“You don’t worry about being apart? I mean...”
“Other women?” Amy laughed and winked at Roy. “I tell you honestly, I don’t care about that.” She swung her fleshy
arm over Roy’s shoulder. “As long as he treats me well, he can do what he likes. Right, baby?”
Roy maintained a poker face, as if the conversation didn’t concern him. Both he and Amy had the sheen of too many
beers, and I saw Jane sneak an anxious look at Kezia. I decided to change the subject, and asked Zeituni if she’d been
to Garden Square before.
“Me?” Zeituni raised her eyebrows at my impertinence. “Let me tell you, Barry-if there is dancing somewhere, then I
have been to that place. These people here will tell you that I am the champion dancer. What do you say, Auma?”
“Zeituni’s the best.”
Zeituni tilted her head proudly. “You see? Really, Barry, your auntie can dance! And you want to know who was
always my best partner? Your father! That guy, he really loved to dance. We entered many contests together when we
were young. In fact, I’ll tell you this story about his dancing. It was when he had come home to Alego one time to visit
with your grandfather. He had promised that evening to do some chore for the old man-I don’t remember what it was-
but instead of doing his work, he went out to meet Kezia and take her dancing. You remember, Kezia? This is before
they were married. I wanted to go with them, but Barack said I was too young.
“Anyway, they came home late that night, and Barack had had a few too many beers. He tried to sneak Kezia into his
hut, but the old man was still awake and heard their footsteps in the compound. Even as an old man, your grandfather’s
hearing was very keen. So right away he shouts for Barack to come. When Barack comes in, the old man doesn’t say a
word. He just looks at Barack and snorts like an angry bull. Hmmmph! Hmmmph! And this whole time, I am peeking
through the window of the old man’s house, because I’m sure that the old man will cane Barack and I’m still angry at
Barack, for not letting me go to the dance hall.
“What happened next, I couldn’t believe. Instead of apologizing for coming home late, Barack walked over to the old
man’s phonograph and started to play a record! Then he turned and shouted to Kezia, who was hiding outside.
‘Woman!’ Barack shouted. ‘Come here!’ Right away Kezia came into the house, too frightened to refuse, and Barack
took her in his arms and began to dance with her, around and around in the old man’s house, as if he were dancing in a
palace ballroom.”
Zeituni shook her head and laughed. “Well now...no one treated your grandfather this way, not even Barack. I was
sure now that for this thing Barack must be beaten severely. For a long time, your grandfather said nothing. He just sat
there, watching his son. Then, like an elephant, he shouted out even louder than Barack. ‘Woman! Come here!’ And
right away my mum, the one you call Granny, rushed in from her own hut, where she had been mending clothes. She
asked why everyone was shouting, and your grandfather stood up and held out his hand. My mum shook her head and
accused your grandfather of trying to make a fool of her, but the old man was so determined that soon all four of them
were dancing in the hut, the two men looking very serious, the women looking at each other as if now they were sure
that their husbands were crazy.”
We all laughed at the story, and Roy ordered another round for everyone. I started to ask Zeituni more about our
grandfather, but just then the band took up their positions on stage. The group looked a bit ragged at first, but the
moment they struck their first note, the place was transformed. Immediately, people began pouring out onto the dance
barré
(Barré)
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