A Short Story

This is the story of a young man who returned to the country of his birth, Britain, from a childhood and youth spent (a long time ago) in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.

Rhodesia was a country where life was rather Black and White.
There was really only one class of White people...and the Blacks.

The Blacks were not part of the White Society as such, but they could join it, if they had the right clothes and financial resources. These wealthier Blacks could even vote, though with a special (reduced) franchise.

They were a very happy people, like most Africans, who are by nature friendly, kind, generous, and warm.

After his schooling, the young man went to college in South Africa.
Here, his experiences of injustice and bigotry towards the Blacks, from his fellow whites** (though not from all, of course), shocked him, and stirred his first political and social conscience.

He soon came to the conclusion that there was only one side he could support, and he was berated as a traitor to his skin.

When his father (who was a "master carpenter", and with whom he had had a BIG problem, especially later in his youth) died - well before he should - he felt liberated from the need to continue studying in South Africa, whose “apartheid” he grew to hate.

He left, to explore his home country, and some other lands, races and cultures, taking with him a very negative view of his skin, his background, and so much more.
Through his travels, as his contact with others got easier, he forgave his father, in his mind, as he could not do otherwise.

This forgiveness and love that he felt, lifted a great weight off his shoulders, and he found a new faith in himself.
He knew his father loved him dearly, really, for he remembered he received it from him in bundles when he was a young child.
Something had just gone wrong between his father and mother.

This does happen to lots of couples with children, especially when communication breaks down, and love, understanding and forgiveness have deserted the relationship.

**It must be remembered that the white South Africans released Nelson Mandela from prison, and subsequently both they and he gave up their political power.

Nelson Mandela and the White South Africans have thus set a shining example to the world.


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