Page 78 - The Mending Season

lunchtime. We were all elated, talking about our reactions to the moment when Mandela walked through the prison gates, while the White girls spoke in hushed tones and exchanged stories about what was going on, mainly their parents’ fears.“Civil war,” they cried.“The Blacks are going to rule the country.”“My father says there will be more riots than the countryhas ever seen.”“My mom says hes a terrorist and a criminal, they shouldn’thave let him out.”“My dad says we’re moving back to Portugal.”Civil war? My whole neighbourhood had danced up anddown the streets! There were parties all weekend. Even Mma Motsei had come to our fence and spoken to Mmamane Mabatho for a full half-hour about her excitement. I was over­ whelmed by the celebrations around me.KB said she was sick and had her driver come to fetch her before lunch. She told me that she would rather be home with her parents. I think she sensed the tensions between people of different colours and did not want to be part ofit. The Indian and Coloured girls sat together and talked about Mandela - some had watched, some were hearing the news for the first time. I had a sense that this did not affect them.After that day everyone began to drift together again and went back to their friends. But most White girls still talked about civil war. Some families even started taking their children out ofthe school, right in the middle ofthe first quarter. Some racist jokes even surfaced - so I heard - in the primary school.In class, Tamz asked Mrs Aleixo, “Miss, what do you think about Mandela being out ofprison?”Mrs Aleixo put down the book she had been looking at, took a deep breath and sat down.“W ell...”she started, “I think it means we’re going through some big changes. No one knows what this really means.”78