The Bride Price: An African Romance (Chitundu Chronicles) Read online

  “Oh, yes. I saw she was expecting. Has the child come?”

  “Yes. Another boy.”

  “You have made an excellent choice of family. Family is really all that matters in the long view. Family and reputation. And tradition.” Valoo looked for a moment as though he wanted to add something to this list of instructions for life, but what it was eluded him. “Well, keep up the good work.”

  “Yes sir. Thank you again, Valoo. You are a generous man.”

  Later that evening, as Valoo handed his daughter the tickets and told her she would be going home to care for a dear relative who had fallen ill, he remembered what he had wanted to add to his advice. Values. Like Valoo. Values. That is what was needed for a successful life. He would have to try to remember to tell that to Joseph. Maybe at the wedding.

  CHAPTER 7

  JOSEPH’S HISTORY

  Joseph began his courting of Violet by going over his history. He knew Violet would want to know all about him, and have information to share with her parents when they asked. As he could not write it down, he rehearsed what he wanted to tell them about himself, and if need be, he would have the church secretary write it out for him. As he thought about the decisions he had made so far in his life, he was positive that the choice of Violet would be one of the most significant he would ever make.

  Joseph came from the region where the Kalahari begins. His people were hunters and gatherers and had been for eons before the other groups began to take over the land. He was tall and had a mind for figures. At an early age, he could take inventory of what was in the granary, the boma, the garden. While his brothers and sisters were busy herding goats and cattle, or wrestling in the sand, Joseph lined up sticks to keep track of his calculations. It wasn’t long before one of the Indian merchants discovered his gifts and asked him to come and work in his mercantile warehouse. Joseph often took yard goods or a tool for his pay, and then would trade or give them to local people in need. By the time he was a teenager, the merchant offered him the position of store manager, encouraging him to travel with him when he made his purchasing trips.

  Joseph loved to travel and while he did not attend formal school, he knew how to trace his voyages on a map and to record what he had seen by making a symbol in the margins. He also learned the price of goods. He probably would have continued to work in the large warehouse store if he had not overheard a conversation between Valoo and his wife discussing the marriage of their daughter.

  “We are going to have to get the money together and send Pearl back to India to provide a suitable husband. I have asked my uncle to line up a matchmaker to work on behalf of our family. I know it is expensive to put together a dowry, and she is young, but we don’t want her to fall for some kaffir that she comes across in the marketplace” Valoo told his wife. The Valoos thought they were alone for the evening as he and his wife counted out the cash from the cashbox at the back of the store. Joseph was tidying the dry goods shelves and could hear every word.

  “Husband, I have had the same worry. I see her go to help do inventory and I am afraid the girl is not thinking about how many yards of cloth we have. There is no one here of our social status or class. We may have difficulty in finding someone willing to take her if we wait too long. She is already fifteen. I was thirteen when we were betrothed.”

  “I will arrange to get her a ticket for next week. We will wire my uncle and have him look after her until a match is made. You tell her she is going to visit a sick relative to give comfort. I can forward him the dowry to seal the arrangement. He knows what we want for our family in a mate.”

  The gist of the conversation was that they needed to get her back to their homeland so that she would marry a proper husband, and not find herself tying up with a kaffir. Joseph had heard this derogative before, but he had never applied it to himself. Valoo and his wife had shared meals with Joseph and he had spent much time with Valoo on road trips and in guest houses along their travels, He never thought himself less than this man, except in age, wealth and experience. Now, he realized he needed to go out on his own and set up his own business. He did not share this information with Valoo, but was even more polite and deferential to the older man than he had been before.

  Joseph volunteered for more tasks and sought advice as to how things were done. When Valoo asked Joseph about his plans for future, Joseph would tell him his goal was to learn everything about the business, for Valoo was so knowledgeable. In this way, Joseph learned the skills from a man who had started out with nothing and made a fortune among the middle class Africans in the community of Blancville. Valoo was respected by members of the community and the governing leaders, giving money conspicuously to well-known causes, such as the resettlement benevolence and the hospital guild. Privately, Joseph knew what Valoo really thought of the people and their potential. Joseph resolved that he would be a person with integrity in his business dealings, and his home life. Joseph joined the Presbyterian Church and began to give some thought to his social connections, as well as the idea of meeting a woman of virtue to help him succeed in his goals of being an independent business owner.

  CHAPTER 8

  JOSEPH VISITS CHITUNDUS

  It was the following Monday when Joseph decided to make a call on the Chitundus, parents of Violet, his impala woman. He left them a note at the church on Sunday, penned by the church secretary who had also helped him write out his history, and they agreed to meet with him on Wednesday following market.

