“The Test”
The test of the title is not one in the academic sense. Rather it is a test of manhood. Specifically, a test of endurance. More specifically, a test of man against nature—or, rather, young boy against nature—as well as boy against boy. The protagonist takes on the challenge to best a rival to see who can hold their own against an extremity of cold rain. The endurance test is lent further dimension by taking place in the bleak surroundings of a small black township and pitting a protagonist who enjoys a higher standard of living and economic status than his soccer-playing mates.
“The Prophetess”
Another story about a young boy in a black township (though unnamed, it is likely the same boy, Thoba, who appears in the earlier and the succeeding story) that examines the endurance of belief and positive thinking rather than inclement weather. The boy is sent on a mission by his sickly mother to retrieve a “holy water” from the title character which she believes will assist in facilitating her recovering. On the way back home, however, the boy and a man riding a bike collide resulting in, of course, breakage and the subsequent loss of the blessed liquid. No fear: the boy simply fills a bottle up with regular water. Not surprisingly to most readers, the mother instantly begins to recover simply as a result of the power of positive thinking.
“Uncle”
As perhaps indicated by the title, the third story of the collection continues with the theme of the life adventures of young boys. “Uncle” is told from the perspective of the boy whose affection and admiration for his uncle is practically boundless. It is a deceptively simple tale about the boy’s relationship with his trumpet-playing uncle who comes to visit the boy’s mother after an absence of some length. The musician is much more worldly, sophisticated and keen to share what he knows with his hero-worshipping nephew. The story inexorably leads to the scene in which the limits of that hero-worship is tested in a showdown between a hive of attacking bees and apathy.
“The Music of the Violin”
Another musician is at the center of this story which also focuses upon a young boy. His name is Vukani and his mother and father ache for middle-class status and acceptance which is partly manifested by pushing their son to study the title instrument. Naturally, Vukani hates the enforcement of lessons designed not to fulfill his own desires, but those of his parents. The story inexorably leads to the moment of rebellion by the boy. That this rebellion takes the form of a refusal to perform for the visiting Dr Zwane and his wife, Beatrice is the information one needs to know about just exactly where the physician and his wife fit into the community’s social hierarchy.
“Fools”
About half the length of the entire collection is comprised of just one story, the concluding title tale, “Fools.” The story departs from the established thematic concept with its narrative about a middle-aged school instructor fouls the community by not pilfering from the church but raping a female student. The centerpiece of the story, however, is the teacher’s strange relationship with a young man named Zani who turns out to be the girl’s brother. Things are complicated by the fact that Zani is a political activist attempting to rouse the community into action against the oppressive ruling regime while the teacher, understandably, just wants to fade into the background. An encounter with a member of that white supremacy by the teacher is the nexus upon which the story turns and the direction is unexpected.
