“I mean I ask you with tears in my navy blue eyes! How many fathers do you have?”
“Yes, Missus.”
“Since you worked here you have been to three funerals for your father!”
“Yes, Missus.”
“Now does he spring to life after each burial and die when you want to go back to the farm? Are you not sure who your father is? Are you just a plain and simple liar? Which is it? It is no wonder I get so cross with you, Tilley…”
“Yes, Missus.”
“…I like you, and you are good with my children…”
“Yes, Missus.”
“…but me and the Boss…”
“Yes, Missus.”
“…just can’t take your lies, and we have to work, we can’t stay at home with the children all day.”
“Yes, Missus.”
“Even now you can’t look at me straight in the eye.”
“Yes, Missus.”
“If you want this job your father had better stop dying so often.”
“Yes, Missus.”
“Do you hear me, my girl? Now you know the Missus doesn’t want to be unkind…”
“Yes, Missus.”
“…but this is quite absurd.”
“Yes, Missus.”
“Do you think we are fools?”
[Necessary explanation: a Zulu maid would require permission to attend the funeral of her "father" -- which was ANY elder male in her community (her limited English and the Whites' often ZERO ability in Zulu made this impossible for there to be mutual understanding. To NOT look in the eyes was a sign of respect and not (for the Zulu woman) as sign of untrustworthiness - as interpreted by the white woman in this vignette.]
