A Bit of Difference by Sefi Atta

Author:Sefi Atta [atta sefi]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-1-56656-892-0
Publisher: Interlink Publishing

The Business of Humanitarianism

London is unusually hot for this time of the year. Autumn should be sneaking in at the beginning of August, but there isn’t even a suggestion of wind outside and the air conditioner inside Kate’s office blows out nothing but dust.

“It’s global warming,” Graham says to Deola.

This is his explanation for any variation in the weather, even when the temperature drops. There have been longer summers in the past. He stands up and smacks his thigh. Their meeting is over and he is leaving the office for the day as he is flying to Kenya tonight.

“Be prepared for more heat,” Deola says.

“It’s winter there,” he says.

“All over?” she asks, wondering if Kenyans call this time of the year winter. “Where are you going, Nairobi?”

“Mombasa,” he says, widening his eyes.

He takes great pleasure in saying this. His reports on his international travels are a change from embellishing his morning commutes from Kingsbury. He slouches as he leaves the room.

“So,” Kate says, “we’re okay with Dr. Sokoya, then?”

Kate has recently had a haircut, which makes her look younger. She also has color in her cheeks now.

“Yes,” Deola says.

“But not with Rita Wachuku.”

Kate will attempt to pronounce “Nwachukwu”; Graham won’t, despite his familiarity with world cultures. He will struggle over a Russian name, though, and might even bite off his tongue to get a French name right.

Deola didn’t bring up Elizabeth Okeke’s allegations when he was around and she doesn’t intend to. Only with other Nigerians will she admit there is rampant corruption in Nigeria.

“They’re not organized at WIN,” she says. “Rita wants something and Elizabeth wants something else. Elizabeth was talking to me about a microfinance scheme. She didn’t want to involve Rita, but I promised her I would follow up with you.”

Kate sighs. “I got a phone call from Rita while you were there. She said she would like to meet me when she comes here. She’s quite keen. She seems really nice.”

“She is.”

Deola won’t admit that Nigerians sometimes trust foreigners more than they trust each other, but did Kate not hear her suggestion about the microfinance scheme?

Kate claps. “Ooh, and I heard from Anne last week. She says Dára made a huge blunder in an interview over there. He said he’s for polygamy, or he doesn’t think polygamy is wrong, or he would practice polygamy. Something like that.”

“He did?”

“Yes, and they’re up in arms about that in the Atlanta office.”

“Don’t they have polygamists in America?”

“I’m not sure. I think the polygamists are in states like Utah. I should ask Anne about that. She was pretty upset about the whole business. She doesn’t think Dára ought to be our spokesperson anymore.”

“Because of that?”

“Yes, that’s what I thought, but she’s a bit earnest, Anne. Americans can be earnest, and puritanical. I think he’s a little green, that’s all. He’ll get better at interviews.”

“He seemed okay when I saw him on telly the other night.”

Kate wrinkles her nose. “He’s green. You’ll know what I mean when you meet him.

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