CHAPTER FIVE

Their home was small but comfortable because of the many homey touches her Ma had added here and there. She had even started placing flowers in two old vases and centered a piece in the living room and one by the kitchen sink. Ensuring that there was no excess water on the floor and on the table top, Suzie went in search of a palanma broom. There were two; the one used for the yard outside was a bit worn out, and the newer one was used for the inside of the house. Quickly locating the one she needed, she started the chore. The yard was damp this morning. It looked like dew or maybe they had gotten some light rain during the night. This meant that it would take her double the time to sweep the yard because the dirt was not loose. Using an old nylon bag over her hands, she started picking bits of wood left lying around the place from yesterday, along with some dry brown leaves scattered from the nearby trees. Stacking them in a corner, she resumed her sweeping.

‘Suzy!’ Her mother’s voice roused her from her reverie. ‘Come here this minute.’

The broom clattered to the ground, in her haste to get away, nearly tripping Suzie. She braced herself on one of the nearby drums and then rushed towards the voice, shouting, ‘Coming Ma.’ She found her mother in the small room she shared with her brother piling the dirty clothes in a large, blue rubber basin, the only basin they owned now. The other one had recently been destroyed when she accidently placed too much water in it and tried to lift it. With too much weight the rubber at the bottom gave way. Her Ma was not happy about it. She had said that Suzie was irresponsible. Suzie could not understand how she was called such when it was plain as day that the basin was old and weak and it would have been only a matter of time before it broke. But when her mother was on a roll there was no stopping her. Most times it was better they just go along with her.

‘Why are there so many dirty clothes? Didn’t you wash all the undergarments on Monday? It is Wednesday and the pile has grown.’

‘Well I washed some, Ma, but there was not enough soap to do all.’ Suzie explained.

‘Then why didn’t you say something?’

Suzie stood idly by as her mother continued stacking clothes on the heap. ‘Go by Ms. Bringo and buy two blue soaps and a small bottle of bleach. Tell her to place it on my credit list.’

‘Okay,’ Suzie muttered already at the door.

‘’Where are you going without a bag? Do you want the whole neighborhood seeing what you went and buy? Check in one of the buckets there are a few nylon bags; take a black one.’

‘Everyone knows what soap is, Ma. I do not need a bag.’

‘Ti manmay, do as I say!’ Abigale snapped. ‘Ou ni an wépon pou tout bagay. It is not proper for everyone to see your business, Suzie. Some of these people have nothing else to do but sit down whole day and mind people business. I will not broadcast what I am cooking or using at my home, so when I tell you to do something, just do it. Do not let me tell you this a second time. Do you hear me, Suzie?’

‘Yes, Ma.’

Mumbling under her breath, Suzie started to go in search of the bag.

‘What did you say? Did you just choops me?’

‘No I did not. I said ok,’ Suzie replied.

‘Uh-huh, try not to stay too long. These clothes will not wash itself. It is almost ten o’clock we have much to do,’ her Ma retorted.

Her Ma could be so old fashioned.

 Suzie was thankful that Ma was doing the washing today. She had learned the hard way how to wash properly. From the age of six, whilst her mother was washing she would also place a small basin with her undergarments and socks for her and show her how to wash. After each item she would inspect. If one was found to still be soiled, she would make her go back and start all over. It was the same with washing dishes. By the time she was ten years old, she was doing well and the majority of the time when they washed, Ma hardly inspected the clothing.

Suzie loved her parents. They were good to her and her brother. Though she did not always get what she wanted, she was satisfied with what she had.

As Suzie skipped up the road to the shop, her thoughts were in disarray. Her parents thought she was blind to what was going on. She knew something was amiss with the two of them for some time now; but she did not know what. She had only observed that Pa stayed out for the whole night a few weeks ago and Ma was blue vex.

It looked like it had happened again, because Ma was not herself this morning. She was acting the same way she did the last time. At twelve years old Suzie knew more than she let on.