Chapter 9 Eight Hertens

Tell me, Mrs. Joseph, how long do you tell me your husband has been alone in England? Normally I would not answer such a direct and presumptuous question.Especially a woman like her: a woman who lives off her rent.But I'm leaving Jamaica.The next day is the boat.I thought I might as well show a little kindness.After all, this woman is very old, and she may still be alone. The night before I left, I had to stay in her rented room in order to be able to catch the boat early in the morning.She was nice to me and made me a meal of rice, beans, fried chicken, and green bananas.She brought the meal in front of me and joked: The Last Supper.She talked on and off throughout the meal, telling me the stories of each member of the family in detail: the good-natured husband who passed away, the self-absorbed sister, the lazy son who, by the end, chewed his food like a Her rude response to something sad.

After dinner, she helped me pack my luggage.Then she warned me about rationing in England and the cold, and disappeared, only to reappear with a war blanket she had woven.She explained: Mrs. Joseph, I don't have time to show this to soldiers who are freezing.I have been knitting this blanket since the first time the King declared to the Empire that we were at war.When it was finished, they were already dancing in the street, happy that the conflict was over.I was not knitting fast and didn't take that into account at the time.She shoves her war blanket into my hand.Woven in patches of bright uneven color, the blanket was large enough to cover an entire army.There was still room in my suitcase, so I gladly accepted.

So, when she asked a personal question, instead of evading her prying eyes, I replied: My husband has been alone in England for six months.Gilbert was very trustworthy.He's been writing regularly, and sometimes our letters overlap: he's asked me something and I've just written to tell him.But he will let me know his plan.The pace at which these plans took shape sent excitement and a thrill running through my veins.Before long everything was in order.Everything is ready. But now the woman opened her jaw in surprise and fell to her chest, and her breathing stopped for a long time. I couldn't help but feel afraid for her health.When she recovered almost, she told me: You must go to England immediately.Those English women would think of strange tricks against him.Young man alone in England.You know those white women who like to dye everyone brown.And these young men are impulsive.I know, I just have a son who will never let go of any impulse.

I just smiled at her faux pas and told her: Please don't worry about me.I'll try my luck. But she went on with curious anxiety: Mrs. Joseph, you must hurry over there before he forgets his wedding vows and God's Ten Commandments.