The Truth Commission’s first public amnesty hearing was held in the relatively obscure village of Phokeng near Rustenburg in May 1996. The applicants were two convicts serving time for murdering Glad Mokgatle on the 29^th of December 1990. They were 35-year-old Boy Diale and 53-year-old Christopher Makgale. Their amnesty hearing revealed a dramatic story layered with subtext. About a killing, a tribe, resources and, ultimately, power. But it also introduced a new scene in the Truth Commission play, with different actors and different lines. Antjie Samuel, Andries Sathekge and Angie Kapelianis report. (1)

 

 

ear hole absorption factors increase now. we have completed the soundtrack to your next sunday. boys fed skillet-bread pull at their sweaters and their puds.

          breast fed before the age of caucasians. splattered on the floor it matters no more to me. dad's home! time disaster. football launch too far knowledge scrunch up.

          look at me again.

          my sister and her football injury. her former friends in the scrunchie bunch. I’d let them measure my pencil for quick change.

 

no codicil after marriage.

 

razor wire hugs the civic centre. mothers collect their rugs. all the fathers have gone off now to post leaflets.

 

who is telling the story?

 

5. Find these words in Chapter 2 and write the sentence that (which) contains the word.  What do you think these words mean?
    A) league (9)
    b) cormorant (11)
    c) school (12)
    d) pelts (13)
    e) carcasses (16)

 

Far as I’m concerned, you can blow those fucking carcasses out your ass. I’m gonna pin this cormorant on my prom date then invite her to league bowling with my dad, who never went to school except on days where they ran the air conditioner.

 

I yiiii I

was over on eighth street

standing on the corner smelling hot dogs

hand in my pocket

looking for a quarter

when the mop dropped by

full-house on his belt from killing

republicans for the pelts,

who are a people far across the ocean. cold land of stories and much hiding under tables but not much else to keep you occupied, mind on something.

you

who?

...got your hair dyed.

 

the babysitter with the one-hitter.

 

le phoque de vol.

 

she’s got her hair dyed.

 

green as the box an old man drives. I’m looking out for you and you.

 

that Bongwater was more than just a brown stain left on the carpet between the couch and coffee table the people of Alibamou deserve to know.

          man this coffee table makes a fine footrest.

          other ideas the people of alibamou cannot utilize are included at no extra charge.

          raised on catfish and pine tree stew.

          t-shirts.

          endgame is divorce court.

 

why was Karana afraid when Ramo went alone to get the canoes?

 

fourteen ways to engage a sheriff in conversation.

 

on a bus smugglin’ raisins.

 

why arent mom and dad talking?

did someone call faces down?

 

carstairs, innisfail, Lac La Biche...

 

take away their tornados and abducted children and what do they have?

          listen, man, how long ‘til any of those cigarettes are remaindered? these comic books aint doin’ it fer me no more.

 

I smoke dildos.

(what are abolones?)

 

Boy Diale:

Yes, I’m prepared to take an oath.

 

flashback: Cher is just an infant.

her pacifier has fallen to the ground.

she is getting her first face lift.

the doctor is portuguese but studied medicine in new hampshire.

 

ah, medicine in old new hampshire.

 

ah, pacifiers.

 

ah, yes... the ground! my balloon was listing.

          you will find waldo under a copper umbrella pissing on hot rocks in the evening glow under a meteor shower.

          salad forks at the ready and spoons on thoer noses, king wenclas and his consortium (or ilk) prepare themselves to take on the world. mostly it’s clean areas where it’s safe to eat with the fingers.

 

at this moment I would rather be listening to polvo than to my mother.

 

I’ve got to tell you, Boy Diale loves his fuckin’ yoyo.

          I need to pee pee.

 

a league of their bones.

 

almost a boiled egg.

 

the kind of shorts a pro-am dart shark would wear.

 

performing the oft-nigh anticipated pyloric surgery in kneeshorts during a hailstorm of boiled eggs and wigs labelled Mervins. the batteries are dead for now. hello, Raquel Welch -- is this your dildo or flashlight?

          I am not privy to rabbit wisdom.

          hutch. hutch muffins.

 

I once got close to a boiled egg. wheelchair tour of the El Camino Real.

          synonymous with carjacking.

 

          close-ups afterschool of the pet milk versus the power saw.

 

Hassen Mall:

…Are you prepared to take the oath in this matter? Interpret that to him, please…

Bongani Gamede:

Hassen Mall

Hassen Mall:

…Has he said yes?

 

got close

with (a boiled egg).

 

blow me up, Scottie.

 

 

Chapter 9

Why do you think Karana set her village on fire?

 

Why didn’t karana sleep? was she high on rock?

 

 

i’m sort of a pacifist.

 

 

 

s o u r c e s

(1) “bones of memory experiences and memories lay bare the pain and

bravery of apartheid's victims” from the website at http://www.sabctruth.co.za/worldsright.htm

“Chapter Study Guides: Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell”