Natives by Inongo vi Makomè

Author:Inongo vi Makomè
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781939419941
Publisher: Deep Vellum Publishing
Published: 2015-11-19T00:00:00+00:00

They had been at their experiment for two months, and everything was going marvelously. Bambara Keita had moved to another neighborhood not far from where he had been living before. He shared a place with some friends. Little by little his situation was becoming routine. The two women had managed to keep their family members, friends, and acquaintances—all of society, really—from learning about their activity. They had let people know that they were sharing a Black man who did odd jobs, although they never told anyone exactly what those jobs were. They didn’t need to explain to many people. Bambara Keita was discretion personified, and they and were pleased.

One Saturday, when the African was at Montse’s place, the two gossipy aunts who lived on the floor above hers paid her a visit. The doorman, who was very friendly to the aunts, let out that their niece had hired a Black man, so they thought they would pay her a surprise visit. Fortunately, Montse and her African were awake and dressed.

“So Montse, I hear you have a new employee,” commented Aunt Inés when her niece opened the door.

“Yes, auntie. I thought I told you,” she lied.

“No, I don’t remember.”

“Well, actually he doesn’t come around every day. I share him with Roser to do some odd jobs.”

“That’s very good, dear; the locals are becoming more unreliable every day. They don’t want to work, and then they complain that immigrants come here to take their jobs.” Aunt Marta had made that comment.

Bambara Keita, having complied with the rules Montse and Roser had made for him, immediately went to the kitchen when he heard voices. The two older women sat down to chat.

“So where is he?” asked Aunt Inés.

“He’s doing something for me in the kitchen. But I’ll tell him to come here so you can meet him. That way if you see him around here you’ll know who he is.” Montse moved toward the kitchen. “Bambara Keita, can you come here for a moment?”

The African appeared. He had a screwdriver in his hand.

“This is my worker,” introduced Montse. “Well, he’s not exactly permanent. We’ve hired him to do a few things for us, like I told you.”

The Black man greeted them with humility. Deception and hypocrisy were part of the oral contract he’d agreed to.

“You can go back to what you were doing, Bambara Keita,” she ordered.

He obeyed and disappeared into the kitchen.

“He’s very handsome,” Aunt Marta said mischievously.

“And very clean,” added Inés.

“Aunties, please, he’s just a worker. We’re just helping him out by giving him a little work. We’re just being charitable.”

“Sure, but that doesn’t mean we can’t say he’s handsome. Ay, when I was young!” Aunt Marta said mischievously.

“Auntie, don’t talk that way about a youngster. He’s a kid—didn’t you see his face?” Montse was feigning indignation.

“That’s exactly what I mean. I said ‘when I was young.’”

“He looks like Salvador,” recalled Aunt Inés.

“Yes, he looks strong, although Salvador was a little bigger. But what a man!”

Montse knew they were talking about someone who worked for them in Cuba, but she feigned ignorance.

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