Well, hopefully this won't be too shocking for you, in that it's not the usual frothy sort of story to which you've become accustomed. It's not all candy floss in your favourite online column, and this story was inspired (or provoked?) by an incident on the mountain track where we love to walk. Food for thought...
MOMMY and DADDY
“Ok, lots of sun block on your little noses and drink lots of juice, it’s going to be hot today my darlings. Have fun at play school and Mommy’ll be back to fetch you at lunchtime. Maybe we can go get a Happy Meal for a weekend treat.”
“ Bye, love you Mommeeee…”
Jen watches her fledgling children totter into the mayhem of their own new world. Big steps for little feet. She loves them so much, yet much as she misses them, she’s enjoying getting some of her old life back. This morning she is dressed in her running togs and her new Nikes. A gift from Tim for Mother’s Day “to get her back on her feet”, after the housebound years of rearing toddlers. She’s set herself the goal of running the Women’s Half Marathon next month. She has to laugh at herself, considering how fit she used to be, getting nervous now about a mere 12km race. Not to be deterred, and despite the fact that Kath has already made excuses for not joining her today, she’s eager and ready to resume her training schedule.
It’s midmorning and a beautiful day as she sets out on the popular track. She thrills to her newfound freedom as she gets into her stride. Not bad for an old bird she reckons as she glances at her watch. A little ahead she spies a smartly dressed guy. Not the usual morning hiking sort she muses, as she nods a greeting to him in passing. But just as she shoots past him, he grabs her roughly by the arm. Before she can blink or realize what’s happening, he has dragged her into the bushes. She hears a crunch as he punches her first in the jaw and then strikes a blow to her skull. She feels her own fresh, red blood spurting down her face. He is ripping off her shorts and pushing her down with the weight of his body. She blacks out. Then comes to with the agonising realisation that this is not a nightmare. Not a nocturnal one anyway.
Voices! The man has his hand over her mouth, and is telling her, eloquently, that if she makes a sound, he’ll slit her throat. Jen daren’t look at him, but she can smell his sweat and her own fear and blood and juices mingled together. She wants to retch but his hand forces all the bile back into her mouth. The voices grow louder. He gives her one last shove and slams her face onto the rock below them. She feels unbearable pain and shame, as she lies choking on dirt and blood and tears. The hikers find her, face down, half naked and barefoot, bleeding and sobbing hysterically.
“Daddy…
What’s the matter with Mommy?
Why does she cry all the time?
Why is her face so sore?
Why doesn’t she take us to school any more?
Why don’t you smile any more?
Don’t you and Mommy love us anymore?
Daddeee…?”
(The sad rejoinder to this story is that the innocent victim was a highly qualified professional, who has since left the country, with all her skills and family, though we have heard that her marriage has sadly disintegrated after this traumatic incident. No arrests were ever made, and a family lies in tatters.
Jacob Zuma, our esteemed president, is about to embark on his fourth marriage - no cost to us tax payers we are assured - but whilst he obviously has time aplenty for fillies and festivities, what effort has he put into tackling crime in this country?)
Jacob Zuma, our esteemed president, is about to embark on his fourth marriage - no cost to us tax payers we are assured - but whilst he obviously has time aplenty for fillies and festivities, what effort has he put into tackling crime in this country?)
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