And now for something completely different.
My mum killed a young black girl.
We were driving down a dirt road in Africa, not particularly fast on a clear, sunny day in the late 70's. My mum was straight, sane & sober. I was in the car, mum driving but I was a wee sprog and can't really remember much else. A young girl - probably about my age (7-8 from memory) stepped out from the overgrown bushes on the side of the road. My mum had no time, she put on the skids but it was no good. After a sickening thud we had slid to a halt.
Mum flew out of the car, the girl was on her own lying on the road - I remember her head was bleeding. Mum got her in the back of the car. We had shouted help as loud as we could, mum beeped the horn & I went into the bush to see if anyone else was about. She had been alone.
Mum fucking hammered it to get to a hospital - she got pulled over once we got to a main road & then we had a police escort. At the hospital they worked on her, but she had died either on the way or after arriving. The cops eventually found out who her family was - mum insisted on being there when they were told. The little girls name was Margaret, she was a year older than me at the time.
My mum was eventually charged with what I guess was the equivalent of accidental vehicular manslaughter. AFIK she didn't lose her licence, she didn't do time or anything. I think the court took into account her clean record, the fact that she had done all she could to save the little girls life & her clear sorrow, remorse and regret. Bear in mind this was a pretty much a completely 'black" judicial system, she was a white lady who had accidentally killed a young black girl. There was no need for them to be lenient if they had chosen not to be. I don't know exactly what punishment my mum received but I'm pretty sure it paled in comparison to the feeling of having taken a young child's life.
My mum got to know Margaret's family. They probably hated her but as her only way of appeasement she clothed and put thru school all 3 of Margaret's sisters. Even up to her death about 5 years ago when Margaret's youngest sister had finished uni in South Africa.
My daughter was about 2 when her grandmother died - so at least there is a grandparent in this tale. That and the fact that there is nothing casual about racism.
And no apologies for believing that. Ever.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Tue 1 Nov 2011, 23:10, 26 replies)

click
its heartening to hear about people doing the right thing rather than the wrong thing despite the unfortunate circumstances
( sutit only the crumbliest, flakiest posts, Tue 1 Nov 2011, 23:29, closed)

What tits said.

( The Mock Turtle ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Tue 1 Nov 2011, 23:48, closed)

You don't suppose that the kid's family
threw her out in front of a car in a (very successful) attempt to blackmail your mother?

yes. I know I am going to hell.
(Gritty, yet fluffy. kipperpillock is obsessed with me =), Wed 2 Nov 2011, 6:51, closed)

Surely they would've been hitting her up for coltan
rather than clothes & education costs. ;)
& yes. You are...
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Wed 2 Nov 2011, 7:20, closed)

see? it's perfectly acceptable to be as offensive as fuck. as long as there's no mention of any specific ethnicity.

(Gritty, yet fluffy. kipperpillock is obsessed with me =), Wed 2 Nov 2011, 8:39, closed)

I wouldnt be shocked..
Human Life seems to have no value in Africa.
(Boom- Clicks on NSFW links at work., Wed 2 Nov 2011, 14:18, closed)