Differences
“Here comes your tea, darling,” says Debra Stain, mother of Lee-Ann as she comes to the living room where her husband of 30 years, Morgan Stain is sitting watching TV. Morgan is 60 years old and Debra is 55 years old. They live in this huge house, in the suburb of Hill Crest. They live with Derby, Lee-Ann's younger sister. Derby is 23 years old, just 2 years younger than Lee-Ann who is 25.Debra and Morgan are an old school retired couple that still believes in the old traditions of doing things. They have a farming business that produces dairy products. Lee-Ann is running that business since her parents retired a couple of years ago. While they are strict disciplinarians they still allow their children to make choices. It has become a little quieter in this house ever since Lee-Ann moved in with her boyfriend Simo.
Her parents weren’t really happy with that decision but Lee-Ann, unlike Derby, is a little bit of a wild card. She wants to make independent decisions while Derby lives here and looks after the old couple. She does get lonely without her big sister sometimes but her cousins, Juliet who goes by Julie and her cousin brother David come to visit most of the time.
“Thank you, my love,” Morgan says as he takes this huge cup from Debra’s hands. Morgan loves his tea. Debra comes over to sit next to her husband. But for a moment they are not saying anything to each other but are just starring at the TV.
“Have you spoken to Lee-Ann?” Debra asks, still eyes glued to the TV screen. Morgan, at the hearing of that question he puts the cup down on this beautiful vintage table. “No, you?” he responds with a voice that sounds disappointed, as he looks at Debra who takes a moment as she seems embarrassed, “no I haven’t spoken to her since that day,” Now she looks at her husband who seems uncomfortable with this conversation. “But I told you to not let her leave without making things right with her, but what did you do?” Morgan says as he picks up his cup again. He normally doesn’t like to be disturbed when he’s having his tea.
Debra seems to be taken aback by what her husband had to say, “Are you saying it’s my fault that she’s not talking to us?” she raises her voice, somewhat annoyed. “No, no darling all I’m saying is...” but Morgan doesn’t finish as an upset Debra cuts in, “I wasn’t going to let my daughter throw her future away with that boy. You shouldn’t let that either.” She is upset.
“But all I’m saying is that we could have handled the conversation better,” Morgan says as he is trying to calm his wife down. She is obviously not happy with Lee-Ann living with a man somewhere. “Oh, by that you mean, I should have handled the conversation better, right?” she shouts. “Oh yes, I should have. I should have told her to break up with that boy and come back home.” She is becoming emotional, but Morgan keeps quiet, yet looking at his wife in the eyes so that she will see that he’s not ignoring her. He decides to switch off the TV because it’s clear that this topic is serious.
“Alright darling, so tell me,” Morgan says, “Tell me, really. What is the real problem? I mean, Simo is a bright young man, with a good, stable and well-paying job, Lee-Ann is actually doing well running the family business. So what’s the real problem here?” He looks at his wife straight in the eyes but Debra keeps quiet and looks back at him.
“So is it because he’s black? Is that your problem darling?” he asks but again Debra keeps quiet for a moment. She didn’t expect that question from her husband. The topic of race is always a sensitive one to have.
Morgan keeps her eyes on her. “okay then,” Debra shouts, “What’s wrong with finding a descent white man in this area? Doesn’t she have white male friends, good enough for her?” Morgan looks annoyed and shakes his head. “No, don’t do that,” Debra protests, “you know I’m right. That boy…” Morgan cuts in, “Darling, his name is Simo, alright?.” He says but that seems to set his wife off, “oh whatever. I don’t care what his name is, I don’t like him,” she shouts.
Morgan pretends as if he didn’t hear that as he picks up his cup of tea that is sure cold now. He takes a sip but doesn’t like it anymore and puts it down. He then looks at his wife. It is as if he wanted to give her a moment to cool down.
“Do you realize, darling that she now goes to those dangerous places in the townships, doing god-knows what with those bad people there…” Debra says but once again Morgan cuts in , “Oh so, the problem is that he spends time in the townships, where black people live? Is that it?” he asks politely, as if he is a therapist trying to treat a patent. But Debra doesn’t like that. She feels it is condescending.
“Yes, yes I don’t like that dammit,” Debra shouts. “Don’t you remember what happened to Stacey? Hugh? Stacey and her husband?” She now sounds emotional more than being angry. Morgan looks down and takes a moment. “of course my love, I remember. And that’s…” he says politely but Debra cuts in, “Those thugs hijacked Stacey and injured her husband,” she shouts again. “is that what you want to happen to your daughter?”
Morgan gets annoyed at that question, “Oh come on now, you are taking…” he says but he is interrupted again, “I am not taking too far. I’m saying it should bother you that your daughter spends time with criminals in the townships.”
