The Mask

From Great North Road

More growing up in Nkana-Kitwe: The Mask

By Philip Pain.

In November 1960 my father took his accumulated leave package and we took the "Great train" journey to South Africa to visit family and friends. This was a special holiday for all of us as we were also going to Durban for the first time.

To avoid the milk train journey from Nkana my brother-in-law and sister drove us through to Ndola where my father would negotiate with the conductor of the train (With a few notes changing hands.) a coupé so that the three of us didn't have to share a compartment with other people and of course the seats had to face the engine so my Mom wouldn't get travel sickness.

If I think back on those times I reckon that the four day train journey was as exciting as the holiday itself. It would not take long to make friends on the train and find an empty compartment to turn into our headquarters. (Parents used to leave us to our own devices those days)

Around the middle of January 1961 we arrived back home and great changes had taken place while we were away. The first exciting thing that had happened was that there was now T.V. in the homes. (We got our rented set later that same year.)

I had just turned thirteen in November '60 and considered myself not to be a kid anymore. I was now officially a teenager and going to start at Kitwe Boys High when the schools opened for the New Year. If only I knew how many times I would be standing outside the Headmaster's office during my breaks I would not have been so excited. Trouble always seemed to find that poor innocent young teenage boy. (My Mom had a theory about something to do with the company you kept.)

For me, the most memorable thing that happened while we were away was the new family which had moved into our old house next door at number 8-4th Avenue. We had move into number 6 when I was eleven.

The family who had moved in next door was the McCluskey's. The old man was Bill McCluskey. (A man I treated with the greatest respect.) Bill worked on Mindola shaft but I can't remember what he did. He was also the Regimental Sergeant Major for the local Territorials; he made my life as a cadet pure hell as he always seemed to be around when I left home in uniform. (Mr. McCluskey suffered permanent ear damage at the Nkana air show when some explosive charges went off near him during the mock battle.)

Mrs. Mac was the sweetest little lady anyone could ever have the pleasure of meeting. The McCluskey's and my parents formed a friendship that lasted the rest of their lives.

For me the greatest thing to happen were the kids! All Six of them! An instant gang! The eldest was Ian, then Billy, David, Collin (Who was the same age as I was.) Terrance. The youngest was a daughter Sharon. (Sadly Billy, Collin and Sharon have passed on.)

Collin and I became best friends and were inseparable for years until we started going out with girls. It must have been that the girls smelt better than your mate who smelled of wood smoke and dead things he carried around in his pockets. Funny it was around this time I started to brush my teeth three times a day instead of chewing the stick the garden boy taught me to clean my teeth with. I also started experimenting with my boet's razor, Vitallis and Old Spice. (The ridicule one got from your mates when they smelt you. Things like shouting at the top of their voice for all to hear. "You're a Moffie" This led to more than one fight. Colin and I shared that time in our lives when we got stonies and started to get hair.

There is a book waiting to be written about the adventures of Colin McCluskie and I and I will get there one day. Every day was an adventure for two thirteen year olds. From the caving in grounds, Mindola dam, the source of the Kitwe stream, the slimes dams, and the Rhokana show to the dances at the James Ritchie Hall to the live music of the Thunderbirds when the Limbo Rock was the craze. The list goes on and on, each one a story on its own.

One day one of Collins older brothers came home with a rubber mask and gloves. The mask was a complete one that you pulled over your head and was the most horrid thing I had ever seen, complete with rotting teeth, bulging eyes warts and grey hair. The gloves which were elbow length were a masterpiece of molding with long claw like nails and scales for skin.

One night the Mac. boys and I decided to go and scare the neighborhood house and garden boys. We dressed Colin in one of his father's mackintosh's which dragged on the ground when he stood up. A pillow was stuffed up his back to give the appearance of a hunchback. With the mask, gloves and a leg dragging gait that Collin had perfected we set off up the back lane to have some fun. Unfortunately we were all well known by the blacks in our area and did not have much success other than a few small skriks.

As the evening drew on we eventually ended up on the corner of Boma Street and Second Avenue to try our luck on the passing populace. Collin seated himself under the lamp post at the entrance to the Gothans driveway and rested his head on his arms which were crossed on his knees. The rest of us hid ourselves in the storm water ditch which had a good vantage point across the road. As someone approached Collin would stand up and shuffle towards them while clawing the air with his gloved hand. This new venue provided many a good laugh but nothing as spectacular as what was about to happen.

As we were about to pack it in and go home we heard whistling coming from Fredrick Knapp School side of Boma street and decided to have one last go. As quick as a flash everyone took their places and waited. A short while later this very smartly dressed gentleman came down the road pushing his bicycle, this was not unusual but what was, was that he was wearing sunglasses in the night. As he got into the lamp light Collin started his routine and as he approached this fellow the guy stopped and looking at Collin said in his best arrogant English......"Ah! Don't be stoopid." As he said this he removed his dark glasses and what he saw before him must have been his worst nightmare because he started to scream and scream at the top of his voice. Now this guy's reaction gave Collin a fright and he decided to unmask himself to show that it was a prank. As Collin tried to pull the mask off his head all he succeeded in doing was stretch it and distort it into a hideous shape, well this was too much for the bloke and he took off down the road like a bat out of hell leaving his bike behind.

You can imagine the rest of the gang rolling around in the ditch with laughter. The memory of that night still brings a grin to my face.

P.S. We put his bike in the ditch for safe keeping and I don't know when he came back to fetch it as it was gone the next day.

Cheers