Promise

By Sekgweleo Harry Pelosera

The stories in this anthology capture the livelihood of your man-on-the-street type, often cast in very complex situations where it is either sink or swim. These are the people you have met; trapped in the quagmire of survival amidst trying times. The anthology portrays love, mischief, compassion, custom, culture, intrigue and of course comedy. Humour helps to drive the message in almost all the eight stories and adds credibility to the Setswana proverb: Loŝo logolo ke ditshego (Laugh at your own peril).
Read these stories and come across men losing teeth after coming face to face with a knobkerrie. Then there is a man who had to prove his love to a woman by chasing behind her first on a bicycle then on a tractor. There is also provision on the menu for those of God’s creatures (human or otherwise) who are blindly driven by ambition. They are willing to go to the ends of the earth to find what they are looking for, even if it costs them their lives.

“An enjoyable and entertaining read injected with humour in all the right places.”
Editor’s comment

About the author
PH SEKGWELEO was born and raised in Taung (North West province of South Africa). He studied at Taung College Of Education and the North West University. He presently resides in Mahikeng, where he works at Rekopantswe AO as an English subject advisor.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sekgweleo Harry Pelosera
• Release date: Feb 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370290338

Sekgweleo Harry Pelosera

Pelosera Harry SEKGWELEO was born and raised in Taung. He has spent several years writing short stories for DRUM MAG; till the decision to go on my own. I am based in MAHIKENG (NORTH WEST, SA), and work at Rekopantswe AO as an English Subject Advisor. Writing is my forte; my approach is skewed towards comedy. I find a great deal of fascination from things in my neighbourhood. The things I have lived, seen and experienced. I also trust the medium of short stories is apt to easily promote the culture of reading which seems to be dissipating among our people. See you around and Cheers

Book preview

Promise

Promise

SEKGWELEO Harry Pelosera

Copyright © 2017 SEKGWELEO Harry Pelosera

Published by SEKGWELEO Harry Pelosera Publishing at Smashwords

First edition 2017

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the copyright holder.

The Author has made every effort to trace and acknowledge sources/resources/individuals. In the event that any images/information have been incorrectly attributed or credited, the Author will be pleased to rectify these omissions at the earliest opportunity.

Published by Author using Reach Publishers’ services,

P O Box 1384, Wandsbeck, South Africa, 3631

Printed and bound by Novus Print Solutions

Edited by Lorna King for Reach Publishers

Cover designed by Reach Publishers

Website: www.reachpublishers.co.za

E-mail: [e-mail]

A special dedication to my mother, Motlalepula. May her loving soul rest in peace.

I can always depend on my mama

And when it seems that I’m hopeless

You say the words that can get me back in focus

When I was sick as a little kid

To keep me happy there’s no limit to

the things you did.

TUPAC SHAKUR: DEAR MAMA

Acknowledgements

I am sincerely grateful to all those who have; in their own special ways, made it possible for me to be where I am today.

My wife Kudube. She keeps me on the straight and narrow.

My kids. Girl-Girl! Pelosera loves you. You know it Khosi! You know it Mo-Taba.

My family, colleagues and friends. You have always encouraged me to take my writing a step higher. It is your feedback that solidified my resolve and self-confidence. Each one of you has inspired the conceptualisation of these stories in ways that I cannot explain here. Thanks.

REACH Publishers. Sally and the team; Lodewyk the layout designer and all the other professionals who have played a part in making the final product so delectable. You have done a remarkable job on my manuscript. Our interaction has also been a lesson in the nuances that are packaged in the writing business. Thanks.

My mother. Motlalepula. This one is for you. You brought me up to be artistic and adventurous. My sense of humour is a living testimony to the kind of woman who raised me. I have no doubt that your ancestral spirit is forever holding my hand. REST IN ETERNAL PEACE.

THANK YOU GOD, MY FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN! YOU ARE THE ALPHA AND OMEGA.

PH

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

The Black Stallion

Vanishing Point

Smash and Grab

Promise

Rough Diamond

Love Like a Red Rose

Suicidal Pig

Lamp Under a Clay Pot

Introduction

The short stories in this anthology are based on a variety of themes, ranging from the survival mode of a single parent to the heartache of an old man who lost a prized possession and was left dumbfounded by the behaviour of his fellow human beings. They are all set against the backdrop of village life and they espouse both the simple and complex nature that such a milieu offers.

The Black Stallion is a story of compassion amidst heartbreak. An old man’s horse dies in an accident, and even though he loved the horse, he showed even more concern for the safety of the driver.

Vanishing Point portrays the way we sometimes think we understand others, only to discover that in fact we don’t. Doctor Love and Gladys are siblings, and it was only after she read his memoirs, that light was shed on why the older brother was divorced. The same revelation also made her value her married life even more.

Smash And Grab gives an account of two young criminals who rob a man on his way to pay fees for his youngster who has gone to initiation school. One of the perpetrators pays a heavy price – he is taken there himself to learn what it means to behave in socially acceptable ways.

Promise is about the promise to stay humane at the risk of suffering material repercussions. Motlalepula – a single parent – starts a chicken business to feed her children. But she would not lower herself to inhuman levels, even though to do otherwise would compromise the survival of her business.

In Rough Diamond, the protagonist is a self-centred young man who insensitively makes jokes about people. Then one day at a wedding he learns a painful lesson as an aggrieved man breaks his teeth with a knobkerrie.

Love Like A Red Rose is a touching story of love by an ordinary village man whose girlfriend’s mother thought he was a clown. So did the ex-boyfriend. Their disrespect stemmed from the fact that Owner did not have much to offer materially. But love conquers all, and Owner and Lea’s love for one another survived despite all the turbulence.

In Suicidal Pig, an ancient cultural norm of storytelling to the young is revived. Grandpa Mzi narrates a story about his cousin Ndaba. Through the magnetism of humour