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Rudi’s Family

Gr1 Reader_1.1.5_Pg 02 copy

RUDI’S FAMILY CAN CAUSE YEARNINGS FOR A FARAWAY DREAM CHILDHOOD.

This simple story has layers to it. I enjoyed drawing hints of what those layers might be, in the typical ways South African kids used to have fun, with not a cellphone or tablet in sight. There is true tenderness and care here amongst the family members, with everyone contributing to a great time spent together, be the surroundings ever so humble. Rudi’s background is not all fun and games. He lost his mother at a young age, and never knew his dad. These facts are presented matter-of-factly, and he moves on swiftly to the present, and his kind grandparents who provide such a happy home. 

Peter Lague, publisher for Via Afrika, Cape Town, commissioned and directed the work. The style is realistic, in the Simple Line style, because it’s a straightforward story, with a lot going on in the background.


A 6-year old Indian boy (Rudi) wearing casual clothes standing on a porch of an old, small house in a crowded suburb in KwaZulu-Natal (see sample). He is smiling, thumbs up, a baby walker behind him. Foreground: a dog lying on the steps. Background: green old painted door, two old armchairs.
My name is Rudi. I live in Harding. My mom died when I was a baby and I have never met my dad. But I have a big loving family.
The kitchen of the house with a very modest kitchen unit and coal stove. Granny’s pouring tea from a teapot into an enamel mug and grandfather is sitting on the chair at the table. There are five bowls with porridge and a baby bottle near the bowls. Grandpa’s hat is behind the door. Fresh fish lie on a tray next to the sink. Granny’s wearing a dressing gown and rollers in her hair, with a baby on her back. Grandfather and grandmother are in their late 50s. All of them are coloured including the baby, except for Rudi who is obviously Indian (His father was Indian, his mother coloured.)
I live with my grandparents. My grandfather and my grandmother are kind and nice.
Three kids in pyjamas in a small bedroom with a wooden double bunk and single bed, a chest of drawers between the beds. A window with a red curtain is behind the dresser. Parted curtains show the Sun rising. 8 year old boy (Sage, coloured) on the top bed, same six year old Indian boy Rudi on the bottom bed. An 11-month-old baby attempts to climb the stairs of the bunk. 5 year old coloured girl (Jade) in the single bed tugs at the baby. A digital clock on the dresser shows 07:00.
I do not have any brothers or sisters but have cousins: Sage, who is 8 years old and Jade who is 5 and a baby cousin.
Same three children wearing casual clothes playing in the backyard. Rudi is on the swing, with Sage pushing him; Jade skipping; dog jumping. Soft baby toys on the ground. Foreground: boxes of games are stacked on the porch, including baby rattles and balls. The yard is fenced with a hedge.
We play in our backyard with our toys because our grandparents don’t allow us to play in the streets or at the park.
A seven-year old light-skinned boy wearing a kaftan and Kufi, carries a soccer ball, and a transparent bag with robot transformer toys and mini-figures. He walks towards the kids that are playing. Background: Same 3 children in the back yard. Rudi is on the swing with Sage standing on the swing behind, pushing him. Jade is skipping, dog is jumping. In the foreground, boxes of games and baby toys on the porch.
But my friend Zayan who always has new toys is allowed to come and play with us.
All four kids now playing with transformer robots in the porch. The dog playing with the ball. The baby is playing with rattles. Everyone looks animated and is having fun.
My two cousins have a baby sister named Ruby. We love Ruby, we take turns to carry, hold her and play with her.
A minibus is parked on the pavement outside the house. Three passengers come out: two women and a man all in their twenties, wearing jeans, takkies and sweaters. They are offloading two suitcases, a sports bag and a few grocery packs. The children are on the stoep, excited to see their relatives.
During school holidays my aunts and my uncle come home to spend holidays with us.
The same back yard. The whole family is gathered, with Grandpa sitting on a folding chair; Grandma watering flowers by the hedge with a can; the boys are playing soccer; Uncle is braaiing meat on a portable braai stand. Aunts in the foreground are marinading the wors on the concrete table. full of trays, bowls and jugs of lemonade. Next to a large speaker outside, Jade is singing karaoke. The baby strains to lift a big new doll. The dog is sniffing the doll.
I can’t wait for the school holiday because that’s when we have lots of fun.
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