Whites (6 page)

So I went at the front to find this man. He was there. I knocked. He rejoiced at once, with those posters in his hands. He said I must come in. He said we must see them, both together. That floor was in disorder. We pushed articles aside. That place was heaped on every hand with books, journals, all kind of papers and photographs widespread, tumblers, photographs in boxes. He praised those posters endlessly. He must have his wife to see. That place was in great disorder.

Soon enough it came up to payments. I refused. Then he said he cannot believe me. At once I spoke of work. I said I can do yard work. I said I was homeless. Still always I refused money. He said they must forever have no servants, because of some very great beliefs. I told him of my straits. He said I must take more money than three pula for each one. But always still I refused. Then he said I must take tea.

He went aside to his wife to discuss. He said they can hire me. It was against her will, I could hear it, and worst as it came up to accommodation. She was in fear lest she always overtake me on the inside of her house. He said there was Primus and WC in quarters, so I can stay out. As well, he said if I should go there they can cease their shame as to many Batswana homeless and no one in that empty place. But she said she was afraid lest I arouse her every day from sleep as I set about working. He said But sometimes if I am away a gecko can drop down upon you, as we know, and this lad can chase it out. But she said Why must you forever force this thing when our food is hot?—that is the only reason you are succeeding. So at the end it was all right, but I must swear to many rules. I must never use such words as master or mistress, and many other rules as well.

So at last I was a bit safe. I could lock my goods. Mma Jarvis gave to me all such things as chairs, wardrobe, table, pots, cloths, tub, Primus cooker, bed, paraffin lamp, as well as mealie, thousand cabbages, and wash-powder. Can you borrow me some books at times? I said to Rra Jarvis. You may choose every book, he said. With all pleasure he would do it. Very great-sized atlas, he borrowed me at once, and more books thereafter. Really, those people were by far too carefree, with payments time and again beyond my terms. He said I must become more fat. He explained me
chimurenga
as “great storm of people,” very freely, so I said there can be many countless questions solved at last.

Endless days I worked to clean that plot and all the verge as well. I healed some trees, I know it. I scalded ants within their holes. I pulled down mistletoe from trees. Where termites pushed their nest mud high on tree sides, I scraped them to hell. I was a savior many fold. Guys passing in the road saw me watchful there and stepped onwards. Because you can go for asking jobs and just take some things. You can open cars. You can take shirts found hanging.

That man was strong for Africans, I may say. Without fail at morning he would shower curses on the news reader of Springbok station from Johannesburg, as You are murderers, or cretins, at times. Refugee guys came there rather much for drinks and meals. He was helping them.

By my terms of work, I must be always without the house. Mma Jarvis was ever painting scenes of life and must be in silence thus. So it was okay. I liked it best. I was progressing. Soon I would post a letter to my mother, I knew.

But all too soon, what! I must be made to have a house key. They must go some days to Tuli Block on holiday. I said I rathermore have no key, yet they said I must. They praised me. I must only switch on lights at night, and water in some
pots of plants. My heart was choked. If at all some goods or cameras could go missing, they would name one thief: Paul Ojang. Thrice I spoke against this. But I was forced to hold a key, in fact. Before I took that house key, Mma Jarvis gave me oftentimes the key for post, that I must bring. All such signs of trust were scaring to me.

At my tasks withinside, I ran, to finish off and be spared. I said I must cope up. That house was pushed full. You discerned such things heaped, as, fish traps, beer sieves, thousand baskets, thumb harps, Basarwa aprons and pouches, some spears, stools, cameras, wood serpents and
tokoloshi
, books just tossed. I looked straight to my task.

So but when they returned back from Tuli Block and all was well, they said I must hold that key for all time. But when thrice I refused, he agreed to say okay. He said he likes me. He wished greatly he could one day arising find all government officers gone at one blow and fine boys in their place, rather. He said You shall be perm sec one day, I know it.

I was prospering, if I may say. Because he said I can make a market garden if it pleases me. So every day I was selling freely amongst cookmaids such things as marrows, tamaties, radish, and lettuces. As well, he vowed he will never surcharge me as to water. I was rich, a bit. He gave me seeds he had from others.

