Full Circle

By Vera Alexander

Bandile is part of a loving extended family consisting of Mom and Dad, Uncle Lunga and Aunt Patience. The small family has worked hard to enable them to move from a dusty hut in a township to a modest home in a quiet suburb near Durban.
He is just like any other boy. He loves TV, Soccer, Music and Dancing. To make the time pass during his chores he dreams of success as an entertainer.
He has just turned twelve. Just before he is due to start his final year in Primary (Junior High) School something happens, and in one moment it seems as if all his dreams have been swept away. The story follows Bandile through his struggle to adapt to the changes in his lifestyle.
This book is a story of perseverance and courage all wrapped up in a stubborn, joyous optimism uncluttered by cheap sentimentality and will be enjoyed by a wide audience.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vera Alexander
• Release date: Jul 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9780463316221

Vera Alexander

I am an ex-high school teacher. I have taught Maths and Computer Studies. My creative side was nurtured teaching computers and my logic side by teaching Maths. I have always wanted to write and have at last taken my courage in my hands to see what I can achieve creatively.

Book preview

Prologue

She could hear the chickens clucking in the dust outside the shack and a dog barking in the distance. Nokwazi's senses seem to be heightened each time the pain subsided. Patience held her right hand and talked quietly to distract her from what was happening to her body. Nokwazi began to hate the first signs of a contraction. It started insidiously as if it was slipping its hand gently around her tummy and then the tightening increased until Nokwazi felt she would be ripped apart if the contraction got any stronger and then just as insidiously the hand of pain would give a final stroke and lift preparing itself for the next episode. Nokwazi sank back onto the pillows. Patience touched her lips with a glass of cold water. As she sipped she looked at the Sangoma's back. The Sangoma was standing at the end of the bed with her arms stretched high to the gods she was invoking. Nokwazi couldn't hear the words that the Sangoma muttered. She couldn't decide if they were comforting or if they filled her with dread. All she wanted was the pain to stop and the baby to arrive. No sooner had this thought passed through her mind then the invisible hand started its journey again.

This time Nokwazi couldn't help herself. Make it stop, she screamed.

The Sangoma turned to face her and said, The gods are ready to welcome the baby. The next time the pain comes you must push hard.

Patience sat next to Nokwazi willing her to gather all the strength she could to expel this baby from her womb. She smiled reassuringly. Come Nokwazi, you can do it, she said softly.

The Sangoma crouched in front of Nokwazi muttering strange incantations and then turned and said, One more push now and it will all be over.

Come Nokwazi, we have been waiting so long for this, encouraged Patience. Squeeze my hand as much as you need. The harder you squeeze the more pain I can absorb for you.

Looking into Patience's eyes helped Nokwazi gain confidence for one more push. She was still pushing when she heard the baby cry for the first time. What happened next was a blur until her baby was placed in her arms. She hadn't even asked if it was a boy or a girl. It was hers, hers and Vusi's.

Patience was fingering the baby's hands. Oh Nokwazi, the fingers are so tiny and so perfect.

Together they examined each finger and then went on to the toes. Marvelling at how perfect everything was.

Eish! You are both like little girls playing with your first doll, said the Sangoma. The god's welcome your son.

Patience and Nokwazi collapsed into uncontrollable giggles bordering on hysteria. It's a boy! Vusi will be pleased.

The Sangoma left the shack shaking her head and muttering. In the doorway she turned and said, Don't forget to suckle the baby. You must start now then have a rest. Fetch me if there are problems.

Nokwazi was tired but with Patience's help she managed the baby's first feed. Patience took the sleepy baby from Nokwazi and put him in the little wooden cradle that Vusi and Lunga had made. They had tried their best to make a bed for the newborn but Patience knew that soon they would have to invest in a better one.

Patience returned to Nokwazi and stroked her brow with a cloth soaked with lavender water. She softly crooned a lullaby and Nokwazi drifted off into a contented sleep.

*****

Patience sat looking at the baby and Nokwazi. Nokwazi was so young. She wrote her Matric exams fighting morning sickness and family rejection but still managed to pass with a distinction in Art. One day she may be able to go to university or college and fulfil her dream of becoming a fashion designer.

When both were sleeping peacefully Patience cleared away the signs of the birth and suddenly realised that neither of them had thought to clean the baby. She shook her head. The four of them were so young and had no-one to turn to for help. How were they going to make a success of their lives and the life of this baby?

*****

Vusi and Lunga were tired after their long day. Varsity lectures started at eight o'clock so they had to be up and waiting for a taxi by six thirty each morning. Their lectures finished at twelve o'clock. At twelve thirty the company vehicle picked them up and dropped them at the city offices. Both of them had bursaries from the company. This was Vusi's first year but Lunga was in his final year as an articled clerk. At five o'clock they made their way to the taxi rank to wait for their ride home.

It was getting dark when the taxi dropped Vusi and Lunga close to the shack. They climbed lazily out of the taxi and started to walk slowly up the hill to their home. As they got closer to the shack a strange, soft mewling sound could be heard. Vusi instinctively broke into a run, his feet stirring up the dust of the township's roads. He flung the small door open and dropped to his knees in front of Nokwazi. He stared in awe at the squirming features of his new born son.

