The Bride Price: An African Romance (Chitundu Chronicles) (12 page)

Dodge headed down the stairs and walked to the Fat Chance Bar, one of his favorite hangouts. The owner was an overweight man in his mid-forties who enjoyed music and gambling. He wore his hair in dreadlocks and an
abaya,
the traditional robe, to stay cool when he was barbecuing meat for the bar. Rubee had never married, but he attracted a clientele of all classes of people. 

”Rubee, I am back.  I see you are doing a good business,” Dodge said when he entered the bar.

“Dodge, good to see you.  I met your visitor.  He seems like a serious young man.”

“Thank you.  He’s my nephew, recently married.  We are looking for a girl to help out with chores and who knows how to cook. You know, he will be working with the students at the middle school, so the girl would be close to your place. There wouldn’t be room for her to live on the campus, but she might be able to work part time somewhere else, and still give them help.  Keep me in mind if something comes up.  You know, I need a little help myself sometime in that department. And I do have an extra room at my place.”

“I can’t think of anyone offhand, but I will keep my eyes open.  We have a lot of new people moving into the area.  It may work out.  Anyway, I will let you know.  You’ll be around?”

“Yes. I am staying put until I get my niece married off in another month.  She’s marrying Joseph, who runs the mercantile where you probably get your supplies.”

“I hear you.  Yes, I will keep my eyes open. Thanks for thinking of me.” Rubee refused payment for the beer, and pushed a plate of fried yams towards Dodge.

Dodge visited the couple again after they moved to the campus housing at the school where Stephen taught math. The parlor of the tutor’s cottage on the Makeshaft Middle School compound was small, and the bedroom with its sloped roof even smaller.  Too small for a regular bed, Stephen noticed with relief. That’s one piece of furniture we can do without.  The school had helped them out with a set of chairs for the sitting room, a table, and a chest of drawers. He didn’t have the money at the moment to buy a standard bed and mattress.  They could make do with a foam mat until he saved enough to get a bed.

Esther shopped for a clock, antimacassars, a kerosene lantern and a set of cutlery.  She had no money but she told the store clerk to write up a bill and she would have her husband, who was the new tutor at the school, stop by and pay for them.  She walked home, pleased with her purchases, and checked these items off the long list she had made of what was needed in their home.

Stephen returned home in the afternoon when his classes were finished.  He came in the door and hugged Esther, then looked around and saw the new furnishings.

“Did the school provide these?” Stephen said as he glanced around at the items strewn here and there.

“Stephen, you haven’t even said hello to me.  I want you to see all the things I have found. Come and look and just put those papers in the drawer so they don’t mess things up.  I am so tired from shopping, you cannot imagine.  I had no idea how much work it would be to get this place looking like a home.”

Stephen noticed the new kerosene lamp and the wiglet on the dressing table. “Esther, we are just married.  I do not even have my first paycheck, and I will have some expenses to cover. How did you pay for these?”

“Stephen, you are a tutor.  The storeowners said it was no problem for me to have credit. You just need to go pay for these things when you have time. I have a list of the bills in my purse. Now, what should we eat for dinner?”

Stephen wanted the evening to go well.  The house did look nice, and he liked the clock on the wall with its velvet red roses and the hour hand set with rhinestones.  He hugged Esther again and sat down in his overstuffed chair, waiting for his dinner.  After fifteen minutes, the clock chimed a song. He rose and went to the kitchen where Esther stood staring at a pot of what smelled like soup.  She had added some vegetables and some meat to the water, but nothing was cooked.  It was floating on the top and the fire had gone out some time before, but she continued to stir it intermittently, and to taste it. Then she put down the spoon and turned to the cupboard. She pulled out a tin of margarine and a loaf of bread. She opened a can of deviled ham and spread it over the bread, then made two mugs of Ovaltine. There was no milk, just hot water, so she added a little extra Ovaltine to each mug. They sat on their chairs and ate the meal.

They had just finished their sandwiches when the headmaster stopped by.  He wanted to welcome them and meet Esther. “Hello and welcome to our compound. I am the headmaster.  My name is Winston Phiri. I hope you will be comfortable here.”

“Thank you.”

