Join the new world

I was sitting in my shack in Meyerton when I heard the young boy who worked in the mall in nearby Vereeniging. He was shouting while running down our road. I could not make out what it was so I picked up my gun and headed towards the shouts. What is it, I yelled to him. “Sir, sorry to bother you” he said. but as I left work today I looked into the electronics store to see if I see how the election was going and I saw a horrible thing indeed. What is it boy - I shouted as I shook him by the shoulders. They won, the enemy has won he said with the tears building in his eyes. He explained how they had started the impeachment process against our dear President Gabriel. He looked up at me, tears still in his eyes and asked “What will become of us now”. I let go of his shoulders, turned around, and started walking into the veld. I somehow knew this would be the last time I would see this place in some time. I could not think of an answer. What could I tell a boy that age? I fell to the ground, picking dirt up in my hands. I looked into the distance and could see people getting ready for war.

As I sat there, dumbstruck by the news I could hear the sound of Mirage and Grippen fighters flying towards the North West Province. I knew then the war had begun.

Showily rising to my feet I turned to the young boy, this bearer of bad news. “Come here boy” I said. He slowly walked towards me. A look on his face like he was expecting a scolding. I grabed his face in my hands. “Go home”, I said. “Get your family, and whatever you can carry. In order to survive what is coming we must leave the homeland to these dogs. The boy showed sudden understanding and left immediately.

I walked to my old Ford F250, climbed in searching for a screwdriver that sat under the seat. Once I had found it I stuck it in the ignition, turning it until the old girl gave a windy cough. Thank God it still ran. I put her into first and started the journey to OR Tambo Airport. As I drove down the road, children where being placed into the back of the bakkie by there parents. I could not face to look the parents in the eyes. How hard it must be too give up your loved ones like that. To give up your children! The jorney was long. Looters had put the chaotic downfall of South Africa into full swing. Tyres burned in the street and as I drove I saw a Chinese merchant hacked to death by an angry mob wielding machetes. I knew he had been mistake for an Indonesian.

The airport was chaotic. I battled to spot a government official. When I finally did, the kind man placed a ticket in my hand and escorted me to SAA flight 62 to Florida. I slowly made my way onboard this flight noticing the faces of all on board. There where no men in suits, no children in there holiday kit, only broken people. A people displaced.

I sat back in my chair staring into the small LCD display in front of my face. A show called ‘Just for Laughs” was playing. The people in it attempted to make the passengers laugh, but no one did. The plane taxied into position. I sat back in anticipation. The sudden jerk of acceleration is what finally broke me. I wept and as I looked out the window I could see that Germiston was already totally in flames.

I wept for what seemed days. When I finally came to my senses, I relised that I was stuck in a smelly refugee camp on the beach. How I had got here I did not care.

I still wonder how that boy is that brought me the news. Is he dead? I hope not and perhaps I will see him again.