Chanda's Secrets

That afternoon, Chanda, her mother and Auntie Lizbet wait silently for the bus to Tiro. In one of her Chanda-isms, she reflects that while some say "Misery loves company", that "sometimes company is misery."

When the bus arrives, Auntie Lizbet boards. Just before it pulls away, she leans out and tells Chanda's mother "It's a terrible price your Sara paid. As you sowed, so you reap, sister. 'The sins are visited upon the children.' Hear the spirits of your ancestors. Repent. Beg forgiveness of those your wronged and dishonored."

Chanda asked her mother what that all meant, why the family hates them, and why they have to stay away from Tiro. Her mother tells her she'll explain it when she is older, but finally relents. She explains that twenty-five years ago, a marriage was arranged for her by her family. She was to marry Tuelo Malunga, a strong, good-looking friend of the family. However, she was in love with Chanda's father, and the two ran off together. Violence almost broke out, until Tuelo's father proposed that Tuelo be allowed his choice of her two younger sisters. The settlement also entailed the family of Chanda's father paying the twice the bride price in cattle.

Chanda's father became something of a servant on his own family's farm, to repay for the lost cattle. After sixteen years if living under that arrangement, the family would still not relent, so he moved his family to Bonang.

Additionally, Tuelo had chosen Auntie Amanthe over Auntie Lizbet, who was in love with Tuelo. Auntie Lizbet thus blames her lack of marriage on Chanda's mother, though her club foot has much more to do with it.

On top of all that, Auntie Amanthe had quickly become pregnant, but died during a c-section birth which failed to save the baby.

The family continued to blame Chanda's mother for all ill-fortune suffered by the family.