“Did the furniture suit you? And are you finding the water sufficient?”

“We have not had a chance to check the water, as I have been shopping, but the furniture is fine. Can I get you something to drink?”

“A beer would be good,” The headmaster said, wiping his forehead.

“I am sorry. We have not stocked up with provisions yet, but when we get a refrigerator, we will have a cold drink to offer you. I can offer you tea.” She glanced at Stephen again to see if he could add to this, then excused herself to go and clean the dishes. She had noticed how the headmaster looked her over, and thought she would have to make sure Stephen was always home when he stopped by. Stephen did not seem to notice the man looking at her too long, and in the wrong places. She had been approached before by men in positions of power, and she did not want to confront behavior that was better avoided.

As she washed the plates and knives, she overheard Stephen and the headmaster discussing the curriculum and the soccer scores. He was asking Stephen what sports he had played, and would he be able to take on the coaching of a team? Stephen was stalling for time to see how his class schedule worked out. Then he asked how the faculty divided up study hall and after-hours activities for the students who boarded. In a few minutes, the men came into the kitchen area and Winston again checked Esther over, saying it had been a pleasure to meet her, and that his wife would be inviting them for dinner soon.

Esther nodded and looked to Stephen to acknowledge that he would be making any decisions regarding their social life.  Winston reached out and gave her hand a squeeze, pressing his finger into the palm. Esther was repulsed at the gesture.

     “Anything you need, you just let me know.”

Uncle Dodge stopped by the house after school was over. He came to the back door with a load of provisions for them, and a letter from Myrna. He also had a chocolate bar for Esther.  Esther was in the kitchen looking in the cupboard and asked him to come into the parlor and take a seat.  Her husband was not yet back from the school sports.

“How are you finding the compound?”

“We are just getting settled in.  I have done some shopping, but we still have several things we need.  I am learning what the schedule is, and I am looking forward to meeting the other teachers and their wives. I met the headmaster last evening. He was most friendly.”

“You know I am here for you. Anything you need, just let me know. Dodge looked Esther over slowly. She was wearing a tight melon colored skirt and a cardigan of white with melon colored flowers. The top buttons were open. Her breasts were magnificent and concealed just enough to make them enticing.

“Tell Stephen I stopped by and I will be at my apartment on Saturday. I am looking to get a housekeeper to help me with the chores.”

“Good idea. I wish we could afford a person to help, but Stephen doesn’t know what he will be making exactly.  I am sure it will be enough to have a cook, but I need to wait until he sees what supplies he needs. I am counting on him to work it out.”

Dodge listened to Esther and thought she must be a handful for Stephen. If she did not know how to work within a budget or to do housework or cook, things would only get worse. He had seen the soup, as it was still in the pot when he came through the kitchen. There were unwashed dishes in the dishpan, and no broom in sight. He hoped for Stephen’s sake she would get a routine and learn some skills to make this work. 

Dodge left before Stephen arrived home. It was almost 7:00 and no dinner was prepared. He headed back to his apartment and on the way bought a kebab and a serving of rice wrapped in a banana leaf to have with his beer.  What kind of a servant would best suit this household?  It would have to be a girl who had no better options or a young man with no chance at schooling, hoping that he could learn from this math tutor. That might be the best solution. But where could he find a young man who could cook and clean as well, and not be embarrassed doing women’s work? He needed to be able to tolerate being driven by a woman who did not respect him? The refugee encampment near the border would be his best bet. Esther would need to overcome any reservations she had about hiring someone not of her background.

CHAPTER 18
JOSEPH, VIOLET, STEPHEN, ESTHER, DODGE AT BEATRICE’S

Sunday, Joseph and Violet went to church. Dodge attended and saw that Stephen and Esther had also joined them.  Esther was looking very pretty in a light green skirt and matching top of a sparkling knit, with her wrap framing her ample bosom and her hair pulled up in a matching headscarf. She was smiling at the ushers and at Joseph and Violet. Beatrice invited them all to the Sunday meal, which they happily attended. Dodge included.

As they sat around enjoying the meal, everyone asked Stephen how things were going at the school.

