Copyright Randy Maize.
She likes me sittin’ beside her, readin’ my bible, reflectin’, rememberin’. She don’t even mind the goat leaping on the gravestones – sometimes I think she’d more respect for animals than people.
Ma was a proud woman, kept herself locked away inside, the softness buried deep behind a sharp tongue and a suspicious nature. Didn’t suffer fools gladly. And politicians not at all.
When we talked about the changes, she’d fold thin lips, flash those big brown eyes.
“Only thing gonna change round here son is the colour of them ridin’ the gravy train. And there won’t be seats for us all.”
An opportunity for another re-run, a topical one, but then when wasn’t this subject ever topical. I was living in South Africa when everything changed, back when the new democratic government was formed in the early nineties. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all Friday Fictioneers, old and new. And thank you to Rochelle for taking up the baton way back, and still running with it. 🙂
castelsarrasin 
I love “Didn’t suffer fools gladly. And politicians not at all.” Politicians lower than fools!
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I think many of us feel this way, Neil
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Yes, the moral and intellectual calibre of those in politics today… well, I rest my case.
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Dear Sandra,
Topical indeed. Loved this story then and love it now. Thanks for continuing to hang with me all these years. Sorry about the inLinkz miss-schedule this morning.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for reading, Rochelle. I didn’t notice the inLinkz miss. To be honest I’d forgotten it was Wednesday. 🙂
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It’s okay….they only had to wait an hour and a half. 😉 And for once it afforded me the opportunity to be first on the hit parade.
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A good woman, but an intrinsically sad story.
Great voice, desperate truth.
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Never more so. Thanks for reading CE. Happy Hogmanay!
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Great voice in this piece.
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Thanks, Josh.
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Ma’s quite a character with perhaps a bit of goat stubbornness in her too.
It must’ve been an emotional rollercoaster living in South Africa back then such excitement but dangerous.
best wishes,
Rowena
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Yes, it was thrilling. But there’s only so much living dangerously that a girl can take. 🙂 We were assigned to Johannesburg twice in the nineties, and we only went back once to that city. After that we mostly went to Cape Town but it holds no attraction for me these days. Thanks for reading.
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I love the voice, and I feel that the son is growing a lot like his mother…
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Cynicism is hereditary, I guess. Thanks for reading, Bjorn.
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Politicians often find themselves out of work because their constituents believe they are fools. When you say one thing and do another? That’s a good definition of foolishness.
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And when you promise one thing and deliver another, well I guess that’s something else. Thanks for reading.
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I know a number of people like this, “the softness buried deep behind a sharp tongue and a suspicious nature.” Those who have been through much adversity and unfairness, I think, and the softness gets buried to protect themselves. The “gravy train” reference and “there won’t be seats for us all,” is a sad commentary. A lot said for us to consider as always.
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Thanks for reading, Brenda, and for commenting.
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Convincing voice, well done. I’d want to know her better (if not really the wrath of her sharp tongue…) 🙂
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:). Thanks for reading.
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The vice in your piece is spot on. Cheers! Sandra
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Cheers, Alicia 🙂 And thanks for reading.
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You have to sell your souls to be able to afford seats on those trains. Great tale Sandra.
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There’s plenty of soul traders everywhere. Soul traders, did you see what I did there? 🙂
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Ha ha ha
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Typical mamma with wonderful foresight. No wonder she did not suffer fools.
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Yes, I think she knew the changes to come.
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Sounds like ma has some stuff figured out!
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Well, if you don’t expect much then you’re unlikely to be disappointed, I guess.
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Great last line, wise words and sadly often true.
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Thanks for reading.
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She reminds me of my Mum, who crossed over early this year.
Sigh!
May your new year be dazzling and divine.♥️
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Oh I’m sorry for your loss. This will be a difficult season for you then. May you be as happy as possible under the circumstances. And thanks for reading.
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Nailed the thoughts of those whose lives are not the top of the food chain.
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And there are plenty of those in South Africa. Thanks for reading.
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She sounds like a woman I would have loved to meet!
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Thanks for reading Liz. Hope you were ready in time for Christmas.
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Ah, how right Ma is – the only thing that changes are the people making the big money! What a wonderful voice you use here, Sandra, perfection. Hope you had a great Christmas
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Thanks for reading Lynn. Yes, we had a good Christmas. My husband gave me a cold for Christmas. Still, it was better than some years… 😉
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My boss gave me a horrible virus last year – a Christmas bonus I was not grateful for! Hope you recover quickly and have a lovely 2019
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As everyone has already noted, what a great voice you use. And that last line is a sucker punch. Perfection. Funny., my family generously “gave” me a cold too…
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one thing about politicians: can’t live with them but can’t live without them either. we just have to enjoy the ride, 🙂
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That gravy train seems to be a popular mode of transport in many countries. It is scary how similar politicians are across the globe. Nice one.
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Nice write. Here’s to more in the New Year.
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Excellent characterization in such a limited format. Ma was right.
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Nice use of the picture. It does look to me like someone reading their bible to a loved one who has passed on. Ive seen this image many times in movies but usually in Hospitals, in rooms of the gravely ill,or on death row, with condemned prisoners. But why shouldnt the reading continue after death?
Sounds like some woman,the deceased. I hope her fears for the future were not justified. What a time to be where you were, in South Africa. Look forward to more stories about it!
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I could relate to this character. Great read.
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Enjoyed the tone of the narrator and the use of apostrophes.
I was listening closely to the story teller, taken in buy her words.
Randy
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The more things change the more they stay the same.
That is a saying for a reason.
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