Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: ARTIFICIAL (08/11/16)
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TITLE: The Divide | Previous Challenge Entry
By Graham Keet
08/16/16 -
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“Why did you really bring me up here,” she asked, avoiding contact with his eyes.
“Because it’s the perfect place to ask you what I need to ask you,” he said, taking her chin in his hand and turning her face towards his.
“Josh, you know it won’t work out—its one of those things that just can’t be; I thought we’ve been through all this already,” she said, her Cape Colored accent almost hidden by her private school upbringing.
“Listen honey bun, do you know what year it is?”
“Twenty sixteen.”
“And when did apartheid end?”
“Long ago; before I was born.”
“And so, what’s to stop us getting married?”
“Perceptions, Josh, perceptions. You’re white and I’m…not. There’ll always be this barrier between us—and our kids in future.”
“The barrier’s in your mind, Theresa, it doesn’t exist in the real world anymore.”
“And our parents, do you think they’ll ever really be friends—or even be relaxed in each other’s company? They grew up in the old regime, remember?”
“Do you love me, Theresa?”
She put her head on his chest, mainly to hide the tears that had started to flow. “Yes Josh, I do love you, but…”
“No ‘buts’, see that bench over at the lookout point, let’s go and sit there and take in the view for a while.”
He put his arm around her as they walked over the rough mountain surface to the bench on the extremity, overlooking the beautiful Table Bay, with Robben Island in the distance. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he took out a small red box.
“Josh, is that what I think it is?”
“What do you think it is? No, don’t answer that, let me do the talking.” Getting onto one knee in front of the bench he removed a ring from the box. “Theresa, I love you more than anything or anyone, will you marry me?”
She flung her arms around his neck, and placing her head on his shoulder, she started sobbing. “I want to—but we can’t. My dad won’t…”
“Your dad doesn’t see any problem.”
She looked up. “You asked him; you’re joking?”
“No I’m not.”
“What did he say?”
“Well, when he stopped smiling, he grabbed my hand and nearly squeezed the life out of it. Then he told me that he has never seen you as happy as you have been going out with me. He said that he thought it was time that the artificial barriers separating South Africans should end, and he would be proud if his family could be instrumental in breaking down these outdated barriers.”
“Are you serious?”
“Perfectly. Now what do you say?”
Between sobbing and laughter she managed to get out, “Yes, oh yes, yes, yes.”
He lifted her from the seat and kissed her, then pointing to the nearby restaurant he suggested they go in for some tea. They entered the restaurant and he guided her to a separate room at the end of the main restaurant area. He stopped before entering the room.
“Are you a hundred percent sure you want to marry me?”
“Of course, I said so, didn’t I?”
“Say it again, I love hearing it. Will you marry me?”
“Joshua Middleton, I Theresa Linda van Staden, love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. No more barriers of any kind.
Suddenly from behind a portable screen applause arose. The screen was pulled to one side, and at a large table sat both their families.
Theresa was unable to hide her surprise. “Did you arrange all of this?”
“With a bit of help from some very special people.”
Both sets of parents came over to offer their congratulations. Ben Middleton, Josh’s father, gave Theresa a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Welcome to the family, your new mom and dad agree that Josh couldn’t have made a better choice. We have long been convicted that as Christians we are all one before God, and there should be no man-made barriers.”
Zack van Staden put an arm on Ben’s shoulder. “What about a round of golf this weekend—you too, Josh?”
The young lovebirds were, however, already in their own world.
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