The Bride Price: An African Romance (Chitundu Chronicles)

by Suzanne Popp

  CHAPTER 17

  THE HONEYMOONERS

  Stephen and Esther had spent their honeymoon at Uncle Dodge’s apartment. His cupboard was full of tins of bacon, cheese, and semolina pudding that they added to the food they bought at the small kiosk below the apartment. The first few days, the couple pulled out treats from the cupboard like Christmas presents, and Esther would fix them a few eggs, a little bowl of fruit cocktail, or a can of sardines they could add to the fried yams, which were available at the bar below them at street level.

  After a week, Stephen began to tire of the foods that had seemed so exotic. He was doing nothing, and wanted to get back to his job of setting a lesson plan for the students at the middle school where he had been hired as a math teacher. He had been desperate to marry Esther—afraid someone else would claim her. But he had never spent so much time alone with a woman. He learned several things about married life that were unexpected. Esther liked to stay up late in the evening and work on her stitchery or listen to the radio. She tended to sleep in mornings, and she liked all the windows closed and the room very dark. She piled covers of wool on the bed and tucked in the sheets tightly at the ends. Her nightdress was a chenille robe. Stephen liked a cool room with a loose sleeping cloth over him. He was used to sleeping naked.

  The apartment was bright with lights from the streets below. There were no curtains or shades. It was noisy as soon as the workday started. Lorries, donkey carts and vendors working below made a steady racket which carried upward. While Stephen liked to sleep with few covers and went to bed early, he was wakened each night by Esther preparing her toilette, turning down the lamp, getting into bed and adjusting the covers. Sometimes she would want to talk to him long after he had fallen soundly asleep. He was not used to having the heat of another person next to him as he had slept in a dormitory room at school and in a separate small rondavel at home. Once she lay down to sleep, she had a niggling little cough and continued to clear her throat. She also smelled like chemicals and it made his nose run. It was something she used on her hair to relax the curls.

  Stephen liked sports and was eager to stretch his muscles by doing physical work in the morning and enjoying the excitement of a soccer match with his friends in the afternoon. When he finished his morning jog or stretching, he was hungry, but Esther was still sleeping. While they lived above the Fat Chance Bar, it was easy to go below for a chat with Rubee, the Lebanese owner, and get a cup of tea or Nescafe, and a doughnut ball or hard boiled eggs. But he was not sure what there would be to eat in the morning when he had to teach classes at 7:00 a.m., and rise an hour earlier to bathe and prepare.

  He tried to set a time to talk this over, but Esther would look pouty and hurt if he suggested that she needed to adjust her schedule. He enjoyed sex with her, but lately, it seemed to be at times when he had planned on going out with friends, or had a match he especially wanted to listen to at the sports bar.

  Esther liked making new dishes for her husband at Uncle Dodge’s apartment, but she had never cooked and had no idea how to put the available ingredients together. Stephen thought of buying a cookbook, so he asked Esther what they would have for their meals once they were living on the school compound. Esther looked at him in some puzzlement.

  “We will have our cook prepare food for us, whatever you like.”

  “That’s fine. But we have no cook. We will be living on the compound where the school is located, and we will not have the store so close. There will be a weekly market, of course, and we can pick up basics at the tuck shop and fresh vegetables from vendors. What do you like to cook?”

  “I have never cooked anything before. My mother just told our cook what to make, and then I helped prepare the food.”

  “What do you mean, prepare the food?” Stephen asked.

  “I would set the plates on the table and dish out food for everyone so it was divided equally. Otherwise my brothers would just have one thing. My father ate first, then my brothers, and we girls had what was left. We were three sisters, who you have met. We also had to save some for the cook and the watchman, but they usually just had the yams and the nshima.”

  “Do you know how to make nshima?”

  “No, but I know how to pound it. At least, I have seen how it is done. My sisters did that for our house. I would do their hair and they would pound the corn.”

  “We are going to have to think how we can get you some help. I won’t earn enough as a teacher for us to buy prepared food at the store. We will need to grow some, or figure out a way to buy staples and divide them, maybe with the faculty.” Stephen could see that Esther was about to cry, so he soothed her, stroking her arm and holding her, while thinking he was going to have to figure out how a budget, and feeding the two of them, would work. They had plenty of time to come up with a plan, but she probably didn’t do laundry or housework either. It had never occurred to him to ask about these things while courting her. He had mainly looked at how adorable she looked in her fresh tops and tight skirts. What would a servant cost, anyway? He would talk to Dodge and see if he had any suggestions. They had another week to stay in his second story apartment before Dodge returned, and before moving to the school compound.

  Stephen pushed back Esther’s hair and nuzzled her neck, thinking how sweet she smelled and how feminine she was with her necklace and the patterned silk scarf tied around her hair. They would work it out. He loved it when he heard her singing while she pressed her clothes with the charcoal iron. She had not even had a chance to open all the gifts they received from the wedding guests. They would work things out.

  At the wedding of Joseph and Violet, Dodge saw Esther and Stephen sitting next to each other, each talking to the person next to them. He had seen Esther briefly since lending them his apartment for their honeymoon. What an eye opener that had been. He had come back a little early from his ventures in Copperfine. His apartment was open, so he knocked as he walked in. Esther was still sleeping. Stephen was out and the kitchen was still strewn with dishes from the night before. It looked like bread and canned fruit had been the dinner of choice. Dodge glanced at the sleeping girl with her hair wrapped up in a scarf and then he left the apartment.

  Stephen would need a helper for his new wife; he might be able to help him. She didn’t appear to be the domestic type, and keeping a household when you didn’t have a large salary took some planning. Beatrice would be upset if she were to see this mess. He wasn’t exactly pleased, himself.

  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.