More General News

     Paul was our family clown. He was the one to come up with funny things—both verbal and active. When he used the potty he would yell, "Mommy, come and wipe my bottom." As he got older I decided he needed to learn to do it himself, so the next time he called I said, "Paul, you're a big boy now, you must learn to wipe yourself!" He loved to sing, and would put many things to music, so next time he needed wiping he sang out, at  top of his voice, "Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to wipe yourself," and I couldn't help bursting into laughter. On another occasion, just after we had bought our very first TV (black and white) we were getting ready to eat and Dad switched off the TV, Paul protested, "Ah! Mebo (Melville) don't!" Mel had to explain to him that thanking God for our food was much more important than watching TV. I don't think Paul thought so, but he had to accept the fact.
     Ma and Oupa seemed to have a very special feeling for Paul, and they bought him his first tricycle. Paul loved it and amazed us at the speed he could he could get out of it. He would tear down the paaage and around the corner without ever scratching the wall. Oupa used to like to take long walks every day. One day Paul went missing. I looked everywhere for him. In cupboatds, under beds, out in the yard, I even went up to the well to see if he had somehow squeezed through the planks on top and fallen in, but, no Paul. I was getting desperate. He had never, ever tried to go out into the road so I didn't think to look there. Eventually I went out there and saw, way up at the end of the road, a black man escorting him home. When I remonstrated with him for going into the road he simply answered, "Well, I saw Oupa walking past and was trying catch up with him, 'cause I wanted to go with him." Well, what could I say? I told him never to do that again. Naturally Oupa did not know Paul was trying to go with him, or he would have either sent him home or waited for him. I truly got an awful fright when I could not find him! Paul was a very charming little boy—but also the naughtiest of our kids, though he was very disarming.