11 years ago
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
A dream come true?
Characters:
Zenzi – Miriam Makeba at about 14 years old; Mother – her mother
Setting:
A kitchen in a township home in the 1940s
Scene 1
Zenzi, who is in the kitchen, is singing softly. Her mother comes in
Zenzi: Mama, Mama! (runs to her mother) Something exciting has happened!
Mother: What is it, my child? You look as though a dream has come true!
Zenzi: It has, Mama! You know I’ve been learning a new solo?
Mother: (laughing) I have heard it about 100 times!
Zenzi: Well, I’m going to sing it for the King!
Mother: What king?
Mirima: You know – the king from over the sea – King George.
Mother: You are not going over the sea! (sounds horrified)
Zenzi: No, Mama. (laughs) The King who is from England is coming to South Africa. Our choir is going to sing for him! I am going to sing in front of a king, a queen and two princesses!
Mother: That is wonderful news!
Zenzi: I can’t wait to see the princesses. Look, here is a picture of the little one whose name is Margaret …
Scene 2
A week later; Zenzi’s mother is in the kitchen. It is raining hard. Zenzi comes in.
Mother: My child, you are so wet! Come to the fire and get dry. (Zenzi walks slowly to the fire and sits down sadly)
Mother: What is wrong, my little Zenzi? Did you sing the wrong notes?
Zenzi: No Mama – it’s worse. I didn’t even sing.
Mother: But today you sang for the king and the queen and …
Zenzi: (Zenzi interrupts) No! We stood in the rain and waited and waited, and then the cars came … (pause) We were so excited! We stood up straight and then I took a breath …
(sobs)
Mother: What happened? Why are you crying?
Zenzi: Oh, Mama – the cars didn’t stop! They just drove past. The king didn’t even see us. They just drove past!
Mother: Oh my child! (holds her as she cries) How disappointed you must be.
Zenzi: (Stops crying and stands up straight) Mama, I won’t let this stop me! One day I will sing in front of kings and presidents. They will see that they were wrong and an African woman can become famous!
Mother: You are a brave child, my Zenzi.
Zenzi: You know, Mama – I think I saw the little princess look out of the back window of the car and wave. I will sing so she hears me one day!
Characters:
Zenzi – Miriam Makeba at about 14 years old; Mother – her mother
Setting:
A kitchen in a township home in the 1940s
Scene 1
Zenzi, who is in the kitchen, is singing softly. Her mother comes in
Zenzi: Mama, Mama! (runs to her mother) Something exciting has happened!
Mother: What is it, my child? You look as though a dream has come true!
Zenzi: It has, Mama! You know I’ve been learning a new solo?
Mother: (laughing) I have heard it about 100 times!
Zenzi: Well, I’m going to sing it for the King!
Mother: What king?
Mirima: You know – the king from over the sea – King George.
Mother: You are not going over the sea! (sounds horrified)
Zenzi: No, Mama. (laughs) The King who is from England is coming to South Africa. Our choir is going to sing for him! I am going to sing in front of a king, a queen and two princesses!
Mother: That is wonderful news!
Zenzi: I can’t wait to see the princesses. Look, here is a picture of the little one whose name is Margaret …
Scene 2
A week later; Zenzi’s mother is in the kitchen. It is raining hard. Zenzi comes in.
Mother: My child, you are so wet! Come to the fire and get dry. (Zenzi walks slowly to the fire and sits down sadly)
Mother: What is wrong, my little Zenzi? Did you sing the wrong notes?
Zenzi: No Mama – it’s worse. I didn’t even sing.
Mother: But today you sang for the king and the queen and …
Zenzi: (Zenzi interrupts) No! We stood in the rain and waited and waited, and then the cars came … (pause) We were so excited! We stood up straight and then I took a breath …
(sobs)
Mother: What happened? Why are you crying?
Zenzi: Oh, Mama – the cars didn’t stop! They just drove past. The king didn’t even see us. They just drove past!
Mother: Oh my child! (holds her as she cries) How disappointed you must be.
Zenzi: (Stops crying and stands up straight) Mama, I won’t let this stop me! One day I will sing in front of kings and presidents. They will see that they were wrong and an African woman can become famous!
Mother: You are a brave child, my Zenzi.
Zenzi: You know, Mama – I think I saw the little princess look out of the back window of the car and wave. I will sing so she hears me one day!
Monday, October 15, 2012
The Trial
I only had 350 words to work with, and the language could not be too complex or passive.
I used Sihle as my main character - I'll write about my other kids some other time.