“We are settled in our new bungalow and we would like you to come and visit us.”  He looked at Esther to have her encourage a visit.

“Stephen wants you to come and visit, but I would be embarrassed if I did not have a cold drink to offer you. So far, we have no refrigerator.”

It was silent at the table as Beatrice and Bishop thought of their own situation, and how seldom they had drinks bought at the store to offer guests. Joseph asked what kind of refrigerator she thought they would buy, and did they have electricity at the house?

Stephen answered. “We are going to wait until I see what my salary will be and what expenses the school will have me pay.  There is electricity on campus, but if it is too high, I will just use the study hall and we will make do with our lamps. We can go to the bar if we need a cold drink.”

Esther tightened her mouth a little at this revelation and figured she could work something out. It would just take Stephen a little more time to realize that he could ask for what they needed. The headmaster would be reasonable. No one could live in such a tiny bungalow and not have a refrigerator or a hot plate. If he was expecting her to cook over the brazier in the rainy season, it was not going to happen. They would be living worse than refugees. He needed to realize that he was an educated man, and that people expected a little more professional way of behaving or they were going to see them as nothing but peasants. How did people manage? She would talk to him when he received his pay slip and the bills were paid and they would figure out how to come up with the money. Certainly this would not be in front of his mother and not in front of Violet and Joseph. Imagine, no cold drink to offer the headmaster. Yes, they would have to talk. She was quiet the rest of the evening as Joseph and Violet went over their plans for their wedding.

CHAPTER 19
WEDDING OF JOSEPH AND VIOLET

The wedding of Joseph and Violet was held in the Presbyterian Church, with the pastor who had known the Chitundu family all their lives officiating.  There was a small music program for the wedding, with the members of the choir singing for them. Two of Joseph’s brothers came to sing as well and Violet said she was looking forward to having them visit their home.  One of Joseph’s sisters was a junior bridesmaid.  Joseph asked for Violet’s brothers to be part of the ceremony, but Beatrice decided it would be best to just include the two oldest, as the younger ones might be too disruptive. Myrna and Festal had been invited as well as more distant friends. They did not send an invitation to Uncle Dodge, but they could not think how to prevent his coming.

Stephen and Esther were there. They were recalling their own wedding and honeymoon, and realized what a blur it had been. It seemed to have been months ago that Esther was all nerves planning for her bridesmaids and wondering if the flowers would hold up in the heat, and whether the caterer had planned food enough for the guests.

The day of the wedding, Bishop was pacing the narthex at the Presbyterian Church.  He was reluctant to have his remaining daughter leave his home, his wife was worried over the health of Jethro once again, and the business had taken another downturn.  When he saw his daughter enter the room, he forgot all his problems.  Violet was dressed in a gown covered in tiny shells and as frothy as the waves of the sea when the tide is turning. She and Beatrice had designed it and it took more than a month to sew all of the tiny shells to it.  She wore a small tiara on her head, with her hair swept up in a twist of ringlets.  Pearl drop earrings hung down over the sweetheart neckline of her dress.  She was a page from a fashion magazine.  Bishop couldn’t wait to see the look on Joseph’s face when he saw his dreams come true.  Together, father and daughter walked down the aisle of the sanctuary.  The wedding party was waiting at the altar, dressed in fuchsia and deep pink dresses that went to their ankles.  Each had a bouquet of plumeria and orchids that trailed from their clasped hands.  The bride carried a bouquet of calla lilies and plumeria, which scented the entire area. 

The audience began to ululate as the bride made her way down the aisle. Joseph felt tears well up as he watched this vision of a girl coming to claim him.  His best man steadied him as he stepped down to meet her father and receive his bride.  Beatrice also stood, her Jethro in her arms.  The rest of the service, except for the tossing of the bouquet, was a blur.  The music was excellent. Joseph’s two brothers blended in an
acapella
song of joy and fruitfulness that was traditional wedding music for their region. The church choir began encircling the couple with their blend of feminine voices. The senior pastor, who had known Violet her entire life, intoned blessings, baptizing them into the family of Christ. Candles in stair-step candelabras framed the handsome couple at the altar.  Jethro started to cry and then suddenly stopped when he saw his sister in her dress.