by Roelien Steenkamp

Created on: March 24, 2010

Mirror by the Sea

-A Short Story -

Somewhere, untimely, the south east wind was forcing itself, unwelcomed yet accepted, along the peaceful bay, sneaking between the bird-dropping covered rocks emerging from the water and the fish factories. The fishermen were launching their boats in search of the exciting snoek-run that had hit unexpectedly. The seagulls were roaming wildly above them, ready to follow at any speed, in hope of that tiny piece of bait that might just fall behind on the boats’ return.  One fisherman said to another, “Snoek in December, it must be Christmas.”

But, unlike the beautiful day that had bestowed itself on the inhabitants of St Helena’s bay, an unfortunate incident was occurring somewhere between the noisy harbour, the statue dedicated to Vasco Da Gama and the calm, cobalt waters of Stompneusbay. A stubborn and demanding woman, stuffed with dried bread and fish, growled. Around her, six young and old eager faces, not sure of whether to congratulate the woman or to growl with her, sat in anticipation. A burden of nine months had become a reality for the rest of this barbarous woman’s life. And so, as life and joy seemed to flow towards the open ocean with seagulls following, despair and shock was left behind, because when Ramona-who was the result of a drunken rowdy night mistaken for true love- was born, the first words her mother uttered to her were, “My God! Dis baby’s ugly.” Six other jaws dropped, not as a result of the mother’s first words, but at the unpleasant appearance of the infant. With the unity of one voice and one gasp, the six faces all seemed to say, “Oe, hirie kid is rerig ugly.” If it was at all possible that Ramona’s father could’ve been present, her mother would have cut open a bottle and hit him over the head with it.

Eighteen years later, when the peaceful bay hadn’t changed yet didn’t looked the same either, the same woman sat on her wrecked wooden porch as sand gathered between her wrinkled toes and watched her daughter,  who she’d grown to love immensely. But even though Ramona did very well at school and had a good number of friends, just enough to save her if it were needed, Ramona was never going to find a husband. She thought about Ramona’s room which had everything in it except a mirror. No, Ramona never dared look at her reflection or her shadow. Even if it had happened that she ill-fatedly

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• Next Page >>