Chicken Legs

A memoir.

"Em wanted to join but was never selected, yet he would go with to watch."
To be left on the side line is not unusual for Em.

South Africa, 1970. An autistic boy is born into the Coloured community during Apartheid.

Talented and reaching for his goals, Em tries to fit in.

He mimics his older brothers but still they do not include him.
He wants to belong to a sports club but his elders enforce religion.
He longs to explore his environment but the regime prevents it.

Whether it is the games he is unable to join or being left out of conversations, he does not give up and stumbles on.

His parents remain the pillars at his side and encourage him to be his peculiar self.