Everybody begins somewhere.
Reagan “Rook”
01 / The apprentice
Thirteen.
One hard hat.
No adult supervision.
At thirteen, Reagan learned that every giant has ankles and every site has loose
lunchboxes. By tea break the foremen were dizzy, unharmed, and calling him “Rook.”
02 / The acceleration
Sea left.
Trouble behind.
Visor down.
Years later the hard hat became a black visor. Along Umhlanga’s seafront road,
every blue light in the mirror became another chapter. Rook was not fleeing justice.
He was late for Sunday lunch.
03 / The soft landing
Five choppers.
Ten jacuzzis.
One Sunday lunch.
The mansion was loud. Five helicopters, ten jacuzzis, thirty-seven opinions.
But the real empire was simple: everybody had a plate, the children had the lawn,
and nobody asked where Reagan parked the bike.