MULATTO (Iyila) (Editing)

chapter eighteen ~ Dedicated to cancer patients.

Collete stood at a corner as she watched Susan order the slaves from one place to another. Wearing a dull expression she watched Susan instruct the slaves on where and how to place the furniture and quickly re-instructing them again of another idea. It was evident that Susan could not get a perfect setting for Gabriel's room because in just two days the slaves had changed the entire setting to another. At first she had asked the slaves to place his bed close to the window with a flower vase, but Collete had quickly gone against it - "For christsakes mother he is not a child, and a flower vase, goodness he is a man!" - she had said but Susan had countered the idea before agreeing. Collete gave up trying to contribute to the arrangement, she decided to say nothing except if Susan asked for her opinion which never happened. "Get me a chair," Collete said to one of the slaves, loud enough for Susan to hear so that she would notice her exhaustion from listening to orders and staring at nothing, but Susan did not say a thing but continued to bite her finger.

Collete sat down and watched Susan pacing about. She would have preferred reading a book, or gossiping with a friend or better, have a nap. She noticed the excitment Susan's voice bore whenever she had an idea. Collete never knew Susan could be cheerful or spare a laugh because she only did when necessary. Yet Gabriel's coming had completely changed her. As if a sudden burden had been lifted off her shoulders, and it made her happy too. She noticed that her father was not so grumpy at dinner. They did not speak so much yet, the heavy tension was no longer there. The person that surprised her the most was Anne-Maria. She visited often and usually helped in the preparation. Collete disliked the way she easily spoke with Susan. The informality they had and her easy and light manner to crack jokes and produce an unoriginal laugh and, most of all, her skill at knitting concrete lies. She wondered why no one was willing to see that Anne-Maria was not original; or perhaps they knew but decided to play ignorance. Collete wondered if none of these acts bothered Anne, being untrue. And once she asked Anne but she her answer was that - it was for society's sake - Collete agreed and decided not to ask again. After all, society was stupid and preferred people like Anne. Sighing, she rested her back on the chair and adjusted her gown. She angrily stared at the gown, she hated it. It was nothing like Anne's and it greatly pained her that Susan would not let her wear anything close Anne's. She believed it was the reason she could not get a suitor except aged men. The few younger suitors were already widowers, searching for a mother figure for their children. She did not want to be a mother to any sassy child or been referred to as step-mother. What she wanted was that which Anne had, a man like her brother - Gabriel - young, handsome, wealthy, intelligent and commanding. She wanted a man like Gabriel whose presence alone could demand respect, fear and obedience. He rarely stayed at home though, especially in her years of growing into a woman. But she remembered that he used to sit in the study with their father and his companions. She remembered eavesdropping from her room and usually smiled in admiration whenever she heared his voice counter Mr.Walter's, one of their father's friend, whom she never liked for no actual reason. Most times she did not care if Mr. Walter was correct or not. She only cared that his ego had been mashed and it made her heart swell with admiration. She loved their arguements about politics, science, war, Greek mythology, witchcraft, sorcery and Gabriel's constant contribution. Those where the times that she heard her father laugh whole heartedly and lift his chin in clear pride. Those were the times when they could afford to joke at dinner. Gabriel was their hero, especially hers. She remembered him beating any boy who dared her, she remembered him telling her stories about kings, queens and princesses before tucking her in, until everything got bad. If only she knew the cause, which no one was willingly to disclose. She resolved to make him tell one way or the other. But what troubled this decision was Anne-Maria. She was unsure if he could spare her some time since he had already in his letter, declared his unquenchable urge to see and spend his evenings with her. Anne had shared the same enthusiasm. She sighed again, she saw that Susan was no longer pacing again but sitting on the bed, a tired expression on her face.

"Mother you need to rest, you have busied yourself since this morning," Collete said. Susan shook her head, "I cannot afford to rest, I want to be sure that everything is intact before he arrives. I do not want anything lacking. I want him to feel welcomed." Susan said and stood up. "He has been away for too long and I do not want the house to be the same when he arrives?" she frustratedly added, but Collete said nothing. Her mother said he has been gone for too long as if she was completely ignorant of that fact. "Perhaps I should seek help from Mrs. Walter, she indeed has a good sense with these things," Susan sheepishly said and chuckled. Collete knew that the smile and chuckle were all a show. She knew that Susan felt embarrased because she could not create a perfect setting for her son's room who she so badly wanted to impress. Worst of all, to ask help from a woman who had already been labelled by the church as prideful and a braggard. She knew Susan did not like the English woman, but only associated with her out of the freindship their husbands had. She usually saw the contained anger on Susan's face whenever they discussed. Collete most times giggled at her mother's reddened ear, which was due to the contained hate, but she knew her mother would never snap. She did not know anyone who could be as patient as her mother. Sometimes she wondered if it was because she used to be the daughter of wretched farmer. Sometimes she imagined her mother being a girl of sixteen or fixteen, toiling in the hot sun, sweating and smelling. Poorly dressed and appearing shabby with a drunk father and a senseless brother sitting close to her at dinner and eating porridge like a slave. She was grateful her mother had agreed to marry her father, or else she could have ended up with another drunk as her father and a dozen children; dirty and uneducated running around and screaming for nothing. She stared at her Susan, she was too beautiful and graceful for such life.

Ms. Walter's setting was synonymous to astonishing, perfection and gracefulness. The whole room was nicely arranged and was an epitome of a wealthy bachelors bedroom. The decoration was bold. The space, in fact everything was exactly as Susan had envisaged, only that Mrs. Walter had actualized it. When Mrs. Walter had demanded Susan and Collete leave, they were both skeptical, Susan mostly. She had not wanted to leave because she feared that the Walter-lady might make it a disaster, but standing by the door and seeing how the abandoned shabby room had been transformed into a classic room, Susan could not help but open her mouth in shock.

"This is lovely, it__ it is per_fect," Susan whispered as she walked into the room. "Outstanding!" Collete exclaimed following Susan. "I am glad that you like it," Mrs. Walter chuckled. "Definitely," Susan and Collete said in unison and they both laughed. Susan smiled as she scanned the room, piece by piece. "Wherever on earth did you generate this awesome idea? It is lovely, you surely cannot fathom how hard and long I have tried to do something like this," Susan announced.

"What can I say?"

"Thank you," Susan thanked her and walked over to Mrs Walter, the woman smiled. Susan turned again to see the room, everything was perfect and she was sure that Gabriel would appreciate it. She sighed, she could not wait see him.

Authors Note: Hi everyone. I am very grateful for all the reads, votes and comments this book has received so far. I am tremoundously thankful. However, I want to use this medium to appeal to everyone out there who knows a Cancer patient or is related to one. I was fortunate to come across one and it was sadly intriguing, the least we can do is pray for them, encourage them, and show them love, no discrimination.