Ouma Annie liked to garden: she was often to be found on her
knees, weeding the flowerbeds in front of the house or the veggie garden at the
back. She had a potting bench at the side in Oupa's shed in the back yard.
Twice a year, when she needed a lot of digging and cleaning
out to be done, she would get "the convicts". You could arrange with
the local jail to send you half a dozen convicts for the day. They didn't send
the serial killers; what you got were the ones who had copped thirty days for
drunk and disorderly. They came trotting up the street on the appointed day,
singing, with their warder.
The convicts wore red-striped shirts and khaki shorts and
the warder wore a khaki uniform. They were all sorts, but the warder was always
a Zulu. He carried a knopkierie and assegai (knobbed stick and short stabbing
spear) but it was all just for show, they obviously enjoyed the outing and
worked away diligently. Ouma gave them bread and jam and coffee for elevenses
and at lunchtime they had a pot of stew and more bread and coffee. They brought
their own tin plates, spoons and mugs which they rinsed under the garden tap
afterwards.
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