Morgan gets closer to his wife and gives her a back rub, “Love, what happened to Stacey and her husband was tragic. It was,” he says with a low voice. “But not all black people are the same, you know that. Just like not all white people are the same,” he looks at her in the eyes as if to want to end this conversation.
“Stain,” Debra says calmly. “I still don’t want my daughter dating that boy. I want her as far away from him as possible. Okay?” she sighs. Morgan also inhales deep and exhales loudly as if to say I give up. As he attempts to protests they are disturbed by the bell at the door. They look at each other, wondering who might that be at this hour. The bell rings again.
“Derby” Morgan shouts, “Derby, sweetheart,” he shouts again. “I’m coming,” a voice shouts from a distance upstairs. Few seconds later Derby, his youngest daughter comes down. “yes dad, what’s up?” she says. “Oh darling,” Morgan says, “can you please get the door for us? My knees are hurting me.” Derby smiles realising that her folks are just lazy to open the door when they aren’t even far of from it.
She quickly rushes to open it.
“Hey cousin…” It is her cousin Juliet. “Hey cousin,” she shouts back and they hug each other. “What took you so long to open the door? Do you know how heavy this thing is?” Julie says as she gives Derby a box. She looks inside it and smiles, “what’s so heavy with a sweet potato pie, silly? Hahaha,” They both laugh as Derby goes to the kitchen with the box while Julie passes through to the living room. She finds Morgan and Debra sitting next to each other. They look calmer now as they wait to see who is coming through the passage.
“Good morning old folks, “ Julie shouts with excitement as she enters the living room. “Hey aunt Debra… Uncle Morgan,” as she comes over to sit down on the opposite sofa. “Hi sweetie, how are you?” Debra says. “morning my child, how are you?” Morgan jumps in as well. “I’m okay you guys. How are you?” Julie responds. She is a very bubbly person. She is also loud.
“We are well, child.” Debra says. “How is your mom and dad? Are they good?” Julie takes out her makeup mirror and looks at herself to see if she still looks great. “Oh, they are okay, you know,” she says as she puts her lipstick on. “So what brings you here this early?” Morgan asks with interest but Julie smiles and says “Can’t I just come and see you guys?” as she shakes her head. “Plus I brought you your favourite pie, uncle Morgan. I know that will excite you.”
At that, Morgan's eyes are brighten with excitement. As they are having that moment, Derby comes in with a tray. She puts it down.
“You see?” Julie says with excitement, “I told you I brought you your favourite pie.” Derby cuts the pie and gives to her dad and cuts another and gives to her mom. The old folks are excited at as they take a bite. “Thank you sweetheart. You just know how to brighten my day, don’t you?” Morgan says with a smile looking at his wife.
Julie looks at Derby who is sitting next to her, “Why? Are you okay, uncle Morgan?” she asks curiously but Morgan takes a huge dig at the piece of pie in his plate, ignoring her. But that only makes her even more curious, “Did I miss something, people?” she looks at Derby again but Derby shrugs her shoulders as if to say ‘don’t ask me. I don’t know what’s going on with these two.’
“No darling, you didn’t miss a thing,” Debra jumps in. “We are just happy to see you.” She smiles. “So, how is work?” Debra wants to move past that awkward moment. “Work is good aunt Debra, thank you,” Julie says as she takes a bite at the pie she brought. “it’s a weekend, so since I’m not working I decided to come and see you guys. Plus, I wanted to speak to this one about something,” she says as she points to Derby who looks puzzled about that but Julie just smiles at her like a naughty little girl. She points with her eyes up to say ‘let’s go upstairs to your room.’
“Well, that is very thoughtful of you sweetheart. We appreciate it.” Debra says. Derby and Julie stand up to go upstairs. “oh darling,” Debra shouts, “Please care to pass by me before you leave okay?” As they go upstairs, Julie shouts back, “Okay aunt Debra, will do that.” They go to Derby’s room. Morgan and Debra continue to enjoy the delicious sweet potato pie.
“So, cousin, what’s up with you?” Derby says to Julie who is sitting on the couch in this very spacious and well-furnished bedroom. It has ensuite bathroom and ensuite wardrobe. On the wall, there are posters of music artists and a huge picture of her and fellow students. Derby is sitting in bed. She goes over to the dressing table drawer and pulls a bottle of wine.
“You didn’t drive coming here, did you?” she chuckles. At seeing that, Julie just bursts out laughing, “hahaha…what do you think? Of course I drove here, hahaha,” Derby laughs back, “hahaha, well I don’t think a glass or two will be a problem now, will it?” she says as she pours for two glasses and gives one to her cousin. She then comes over and sits in bed again. “You will get me arrested, you know that?” Julie says laughing. She takes a sip. She looks to the ceiling. She takes another sip again. She is enjoying this taste of a dry red. Derby just smiles and takes a sip of hers as well. It tastes good, doesn’t it?
