I saw a Zulu this morning...

''It was at seven in the morning when i saw this big black gentleman walk outside Mrs Grobler's house. He wore a black trouser, a white shirt which he folded over his arms and  he carried a back pack that looked heavy. I knew that moment that Mrs Grobler was in trouble. So immediately i rushed into the house to call the police. When i got back again to check the gentleman had left, when the police came it was too late. Oh God i feel sorry for Mrs Grobler she lived a sad lonely life now she is dead". Those were the words of eighty five year old Mrs Muller who was the only witness to testify to the murder of Allen Grobler a widow who was found dead in her home two hours ago. People all over the small town of Bloomberg had gathered around the deceased's property to catch a glimpse of what was happening. Her body was lying on the floor, she had been stabbed several times before her death. The freshness of her blood and a plate of scrambled eggs was evidence that the murder had occurred the exact time being mentioned by the witness. ''I saw the gentleman'' cried Mrs Muller. ''He was Zulu and big'' she said.

The place was now surrounded by sniffer dogs and a helicopter patrolling the town. Near by the town was a shanty town with lots of black people working in the mines and yes most of the man were big and Zulu. About five suspects had been held and were in custody. It was up to Mrs Muller to go and identify the black Zulu she saw in the morning. She had dressed up already and about to get into the police van when a lady screamed from a distance,"stop'' . ''Where are you taking her?' she asked. ''Sorry lady'' spoke the inspector, ''who are you and what relations do you have with Mrs Muller or the deceased?''. This old lady here is my mother and what deceased?'' she asked surprisingly. ''Your mother here is about to be the town's new hero, she is a witness to a murder that occurred two hours ago right here'' pointing at Mrs Grobler 's home.''Your mother claims..'' she intervenes the inspector before he had finished. '' With all due respect Mr Inspector, my mother has been blind for twenty five years. She has never seen the sun nor the color of her nose. I know what she told you. She said she saw a Zulu outside, big wearing  black pants, white shirt folded and heavy back pack. Yes, she has been singing that hymn since she got involved in an accident that left her husband dead.  I am sorry Mr Inspector for my mom to have wasted your time.

stories by the humming bird

written by Hawulethu Patrice Dube

a saxjaz7 production

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Half a bucket of love.....

For thirty two years Maria Burgess lived with her husband Thomas Burgess a very rich man. Maria met Thomas thirty five years ago in a hotel where she worked in as a housekeeper. She was only twenty by then and in love with Alfred Jerkins Jr. Unlike Thomas, Alfred did not have a lot of wealth none the less Maria loved Alfred.On the 3rd of November 1845 Alfred got a job in the city and left he never wrote or came back again.Two years later Maria married Thomas.
It was on the eve of the Christmas of  1878 that Maria received news that Thomas had died.Her heart sank she was in pain she wished she had loved Thomas more. A year after Thomas's death while Maria was mourning, Alfred came back from the city. The love of her life had come back to life. All along she knew she had not given Thomas her whole heart, she lied to have loved him in the past thirty years.
A month later Alfred proposed to Maria who in turn was to reply through written later as per custom if one was a widow. After thirty two years in the city Alfred had managed to transform himself to a powerful man very wealth and respected, by no means he knew he still possessed a special place in Maria's heart.
After weeks of consideration and thought Maria replied to the marriage proposal.

My Dearest Alfred

With great joy and happiness i was glad to see you once again after thirty two years. You made me feel young again. You took me back into my first love, my first joy and of course my first kiss. I was sitting alone last night and i began to think of the passion we had when we were young. I remember very well the first night i slept outside my home , how early the following morning you carried me into my bedroom window. Later on today i met William you remember him?The old man that caught us making love for the first time in his corn field, yeah he is still alive. I would agree as a widow though not proud of it you the only man whom i fully gave my heart to.I never fully gave my husband Thomas my whole heart because often i hope that you would come back. I gave Thomas half a bucket of love which he took grateful with both hands and turned that into a field of happiness in my life while you took the whole bucket and disappeared. Yes we might have had our share of happiness when we were young but that was then. Now am a grown up woman i have tested love i have not loved and i have seen what love is. Go to the city again,come back after thirty two years maybe i will say yes to your proposal, for now i have given the last half bucket of love to my husband Thomas

Your friend Maria

love letters from Romeo.

written by Hawulethu Patrice Dube
a saxjaz7 production
all rights reserved

follow me @hawulethu
like this page of Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoveInTheTimeOfXenophobia