White envy

(fan fiction on “A drink in the passage”)

By Leardi Carlos Martín

 

     It was 1960 and South Africa was celebrating its Golden Jubilee. There was a nation–wide strange sensation when the two-thousand-pound prize for the most beautiful piece of sculpture was won by a black man, Edward Simelane.  Segregation was usual in that time, so many people were disappointed and angry because a black man had won the prize.

     One afternoon, Edward was looking at “African mother and Child”, his famous sculpture, in the Alabaster Art Gallery. There was hardly anybody in that place, but suddenly an old white man appeared next to him. His last name was Van Rensburg. They began to talk, and after some minutes the man asked Edward home for a drink. He said “I live alone and I feel depressed,” and added “perhaps a black man and a white man could be friends.” At first, Edward thought that it was a joke because the situation looked strange. He doubted whether to go or not. Finally, he decided to go.

     When they arrived there, Edward had an awful feeling. Something was wrong. The atmosphere? The strange man?  He did not know why but he was afraid. Van Rensburg gave Edward a drink showing a friendly smile. The two men talked about women, football and many others things. After talking for an hour, something horrible happened. Van Rensburg asked Edward if he was educated so he answered that he had a degree in literature. After that, Van Rensburg´s humour changed immediately. A black man with a degree! Van Rensburg´s parents had died before he could finish school. Then, the white man remembered that “African Mother and Child” was an Edward´s work. He had seen his photograph in a newspaper. He was now pale and very angry and showed his teeth like a brave dog. Not only a black man had a degree, but he also was famous! Edward noticed that Van Rensburg felt very bad and decided to go away from his house.

“Could a man be so intolerant? Why was he so jealous?” thought Edward while he was returning home.