  Joseph ironed his shirt twice to make sure he would make a good impression. He spritzed his jacket with aftershave, checked his shoes to make sure they were polished, and checked his pants for lint. Then he made his way to their home on the outskirts of Blancville. He took the bus so he would be fresh on arrival, not realizing their driveway was three hundred feet in length, and a dusty track at that. On the way, he checked himself a couple of times to make sure he was not sweating and that his hair was not dusty like the powdered beignets at the bakery. He carried with him a small set of photos of his family. There were also a few photos of the Brahmin cow at Myrna’s wedding. Another was a sunrise over the Zambezi with the double rainbow and the cascading water between two nations. He didn’t know what he was going to say, but put it all in the hands of fate, and Violet. If she had any interest in him, she would have said something to the parents.

  When he arrived, Bishop Chitundu had gone out for an emergency in the village. He had been called to mediate between the parties. Mrs. Chitundu apologized and invited Joseph in. He was glad to talk to her alone.

  “Mrs. Chitundu, I am Joseph Leibitsang. I am wanting to be the husband of Violet and the father to her children. I have seen your family, and I want to be a part of it. I work in provisions, that is, I provide. Here are some pictures of my family. Last week, I attended the wedding of your oldest daughter. I had to come because I am in love with your daughter Violet and I wanted to see you all.”

  Beatrice looked Joseph in the face. “Please, call me Beatrice. As you can see, we are a large family, and growing larger. I am missing my married daughter very much. I cannot have another leave me so soon.”

  Joseph glanced shyly at Beatrice. “I am a man who values family. I have several brothers and sisters. I will not take your daughter away. She will be here to assist you whenever you need. Here is the design for the house I will build for my wife. She will have a room for her parents and family to come and stay. I will build it close to you so you can walk between houses. Family should stay close. I also expect to provide for my extended family as we will always have supplies and provisions for them. I keep a close eye on the markets and buy before there is famine. My plan is to open my own warehouses once I have a partner to share with me. I want that partner to be your Violet.” Joseph let out his breath after this long and practiced appeal. Beatrice handed him a cup of tea with a smile. He drank it and thanked her for her hospitality.

  “I will put in a word for you with Mr. Chitundu, but only after I have a chance to
talk with Violet. Thank you for coming, Joseph Leibitsang”

  Joseph had made his case, and Beatrice had agreed that she would put in a word with Mr. Chitundu. As he left, he recalled the fragrance of mangos and the immaculate polish on the traditional floors, the vase of lilies on the table, and the colorful yellow antimacassars on the arms of the chair. The clock on the wall said 11:00 when he arrived, and 11:00 when he left. Somehow, he liked the lack of punctuality in the household, where natural rhythms took precedence. Most of all, he appreciated that Dodge was nowhere in sight.

  As he walked back down the long, dusty driveway, Joseph thought over the conversation. The ground had been laid for staging an understanding. There could be no formal engagement until the father determined that the girl would be adequately supported, that a bride price was negotiated, and that nothing was rushed.

  Beatrice had been resigned to her daughter Myrna leaving the area because she had already been away at boarding school, and her absence had become a reality. The possibility that Myrna was pregnant and that the father of the child had paid a hefty bride price made acceptance of Festal more palatable, also he was of their tribe and knew the customs. They would always be welcome in his home, even if he lacked some of the social polish of an educated man. For Violet, a child who had always been close to her mother, the biggest argument in favor of this young man Joseph was that he was direct. He intended to keep close ties with the family and not live far from them. Violet would be cared for, he had shown the mother his plans for a house with room for her mother and father to come and stay with them whenever they wished. He wanted a family, He had made a success of his business and was just waiting for a partner in order to become an independent merchant.

  He had served his apprenticeship and could aid the family with the products he had access to. He did not mind having a wife that had little formal schooling. He said he recognized in their home that she had been trained in what mattered. Joseph was in good health, he was not a womanizer, and he wanted children. He said he was not the owner of the store where he worked, but he was the owner of his future, and he wanted to marry for affection and stability in the family.

  Beatrice Chitundu had five sons and two daughters. She wanted husbands who would support their children and keep the family ties. The case put forward by Joseph met with her approval. Now, she would hear what her daughter Violet thought, before presenting the situation to her husband. She knew not to ask her husband a question unless she had the answer. And for her, the answer, at this point, was a qualified “Yes.”

  CHAPTER 9

  WELLINGTON TAYLOR VISITS CHITUNDUS

  Beatrice and Violet, sat on the verandah watching the afternoon sun dry up the rain. They discussed the suitor Joseph and his strong points, the conversations he had had with Violet, and the love Violet felt towards him. They were waiting for her father to return home, when a young man stepped into view. He was slim and athletic, with a tweed hat on his blond, wind-tossed hair. He introduced himself.

  “Hello and good afternoon. I am Wellington Taylor, Myrna’s tutor.”

  “Myrna is no longer living here.” Violet immediately translated for her mother who did not speak English.

  “That is what I heard. We miss her at the school. She is an excellent student,” he said, blocking his eyes from the sun.

  “Myrna is no longer in the area,” Violet said.

  “Can you tell me where she is? I have some things that belong to her.”

  “It is better if you just forget about Myrna.”

  “Can you give me her address so I can at least congratulate her?”

  “She will not want to hear from you. Uncle Dodge said he had taken care of her things.”

