The inevitable happens. We run out of words. Ma and Pa’s world
has shrunk. They know only what they read in the papers and glean
from the radio and television. Cellphone reception let alone
internet access here in Pienaarsvlakte is patchy at best. Ma goes
to her bible study each Thursday and attends church. Pa
occasionally goes on hunting trips with his retired friends. They
speak of the world outside their town in terms of a country that
has become hostile to them, and the farthest they’ve travelled
recently has been to Beaufort West so Pa could go have some tests
done at the hospital.
We leave shortly before supper. I’d hoped that they’d invite
us to stay, but they don’t; Ma complains that she’s got a headache
coming on. I don’t know if she’s faking it and I don’t want to
co
