The Fruitcake That Saved My Life

by Thomas
(Texas)

I was working in Nairobi Kenya during the 1982 coup attempt that started on the morning of August 1. I had been meaning to fill my propane tank for my gas stove before the coup attempt. Then, when the civil war broke out, everyone had to stay indoors for safety. Then there was a 24 hour curfew for the next few days. The only thing I had to eat was a fruitcake I had recieved the Christmas before. It was still pretty good. I ate on it until they lifted the curfew a few days later and I could go out and look for food. All the stores had been looted and I still couldn't find cooking gas. So I ate on the fruitcake a few days longer. It saved my life!