“So, how is school?” Julie asks as she looks at the pictures on the wall. “School is okay dear,” Derby says as she takes another sip. “almost done with final exams, thank God this is my graduation year. Can’t wait to join the corporate world like you.” She smiles looking at her cousin who smiles with pride. Julie is an accountant, working for a big corporation. She is very successful at the age of 25. Even though she lives with her parents, she can afford a living on her own. She doesn’t have a child.
“Well, that’s really good to hear.” she says. “Well, once you become a lawyer soon, I’ll probably need your services. There’s too many idiots at work that I fear I will kill someday, hahaha” she laughs loud. Derby laughs back at her. Then there’s a second's silence as they simultaneously take a sip with much enjoyment.
“And you?” Derby says, “What you wanted to talk to me about?” there’s silence for a second. Julie moves to sit next to Derby as if she wants to speak low. “well, I just wanted to check up on you girlfriend, you know, also to ask about Lee-Ann and her boyfriend.” This seems to catch Derby off guard because she does have an understanding that Julie doesn’t like Simo and the idea of him dating Lee-Ann.
She goes over to the dressing table to pour another glass, “refill?” she asks? Julie takes a moment, “Why the hell not?” she gives Derby the glass. She pours for Julie and gives her and then takes a moment to pour for herself. “I mean, why you ask?” she asks without even looking at Julie as if she’s embarrassed by the question. “I know for a fact that you don’t like Simo.” She comes back to sit next to her cousin, “so why the sudden interest in Lee-Ann's love life?”
Julie looks at her a bit disappointed but then she quickly gets out of that and smiles, “What? So I can’t ask about my cousin’s love life now?” as she dismisses Derby’s question with a smile before taking another sip. Derby looks at her curiously, “no darling, it’s…I’m just...” she runs out of words. “it’s just that you’ve always questioned their relationship. You have always made rather harsh remarks about her boyfriend.” She look s away to avoid eye contact.
There’s a moment’s silence.
“Well, I just don’t think that guy…” Julie says but Derby cuts in, “His name is Simon.” Julie looks annoyed with that as she rolls her eyes, “alright, okay,” she says. “Yes Simo…I just don’t think she’s good for Lee-Ann.” That statement seems to annoy Derby, “But why would you say something like that?” she puts the glass in bedside table, she stands up and fold her arms. She’s a little upset.
“You don’t even know the guy, Julie,” she throws her arms in the air, “Not because you don't have that time to but because you don’t want to. He’s been in this house a number of times. But you and mom, you then behave like lunatics by making him feel uncomfortable.” She’s now upset as she picks up her wine and takes a sip. Now suddenly there’s an awkward moment in the bedroom. In that moment, Julie is showing no emotion at all. She is just looking at her cousin who now can’t even sit down. Julie puts her glass on the bedside table and stands up as well. She is now looking at Derby in the eyes.
“Look cousin, “she says, “All I’m saying is that I don’t trust Simo and I don’t want to see Lee-Ann getting hurt, do you?” she says she raises her voice a little bit but Derby takes a deep breath and exhales. “Is it because he’s black?” she asks as she throws hands.
This question turns Julie wide-eyed and she didn’t expect it. She takes a moment, “What if that’s the case then, huh? What if it’s because he’s black?” she asks as she raises her voice a bit, again. “I am not okay with him dating my cousin, period okay?” There’s a little bit of emotions in her voice but Derby can’t believe what her cousin has just said. She doesn’t want this whole situation getting out of control. Derby has a very soft heart. She loves peace and she loves her sister Lee-Ann. They have always protected each other. She goes back to sit on the bed.
“You know, that would really be unfair of you because as I recall, you hooked up with Simon’s friend and guess what, he’s black also. So what’s the problem with Simo dating Lee-Ann?” she asks as she raises her voice as well but this time looking down not looking at her cousin. Julie comes back to sit next to her. “Yes Mlu and myself hooked up that time and it was a while back. We keep contact but that’s just about it, which is not what I can say with Lee-Ann.” she says looking annoyed.
“But that’s exactly what confuses me, Mlu, just like Simo…he’s black but you don’t have a problem with him. How does that work exactly?” Derby asks softly. She’s looking away because this conversation has just brought tension in the room.
