PROUD OF HIS COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES

Proud of his collection of short stories

By Flaxman Qoopane

Vic Walker, a Master’s Degree in Drama and Theatre student at the University of the Free State (U.F.S), has published his first book of short stories – Little Wheels of Happiness.

Walker, a white writer, told Free State News: “Little Wheels of Happiness has the following short stories – The Wheel, Horse Power, Samson in the Free State, The Great Trek, Aardvark Jackals, Why can’t Calves As Well, Dear Mother-In-Law, The Cape is Too far”

Vic did his first year in B.A degree in drama and theatre arts at U.F.S in 1992. And he resumed his studies in 2006 and finished his degree at the age of 50, in 2007.

“In 1992, there was no lotto, which meant that there were no loans or bursaries to study in the arts at the University. I could only resume my studies in 2006, after I sold my stand (piece of land for R100 000) in Rosendal in the Free State and I went back to U.F.S to study,”

At the age of 13, Walker was invited to read a theatrical work at the Bethlehem Amateur Theatre in the Free State. “That thing lingered. I went to Durban. I became a beach-bum (a beggar). And I was a swimmer, my love was swimming,”

According to Vic, in 1992 his mother gave him R3000 to go and study at the University. “I was jobless, living with my mother, and I came to UFS to study. I could not buy books at the University. So I worked at the Fonteina Hotel in Bloemfontein. I had a place to stay and I got food. I was a bouncer for six months at the hotel,”

Alas, the hotel was to change hands. “The hotel was sold. I was on the street. I went to the Head of Drama at the University to study on debt. After I told him that I was living in the veld, he accommodated me in the theatre and I was comfortable,”

“Art is my only umbrella,” he emphasised to Free State News. “I have been living with art all my life. I was doing paintings, selling them from door to door. I’m in the said league as a preacher. I am a professional beggar with my paintings,”