Soon one day he said I must aid in
omnium gatherum
, great function for honoring some heroes. These too were refugees, but heroes set free from prison in South Africa. I must stand close and listen to such guys passing through Botswana. He praised those guys the most by far. First I must dig a
braai-pit
and clean about the plot as if Jesus will be at tea, he said. He must hire lights in all colors.

But at that function I served out goat meat and
wors
countless hours, longing to be freed. At last I could go. But then I must make errands for the woman, to find some costly
steel-made platters demanded by the caterers and lost. When I came to eat, it was at best bread rolls and beetroot salad, and some guava seeds left in fluids. Turmoil! Overdrinking on beer and Autumn Harvest! That place was thronged full. I saw many guys from university, two perm secs, Europeans, refugees, Angolans, two Chinese men, Swazis. I went to hear at last.

It was hot, with motor fans switched on. It was too full in that parlor. On the outside, guys pressed to our flyscreens, in time commanding anyone to switch off some fans to help them hear Sinuka well enough. It was half-twelve.

All those South Africans stood as one, nearby the hero Sinuka, guarding and watchful always. Great unceasing arguments! Those guys were sharp, finding out very many falsehoods spoken there. I liked them.

Now at once Sinuka was repeating on one theme. He said In Azania, when the Boers are overthrown, we the Africans shall take all power over shops and mines of all kind, as to banks, as to farms, no matter if some Europeans or UK have put their money in keeping of the Boers at one time. At this, some Europeans hopped up. One said All that is mere thieving, then, and you shall forge enemies out of once-true friends, if you do so. Sinuka cried out some way.

Then I was blasted once again, because Sinuka said Yes, we shall be thieves, because you Europeans have taken Africa and all that is upon it from us over many years’ time, and we have studied you well and shall become as you, who are the greatest thieves under God’s eyes! He said Yes, you must call us thieves, for we are graduands of long years’ teaching and must be proud! He said If you steal from a thief who has tutored you, are you then a thief at all, for if you say yes, then very well! Thieves forward!

Here was danger calling me. I said I shall never follow thieves. So I went away, rather trembling.

I passed some days in fear. I said to be brave.

Soon enough God slashed me twice. I make it three days from that function. A cookmaid of the Vice Mayor came, stating I must tell you from the radio that your mother is late! What! I said, you cannot tell me so! She said It is from that program of messages of such things, they are searching out Paul Ojang. Your mother was taken by sickness, at Tsane, she said. I was crying, then, for my late mother and for being left alone as such.

Mothers, never be rash! Because one day we must recall you. And ever be watchful as to funds! I journeyed by costly transport to Tsane. At Tsane I met charges on every hand. Our herd was long sold up, I knew, yet some men told me of two beasts taken as strays, yet she always failed to claim them at the chief’s kraal, so they fell to him in time. She was a defaulter at the health post. I was left with medicines and rubbish. From on the hill, I saw beasts going every way upon Tsane Pan to find out water, like ants. The pan was cracked. Sand wind came over day by day. Many houses there stand empty.

I feared about my saved money at Tsane and my fear was proved. I wished only to return back from there. A pastor asked money more and more, as to burial charges. Even if a mother is a scourge to you, you must regret when she is late, it seems. I was too sad there. I must soon return to my smooth-walled housing at Seepapitso Crescent or become mad. I feared as to my lettuces.

It was at Kanye I said may that egg be my clue to riches. I said Jarvis must let me to rear up chickens to be sold. They take little water, as they bathe in dust. I saw I could gain back some funds quite fast.

Then, I was returned back. No matter if it was on Sunday, I set to work. But in days, what! God moved his waiting blow.

Jarvis called me to come to them for sweets. Then it was told to me. I must leave them, as they must quit our nation to stay untold years in Mozambique. I fell sick at heart. I cried. It was to make a film about Frelimo and how that struggle could win out. He must go for duty. He was summoned to it. Once more I was chopped from hope, just crying, as God pleased.

Where could I turn? At night I was even retching. By one fortnight I must aid Stuttafords to pack up their goods completely and be left alone. Was I not like Shane, who only wished to be a farmer yet was forced once again to fire upon his fellowmen? Or was I not as some saints, because many saints were forced, as to marrying of pagans, or beheading, like Felicitas, by God the ruler over all this world?

