Hennie looked at the fire. "Because here, I am not a 'case file' or a 'demographic.' Here, I am the man who planted that lemon tree when it was a twig. If I leave, the tree forgets who gave it water. And a tree that is forgotten dies of thirst, even in the rain."
Pieter looked at his hands, clean and soft. He picked up a handful of Karoo red earth and let it sift through his fingers. It stained his skin. athol fugard
Hennie didn't stand. He just pointed to the dirt at the boy's feet. "You’ve forgotten how to walk on this earth, Pieter. You’re stepping too light. The wind will blow you away." Hennie looked at the fire
"It doesn't come off easily," Elias remarked, handing him the wooden swallow. "I know," Pieter whispered. And a tree that is forgotten dies of