Letter: How low can you go, Mr Editor-in-Chief?

I am horrified after reading this week’s North Coast Courier, where in the Editor-in-Chief in his article “Two Bits” made a poor comment as to how anyone could stoop as low to steal from a person with vertical disadvantages.

This leads me up to, and I hope not a long story, but a poignant one.

Last Sunday my wife was invited to a late Christmas lunch with one of the groups that evolved out of her local church at Sheffield Beach. Husbands were allowed if they behaved.

We had the pleasure of mingling with all of Ballito society from political appointees, editors in chief, the power of the church and his family, also a variety of golfers and single ladies, not to mention the owner of the best domestic cleaning services in Ballito, and more. What a wonderful group of people, people who made for a wonderful lunch.

Then the exchanging of gifts occurred, each person chose a number and that was your order for claiming your belated Christmas gift. I was excited, waiting there, as number 6 meant that out of 14 people I was in the middle! But similarly, not realising the devastating effect that such a number would eventually have on me.

The first present I received when it was my turn was a jar of Quality Street Chocolates. I was then still unaware or slow to understand, that the next person in line could, without compassion, steal this from me. This happened not once but twice, and once again left me to choose a Christmas gift on each occasion.

Exfoliating cream was my next gift. With my natural beauty, how could one use such a substance?

Now I have suddenly learnt what this Christmas gift exchange was all about. Yes, I may have been slow, but I now understand. Looking down the table I see the box of Black Magic chocolates held in the gentle hands of Paula, a lady of gentle distribution. This box of chocolates was previously held by my wife Val.

I passed the exfoliating cream to my wife, then leaned over and gently took the Black Magic chocolates from Paula’s hands. Triumph was deep in my heart, and sitting there with a supercilious smile of achievement on my face, made me feel good.

That was until Bruce the Black Knight and Editor in Chief of the NCC struck.

Unwittingly and unknown to me he was number 13 and stooping lower than the lowest, as though I was also vertically disadvantaged, he leant over and stole my Black Magic chocolates, showing no apparent pity or compassion, especially when at the time I was also on crutches and therefore unable to defend myself.

How anyone could stoop as low!

PAUL ROSE

Ballito

Ag shame! I’ll WhatsApp you a picture of the (empty) box of Black Magic to make up for it – Editor-in-Chief.