Black & White

- 08 -

C H A P T E R    E I G H T

Since I have returned to school full time, Mrs Bosman was kind enough to allow me to do my school work in their dining room, but only if I was finished with housework. Mrs Bosman believed that education is the main key to success. I agree with her to a certain extent, but is education really the key to success for black people? I don't think so. The education that is given to black people right now will only direct them to unskilled labour, not success.

An exasperated breath escaped from my lips as I tore yet another piece of paper into shreds. I stared at the new blank page infront of me, tapping my pen on the table, the sound echoing in the silent dining room. Mrs Bosman was currently at work. She was an accountant at one of the banks in Sandton.  Mr Bosman was probably arresting black people for simply just being black. Being black is a crime in South Africa.

"Need some help?"

I looked up from the blank page that was still staring back at me. A tired looking Norman stood by the doorway.

I cleared my throat, "No thank you." I gestured towards his messy hair and clothes. He must have been at rugby practice. "Plus, you look tired. I don't want to bother you."

He ran his hand through his hair, further dishevelling it and walked fully into the room."It's the least I can do for.." He paused and took a seat next to me. "Look, I'm really sorry for laughing at you when Jackson was chasing after you. I had no idea that you were scared of dogs."

Truthfully speaking, I was not even angry at him anymore." It's okay." I said, giving him a smile that didn't reach my eyes. I stood up and started to clear my books off the table. He grabbed my hand, stopping my movements. "Where are you going?"

"To make you food of course. It's my job, remember."

"I can make my own food Ayize." He gave a suppressed laugh. "Now, sit down so I can help you with your work.

"Who said I need your help? I was doing perfectly fine before you walked in." I said and sat back down.

"Those pieces of paper on the floor say otherwise though." He smirked.

"Hey, Afrikaans is not my home language okay.

"If you are struggling with Afrikaans then why did you take it as a subject?" He asked.

"It's not like we have a choice Norman. Afrikaans is compulsory for black students."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. But I'm here to help you now."

"Thank you Norman. I truly appreciate it."

****

"That's enough for today." I said, and began packing my books into my bag.

"Afrikaans is actually very easy." Norman laughed.

I rolled my eyes at him, "Easy for you to say cause you speak it everyday."

"How about you teach me some Zulu and I teach you some Afrikaans?"

"IsiZulu." I corrected him. Once all my books and stationery were off the table and neatly packed into my back, I started clearing the pieces of paper that littered the dining room.

"Right."  He said while scratching the back of his neck.

"I have to start preparing dinner before your parents get home."  I said

"Okay, do you need some help?"

"You seem to be very helpful today. You helped me with my schoolwork and now you want to help me prepare dinner. Can you even cook?" I raised my eyebrows at him.

"Who do you think was doing the cooking around here before you arrived?" He pointed out.

"Um, my mom." I laughed.

"Okay you got me, but I can cook."

"I'll believe that when I see it." I walked to the kitchen and washed my hands before gathering all the ingredients I will be needing to make today's meal.

"How about I show you." He suggested.

"Fine, you can start by cutting the onions, or must I show you how to do that as well?" I said, teasing him.

He grabbed the knife from the sink and began cutting the onions into perfectly diced pieces.

****

Mr and Mrs Bosman arrived home from work, and I was currently setting up the dinner table  while they freshened up.

"Whatever you cooked, it smells amazing Ayiza." Mrs Bosman said as she walked into the dining room.

"Thank you, hopefully it tastes amazing too." It was my first time cooking for them. Usually Mrs Bosman would come home early and prepare dinner, but today she had asked me to prepare dinner since she had a lot of work to do.

One of the house rules was not to eat from the same cutlery as them. I am not allowed to eat the same food as them, which is why I am unable to taste the food while cooking. I am also not allowed to be in the same room as them while they eat, I had to leave immediately after setting up the table and I can only eat once they were finished.

"Annie, hoe kon jy haar toelaat om te kook?" ( Annie, how could you allow her to cook.) Mr Bosman spoke as he entered the dining room, and took a seat

"Ek is jammer my liefie. Ek het geen keuse gehad nie. Ek was vasgevang in die werk en kon nie vroeg huis toe kom en aandete kook nie." (I'm sorry my love. I had no choice. I got caught up in work and wasn't going to be able to come home early and cook dinner.) Mrs Bosman replied, taking a seat opposite her husband.

"Kan jy nie vinnig iets voorberei nie, want ek sal nie kos eet wat deur 'n kaffir gaargemaak is nie" ( Can't you prepare something quickly because I will not eat food that been cooked by a kaffir.)

Norman walked into the dining room with a hot steaming pot of chicken curry in his hands. The smell immediately filled the room and my nostrils, making my stomach growl. "Moenie bekommerd wees nie Pa, ek het haar fyn dopgehou terwyl sy kook, eintlik het ons hierdie maaltyd saam gemaak."  ( Do not worry Dad, I watched her closely while she was cooking, in fact we made this meal together.) Norman spoke.

"I'll go get the rice." I announced.

Fools. That is what we are to white people. What white people don't realize is that forcing us to study and learn their home language has made us understand their language, even when they think we can't hear them.

~*~