Independence Day

Yvonne Killean

It was the 4th July 2007. On the other side of the Atlantic the 4th of July is known as Independence Day and, in a way, this was his independence day too. My youngest child. My 17 year old son. He was off to Zambia, to Africa, and for 6 weeks. I'd have no contact with him at all. He'd be in a country I knew very little about, doing things I've never done, seeing things I've never seen.

It wasn't as if he'd never been away from home before. Of course he had, he was 17. There had been school trips, camping with his mates, T in the Park. A few years back he'd gone to Florida for a couple of weeks with his friend's family. But that was different. They have electricity in Florida, toilets, showers, running water, telephones, hospitals, probably a doctor on every corner. They wouldn't have these things in Mulamba, where he was going. ... (continues)