Onderwêreld deur Fanie Viljoen | Log File: Die dag voor die laaste skooljaar begin | English Summary | Onderwereld

 

Onderwêreld deur Fanie Viljoen

Log File: Die dag voor die laaste skooljaar begin

Greg opens his narration by mentioning the Zulu and Afrikaans legends about the Drakensberg Mountains, where Lawson College is situated, leading into reminiscing about the day before the first day of school that year, as well as the first time he met Eckhardt – months before finding Eckhardt’s cellphone in his cupboard. It was in January when Greg and his mother Rita drove through the Lawson College gates for the first time that year. He thinks about how his final year of school felt far away and then one day, he realized that all of it went by bitterly quickly. He thinks about the previous night when his father asked him what plans he has for the year because, at that point, he was about to begin life at the best school in the country. Greg simply says that it will be the same as the previous year, which disappoints his father greatly. His father tells him that if he performs the way he did the previous year at his company, Turret Media, he could draw in his competitors and close various doors. Greg’s father’s life revolves around his company and his career, and he wants Greg to get involved too. Greg says he will think about it, but his dad thinks that he should have been thinking about it already. Greg’s father expects a great deal from him, but luckily, he is not there with Greg and his mother on this day before the first day of school.

Almost twelve years ago, Lawson College was established by an old man named Thomas Lawson, Greg’s schoolmate, PJ’s grandfather. The school headmaster, Dr. Alec Pienaar said that Thomas Lawson’s mission in establishing a school in the middle of nowhere that is the Drakensberg Mountains is, in his words, “to create a breeding ground for the business leaders of tomorrow.” Greg snarks that they left out the part where these “business leaders of tomorrow” use yesterday’s money that their parents earned, inherited or stole. Greg narrates that Lawson’s status as a prestigious boys’ school despite only being twelve years old is interesting because, with other, older schools, the elitism is justified by the richness of their respective histories. Despite lacking this seemingly fundamental aspect of elite single-sex schools, Lawson College has a large list of people waiting to be granted attendance at the school, but realistically speaking, the majority of the names on the waiting list do not qualify for the unwritten criteria for entry to Lawson College.

Greg takes his belongings out of the car and makes his way to his boarding house. On the way there, Kwanele Twala, the Deputy Head Student of Lawson tells him to attend a prefect meeting that he organized without Greg’s knowledge. He then runs into Mark Gibbons, also known as Plank, and they have a short conversation to catch up. Greg just wants this last year of school to be over with. Each of the Lawson College houses is named after prominent historical figures, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Pierre Curie, and Albert Einstein. Greg struggles with his heavy suitcase. His mother offers her help, but he would be too embarrassed if the other boys saw his mother helping him carry his stuff. He rejects her offer and she insists on carrying something smaller like his laptop, but Greg shakes his head. He understands that she means well. He feels sorry for her because after she helps him unpack, she will have to drive back to Johannesburg, to that lonely house in Sandhurst where she will have minimal physical contact on a day-to-day basis. His father is often busy or away due to work. Greg bumps into Mr. Pete Anderson, the Deputy Head of Lawson College. Greg’s room is on the top floor of the boarding house, with the lower grades populating the lower floors of each building.

Now in his room, Greg sets his belongings down while his mother opens a window and fiddles with the air-conditioner. As she begins opening Greg’s bags, her hands shake and she asks Greg if he knows that despite his father’s behaviour, he loves Greg. “You won’t end up like John...” Rina’s words trail off. Greg reassures her that there is nothing to worry about. She takes his hand and leaves him a bunch of hundred-rand notes. Greg responds by saying that he already receives an allowance, but his mother is adamant. She is also adamant about doing the unpacking. Greg closes his bedroom door so that his peers cannot see his mother setting up his room for him.

While his mother unpacks, Greg takes a walk around his floor, seeing the bathroom he shares with three neighbours and the formal sitting room that is reserved for Matric students only. It has leather seats, thick red carpets, and dark wooden panels in the walls where modern paintings hang. The place reminds Greg too much of his father’s study. Next to the formal sitting room is the informal sitting room, also known as the “Hang-Out”, fitted with a plasma TV, DVD player, surround sound, a little library, and comfortable couches where one can relax. At Lawson College, every room is fitted with a network port that students can use to gain an uninterrupted connection to the Lawson network. Other floors have a designated study room, but matrics are expected to be responsible enough to handle their affairs unaided and unrequested; however, slacking off gets them a space in the grade eleven study room.

Rina calls out to Greg from his room and tells him that they forgot the cooler bag with the snacks in the car. Standing in the doorway, Greg’s attention is caught by an unfamiliar face he notices in the group of boys nearby. Dark hair, unshaven with a gaunt face. The stranger briefly looks at Greg, before walking away. Greg notices the laptop bag slung over his shoulder, the sports bag, and folded papers in one hand, and a suitcase in the other. A new kid. Greg wonders what kind of otherworldly connections this individual’s father must have to have gotten him a place at Lawson College in their last year.

“Are you sure you’re on the right floor?”, Greg asks the new student. “I can count”, responds the new kid. Greg immediately thinks that this guy wants trouble. Greg follows up by asking if he can count to five because the floor that they are on is for Matrics only. The stranger replies, saying that ones and zeroes are all one needs. Confused, Greg asks him for his name. The stranger introduces himself as Eckhardt.

SummariesKeroshan PillayComment