  “Well, he hasn’t. She has some personal effects that I am going to keep until you give me her address.”

  “We are not giving you her address. She is gone. She doesn’t need to be reminded of what she has lost.”

  Violet knew she was being loose with her translations, as her mother kept asking what the man wanted, becoming upset, and wondering what the teacher was doing here. Violet felt a little guilty. After all, she would be able to marry Joseph because of the bride price Festal had paid, and she didn’t want to risk any upset of this arrangement.

  Beatrice did not want Myrna to be upset either. It was better this way. Just let him leave and Myrna go on with her life in the cattle station. If he was interested in Myrna, he should have said so before Festal got her. The family was better off now. Stephen and Esther were together, Thomas was back in school, and Violet would soon have the husband she wanted. They had made the right choice for their family.

  Wellington saw he was getting nowhere with the sister and that the mother could not understand what he was after. In frustration, he took the books and the diary he had brought and returned them to his office.

  When he left the school the following year, the diary and the essays Myrna had written were packed up with his things. It would be a few years before he came across them and read the young girl’s confusion of events that Christmas break. She had no idea that her uncle might be scheming to force her to drop out of school and marry an older man she did not know or want. Wellington Taylor never forgot Myrna’s face or her sense of responsibility. He was frustrated at not being able to communicate with her. The smugness of her sister and mother refusing to answer his questions, or allow him to have Myrna’s address was upsetting. The fact that Myrna would never know how much he admired and respected her, was Wellington’s deepest regret.

  CHAPTER 10

  BEATRICE TELLS BISHOP ABOUT JOSEPH

  Bishop listened as his wife described the young man from church who was interested in Violet. Bishop had made it past the crisis in his business, and really was not eager to have this last daughter leave the household.

  “Bishop, I talked with the young man we met in church and at the wedding of Myrna. He is Joseph Leibitsang and he runs the mercantile and provisions store here in town.”

  “I was sorry after Myrna married. I was boxed in by the need to get a bride price for Stephen. I don’t want another daughter leaving the house so soon. We have Stephen married, and Myrna. Why can’t this wait?” The torment was seen in the lines around his mouth and eyes.

  “Bishop, you are ahead of me already. I just wanted to let you know that if we decide to let Violet marry this young man, they will be living within walking distance of us. He assures me that she can be here whenever we need or want her to come. He showed me the house plans he has had drawn up, and they include a guest room for us to stay anytime we want. He is only waiting for us to give our blessings to an engagement.”

  “What about the family? Did he say anything about his people?”

  “He said he wants to be a part of our family. He has several brothers and sisters and values family. He had pictures and ideas that were respectful of our wishes and of Violet. He knows others will have more to offer in the way of money or position, but he offers us a future of providing for us and his family, as they arrive. He wants children, and most of all, he wants his wife to be a partner with him as he builds his business.”

  Bishop looked at the pictures that Joseph had left. He liked that the man traveled and saw the beauty in what was around him, not just the money to be made. It was very thoughtful to have taken pictures at Myrna’s wedding. Bishop also liked the idea of planning ahead with the house and living close by. He wasn’t ruling this young man out.

  Beatrice and Violet prepared dinner and no more was said of Joseph as they listened to news about the father’s day, and how he had worked out a settlement for the townspeople whose problem he had been called upon to mediate. It was a domestic problem. One of the relatives was accused of taking the house away from the widowed sister. After some discussion, it was decided that she could live in the storage hut of another brother, as she had only one child, and the older brother was within his rights to take the property when his sibling passed. No signature of the wife was on the title
, and she had no means of paying rent. She had lived in the house for ten years, but her husband was killed in an accident, and no provisions had been made for the event of his death.

  “This sounds like a hard case. Did you have difficulty deciding what should be done?”

  “The woman was not prepared to leave her house. She thought she owned it with her husband because they had worked together to pay for it. But she was not on the title and the brothers were very sharp. They had lawyers and were even willing to make it difficult on her reputation if she decided to go to court. She was lucky to have one of the brothers give her space to live. He could take her as his wife, but I don’t think he wanted her. She is not so young.”

  “It is always the money that decides these issues. It is good you were there to sort it out. Am I on the title of our house?”

  “No. We have no paperwork as we built the house on tribal land given to us by the chief. If we wanted, we should have someone write down what to have happen if I die. I don’t think my brothers would make you leave, but you are right to think on these things before it happens.” No more was said about ownership of houses, or people passing.

  After his wife had gone to lie down and rest, Violet sat alone with her father on the verandah in the dark. “Father, I have made it clear to Joseph that he must stay close to you both if he is to consider me for his wife. He said his own father was very important to him, and he misses him every day. He was killed working as a U.N. Peacekeeper in Zaire. Joseph wants to earn your respect.”

  “He seems like a thoughtful young man. I will give it my consideration. Your mother was very impressed by his presentation of his prospects.”

  “Joseph really liked her as well. He was so pleased she let him hold the baby.”