The last day of the competition had arrived. Sihle knew that his chances were good. He had listened to the coach’s advice, he had trained hard, he was fit, he was ready for this! His most serious rival for the position of striker was Thabo, but Sihle felt confident that he could beat him. As Sihle walked to the hostel, his phone buzzed – a message. “Maybe it’s mom,” he thought. “She said she would call to wish me luck.” But as he looked at the screen, he realised it was a number he didn’t know. Yr mom is sick come home now Sihle’s mouth dried up. He shook his head. What should he do? The final trial was in two hours. Should he wait till afterwards or should he leave now? What was more important – the trial or getting home? The decision was easy – family first! He ran back to the dormitory and started packing. He’d get the first bus home. “Hey, bra! What you doing? The trials are starting now-now!” It was his friend Vuyo. Sihle told him what had happened. “Sorry, man!” said Vuyo. “Did your mom ask you to come?” “No, I got an sms saying I must come now,” said Sihle. “Mmm …” said Vuyo. “Let me see that message. It sounds a bit off to me.” He looked at Sihle’s phone. Then he looked at his phone “I thought so!” he said. “That’s Thabo’s number. He sent the message.” “Why would he do that?” wondered Sihle. “Well, you’re his only competition for striker and Thabo really wants to win, “answered Vuyo. “This is his way of trying to get you to leave, or to play badly. I’m not surprised – he never plays fair.” Just then, Sihle’s phone rang. “Hullo, my boy. It’s Mom – I’m just calling to wish you luck.” Suddenly Sihle’s head cleared – it was all trick and he had nearly fallen for it. But, unlike Thabo, he would play fair. He squared his shoulders and picked up his kit. “Thanks, Vuyo. Now it’s time to play and may the best man win!”
I used Sihle as my main character - I'll write about my other kids some other time.
The last day of the competition had arrived. Sihle knew that his chances were good. He had listened to the coach’s advice, he had trained hard, he was fit, he was ready for this! His most serious rival for the position of striker was Thabo, but Sihle felt confident that he could beat him. As Sihle walked to the hostel, his phone buzzed – a message. “Maybe it’s mom,” he thought. “She said she would call to wish me luck.” But as he looked at the screen, he realised it was a number he didn’t know. Yr mom is sick come home now Sihle’s mouth dried up. He shook his head. What should he do? The final trial was in two hours. Should he wait till afterwards or should he leave now? What was more important – the trial or getting home? The decision was easy – family first! He ran back to the dormitory and started packing. He’d get the first bus home. “Hey, bra! What you doing? The trials are starting now-now!” It was his friend Vuyo. Sihle told him what had happened. “Sorry, man!” said Vuyo. “Did your mom ask you to come?” “No, I got an sms saying I must come now,” said Sihle. “Mmm …” said Vuyo. “Let me see that message. It sounds a bit off to me.” He looked at Sihle’s phone. Then he looked at his phone “I thought so!” he said. “That’s Thabo’s number. He sent the message.” “Why would he do that?” wondered Sihle. “Well, you’re his only competition for striker and Thabo really wants to win, “answered Vuyo. “This is his way of trying to get you to leave, or to play badly. I’m not surprised – he never plays fair.” Just then, Sihle’s phone rang. “Hullo, my boy. It’s Mom – I’m just calling to wish you luck.” Suddenly Sihle’s head cleared – it was all trick and he had nearly fallen for it. But, unlike Thabo, he would play fair. He squared his shoulders and picked up his kit. “Thanks, Vuyo. Now it’s time to play and may the best man win!”
Writing in a different genre
I have not written in my blog since June - but I have been writing - TEXTBOOKS!
I have been one of the authors on the English Today Senior Phase English First Additional Language team. We have written 3 books of 18 chapters each in less than 4 months - which must be some sort of record!
The whole thing is a gamble - only 8 books per subject per Grade will be selected by the Department and schools will have to choose from that list. Our books go forward for scrutiny and hopefully selection next year - but who knows!
So why did I do it - it was a real challenge! And I didn't know how hard it would be - I've used textbooks for years - who would have known how difficult it would be to interpret the CAPS (Assessment standards) and write chapters that fulfilled all the criteria and still hung together? I've had amazing co-ordinating authors, editors and publishers who have held my hand all the way, asked me to rewrite so nicely that I have looked forward to the ride (to hell, because rewriting is much harder than writing)
But the best part is that I have always suspected that there was a writer inside, but I have never really tried writing. And now I know I am able to write - not just non-fiction, but even stories and plays!
So over the next few days I am going to put some of my writing on my blog. I shouldn't really, in case our book is published, but the stories have been changed for the book.
I hope my readers - if there are some - enjoy the fiction.
I have been one of the authors on the English Today Senior Phase English First Additional Language team. We have written 3 books of 18 chapters each in less than 4 months - which must be some sort of record!
The whole thing is a gamble - only 8 books per subject per Grade will be selected by the Department and schools will have to choose from that list. Our books go forward for scrutiny and hopefully selection next year - but who knows!
So why did I do it - it was a real challenge! And I didn't know how hard it would be - I've used textbooks for years - who would have known how difficult it would be to interpret the CAPS (Assessment standards) and write chapters that fulfilled all the criteria and still hung together? I've had amazing co-ordinating authors, editors and publishers who have held my hand all the way, asked me to rewrite so nicely that I have looked forward to the ride (to hell, because rewriting is much harder than writing)
But the best part is that I have always suspected that there was a writer inside, but I have never really tried writing. And now I know I am able to write - not just non-fiction, but even stories and plays!
So over the next few days I am going to put some of my writing on my blog. I shouldn't really, in case our book is published, but the stories have been changed for the book.
I hope my readers - if there are some - enjoy the fiction.
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