Patience is a Virtue book 2

By J.M. Thompson

Tshidi was living with Maggie in Maggie's mansion. They were like sisters.Maggie had a heart condition and she decided to instruct her attorney to draft a will for her. the main beneficiary was Tito her live in boyfriend. Tshidi was next and the other servants receioved the least. Maggie died in a planned attack on her life. Her attorney then summoned all the people who were working for Maggie. Tito, Tshidi and the other servants responded to his call. However, Maggie's attorney became greedy and he thought that he could defraud them all. Tshidi became suspicious and she confronted the man. She then went to the bank to confirm the attorney's story. The bank manager gave her copies of all Maggie's transactions. she then noticed that the corrupt attorney was trying to steal their money. She then went to tell Steve about the corrupt attorney. he appointed an attorney to handle matter.
When the chief of police received the news that Maggie was dead, he cut short his leave and started the investigation. Two of the suspects were already in custody and the police grilled them using barbaric methods. eventually one of them confessed to the murder of Maggie and he told the police the names of his accomplices. the police did not arrest the others, someone killed them all one by one.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.M. Thompson
• Release date: Jun 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311788078

J.M. Thompson

I am a first-time writer. I have several unpublished manuscripts. Started writing almost ten years ago and publishers seem not to be interested in unknown writers. I am the eldest child with three siblings, but two have since passed on.Writing has become a hobby or a platform for connecting with myself. So many things happened in my life and most of the stuff about which I write has something to do with my life story.I am presently retired taking it real easy, but old age has its own complications yet that is how life is.

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Patience is a Virtue

Book 2

By J.M. Thompson

Published by smashwords

Copyright 2014 J.M. Thompson

By J.M. Thompson

Smashwords edition

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Chapter 1

Stanley was working in the mines. It was his first job since his guerrilla warfare days ended. His military training gave him an advantage over the other employees. He showed discipline and leadership qualities thus the employers promoted him to a supervisory position. He therefore gained the right to address his fellow workers when the need arose. Stanley and the others decided to form a mineworkers union. His employers were not happy because they thought there was no need for a workers union. Nevertheless, the union gained momentum. They would operate under the umbrella of the confederation of all local unions.

He was one of those people who could instill fear in other people simply by the hardened expression on his face. His eyes never seemed to smile even though his facial muscles creased into a smile. The mine owners thought that they could use him to maintain control over the other black workers. Obviously, someone was failing in his or her duty. They overlooked the fact that Stanley had the same aspirations as the rest of the black mineworkers. The only difference was that Stanley was outspoken without mincing his words. A spade was a spade and nothing else. The mine owners thought that they could soften him by giving him special treatment and bribes in kind. Apparently, they could not get rid of him then.

He generally sat with them in their meetings. They were treating him as if he was one of them but without the benefits of being white. They thought that he might see their point of view and stop making too much noise. Employer and employee cannot be on the same page, the employer thinks about his profits and employee is concerned with the cost of living. There were many such meetings and his employers made many promises to uplift the lives of the mineworkers. Those promises remained promises, nothing ever happened. Stanley was wise enough not to convey those promises to the workers until something happened. He knew about empty promises, it was simply a ploy to soften people’s stance on issues. His own government used the same ploy to fool people into trusting and voting for them.

Stanley wondered why it was that people in powerful positions seemed to be constantly afraid of something. They never seemed to relax; they were always scampering around looking for excuses. These people had everything that their bodies required yet they denied others a chance to improve their lives. He knew that these people would do anything to protect their wealth. He wondered if such people ever entered the kingdom of God. If that was the case then something was not right in nature’s constitution.

He knew that most of the oppressive ideologies were of the old school and some of those people whose idea it was to oppress other people were long dead, yet oppression was becoming stronger and entrenched in people’s minds. Apparently, those people were afraid of something. He thought that it was sad to find black people oppressing other black people. The days of the Napoleons and Chakas of this world were long gone. White people are now matured enough to respect each other, why do black people fail to do the same. If Chinese rulers are their role models then the foundation of that opinion is wrong.

If it is true, that civilization began in Africa then why is it that Africa is lagging behind. Obviously, something is terribly wrong. Stanley wondered if there was a way of correcting the wrong. Every leader qualifies himself as a dictator within a short period. Maybe Africa needs a messiah to cleanse away the evil residing in the hearts of its rulers. Europe and the rest of the world already had their messiah.

The system of oppression was vicious and evil, irrespective of the oppressor's race. The oppressed were always of a darker skin and never the other way round. The system was like a complete circle that had to keep on turning. It was like a huge wheel turning slowly, trampling the poor along its path, taking the revolution forward. In the centre of the wheel, the oppressors sat there enjoying their achievements. They sat there watching the downtrodden trampled to their graves. Sometimes buried alive, covered in dirt chocking in their poverty until the last breath escaped their useless bodies.

The same people had to go down mineshafts to dig gold and other minerals, thus enriching the mine owners. Maybe they thought that the labor supply was abundant. A black man’s life had no value, yet they survived the onslaught. They were very much aware that they had to keep on hoping that some day that wheel would stop turning.

Stanley stopped short of being emotional as he thought of his country’s self-made problems. If only his President and his crew could stop being selfish, the country could be a better place to live for all its citizens. He could not understand why Morewa was that stubborn even in the face of disaster. Maybe he was protecting his personal interests. People were starving yet he failed to acknowledge that his policies were failing.

Stanley had no one with whom to share his concerns. There was never enough time to discuss such issues with Sam whenever they met. Something else always seemed to be more important to their agenda. He wondered if Sam would have the same concerns as he did. He wondered if Sam had a better understanding of the things that were going on. He had a great respect for him as such.

