Wednesday, September 14, 2011

"The Promise"


Nancy Okes

Lame Johnny had lost his leg to a Jersey Bull. His house contained a gable [attached to the roof] that was famous and falling apart. When it came down, Lame Johnny, he of the amputated leg, rebuilt and restored it to his house, with all of the trimmings. He was now known in the town, not as Lame Johnny, but as Johnny van der Gewel, “Johnny of the Gable.”

Comment: The technical architectural terms were difficult, and I had a hard time visualizing a gable, but the character of Johnny is memorable. RayS.

About the Author: “Born in Cape Town in 1920, Nancy Okes was educated at the University of Cape Town. She writes short stories and articles for magazines, newspapers and the radio and has completed two novels. Her hobbies are painting, swimming and ‘walking in the veld with the dogs.’

Short Story International #30. Sylvia Tankel, Ed. February 1982, pp. 103-111.

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