To Meet Again by Kadyan

Author:Kadyan [Kaydan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2023-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

25 December 1943

It was Christmas Day, our second in captivity. The children were excited with all the activity. Like last year, everyone had combined their resources to prepare a special day. We had made presents for our loved ones and those who had no one. While the usual meal of white rice was ready, we all started to pile up the presents on the wobbling table near the entrance. I could see an unusual activity at the back of the kitchen. The big cooking pots were hanging over the wood fire. For almost two years we had eaten the same thing over and over. For several weeks, Joan had enrolled us to dig for worms and other insects to add to the daily meal. I found it disgusting to catch them and include them in our food, but they provided protein and vitamins. Anyway, I preferred this task a hundred times over to using coconut shells to transfer the excrement from the trenches into buckets, trying to reduce the risk of flies and disease.

“You look like you could use some company.”

The soft, velvety voice with an Australian accent rolled in my ear. I would never tire of hearing it, even if I lived a hundred years.

“Yes. I was thinking about worms and excrement,” I replied.

Joan laughed out loud, drawing all eyes in our direction. I smiled fondly. “Do you think the Japs will give us a good Christmas pudding this year?”

“In your wildest dreams, dear,” Ruth replied in Joan’s place, her empty wooden plate dangling from her fingertips.

Many women were arriving, the queue was forming, but it seemed the kitchen wasn’t ready.

“What are we waiting for?” asked Wilma, the head nurse, just behind us.

“I think it’s coming.” Norah’s voice sounded cheerful, much more cheerful than usual. Did she know something we didn’t?

The cooks entered from behind and took their places by the first pot, but none of them started to serve. They waited without flinching, hands behind their backs, smiles on their faces. Everyone’s impatience was growing. Suddenly, two women arrived, carrying a large object between them. When I recognised what it was, my mouth fell open, and I let out a short moan. The children shouted with joy. Bananas, a bunch of bananas! My mouth watered. I could already taste them. How did they do it?

“I’m glad our little surprise is so well received.” Frances’s voice overshadowed the noise, and soon everyone was listening. “Many thanks to Gretchen, our Dutch friend, who sold some of her belongings and decided to prepare an unforgettable Christmas meal for us. Each of us won’t have a whole banana, of course, but we will all have a piece.”

The applause rang out with “Long live Gretchen!”

As soon as I was served, I went out with Joan and sat on the edge of the terrace. I was still staring at the piece of banana on my plate next to my spoonful of rice. Joan pulled something from her pocket and topped my rice with it.

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