Ruth's Real Life

The Jacket by Ruth Everson Gladys Nzimande had never stolen anything in her life.   Her bunion distorted feet, aching in the smart shoes passed on to her by Mrs Taylor, began a slow shuffle dance. She raised her hands in response to Pastor Gregory’s call. Two thousand voices began to Babel around Gladys. They had been singing for an hour already and now the energy in the huge auditorium was electric with anticipation. Gladys felt a twinge of guilt. She wanted to settle down in one of the white plastic chairs with the sunflowers on the back and pray quietly to the Jesus that she knew. She wanted the familiar comfort of her white and blue church outfit. She wanted the warmth of the friends gathered in her Soweto church. But her Jesus had not helped her. This church, Joanna had told her, was a place where miracles happened every week. Gladys needed a miracle. Not for herself but for her granddaughter, Ayanda. So this Sunday she had risen quietly at 5:30 and put on her best ...

The Message by Ruth Everson (This story won the 2010 Woman and Home short story competition.) ‘Would you like to go to China?’ Anne stirred her tea with the usual amount of violence that she reserved for most tasks. ‘You can use your long leave. You’d be gone for eight weeks. My uncle needs someone to teach communications while he’s away in Lagos.’ Nothing in her forty nine years had prepared Ellen for the answer she was about to give. China was a moon journey away from the narrow, East Rand town where she had grown up believing that adventures could be dreamed but never lived. The reply was out before the fear that had made her heart retreat so many times could say no again. There was nothing to lose and when there’s nothing to lose, courage is easier to find. Two years of bending herself into contortionist shapes to fit a dead-end relationship had left her heart heavy and her days full of uncertainty. Ellen felt like a dog, waiting eagerly for a pat on the head...