His wish was that Abusa could become the President even as he knew that the chances of that happening were rather slim. Stanley was not thrilled to be in any foreign country but he could not go back home while Morewa was in power. Even though he was enjoying the fruits of being at the top, he still felt that South Africa was not his home. He was only here for a certain purpose after which he wanted to go home where his roots were. He wondered how long it would take to complete their mission. He believed in getting things done, Sam could practice patience and Stanley admired him for that.

Stanley was grateful that Steve made it possible for them to find employment. He was grateful that he had a friend in Sam. His mind shifted to Steve and his people. He wondered what their role was in their lives. He knew that the citizens of the country were having difficulty finding employment yet Steve could place them within a short period. Maybe Steve had many influential friends at the right places.

The mine bosses were treating him as one of them but they could not tell him the reason for their actions. Stanley became aware that they were trying to be friendly even though that was in direct contrast to their beliefs. He had no idea that Steve was one of the silent shareholders. He wondered though if they singled him out because he was doing a good job or was it because of his benefactor. He thought that maybe they had no choice but to obey orders. He wondered if Steve had any direct say in the matter. He decided that he would henceforth concentrate on his job and his mission.

With that in mind, he became more energetic, his skills of dealing with people’s problems became more positive and sharper. He was doing that for his own benefit, he was visualizing a distant future with real personal independence. He knew that he would still need other people’s input in his daily life. He could not isolate himself from other people. His friends would always be part of his life. As the days went by, he gained more confidence that his plans would materialize. His work became a stepping-stone to a better future. His responsibilities grew by the day and he had no complaints.

Stanley received a call from Sam then.

‘Stanley my friend, I will be leaving day after tomorrow’.

‘Where are you going to’?

‘I am going to Beijing for one year. I will send you a postcard when I get there’.

‘I hope you will not loose sight of our objective’.

‘That is the only reason why I have to go. You should look after the others while I am away, especially Joseph. You know that he is our weakest link’.

‘I will do that and have a safe journey’.

Sam said ‘thank you’.

Stanley heard the phone click as Sam put the phone down. His mind focused on Joseph. He did not understand why they had to bring him along if he was that weak. Why should Sam ask him to look after Joseph? He knew that Sam must have a reason for asking that of him. Whatever that reason was he would have to do as Sam asked him to do. He sat on his chair thinking that things were starting to happen. He thought that Sam, the man blessed with patience would eventually get things done. He felt lucky to be in the same camp as Sam was.

Stanley realized that the wheels were now in motion. He decided to spend more of his time at the training camp. There were young men who were going through training as future soldiers. Two Chinese young men trained the men in martial arts. He had no idea how Chinese people became involved with the affairs of his country. He did not know why Steve sent those two Chinese men to the camp. They concentrated in the ninjitsu form of fighting. This was the trainees’ first step then they would go abroad for further disciplined training. Some of them would go back home to further their course. Some of those young men were working in the mines.

Those that went back home as soldiers would recruit as many disgruntled people as they could, thus the movement supporting Abusa grew from strength to strength. The government was not aware that Abusa was building an army of soldiers. All of the men in his camp kept a low profile. They were waiting for Sam to be ready, then the gates of hell would surely open and the fire would claim its victims.

There was little or nothing in the form of entertainment for the mineworkers. Those that felt thirsty for beer could only drink homemade brew. Then there were women who seemed to be always around ready to entertain. These gatherings were always in the open veldt generally over the weekends. There the men would sing their traditional songs and dance to the songs.

They had a unique form of dance and the mine owners soon realized that they could use that to their advantage. They began to organize with the tourism people to bring the tourists to the mines on Sundays to watch the gumboot dance. They were not aware that some of the songs were praising the black man’s ancestors, invoking them to rise up and give them the power to emancipate themselves from the white man’s oppression.

Stanley would sometimes watch the white tourists entertained by black gumboot dancers. He was certain that money changed hands yet the dancers received nothing for their dancing abilities. He was not aware that some of that money paid for the training camps. He decided to use the Sunday gatherings to his advantage. He kept meetings with fellow compatriots. They did not sit in groups of more three people. They knew that someone could be watching them. Stanley did not want to take chances on the issue of his homeland.

He kept regular meetings at the camp in an attempt to motivate his fellow compatriots. The men seemed to be enthusiastic about what they were doing. They dedicated their lives to freeing their country from the grips of the dictator Mr. Ralph Morewa. They listened attentively as Stanley addressed them in their mother tongue.

-My friends, we are all here for one reason only and that is to make sure that our country is free from the tyrant Morewa. We all know that Abusa can only do so much and we have to do the rest. We all know that Morewa is building a mansion for his girlfriend’s family. Stanley had little respect for Morewa’s girlfriend and her family. He thought they were thieves. That money belongs to the people and it is not for him to do as he pleases. He could never be able to afford a house of that magnitude out of his pocket.

Our people are starving yet he wastes money to please his girlfriend. People cannot afford even to buy basic food yet he has everything. He drives around in imported cars while our people cannot afford to have shoes on their feet. Those same people fought for the liberation of the country yet he ignores them. Morewa has the best food available yet the people lay hungry.

That man will not step down on his own free will. He knows that we will see to it that he goes to prison for all the wrongs that he committed against the people. Right now, the white farmers are leaving the country going to other countries. If those farmers are such bad people then why are other countries accepting them and offering them land for farming. Morewa gave his friends and their families land trying to close the gap left by the white farmers. Those people do not have any idea about commercial farming. They are all failing and the people are hungry.

We all know that practically all the mines had to stop production because they were unproductive after nationalization by the government. People lost jobs and some of those people are working