from a few of the other hawkers about friends who had crossed the border to sell on the other side. The stories were about how good it was and how much money they had made. One night I sat in my room and decided my future was to cross the border. I had nothing here anymore; if I failed there I could always come back.
It was a wet rainy day when I left the city and went to the border with my possessions. After much haggling I was allowed into the new country where I would make my fortune. Travelling for two days I finally reached my destination.
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Chapter 17
Claws Out
I turn to Brenda and ask her if Sam is here, “no he will not be here for another two hours Ben, why do you want him for something?” “no, nothing important.” Brenda sits opposite me on a stool; one hand is on my knee rubbing my thigh while we talk. I don't think she is aware that she is doing it, “Brenda why are you rubbing my knee?” “oh sorry Ben I did not realise, why did you like it?” This girl is a playful thing; I see how she gets herself into so much trouble. “Yes it was very relaxing, I could fall asleep,” “if you are sleepy I will take you to the room and help you to sleep Ben.” This girl is crazy, she knows me well so I suppose it is a joke, but there is an element of wishful thinking there. If I told her that we will go, she would be off that stool and in the room waiting for me. “No thank you Brenda, you would be too strong for me to cope with,” “ha-ha Ben, I have talked to the other ladies about you, I know you are strong in that place.” She is a little demon, mind you they do talk between themselves these ladies, “that is not possible Brenda, I am too old.”
There seems to be an argument going on outside, that's unusual this time of the day, most people are sleeping. Behind me I hear footsteps; someone has walked into the bar. Looking at Brenda's face it's someone she does not want to see. The person starts shouting; I hope they can turn the volume down. It's the voice of a woman; I think I know where this is going. “Why did you sleep with my fiancée?” I thought this might be the topic, Brenda has been sleeping with someone's boyfriend. “I have never slept with your man,” a fine riposte by Brenda. “My sister saw you go to the rooms at the Red Star,” the Red Star is a well known place for the men to take the girls and have sex. “Your sister is a liar,” oh Brenda, I don't think you should have said that. The woman lunges at Brenda and knocks her off of the stool, she hits the floor hard. The woman dives on top of Brenda and they wrestle each other. Brenda turns her opponent, but is quickly put back in her place, at the bottom of the pile. The woman is small in build, but that is not stopping her giving Brenda a beating. The two roll around the floor, the woman is wearing a dress, that's now up around her waist, she has a nice round bum. A few years ago I would have stopped this immediately, now I let someone else sort it out. The girls are really having a good fight; Brenda is starting to become the more dominant of the two. Here come the cavalry, one lone man to solve this problem, Joseph. The girls are still joined together, Joseph attempts to prise them apart, they twist and knock Joseph on top of them both. Now we have three people rolling around on the floor, this is good entertainment, afternoons are usually quiet. Finally Joseph gets in between them, three people lying on the floor shouting at each other. Slowly everybody gets to their feet, the little lady covers up her modesty, pulling her dress back down to her knees. The words are still flying around, even the odd swipe at each other, but Joseph is standing firm. Slowly but surely Joseph guides the cheated lady towards the door. Still she throws verbal obscenities at Brenda, who in turn tells the woman that she will sleep with the woman's father next. Brenda really does have a way with words; mind you she probably has already slept with this woman's father. Finally we have peace, how many times have I witnessed this type of thing, too many. Brenda picks up her stool and rejoins me at the bar, she looks a little bruised. “Sorry about that Ben,” “that's ok Brenda, did you sleep with him?” There is a pause while she gets her breath back, “yes of course, I needed the money to pay the rent.” Who do you blame really? The man is engaged to be married; he has no respect for his future wife. Brenda on the other hand just wants to keep a roof over her families head; it was for money not love. I buy her another drink, I think she needs it. Joseph comes over and starts to give Brenda a lecture, on customer care I think. Whatever he says to her will not register, if she needs money she will do what she has to do. Brenda leaves me and goes back to the kitchen, I am at peace again.
“Joseph have you got enough energy to get me a beer?” Joseph brings me another beer. “Mr Ben, Brenda is a big problem for me,” “why is that Joseph?” He then tells me that Sam is not happy with Brenda, he doesn't like the way she behaves with the clients. “If Sam hears about this Mr Ben he will chase her from this job,” “he wou
ld have me to deal with if he tried to do that Joseph, don't you worry yourself.” Sam is one of Brenda's best customers, or he was, a little pressure from me about telling his wife, Sam would drop the case.
This afternoon I am getting no peace, now I have Barbara sat on the stool by me. “You have been in the room a long-time Barbara,” “Oh Mr Ben, that man had a huge,” “I am not really interested Barbara.” I think visualising what Barbara is talking about will put me off of my chicken tonight. “I am in pain Mr Ben, he was big like you,” “Barbara stop.” I did sleep with Barbara a long-time ago before I met Jenny, now she always reminds me of that. “It's ok Mr Ben, you know I like to joke with you,” she definitely likes to tease me that is for certain. “So what are your plans for this evening Mr Ben?” “the usual, sit here until I can drink no more.” My plans are clockwork; since Jenny died I do the same routine day in, day out. “Tonight is football, I think it will be busy,” “yes I know Mr Ben, I will be here, hopefully I can find another client.” This girl is still not finished yet; the huge one obviously did not put her off. “I need to go Mr Ben; I want to rest before this evening.” “Ok Barbara, bye,” she walks out through the doorway, now I have peace. “Mr Ben,” I turn towards the door to see Barbara's head, “yes Barbara," ““perhaps you can be my customer tonight, free of charge.” I look at the big smile across her face, why can't she find a nice man and settle down, “no thank you Barbara, go and rest.”
I need a trip to the pit, getting down from my stool I wander out into the courtyard. A few young children are playing with a few pieces of wood. These children have nothing; they invent their own games and toys. I notice as I cross to the pit how strong the smell is now. This time of day it's at it's smelliest, opening the door it hits me. There was a time it would have made me vomit, but now my senses are dead. Looking up at the sky, I dare not look down; I release my manhood and empty my bladder yet again. Zipping up I go back into the courtyard, I take a seat on an old table. I watch the children play, life to them is simple, it must be so nice to have nothing to worry about. Mind you, my life is simple, what do I have to worry about. My thoughts are broken with the smell coming from the pit, time to go back inside.