Off-White by Astrid Roemer

Author:Astrid Roemer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Two Lines Press

At Zorg en Hoop, Imker had already brought home everything Grandmother had asked for: coconut oil, soybean oil, canned sardines, preserved Dutch butter, aniseed, vanilla, Quaker oats, raisins, liquid honey, unsprouted potatoes, white eggs, brown beans, canned powdered milk, condensed milk, Demerara sugar, flour, baking powder, cleaning supplies, toothpaste, bath soap, sanitary napkins, powdered detergent for the washing machine, castor oil from the pharmacy, new mops. Lying next to the groceries was a giant bunch of long-stemmed sunflowers for a special purpose. She put down her heavy load in the kitchen under her grandmother’s watchful eye and said, hurriedly, “I’m going back out again to go see Laura.” And leaving Grandma behind in the kitchen with the food, she took the back door out, raced to the gate, and slid onto the minibus beside the other passengers. It was almost noon, maybe lunchtime at Kolera, but Laura’s birthday was coming up and she wanted to let her aunt know that the family was thinking of her. The presents could wait, but there should be flowers someplace where Laura could see them whenever she wanted until the big day. Persuading the department head at Kolera wouldn’t be easy, but Dr. Albert had promised to step in if her request was denied. The bus driver hit every pothole in the road on the way to her destination. “Kolera,” he shouted, with emotion in his voice. She hopped off the bus and grabbed the bunch of sunflowers. She’d already paid the fare, and the driver and several passengers gave her encouraging nods. She went to the gatekeeper. It was almost lunchtime, but she was expected. She had barely set foot inside the asylum walls when Laura approached her with quick steps. Her aunt laughed, eyes glowing. “Flowers for me!” There was no turning back now. Laura grabbed the heavy bouquet by the stems with a firm grip and pressed them to her upper body. “Sunflowers because the day after tomorrow’s my birthday,” and she lowered her face into the yellow of the large flowers. She herself was so surprised that she didn’t know what to do next. She’d never seen her mother’s sister so happy and excited before. “I’ll hold them close,” Laura said, “until they’re all wilted, Imker, because we’re not allowed to put flowers in vases with water, you see.” She took a moment to calm herself. “Yes, Laura, but still, maybe we can find someplace in here for your birthday flowers.” Laura nodded. “Sunflowers, and so many! Maybe a bucket of fresh water would be better than vases anyway, don’t you think?” Together they went to the visitors’ lounge, where there was a reception desk. The other patients had all gone to the dining hall. Laura had no appetite but wanted to walk around outside. “Did you show up out of the blue to bring her flowers?” The nurse chuckled. And Laura started muttering, “Where are we going to put them, these pretty sunflowers for my birthday?” The nurse called over another staff member, and they whispered to each other.

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