Dearest Sister,
How are you? I miss seeing your smiling face. Just wanted to tell you that I got a new cell roommate. His name is Nelson Mandela. You probably know him. Although we are living in this hell hole, he has become an older brother to me, one I never had. His amazing example makes me want to become a better person. He is such a humble man, never focuses on himself, but always on other people. He always forgives, even when these brutalic officers try to beat him to death. He always talks about how he wants to end apartheid and better South Africa. He always speaks with a sense of passion and soberness, such a calm fella. Life here is not that great on Robben Island. All I have is a raggedy, ant crawling, bed that has been here since the ancient times, and a broken down, gray, tiny bucket that has been urinated from men in the past. With Mandela here things have become better. Officers are a little nicer now. I miss you guys so much, I miss home. I miss the aroma of mom’s cooking, her famous cassava and yams, just thinking about it makes me cry. I sit here everyday in this cell praying to God, asking him for forgiveness of what I’ve done. I’m trying to change sis and with Mandela here, its become easier to be a better person. Please say hi to all the family and send them my love, especially mama. I know she’s still mad at me for what I’ve done, but just tell her I love her with all my heart and soul. The walls and the floors are all made out of cement and sometimes the officers make you lay on it at night when you don’t behave well. It’s weird cause Mandela is nice to these horrible officers, he’s always kind and courteous. Nelson is also very forgiving. I betrayed Nelson by telling one of his darkest secrets to a friend, which I will not repeat again. He forgave me the minute he found out, with no fight at all about. Nelson, as you can see, is a very good man. He just told me not to do it again. Most people in prison would’ve killed me. No, but not Nelson. Nelson Mandela is a different type of man.
Love,
Zimba
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