The Cost of Sugar(23)

But in the days that followed, the situation remained the same. Abraham was interested only in Rebecca. They talked about books and about the Torah. She showed him all her dolls and paintings. They walked together and sat now and then, sometimes on the bench at the waterside, sometimes on the front veranda. Occasionally they would take a trip on the river, and if Sarith was with them, Abraham appeared hardly to notice her. A cursory word exchanged with her and he was back with his full attention for Rebecca. And Sarith became increasingly annoyed. Was it for this she had come to Hébron? Did Abraham not see how beautiful she was? Did he not know that she was every man’s lust object, but that she would be his were he only to ask? She really would have to make him look at and listen to her.

One afternoon when they were sitting outside and Rebecca had gone indoors for a moment, Sarith remarked, “You are really paying her a lot of attention, aren’t you? Are you really serious about this?”

“Am I serious about it?” asked Abraham, “But of course I’m serious; I find her the most fascinating lady I’ve ever encountered.”

“But she’s deaf,” cried Sarith.

“So what? That makes her even more fascinating. I believe that the time I’ve been spending with her has been the happiest of my life.”

The reply could not be clearer, and Sarith reflected with not a little resentment that it was indeed for this that she had returned.





When, after ten days or so, Abraham returned to Paramaribo with the promise to return immediately after the Jewish Passover feast, Sarith wanted to travel with him to the town to stay again with Elza and Rutger. It would in any case be better than remaining here. But she didn’t know how to arrange this, especially with Passover on the horizon and the knowledge that Esther, Jacob and the three boys would be spending a week at Hébron. So she remained on the plantation, sometimes bored, sometimes less bored, for there was enough diversion. Many tent boats put in at the plantation to ‘bide the tide’ as they would say. For all river journeys, people took serious account of the tide. You left Paramaribo if at all possible with the flood tide. When the tide turned, you stopped at a plantation and waited for six hours. If night had fallen in the meantime, then you stayed overnight. Everyone took all this for granted, and at every plantation a welcome awaited all tent boat passengers. Plantation owners invited white guests to their table. Bedrooms and bathrooms were at their disposal. Were there insufficient beds, then the guest could always hang up his hammock, inside if he so chose, or in the daytime outside in the shadow of some large trees. Slaves could lodge with the plantation slaves.

During these weeks, Rebecca went around the house with a happy smile on her lips. She was now interested in things other than painting and making dolls, and sometimes she even went to look in the kitchen with Ashana and Kokkie.

Abraham indeed returned after the Passover feast, and what everyone had anticipated now happened: he asked Levi for Rebecca’s hand in marriage. Levi was all smiles. He was so happy for her. He had watched that silent child growing into a lonely young woman and he was delighted that she had still found her way in life despite her handicap. Abraham himself looked so rosy and cheerful, mother Rachel was pleased, and Sarith looked into space with a fixed gaze.

When Abraham travelled back after a few weeks, Ma Rachel, Rebecca and Sarith were also in the boat. The first two were going to Paramaribo to buy everything that would now be needed: cotton for sheets, pillow-slips, bath towels and so forth. That had to happen quickly now, for Abraham wanted to get married in three months’ time. Sarith went along determined to continue her stay with Rutger and Elza.





ELZA


It had been a happy time for Elza. She sang and hummed and was cheerful. She had never spoken with Rutger about what she had seen through the keyhole that evening. They had, however, talked frequently about Sarith. Early on, Rutger had said one evening, “I miss Sarith; she was always so lively.”

Elza had then asked softly, “Do you love her, Rutger?”

“Oh, yes, I think so, just a little bit, in the same way I love everyone, and she is beautiful, isn’t she?”

But for the rest they were very happy together as a couple. They talked about all kinds of things, went out frequently and often received visitors themselves. And then suddenly – it was already May – Aunt Rachel, Rebecca and Sarith appeared on the doorstep, the latter accompanied by Mini-mini and one of the De Ledesma’s errand boys with a wheelbarrow bearing Sarith’s luggage. With a sigh, Elza realized that all was not over, as she had hoped, but rather that things would just carry on as before. Aunt Rachel told the good news in great excitement: “Rebecca is engaged to the Jewish teacher Abraham Cohen.”