[Die volgende teks kom uit 'n e-pos aan 'n vriendin van my – wat Taiwan verlaat het in Desember 2002 – om 'n bietjie nuus te deel, en om nuwe verwikkelinge in my lewe te probeer verduidelik.]

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“Dear friend and fellow confused comrade. Of course I’ve been missing you, but since you left I’ve been terribly busy… sitting, at the dresser in the living room, smoking cigarettes, drinking ginger tea, screaming at Jacky every now and then to stop that damned barking, and plotting the overthrow of the ‘existing government’ – the status quo – ’till long after I should have gone to bed.

Last Sunday I actually came to a point where I made a decision – to go home in February/March. Then, that night, as I was drifting off to a supposed peaceful sleep, a government agent surreptitiously slipped a thought into my head: ‘If you stay until June you can always go home for Chinese New Year…’

Since Monday morning it’s been all-out war in my head, needless to say. And you talk about melktert!

Yes, Jacky’s roaring at anything that pondered moving in the recent past nearly caused her early exit from life when someone slipped her a bit of poison on Tuesday. I was sitting somewhere (not at the dresser), when I heard a peculiar noise coming from the stoep. On closer inspection I found her stumbling around puddles of barf. When I spoke to her, she fell over, not moving a muscle. I grabbed my shorts, slipped on my sandals and carried her to the vet. She told me Jacky had been poisoned. She got two injections, so she’s alright now.

New Year’s eve was spent at one of your favourite former hangouts (the Pig & Whistle). It was OK. Anyways, I can’t remember the last time I sent anyone an e-mail, not to mention such a long one, so I’m in desperate need to go sit at the dresser and sip some ginger tea…”

~ Uit ‘n e-pos aan J. (4 Januarie 2003)

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[Nota: Jacky, ook bekend as Jakkals Brandwag, het op 14 Maart 2003 gesneuwel aan 'n maagvirus. Mag sy vir ewig agter trokke aanhardloop wat haar nooit sal omry nie, scooters jaag, bene kou, en dumplings afsluk tot sy dik is. En mag daar nie vlooie wees waar sy nou is nie. Sy word gemis...]