“Simo loves Lee-Ann and she loves him back. They are doing great together. Please don’t spoil that for her cousin.” Derby says emotionally which leads to another awkward silence. Julie sighs heavily, “Well, I was just saying hey. I’m just looking out for my cousin. She has to be taken care of well. And I don’t think that guy is the person for it.” she says also looking away. These two can’t look at each in the eyes at the moment as Derby pours herself another glass but this time she doesn’t ask Julie if she wants a refill. She probably would have declined it anyway.
“I know you’re worried, okay?” Derby says as she rubs her cousin’s back. “And I know that in all this you’re thinking about aunt Stacey and uncle Ben. But not all black people are the same, just like not all whites are the same. There are good ones and there are bad ones.”
This seems to calm Julie down a little bit. “Well, cousin, I’ve said my part on this. Let’s just agree to disagree,” she says and smiles at Derby, who smiles back at her. She then pours herself another glass of wine and goes back to sit in the sofa. There is that moment of silence. Both ladies are taking a sip at their wines. Derby breaks the silence, “So, the Mlu thing?” she asks. But this question doesn’t seem to make Julie uncomfortable. She wishes to avoid it. “What Mlu thing?” she asks as she raises an eyebrow and then smiles, “there is no Mlu thing Derby, “she says.
“Oh come on, don’t give me that J.” Derby protests. She moves from bed to sit next to Julie in the sofa. “So, was it like, a one night stand then?” she asks with a smile. Julie doesn’t really want to talk about
Mlu, yet she can’t hold the smile and she certainly can’t hide the bright eyes when Mlu's name is mentioned.
“You are asking way too many questions; you know that? Hahaha,” she laughs loud. She then suddenly gathers herself, with a more serious look. “look we hooked up. We had a great time. We keep contact from time to time just to check on each other. That’s the end of the story. No more questions about Mlu okay detective?” she smiles at her cousin. Derby shrugs her shoulders, “okay,” she says. “So another thing?” And at that, Julie thinks here we go again. “What now?” she says.
“Well, Mom said she wants to talk to you before you leave.” Julie looks up trying to recall. She nods, “Okay, yes. And?” she asks curiously but Derby looks a little embarrassed with what she’s about to ask. “So, I want to know what she wants to talk to you about.” she chuckles. Julie stands up. “Oh no, Derby Stain, no you didn’t,” she laughs loud. She downs whatever was remaining in her glass and walks to the door.
“oh come on. I want to know.” Derby pleads. Julie turns around, “No cousin. I don’t even know what aunt Debra wants to talk to me about. Even if I did, why would I tell you?” she laughs. “Speaking of which, let me go down to hear what she had to say. See you later,” she says as she closed the door behind her, leaving Derby to continue enjoying the wine. She goes downstairs to find Debra sitting alone in the living room. She has actually fallen asleep watching TV.
“Aunt Deb,” she wakes her up. Debra wakes up in a hurry. She must have been in a dream of some sort.
Julie looks around, “where is uncle Morgan?” she asks. Debra stretched herself and yawns, “arg, that old fool is sleeping in the bedroom,” she says. “oh you’re still here,?” she asks as she switches of the TV.
Julie comes and sits next to her. “Yes, I’m still here, auntie. You said you wanted to see me before I leave. Is there something wrong?” Debra takes a moment to think. Then she looks around to see if there’s anyone in the room ears dropping. This puzzles Julie who wonders what this could be.
“Oh yes.” Debra says with a low voice. “uhmm, I wanted to talk to you about Lee-Ann.” This makes Julie interested, “yes Aunt Debra, what about her?” she asks. Debra takes a moment. She holds Julie's hand,
“I’m worried about my daughter, darling.” But this puzzles Julie even more.
“What happened?” she asks. Suddenly Debra’s changes. Now she looks upset. “I don’t like that she’s dating that black guy. I don’t like it one bit,” she looks straight into the eyes of Julie who back at her. Julie then looks, down trying to find words to say, “Well, aunt Debra, what can we do really?” she shrugs her shoulders. “I mean she doesn’t listen to you, she doesn’t listen to me, so what can we do?” she is also showing face that is annoyed. Debra looks to the ceiling as if to think deep, “There must be something we can do, you know?” she has emotion in her voice. “I want my daughter back here, home, with me,” she says.
“Well, auntie leave that to me, okay?” Julie says, “I will figure something out soon. But you’re right. That guy isn’t good for my cousin.” Those words seem to bring a smile into Debra. She’s happy that finally someone agrees with her.
“Alright then aunt Debra, let me run okay. I will keep in touch with you on this okay?” she hugs and kisses Debra who smiles at her. Julie stands up and looks at the stairs, “Derby sweetie,” she shouts, “I will see you later okay? I’ve got to run. “okay cousin, see you later,” s distant voice from upstairs says.
Julie is on her way out the door.
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