Summary

The main character in “The Journey to the Brothers’ Farm” by Pippa Gough, Annelie, is a woman giving a statement to the police after an incident took place on a farm. When the story begins, Annelie is seven years old and in school, where she hears a story that makes her wonder whether the colour of one’s skin is what marks that person’s future.

The story then takes us to the time of the narrative, when Annelie, who owns Louw Stores, travels each Monday to stock up on products for the store. As her husband died three years previously, Annelie drives alone but keeps her husband’s rifle near her. During her trip, Annelie recalls being young and befriending an African boy named Thabo. As Annelie was white and Thabo was not, the girl’s father advised her to play with children of her own type. However, Annelie continued to feel affectionate towards Thabo,...