Page 162 - The Circle of Life

stationed or what you believed in. As a sergeant on the border I would always

read from Proverbs something like “Enjoy the life which God has given you with
the woman you love,” etc. I knew of course there were no white women on the
border except for a few very old ladies of the Southern Cross, and a few military

types who we steered clear of since not only did they have fearsome

reputations, but as commissioned officers they outranked us. We also knew or
suspected they would not want to be appropriated by SAP COIN. Black women
were not regarded as women in those days. Any white Policeman caught having

ideas or notions with regard to that would be in immediate trouble. Thus the

impossibility that any of my men could ever follow that proverb was the very
reason why I read it. No one got my joke though, which is perhaps for the best.

As luck would have it I have the type of personality which finds great
amusement in my own jokes…for days on end. That cheered me up for weeks. It

still does.

* The Southern Cross was a charity who supplied much needed comforts from

home to the troops and policemen on the Borders during the war. It ranged from
soccer balls to swimming pools. It was greatly appreciated and the old ladies

always treated with considerable respect.

I respectfully asked a SAP COIN instructor during a scramble up and down some
mountain (Boleo probably) whether he believed in the Bible, particularly

Proverbs 28:1, which reads: “Only the wicked shall flee without being chased.”
Are we, the SAP then as wicked as the commies we were supposed to chase now

and then? That really showed his lack of humour and I had to appear before the
Chaplain to confess my sins. He told me to read the next part of the verse which

showed me he missed the point but they were serious people at the best of
times. Also told me to leave my f long haired liberal notions at home and stop

bother God with cr-p.

Made me a much fitter policeman that comment did! The instructor took great

delight in me running in front of his vehicle for what seemed like hours so that I

could feel chased so to speak! I suppose I must have felt wicked for the entire
six months during basics for we ran everywhere. A cadet walking around better
be already close to death and be certified on light duty or he will be soon after

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