One Face in a Million Book 1: Mu Shangaaniana. William Bond
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that they had a Christmas tree, and he heard that they exchanged gifts. He also knew that Mamana and Mu Shangaaniana liked to have a special meal on the day when they celebrated the birth of the Christ child.
For lunch, Mother fried up some grits and eggs, and because it was Christmas, she splurged by frying some bacon. Christine had sat down at the piano to play Christmas carols, and the aroma of the bacon frying in the kitchen promised that lunch would be good.
Although it came a bit later than usual, lunch was good, and they finished the meal with some homemade fruitcake and a second cup of tea.
After completing lunch, they cleared the table and washed the dishes. When their chores were done, they returned to the dining room.
“Well, I see there are some presents under the tree. Do you think we should open them?” Christine said, with a twinkle in her eye.
“I think we should,” Mother agreed. “After all, it’s Christmas!”
As they moved closer to the tree, Christine could see that there were only seven wrapped gifts. How much more exciting this occasion might have been if there had been more presents and theirs had been a larger family, but this was how it was. Despite the limited number of packages, there were sure to be surprises.
Christine felt excited as she opened her first present. She soon discovered that it was a handmade wooden box that had been made by some Shangaan craftsman. Inside, she found a note in which Mother had said that she would make a fruitcake which she could take when she returned to school. In a second package, she found a decorative tin box that contained some spending money. A third package contained new undergarments which were practical—if not exciting—and in a fourth package, she found a beautiful red sweater that her mother had knitted. Christine was happy with her gifts, and she gave her mother a big hug.
Christine had saved some money, and she purchased her mother’s gifts in LM. She watched excitedly as Mother opened the first gift which was a beautiful Portuguese teapot. This was clearly received with delight as was a lovely, hand-crocheted tablecloth and a tin container which included various kinds of tea. All the gifts had been appreciated, and to show their real gratitude, the two exchanged a warm embrace.
They were folding up the wrapping paper for possible future use when a knock was heard at the back door. Most visitors would have knocked at the front door, so Mother presumed that it was Joao arriving to begin preparing the evening meal. As she entered the kitchen, she could see through the screen door that it was Joao, and she could see that he was beaming.
“Greetings, Mamana. I bring you something for Christmas!” he said, as the door was opened for him and he entered the kitchen with his hands full. “I hunt and kill yesterday, so I bring you fresh meat that I roast for you today. I think you call this venison.”
Mamana Cartwright seemed surprised, and she expressed her delight.
“You do so much for me and my family,” he said. “I want to do this for you.”
This was clearly a meaningful gift, and the one he called Mamana thanked him graciously.
“Should take two—maybe three—hours to make dinner. Is good?” he asked. “That would be fine,” Mother replied. “We can be ready whenever you call us to dinner, and by the way, would it be all right if I invite someone to dinner? It would be just one extra person.”
“Of course, Mamana.” He smiled. “I will prepare plenty to eat.”
During the afternoon, Clara went over to wish Jessica Ferguson a merry Christmas. At one point, she said, “If you don’t have other plans, would you like to join us for dinner this evening?”
“My heavens, yes!” replied Ms. Ferguson. “That would be splendid!”
A time was set for her arrival, and then, Clara went home to tell Joao that there would be three for dinner. She then spoke with Christine and found out that it would be fine to use her new tablecloth and teapot that evening. She placed her new embroidered cloth on the table and proceeded to set the table for three. For a centerpiece, she put her nicest African violet between two candlesticks bearing new white candles.
At the appointed time, Ms. Ferguson arrived. She found the snowy environment fascinating, and she wanted to know how things were going for Christine at school. Christine acknowledged that things were fine, but she said nothing about a boyfriend or the problems that she’d had with Sara and some of her friends.
At one point, she said, “I guess you’ll soon be off to college, dear. Do you know where you plan go?”
“We really don’t know,” Christine replied. “Probably somewhere in the United States. Perhaps in Michigan. We have relatives there, you know.”
They visited until Joao announced that dinner could be served. They then seated themselves at the candlelit table, and Clara offered grace. Moments later, a platter containing the roast venison arrived at the table, and then, Joao returned with other things which included cooked rice, gravy, green beans, sliced homemade bread, and some mixed fruit which was a tin item that Mother had kept on hand in a cupboard.
The meal was delicious, and conversation went easily. At one point, Ms. Ferguson remarked about the lovely embroidered tablecloth, and Clara acknowledged that it had been a Christmas present, that day, from Christine. When they had finished eating, Joao cleared away the dishes and brought in other plates bearing a slice of fruitcake. Following directions that Mamana had given him earlier, the hot water for their tea arrived in Clara’s new teapot along with a container bearing various kinds of bagged tea.
Following the meal, Joao cleaned up in the kitchen, and then, he came into the dining area and spoke.
“Merry Christmas, everybody,” he said. “I be going home now.”
Clara thanked him for the lovely meal as did the others, and then, he was on his way.
For an hour or so, the three played dominoes, and then, Ms. Ferguson decided that she should make her departure. After expressing her appreciation for the lovely evening, she bade them goodbye and headed off to her home.
“I guess I didn’t tell you that I have some news,” said Mother. “What’s that?” asked Christine.
“Well, it is this. The Rankins have been called to a new appointment in Southern Rhodesia, and your friend Sara will be going to school in Salisbury! What do you think of that?”
Christine was stunned. This would have been bad news for her, in earlier years, but this meant that Sara would no longer be bad-mouthing her at school. Maybe things would now be better at school.
“How long have you known about this?” asked Christine.
“I’ve known for weeks,” she replied, “but I saved it ’til now because Christmas is a time for surprises!”
“It has been a day full of surprises.” Christine smiled. “I wonder what the year 1930 will hold for us?”
“Who can say?” Mother sighed. “I only know that because of the Rankins’ move, I will not be able to go on furlough next year, so therefore I won’t be able to take you to college in America—or anywhere else.”
Chapter 3
Before the Rankins departed from Tavani, Christine’s relationship with Sara improved. Sara came over on more than one occasion to give Christine books, games, and jigsaw puzzles that she didn’t want to take to her new home in Southern Rhodesia. These things were given in a kindly manner and were accepted with appreciation. Now that she was leaving, Christine saw no point in carrying a grudge against Sara for the unkind things that she had said and done. It seemed that the time had come to forgive and forget. By the time the Rankins were ready to leave Tavani in late January, old hurts had been forgotten, and the relationship between the two teenagers was nearly as good as it had been after the Rankins first arrived.
Shortly before the Rankins left Tavani, a farewell gathering was held for them at the church. Sara and