In chapter 20 of Kaffir Boy, Johannes is once again woken up by his mother at four in the morning. Johannes is told by his mother that the two are going to the superintendent's office for “important papers.” The two arrive at the office sometime around 5:00 am, and have to wait for another four hours until the office opens. After a perpetual wait out in the cold, Johannes and his mother make it to the front of the office, ready to see the superintendent. A officer tells them that the bass will be out shortly. After a “short” two hour wait, the officer returns and tells them that the superintendent is going home early and that Johannes’ mother can’t return for another month. His mother tries to fight the officer to see the bass but nothing works.