52 // Enemy Lines

The next morning while Jameson was getting ready for work, his mother was seated in their sitting room, waiting for him. She was not working because it was a holiday. 

It was the 27th of April, a South African public holiday known as Freedom Day, which celebrated freedom and commemorated the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994. The elections were the first non-racial national elections where everyone of voting age of over eighteen from any race group, including foreign citizens permanently resident in South Africa, was allowed to vote. 

“Morning, Ma.” Jameson greeted and kissed her on the cheek. 

“Morning, Ricardo.” She gave him a sad smile. 

He noticed the sadness in her eyes and squatted before her. “Ma, wat gaan aan? (Ma, what is going on?)” He asked in concern. 

“Please sit down.” She said and patted on the space next to her, and he joined her on the co