Maureen Smales

Maureen Smales, born Maureen Hetherington, daughter of the shift boss for the Western Area Gold Mines, is the mother of three small children-Royce, Victor and Gina. She was once the wealthy wife of Bamford Smales, a partner in an architectural firm. When she was younger, she dreamed of becoming a ballerina. Now, she struggles with defining herself apart from her wealth and social status. She fancied herself to be an enlightened and liberal white South African, treating her servants well and refusing to call them “boy,” but the experience of being at the mercy of her black servant brought her face-to-face with her own unaccepted prejudices and sense of entitlement.

Bamford Smales

Bamford Smales (“Bam”) is an architect with Smales, Caprano & Partners and husband to Maureen Smales. He strives to take care of his family, but often it seems as if the traditional role of male provider...