Read Online A Sport of Nature by Nadine Gordimer - Free Book Online Page B

this and black that, beach houses for Olga and the kids I teach living fourteen people in two rooms in Soweto!—
    â€”And Alpheus in the garage.—
    â€”Where shall I put him?
Your
room? Would you like that? Do I run an orphanage here? —What do you know about the decisions your father has to make, taking cases
pro deo
when he could be making money as a divorce lawyer for whites with wives who must have enough alimony to have their faces lifted. We do know what’s cheap, what’s stupid, what’s
shit
. Yes. We’ve spent our lives finding out how to live in the midst of it, part of it, and … and behave as decently as one can … until it’s changed. I do think I know what’s right, even if I don’t always manage to do it. And, my Christ, the last thing I want is for you to have to be exactly like me, like us. That’s what I’ve been preparing you for since you were two bricks and a tickey … for change. But you have to think for it, work for it; and every day of the week do what you’re not sure of, or despise yourself for … it’s not a clean process … getting out of the shit … it’s not going to be for you, either, don’t think it can be, you’re old enough to realize.—
    â€”You don’t have to tell me. My name’s the one in the ballot. I’m going to have to go to the army.—
    â€”Am I responsible for that?—
    â€”Yes, because you don’t have to go.—
    â€”Stop talking nonsense, Sasha.—
    â€”No, Joe, if that’s true, then our life has been useless. Yours and mine.—
    â€”You, you, your life. Who gives a fuck for you fishing for a pat on the back. I’m not listening, do you hear, I’m not listening—
    Pauline lifted her long, blunt-nailed hand, to raise against her son or to protect herself, silver bangles from which the chasing had long worn off sliding down towards her elbow: the gesture was not concluded. There was an intrusion. The telephone rang. Hillela was speaking from a police station in Durban. She was fine. Mandy von Herz was fine. They had been recognized by the police on the North Beach. The police were being really nice, theyallowed her to phone. Joe spoke to the sergeant and arranged for the girls to be put on the train that evening.
    â€”And him?— Hoarse Pauline presented Joe with the presence of Sasha, swollen-lipped, before them. Her voice was slurred as if she were stunned by drink. —Does the school know you’re here?—
    He did not answer.
    His mother lifted her big head again. —And what are we going to do about that? He could be expelled. —Where do they think you are?—
    â€”Manzini.—
    â€”So. Joe—you decide with him how to get out of this mess. A prefect simply runs away when he’s sent to a soccer match. What school can overlook that? What d’you suggest we do now? Simply walks out and hitches a lift home without a word to anyone, like any dropout, any delinquent—
    Joe kept the professional manner he had adopted over the other matter, with the Durban police. —I’ll phone, I’ll explain.—
    Pauline’s great head and red-scratched cheeks faced everyone, the inhabited helmet and mask of authority. —What’ll you explain?—
    â€”He was under stress. A family matter.—
    Hillela’s nose is peeling and there is a bracelet made of turban shells on her right wrist. When she sees her cousin Sasha, home, reading the Sunday paper, she puts a hand over her opened mouth. —Was it your half-term—
    They all hear Sasha. —No. A couple of us seniors got a chance of a lift, so they gave us a weekend.—
    The house needs to recuperate from the dread Hillela left behind her, and from the emotions Sasha let loose. Pauline has made a lamb curry with accompanying chapatis, yoghurt-and-cucumber salad, bananas with coconut, and peach