Patience moved into Lunga's arms and beamed up into his face.

Nokwazi has given a son to this house. Our family is growing, she said.

Vusi, I know that you two had discussed many names for the baby. Have you made a final decision yet? asked Lunga.

Nokwazi and Vusi's attention was focused on their son but Vusi dragged his thoughts away from the baby to shake his head and say, No. Not yet.

How about Bandile? asked Lunga.

Why Bandile? asked Nokwazi.

"It means 'The family is growing' just like ours." laughed Lunga.

Bandile. Yes. It has a nice ring to it. Do you like it Nokwazi? asked Vusi.

Anything you like is fine by me, said Nokwazi. He is your first born. You need to choose his name.

Bandile! called Vusi and as if he was responding to his name the baby's head turned in Vusi's direction. Vusi laughed, Well he likes it - so Bandile it will be.

Genesis

Chapter 1

Bandile was lying on his bed staring at the ceiling, his right foot rested on his bent left knee. He aimed his soccer ball at the dull oblong mark on the ceiling. As he looked closer at the ceiling he could see less defined spots surrounding the mark. The more he practiced the better his aim. Lately his aim was getting better so the centre spot was becoming more defined. He took careful aim and threw the ball at the mark. Bullseye! As he caught the ball he aimed and threw it again and again. The monotonous thump, thump, thump had a mesmerising effect. The perspiration was dripping from his face. He knew he should be doing his chores but it was so hot outside and Durban's humidity was killing. He wished they had a pool. If they had a pool he would mow a bit of the lawn, jump into the pool, mow a bit more and cool off again.

Thump, Thump, Thump went the ball and Bandile's thoughts travelled back in time to the shack where he had lived with Aunt Patience, Uncle Lunga and mom and dad. There were no roads where they stayed, only dusty pathways. When the winds came dirt and dust swirled around his shack but Aunt Patience and mom had always kept the hut spotless.

The rhythmical thumping of the ball on the ceiling helped to carry Bandile back in time. He could remember sitting outside in the dust playing with his wire car. He couldn't remember who had given it to him but he loved it. The chickens were always very curious, peck pecking away around his feet. Sometimes he got very cross with them but most of the time he just ignored them.

He remembered his mother scooping him up in her arms, swinging him around until he came to rest, giggling, with his head on her shoulder. She had made up a song that she would sing rocking him in her arms as she pointed to the highway separating the township from the nicer homes. He started to hum the little tune and he could hear her voice singing the words:

One day we will cross that road

To our own lovely home.

You will grow in love and peace.

You will play and never roam.

Well, here they were across that highway in a lovely house in a quiet cul-de-sac and all thriving in the love filled atmosphere. Bandile loved his extended family but he did wish that he had a brother or sister. Even a cousin would have been fine but Aunt Patience had just qualified as a nurse and had to pay back her student loan so no children for her and Uncle Lunga yet.

With one last hefty thump at the ceiling, Bandile leapt off the bed and hauled himself outside to mow the lawn. His timing was great! Just as he had completed a strip of grass his mother arrived home. The car stopped close to Bandile. She called to him to help carry the groceries inside. She tried to kiss the top of his head but his twelve year old body did a nifty side step.

Mom, did you get that new breakfast cereal? he asked eagerly.

No. I looked at the ingredients. It has enough sugar in it to make your dentist happy for six visits.

Aw Mom. Why do we always have to eat healthy?

Because I need you to be big and strong! No-one wants a roly-poly on the soccer field.

I'm not going to play soccer. I'm going to be an entertainer. I will be bigger than Michael Jackson. Look – my moonwalk is even better than his.!

Well then you will really have to stay slim, his mother laughed. Its too hot now, leave the mowing 'til it cools down a bit!

Cool! Can I watch TV? asked Bandile.

Yes - but only until it cools down!

*****

Nokwazi smiled and shook her head at Bandile's retreating back. Soon she heard Michael Jackson's Billie Jean and knew that Bandile was practising all of Michael Jackson's moves. Every now and then she heard the music stop as Bandile rewound to find a certain place and then it started again. She smiled when that happened. Bandile needed to watch that step again. He was a perfectionist in all that he did. His school grades were good - he always managed to come in the top five of the grade and he was one of the youngest members of the soccer team. Life was good.

Nokwazi thought back to the humble beginnings of their extended family. It was hard to believe that twelve years had gone since her Matric year. They had struggled for many of those years. Fortunately Lunga had foresight. He had started a savings account when he received his first salary and had deposited at least ten per cent of his wage every month and he had insisted that Vusi do the same. The four of them had worked together to achieve their goals. They now had a house and a small car. Lunga had a company car so Nokwazi was able use the family car to take Bandile to school and sports practices.

When she had finished packing the groceries away she went to the lounge and stood in the doorway watching her son.

*****

Bandile danced with abandon, totally unaware that he had an audience. He was getting the hang of most of the steps on this video and was looking good. At the end of the track he mimicked Jackson taking of his hat and titling his head to the imaginary crowd. First the left, then centre and then…

Aw Ma! How long have you been standing there?

Nokwazi laughed. Bandile if you want to be an entertainer you have to get used to dancing in front of an audience.

Yeah but when I go on stage I will be pumped up with…

"Adrenaline I hope. I don't want