Mfana hadn't been to Ireland__ or had the occasion to refer to it in any meaningful way
except
that he had read it from a newspaper that had wrapped his fish and chips that one day___
Somebody says in spitting distance: "ja iyakufanela mfana"___
Someone else was shouting for petrol___
Back then He had memorized the blessing, to practice his english, but for the life of him he couldn't remember any lines except maybe_
"May the road rise up to meet you" _
He starts to laugh. First to himself. Then with no sense of propriety; out loud ___
The people around him don't find it at all curious. It's stoking them. Adding fuel to the fire ___ People test tire pressure by kicking the tire___
The pain that went through Mfana's neck is a dull one compared to the hopelessness he felt ___
"Kaba leyo nja" ___
He remembers the Irish blessing was used in an advertisement for Continental Tires
He will never get to own a car ___
He is being hit from all sides and he falls face first into the dirt road _
"May the wind be at your back" _
He remembers that.
Which makes him laugh some more ___And the heavens start to wet themselves laughing along with him _
"May the rain fall softly on your fields"_
A clerk of the kangaroo court curses the sudden drizzle that makes it hard going to strike a match ___
Besides that; the beating continues ___
Mfana's crime? He reported a comrade to the police ___
He's an impimpi __
He must die _
Mfana reads the name of his tyre like a question ___
"Goodyear?" __
No it was not. His sister spurned the advances of the comrade
And got herself raped for her troubles _
he reported the comrade to the police _
He tried to explain but the struggle gave him no recourse ___
Finally a flame catches ___
And Mfana is set alight
It's a dazzling necklace one the witnesses will not soon forget __
He never got to remember the final line which goes: _
"And May god keep you safe in the palm of his hand"
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