In The Dawn - Cedric & Sarah

Chapter 8

     It’s a glorious bright day, warm and light, the sun is facing the roof of my room. The light burnish Mrs Van Tonder’s garden with gold. It would’ve been a perfect day for me, but losing my job closed that bright part of the day.  I began my day packing my clothes.  Being fired from work made me think about the life I’ve been trying to run away from. The life of poverty, sickness and death. The jungle-kind of life where only survives those fit enough. The life that forces poor people to work like slaves. The life that is difficult for a black person. Let’s face it, black lives matter only when it’s beneficial, or when it is convenient. Also, women’s lives matters if it’s beneficial to them who will benefit in the transition. Everything in this world has turned into business. Rich people are making money from our campaigns – Politicians and everyone. They use us to grow their businesses and ideas. [Let me break it down for you. As a businessman, if I see that my company isn’t growing and there’s a campaign for #BlackLivesMatter making million views, I will use it to my advantage. I will hire a black man and make him a CEO of my company. By doing that, I know many investors will inject money into my company if they see it ran by a black man because that’s what black people want to see. Black people will start supporting my company because a black man is in power. They will see it as an achievement for the black race but the truth is, I am the only one benefiting. Same applies with women campaigns. They will make woman a CEO because it will benefit the company. So next time you applaud for black excellence, make sure you know who that company or business belongs to. Clap hands for black owned businesses. Support those businesses. Buy in those businesses. Invest in them.
     The government alone cannot help everyone. It is time for us to make change. It must begin with us. It’s time we help one another. It’s time we feed one another. It’s time we cloth one another one. It’s time we embrace one another.  It’s time we show kindness to one another. Not every kindness in this world requires money. Simple words of encouragement are kindness. Simple words of support are kindness. If we do that, we will lead somewhere.]

     FOR THIS day I had made plans to go to my hometown in Sharpville to see my uncle who was in jail and to also see my siblings whom I haven’t seen in a very long time. Being fired from my job may have opened a way to poverty but again it brought me sense of astuteness. Had they not fired me I wouldn’t have had time to go back home to see my family – the people I had not seen in ages. My uncle Josiah had arranged for me to see Uncle Joshua in jail.
     My time had been occupied by work which served no purpose in my life. My initial plan was to quit my job when I’m financially stable but it did not happen as planned.
     Whilst busy packing my stuff, I heard a knock from my door and I went to open. The knock shocked me as I usually do not get any visits – unless it was Mrs Van Tonder; but she usually calls out my name from her door than to come nearby. When I opened the door, to my greatest surprise, my eyes saw Sarah. For a moment my heart pumped like a sound of a gun constantly fired. When I looked at her, she looked very different – eye-striking I should say. She was wearing a black dress which held her body tight and had an opening from a left thigh to her red shiny heel. The dress was also open from the top of her breast all the way to her shoulders. Her skin shun my eyes with amazement and her red lips were exactly as a red velvet cake. You would swear she was one of the models you would see on the cover magazines.

I let out my shock pass and I welcomed her inside and she sat on a chair, yet shocked to get a visit from her.
     “I’m surprised to see you here.” I said. “If I may ask, what brings you here? And how did you know where I stay?” I asked still shocked by her visit.
     “I am like God remember.” She said jokingly, pushing out a soft laugh “I am kidding. This morning when I drove Isabell to school I looked for you and I was told you were fired. After being told, I thought I should come here and check up on you just to make sure you don’t harm yourself.” She said jokingly and laughed afterwards. When she stopped laughing, she added. “So this is where you stay?” she asked with her eyes wandering around the room.
     “Yeah, I guess.”
     “It’s nice.”
     “Thank you.” (Of course I knew she was lying. What’s nice about staying in a one backyard room?)
     “Okay.” She paused and continued, “The real reason I have come here is because today is my last day of my research and without you, my efforts would be in vain. I still need you.” She said.
     “You seem to be always updated about my life. Bad news has wings.” I said.
     “You may say.”
     “I believe it was Boerberg who told you where I stay.”
     “Thank God for him otherwise I wouldn’t be here.” She said.
     “Nice, but unfortunately Sarah, I am my way out, as you can see.” I said pointing at my packed bags.
     “I wondered. Where are you going?” she asked.
     “I’m going home.”
     “What do you mean you going home Ced?”
     “I am going to Sharpville.”
     “How many hours will you be gone for?”
     “Not hours – maybe two days.” I replied still standing.
     “What? How? I have just told you today is my last day and I need you.”
     “I know you did but I am needed home, Sarah. I cannot continue helping you. I’m sorry.” I said and continued, “Perhaps I could ask Bab’Khumalo to help you. He knows a lot about black people than I am.”
     “It won’t work. I have started this project with you and I wish to finish it with you. I would hate to mix minds. I understand you better than anyone else. Can’t you give me this day and be gone tomorrow? Please.” She begged.
     “No I can’t Sarah. It’s important that I leave. Today is the only day I have to make things right.”
     “Please, I beg Cedric. I will pay you for your time if need to.” She said.
     “As much as I need money right now but I will have to pass the offer. And besides, I’ve helped you free at first so why must I take your money now? I want to help you Sarah, but right now I can’t. I’m sorry.”
     “Are you sure you will be back after two days?”
     “I am not sure yet but as soon as I get a job I’ll come back.” I said and she first paused for seconds having moments to her thoughts. I don’t know what else she was thinking but her mouth said one side of her thoughts.
     “Okay, I’m coming with you.” She said.
In shock I replied. “What? No you can’t. You can’t go with me.”
     “Why not?”
     “It is too dangerous Sarah. You will be risking your life.” I warned her.
     “I can take care of myself.”
     “Sharpville is not for your kind.”
     “My kind you mean white or soft?”
     “No, no. Not in that way. What I’m trying to say is; people there are not welcoming towards white people. They will see you as a threat. You cannot risk your life for a project that will do you nothing.”
     “You may not see the importance of my project but I believe in it.” She paused and continued, “And besides, this will give me a chance to explore the lives of black people. I’ve been seeking for this opportunity and now I have it, don’t deny me this opportunity. I want to be part of black environment. I want to know how it feels. I have been researching but now I want to experience. You’ve explored white people environment before and now is my chance to learn more about black people’s lives.” She said trying to convince me.
     “It was against my will to be in that environment, and beside you know it never ended well. I was insulted and called names.”
     “I am sorry for that, but this is my will. No one is forcing me to, at least unlike you, I’ll have no one else to blame but myself.”
I stared at her for a moment and replied. “Do not blame me for anything that may happen to you. I will not be held responsible. Just know by going with me you are only risking your life.” I warned her.
     “That I know... and I doubt they will harm me. I read a lot about black people. You folks seem cool.”
     “Books lie sometimes.”
     “Never mind – those are books of experience.”
With no words forming around my tongue, I just glared at her and continued to pack. She helped me on and when everything was inside the bags, we went and put the bag inside her car. I told her she should not travel with a car but she insisted it was faster than taking taxis. Even so, it’s not like it was possible for us to ride in taxi together anyway. This was just me trying to act appropriate. The Law of South Africa did not allow a white man and a black seen together in public. We went back inside my room to take the last of my stuff. When I was about to lock, she asked;
     “Are you leaving your telephone?” she asked.
     “Oh damn. Thank you. I almost forgot one important thing.” I took the telephone and we walked to her car.
She started the car and we hit the road.