The Big Read: A curling thread that binds

In 1994 I went to vote with my friend Alan. I was living alone for the first time in my life, in a tiny studio apartment in Rondebosch, and Alan lived two floors above me. We met in the elevator on my first day in the block and became friends, a turn of events I could scarcely believe. He'd been the head boy of my school when I was in Standard 8 and was witty and smart and won public-speaking competitions and was my hero.