No, she would take Nicolette. Nicolette was the cook’s daughter, a girl of sixteen. Most certainly not a sweet and shy type like Mini-mini, but rather a small, slender fighting hen who always did most of the talking in the slaves’ quarters and had her fists ready, too, if need be. You could always hear her talking and laughing above all the others. Mini-mini would have to teach Nicolette everything quickly: how to dress her mistress, make up her hair, and so forth.
Sarith left on the tent boat, accompanied by Benny, who would have to deliver her safely in the town, and an excited Nicolette, who was happy that she was going at long last to the town that she’d heard so much about and would see all the marvellous things there.
To Sarith’s surprise, Mini-mini had said that she had no problem at all with staying at Klein Paradijs. She had even claimed that she found the plantation better than the town. Sarith did not know that Mini-mini had no interest in male company after being let down by Hendrik, and in the town there were so many men, white and coloured, who were interested in her. When she walked along the street on some errand or other for her misi, she had to bear the brunt of so many comments, and there were always the types who found it necessary to walk along next to her.
Sarith also saw that Julius was very pleased because Mini-mini cared for the child so well. Now, as far as Sarith was concerned, anything and everything was all right as long as she didn’t have to stay at Klein Paradijs all the time.
And so Sarith was frequently in town. Sometimes she stayed for a whole three months on end because there were so many feasts and parties to attend and she couldn’t really refuse, now could she. Now and then Julius would come to the town and could get her to return with him to the plantation. But she never stayed more than a few restless weeks. When in September 1772 the festivities took place around the fall of Buku, Sarith was in town, and when the first warship moored in February 1773 she was there, too. She soon met various lieutenants and officers at feasts and parties.
In December 1773 she was yet again in Paramaribo. After the Feast of Tabernacles at Joden-Savanna she had travelled back to Klein Paradijs with Julius to celebrate Jethro’s third birthday at the beginning of December. Her sister Esther had come for a few days for the birthday, accompanied by all five of her sons and Rebecca with her daughter and tiny son, and yet another group of ladies and gentlemen, for Sarith wanted to make a great feast of her son’s birthday. And that it was, too! All kinds of games were played with the children, lots of sweets, and there was much eating and drinking. Mini-mini, Kwasiba and all the other domestic slaves had their hands full. Fortunately, all the families and ladies had brought their own slaves with them. A week after the festivities everyone had departed, and Sarith, too, had left, in Esther’s tent boat, because after all there were always so many parties around this time, and Esther and Jacob traditionally held a really grand ball at New Year.
It was at this ball that she first saw Lieutenant Reindert Andersma. He was new in the country, having arrived a few weeks previously. To his astonishment he was very quickly absorbed into a circle of people in which feast after feast was given. Everything in this land seemed so strange. All that bother with slaves everywhere around you. With a glass in his hand he stood by the window of the large front hall of the mansion in the Saramaccastraat. He had come to stand by the window especially because he simply found it too warm under the large crystal chandelier. He was looking out at the dark street and suddenly heard a merry voice next to him asking whether there were nicer things to see on the street than indoors. Reindert turned and found himself gazing into the laughing face of an exceptionally beautiful young woman.
Sarith looked at the blond man with sky-blue eyes. She considered him an extremely handsome figure. She had noticed him as soon as he came in, a tall blond man with an oh so fine moustache. A conversation ensued. He knew that she was one of the hostess’ sisters. Upon arrival, the colleague with whom he had come had introduced him and had whispered in his ear, “A hot little filly,” and so indeed she appeared. She wanted to know everything about him, and told him about herself. She was Mrs Robles de Medina, but suggested immediately that they should use an informal mode of address. Sarith, she was called. Well, he was Rein to his friends, was only just in the colony, and found this land quite an experience, very different from what he had imagined, and especially – hot.
All the time, Sarith’s precocious laugh rang out. She danced a lot and enjoyed herself immensely. After that Sarith saw a lot of Reindert. Every time she was at a party, Lieutenant Andersma was there, too. When he missed her on one occasion and then saw her again, she explained that she had been at her plantation.