Rra Jarvis came to raise my cheer some way. He said Letty is striving, ringing up some women every day to unearth a post with accommodation. For farewell, he gave me a dictionary of words.

At last a job was found out. They said I may go as yard boy for some people differing to Jarvises but yet nice. Mma said All what you do for us is just all right to us if it is your true best, but these Wrens are rich to an extent. Thus you must work to perfection, she said. I should have coveralls provided and accommodation up to a sleeping-room, but no shower-place or toilet to myself, of course. She said This Rra Wren is high director of your nation’s bank and shall stay this side some five years until returning back to London, so you can be full grown. She said As well, he can sponsor you for Capital Continuation night studies if he likes you well enough, but I am not too sure.

She advised me all kind of things, over again. Never must I purge my nostrils in my fingers. Always I must guard on bearing tales. One thing above others she said many times: I must befriend that woman, because she was very
strained with bad fortune. If at all Batswana might tease or so, they were only misled. She was nice, Mma Jarvis said. She was American. Mma Jarvis bought me varied new clothing, with shoes. She said I was bonny. Every day she gave me presents such as half-remaining foods as chutney, sunflower oil,
tamatie sous
, maizena, bread crumbs in packets, some tins of lichees, jelly, dry soup.

Rra Jarvis brought me there. That place was risen from the dreaming brains of a thief. All about was wealth. You must enter by two gates in order. You must give in your name and reasons. You can see one man with no duties beyond tending on dogs. Another is hunting over and forth along the walks to pinch out any spear of grass to come amongst the pavements. You pass hedges made as balls and boxes throughout, many lawns, many bowers growing. You see Waygards always two and two, so that if one should chance to sleep, his comrade shall report on him. Everything in that place, you must crave for. The air itself must be made sweet, by women with spray-canisters, at times.

At once Bastiaan brought me to sit withinside. He commanded tea. Bastiaan was headservant there, or captain, a Xhosa, very fierce, to me. He was like Ken Gampu. His head was shaved. He wore fine suits. He took away my letter of reference, leaving me. Those carpets were soft, to make you wish to spring about. My plate was gold-ringed. My serviette was in a bracelet.

I saw this master was one for fish and the sea. All on the walls were caught fish, as thick-through as dogs, made hard and shining. Save for pilchards, we Batswana do not trust in fish. Far in the north, the Mmukushu are fish-eating, but we do not know them well and they are from Angola, really.

At once I was brought farther, to Mma Wren. It was by day, yet she wore dark glasses. She was white-haired and
white-dressed. She discussed with Bastiaan about my letter, a time, discerning me through those dark glasses. She said Are you quiet? Because here we are quiet. It was true, because that staff was quiet-spoken, differing to the shouting and ragging staffs of houses roundabout Jarvises. She said she regretted as to my mother. She pressed my hands. She wore gold finger rings and gold hair clips. She was little. Then it was fixed. I may come and toil amongst all those treasures.

Those maids were as cruel as nurses. I alone of all Batswana in that place refused to laugh against Mma Wren in secret. They would speak insults of her in Setswana at any time, if only Bastiaan was not nearby, of course. They said I must think what fanciful meaning I can say for my surname when she shall ask me. They said she was well-pleased when Bibiana Matlhapeng told that her name meant “There are too many rocks in this place,” and as well when Kebonyetsala Gaolekwe told that her surname says “You cannot do anything to God.” But I said those were true meanings. They said You are just argumental. They said You must be fanciful and please her, she is like a child. They said Others have done so. They said She is ever saying we Batswana are too mean at times with naming our children, as when Bibiana named her son Molebi, “He who is ever staring at you.” They said She says it is not fair on children and she bothers us on this, extremely. As well, they said Mma Wren is ever asking why certain kind of English first-names are given, as, Extra, or Fabric. They said She must not tell Tswana people how to put names, yet she does so. They said But we name our children as we please, and we give names as Beauty or Idol, if we please, so this white woman must just cease. They said she torments them. They said You shall see, she shall carry you
Daily News
asking why is this man named as Icks, or Slow, or Lucifer.