Stories: Tales from Umtata: The One
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| I had just stepped into the new boarding. Barely getting to set my belongings down when a local member of the Umtata Branch paid a visit to the boarding. I was a bit excited. Andile, the member, would be my first contact with a member in my first area. He was a bit strange though.
He started with my fellow SACTM MTC Buddy, Elder Zithulele Danisa from Durban. He, with the participation of our companions Elder Thompson and Elder Streadbeck, portrayed a drunken idiot seeking food and money.
"Two Rand of Chips Boss, Andile repeated as he staggered around the living room of the boarding. I ignored him. I figured he was a member. I already knew about the "greenie" jokes. He was quite believable. Insomuch that when he went to "take" Elder Streadbeck's personal items Elder Danisa became Mad!
"No, no no! You can take that," Shouted Elder Danisa. "Put it back. You don't want fish and chips." Elder Thompson was red with suppressed laughter. I shook my head as Andile continued to act--academy award style.
Soon, Elder Danisa was feed up. Just as he was about to kick the stuffing out of Andile, Elder Streadbeck Alerted Elder Danisa to the jest. I already knew. I thought it was over.
After laughs and conversation, Andile addressed me very seriously. "Elder Johnson," he began, "I have something to tell you." By this time my guard was down and I suspected no jesting. "In our tribe we have a prophecy about the Black that would cross the waters and become the anointed one of our people."
"What," I said confused. He look deathly serious, enough to scare the tar out of anyone.
"Elder Johnson, you have fulfilled my people’s prophecy. I must tell my father and with will come tonight and take you to you new home."
An eerie feeling came over me and I became a bit disturbed.
I said lightly, "You are crazy." I looked at Elder Thompson and continued. “Is this guy for real.?
"Hey, this is news to me," said Elder Thompson excusing himself to laugh I thought.
Andile Continued become more detailed about my uniqueness and my special status. After about 20 minutes of this I successfully made Andile believe I did not believe him. Truth was I did.
When he left (Take in mind, Andile is a 17 year old Kid and I a 22 year old Elder) I expressed my mind to Elder Thompson. He honestly did not know that Andile had planned this. He knew enough about Andile that he could not shoot from the hip with a tale like that.
Can you imagine the night I had? Every sound killed me slow. I just knew someone would be removing me that night.
No one every told me Andile was kidding. Since I was ignorant about Xhosa people I was thoroughly convince crazy people would get me any night.
When I saw Andile at church my first Sunday I asked him about my so call choosiness. He did not remember. So I rehearsed laughingly the whole thing hoping he would say yea or nay to its truthfulness.
He looked at me with the most pathetic and empathetic eyes and said, "You really believe that. I was just messing with you elder."
From that point on, I became The One. The one Andile played all his intellectual mind games with because I was so gullible.
I fell for it every time. Who knew a 17 year old could be so..... "Good." |
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