Fortunes Gate...A True Story1
I grew up in Africa. Our Family home was in a small select2
area known as Fortunes Gate. In Bulawayo, a town in Rhodesia.3
This picture is a replica of the design of our house.4
It was a Castle with all windows barred. Walls built of Rock5
and castle turrets to finish the picture.6
We had 5 acres with a tennis court and a swimming pool built7
in between huge Rock gardens.8
All the luxuries for us to enjoy. But we still had to live9
behind bars.10
Yes the windows opened. Bars folded back. But bars were needed11
all the same.12
Here is why.13
Theft, rape or even murder, was a major risk.14
In order to protect our families bars on windows was a must.15
To add to this problem was the heat. Night temperatures of16
40 degrees would leave us exhausted and longing for rain.17
Without open windows we would have suffered heat18
exhaustion. Air conditioners were not an option, for the intruders19
would just remove them from the wall or window and climb in.20
We learned the hard way with many attempts made by vandals21
and the local thieves.22
One night I saw a fishing rod coming through the bars of the23
open bedroom window.24
I sat up in bed shocked, unable to move.25
I kept very quiet making sure the person on the end of the26
intruding object, did not know I was awake.27
The line caught on a jewellery box on the dressing table.28
The box rose in the air and slowly moved like a mystical flying object29
across the room towards the open window.30
Before it could disappear through the space between31
the bars I jumped up and grabbed it.32
The thief dropped his line and took off running.33
This was just one of many attempts of theft on our home.34
Such was our life behind bars.35
This picture could have come from my album.36
It tells a tale of grand living, with fear. 37
Life in a place of crime.38
Life where barred windows become the norm and open39
panes of glass are just a foolish risk.40
The picture brought back memories of that beautiful home41
and the wonderful times we had there.42
I can imagine that within the picture and behind those43
barred windows, is a human being. Either a prisoner of life,44
for this window could lead to a jail cell within the castle,45
or a prisoner to freedom as we were. 46
There's something eerie about looking at a barred window.47
The first thoughts are of something weird and dark.48
A kind of mystical and unreal feeling.49
But I can vouch for the fact that sometimes behind a window50
with bars is a family, full of love, happiness and a joy for51
life. Even under such difficult circumstances.52
People in a castle of turrets and passages and rooms53
filled with music and laughter free spirits.54
But still having to live with bars on their windows.55
An ironic look at free life for the Castle dwellers.56
END57
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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By the way, I forgot to mention, the picture was taken from a gallery of photographs of the Longford castle.
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This is a wonderfully written piece, all the same, but it doesn't quite follow my instructions. I tell you this now so that you may fix it before entering the contest; entries were to be between 500 - 1000 words. This is 244 words in length, and does not meet the requirement. I suggest that, perhaps, you could add more detail.
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Thanks for commenting Vickie. I pray for peace in Zimbabwe. It is such a beautiful place to live. So Vast and so exciting somehow.
Australia is nice but it's not the same.
Hugs
Jan -
Thanks Bree. Writing about factual situations is easier I feel as you don't have to imagine. The story is there in front of you already written. All you have to do is write it down.
Hugs
Jan -
I'll have to go back and look for the picture. Your childhood must have been fascinating-I bet there are many stories you could tell. I have a friend who married a Prince in Uganda. She met him on a missions trip-it's a miracle in itself, but the point I was getting at was that she said it is so dangerous there. Theft was rampant and it wasn't safe for women walk alone. Great and interesting story-glad the picture conjured up some old memories, so that we could enjoy hearing them.
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Good write
Your words make me aware of the sad and frightening world of fear that we seem to becoming more aware of, even if it has always been with us. Thank you for writing about such a sad and frightining memory, perhaps in someway this knowledge can make us all realize that no one wants to life in a cage of fear. The bars can be made of steel, hunger or many other parts of fear . But always they are bars. -
wow this is really deep. i could feel the emotion in this. it was written so well. you have an amazing way with words. keep it up and good luck
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