Ray's Story

This Story is for Adults Only as it contains SNLVP - You Have Been Warned!

The Boy Who Threw Stones

Craig D Smith

This story is purely fictional, based on actual events that took place in South Africa during the 1980's. Names, places, dates have been changed to protect the innocent.

A New Beginning

The sun had not yet appeared and was just about lighting the sky. Ray was already at his window, thinking about what he would do for the day. The school holidays had just begun and Ray was confident that he had passed his final examinations for Standard 9, even though the results would only be available at the end of that week.

After eleven years at school, he felt as though he was ready to get a job. His father was sick and unable to work for the past two years, and his mother struggled to maintain the family of six on her menial salary that she earned at the supermarket. It had been a rough year for Ray, being the eldest child in the family and often turning down new clothes so that his younger siblings could receive new clothing. Ray's mind was also plagued by the events that transpired that year, especially the rioting that characterised the schools in his area. Two of his friends were captured by the Special Branch of the police force, and taken away, to some secret location.

Although Ray was not politically active, he had participated in the boycotts. His mathematics teacher was under surveillance because of suspicions that he had incited the scholars to rise up against the unjust political regime. Most of the students participating in the boycotts were there because it was an opportunity to miss classes and have a good time. This, until the police started using rubber bullets and only a handful of "diehards" remained committed to the cause. Ray's back bore the scars of his commitment. After two months of boycotting, the remaining students returned to their classrooms. They had to put in added effort to catch up with the other students.