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    At Long Last
    At Long Last
    At Long Last
    Ebook100 pages1 hour

    At Long Last

    By Shemica O.C.

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    About this ebook

    This is the story of a young man whose dream was to become a teacher. The dream however proved more easily said than done. The path to his dream was not an easy one, and was deterred by sorrow, pain and the turmoil of love affairs. His primary school days were hard because of corporal punishment, his maltreatment at a high school was a nuisance, and the manual labour work he had to endure at a gold mine, was physically and mentally killing him. The demise of one of his family members during his college days nearly put an end to his dream altogether. But against all odds, through determination, hard work and a ‘never say never’ attitude, he was able to achieve what he wanted in life.

    About the Author

    OC Shemica was born and raised in Buxton in North West Province. He studied at Lekwene Primary, Batlhaping High, Taung College of Education and Port-Elizabeth University. He presently resides in Pudimoe. He works at Moretele-Ntshwanahatse village at Jerry Mahura Secondary School.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherShemica O.C.
    Release dateApr 23, 2018
    ISBN9781370985388
    At Long Last

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    • 5/5
      The inspiring book for young generation. Read it and you will be motivated.

    Book preview

    At Long Last - Shemica O.C.

    AT LONG LAST

    AT LONG LAST

    Shemica O.C.

    Copyright © 2018 Shemica O.C.

    Published by Shemica O.C.Publishing at Smashwords

    First edition 2018

    All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the copyright holder.

    The Author has made every effort to trace and acknowledge sources/resources/individuals. In the event that any images/information have been incorrectly attributed or credited, the Author will be pleased to rectify these omissions at the earliest opportunity.

    Published by the Author using Reach Publishers’ services,

    P O Box 1384, Wandsbeck, South Africa, 3631

    Edited by Frankie Kartun for Reach Publishers

    Cover designed by Reach Publishers

    Website: www.reachpublishers.co.za

    E-mail: reach@webstorm.co.za

    Dedication

    A special dedication to my late parents who made me what I am today and how to tackle the ups and downs of life, and my late brother, Thapelo, who was always there for the family.

    Acknowledgements:

    I would like to thank my astoundingly supportive family members. There would be no Shamrock without any of you’

    To my wife, Keitsile,you’re always there when I need hope and inspiration, and always strong when I’m tired and weak; I could search this whole world over but you’ll still be everything I need.

    My best buddy, Harry, this book is an inspiration from you.

    Joe, the brilliant layout designer, Frankie for the remarkable job on my manuscript, Sally and all the other professionals from Reach Publishers, thank you all.

    For those who have touched my life in any way since we started knowing each other, you all know who you are. I am truly grateful for all you have done.

    Table of Contents

    Dedication

    Acknowledgements:

    1. School Days

    2. Days at the Gold Mine

    3. Temporary Teacher

    4. Days at the College of Education

    Chapter 1:

    School Days

    It was the beginning of the school’s first term when Papillon Misheca arrived at Biambi High School. The school was about 80 km away from his village and catered for Standard 6 to Standard 10 learners. If things went well, Papillon would spend five years at Biambi High. Fresh from primary school, he was brought to the high school in a Toyota Corolla, which was one of his uncle’s cars. It was not just raining but pouring when the car stopped at the boys’ hostel. Papillon was surprised to see so many big boys, some of whom he thought looked as though they were in his uncle’s age group.

    Papillon was the son of Kosika and Sinkho Misheca, and was the second child in a family of eight children. He had one older brother, three younger brothers and three younger sisters. They were all still attending school, except for his older brother, who was claiming to be a clerk in a factory in Jozimaboneng. His father, Kosika, was an employee at a local mine in his village, and Sinkho was a jobless mother. Papillon started his primary schooling at the only primary school in his Kalakeng village, in the wrong era, when corporal punishment was still administered in schools. The first day at school, the teacher asked them what they wanted to be in the future. Papillon was the only one in class who said that he wanted to be a teacher one day, and the teacher told him that he would need to work hard if he wanted to achieve that goal. In his fifth year in the primary school he nearly quit school altogether when he and his friend were beaten on their buttocks by the teacher for having made a noise when there was no teacher in the classroom. Each was given five of the best lashes by their left-handed teacher, whom the learners had nicknamed ‘Lefty’. Lefty was their mathematics teacher in Standard Three, but his teaching methods were so poor that it resulted in his learners hating mathematics.

    It’s not fair. How can Lefty beat us on our buttocks just for making a noise? He was supposed to be teaching us mathematics; instead, he was idling in the staff room, because he doesn’t even know his subject matter. I’m thinking of quitting school, said Papillon.

    You said that you want to be a teacher one day, so hold onto your dream, Brother. Forget about the lashes. Teachers are sometimes cruel and unfair. Believe in education; it will show you the future, and life will shine on you one day. It will be you one day abusing our children, joked his inspirational friend, Fuzi.

    I would never do such a thing, replied Papillon. But, one day, I will be one of the best mathematics teachers in Mzanzi, not a bad one like Lefty, who yesterday failed to explain to the learners why 2 x 2 = 4 and 2 + 2 = 4 but 3 x 3 = 9 and 3 + 3 = 6. Instead, he threatens to beat us if we ask such questions again.

    It was the same year, during the primary school’s soccer tournament, when Papillon proved that one day he would also be a soccer star. He was the midfield maestro in his school soccer team. As a result of his two magnificent goals, which could have left the king of soccer - Pele Edson Arantes Do Nascimento - feeling envious, his school was presented with its first trophy since its establishment. He was nicknamed the Computer, because of his clever ball control.

    The boys’ hostels were divided into two blocks. The block on the eastern side was for the newcomers, while the one on the western side was for the seniors, although they all lived together, without segregation.

    Papillon’s dormitory was called Trafalgar Square, and it accommodated ten people.

    When all the parents had left, the newcomers were assembled by the seniors, who called themselves the old-timers of Biambi High and were eleven in number. One of the old-timers, who was known as King of Biambi, stood up and said, Mabushi (hostel language for newcomers), every one of you is going to be welcomed to this hostel with four lashes of ‘tsele’ (another hostel term for a towel folded inside, from the left and right sides, to make the shape of a whip), two on the back and two on your chest. Papillon thought to himself that this was not going to be a welcome, but a bad-come.

    Your first six months are not going to be a bed of roses. You are each going to be tested to see if you are man enough to be in this school hostel. Your responsibilities will be to wash the clothes of the old-timers and to clean the dormitories. Sekweta (hostel language, meaning hot water) is only for the old-timers, not for Mabushi. You will only be officially welcomed after you have stood the test of time. After lashes, you will go straight to the showers, before you sleep, said the King of Biambi.

    In the bathroom, whilst they were busy showering, Papillon spoke to another of the newcomers, called Jickah.

    Brother, my aim is to be a teacher one day, but if this is the road I must travel, being harassed by other students like me, the teaching profession can go to hell.

    To be the best, brother, you have to climb rough and tough mountains. But do you know that if the mountain was smooth, you wouldn’t be able to climb it at all. Well, education is like that. It is hard and tough to climb up there, but when you are at the peak of the mountain, you will see how beautiful the world is. So, hold on, brother, don’t give up. One day, you will look back with a smile and say how nice is to be educated, said Jickah trying to

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