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Charles B. Spiteri

Iċ-ċpar u t-tinġis tal-arja qed joħolqu problemi ambjentali fiċ-Ċina.

Iżda belt fin-naħa ta’ fuq tal-pajjiż hi deċiża tiġġieled kontra l-arja maħmuġa, u biex tagħmel dan mhi tuża xejn għajr ilma tal-vit użat u mhux mormi.

Dan l-aħħar, residenti f’Lanzhou, il-kapitali tal-provinċja Chinas Gansu, sabu li żewġ sprayers ġganteski twaqqfu fil-Pjazza Dongfanghong, fejn qed jinbena stazzjon taħt l-art għall-ferrovija Metro Line 1.

Iż-żewġ sprayers long-range huma kapaċi jtajru l-ilma tal-vit biex jeqred it-trab u ċ-ċpar f’firxa ta’ 600 metru u naqqsu t-tinġis tal-arja.

Martyn Chipperfield, Professur tal-Kimika Atmosferika fl-Università ta’ Leeds, qal li bħal bosta bliet oħra Ċiniżi, Lanzhou għandha problema kbira ta’ ċpar. Permezz tal-kanuni li jisparaw l-ilma b’qawwa enormi, l-istess ilma jitla’ hu wkoll bħal ċpar fin, jaqbad mal-partikoli tat-tinġis, jagħmilhom ikbar milli jkunu u jaqgħu fid-dinja minħabba l-gravità.

It-tinġis fiċ-Ċina ġieli kien tant qawwi li l-ajruplani ma jkunux jistgħu jtiru, it-toroq jingħalqu u jintlaqat in-numru ta’ turisti li jkunu se jżuru l-pajjiż.

Issa jrid jinstab jekk dawn il-kanuni tal-ilma jistgħux iservu bħala soluzzjoni fit-tul fiċ-Ċina kollha.

Charles B. Spiteri

Mary Wollstonecraft kienet temmen li l-irġiel u n-nisa kienu ugwali u li kellu jkollhom l-istess dritt għat-tagħlim, għax-xogħol u għall-vot.

Illum il-ġurnata ftit ikunu dawk li ma jaqblux mal-fehma tagħha, iżda mitejn sena ilu l-maġġoranza tan-nies ma kienu jaqblu xejn ma’ dan, u kienu jisblu għal dawn l-ideat.

Ħu Mary kien imħarreġ biex isir avukat, waqt li hi kienet mistennija ssib raġel xieraq u tiżżewweġ. Iżda Mary kienet determinata li taqla’ hi stess il-flus li kienet teħtieġ.

Fl-1782 kriet dar f’Newington Green, dak iż-żmien villaġġ żgħir qrib Londra, u fetħet skola. Din l-iskola ma kisbitx is-suċċess mixtieq, iżda Mary ltaqgħet ma’ grupp ta’ nies li kellhom ħafna ħsibijiet bħal tagħha.

B’hekk fl-1787 kitbet it-Thoughts on the Education of Daughters. F’dan il-ktieb kitbet li n-nisa kellhom il-ħtieġa li jitgħallmu biex ma jintefgħux bħala piż fuq l-irġiel għall-ħtiġijiet finanzjarji tagħhom.

Mill-kitba Mary kisbet biżżejjed flus biex tgħajjex lilha nnifisha. Iżda xtaqet ħafna li ssib raġel li tabilħaqq ikun iħobbha u jistmaha bħala ugwali għalih. Fl-1797 iżżewġet lil William Godwin, u dik is-sena stess wildet tifla. L-omm mietet ftit wara, kaġun ta’ deni li ħakimha.

L-ideat femministi ta’ Mary Wollstonecraft kienu ferm qabel żmienhom.

Frankenstein, jew The Modern Prometheus, ta’ Mary Shelley sar kemm-il darba f’films famużi.

Bint Mary wkoll issemmiet Mary. Meta kibret iżżewġet lill-poeta Shelley u kitbet ir-rumanz Frankenstein. L-idea ġietha waqt li kienet għal vaganza ma’ Shelley u Byron. Byron ħareġ bl-idea li t-tnejn li huma kellhom jiktbu storja tal-waħx.

Darba waħda n-nanna kienet irrabjata bil-kbir għal Luca, wara li sabet xi ġugarelli żgħar tal-plastic fil-borma tal-istuffat. Aktarx li kien tefagħhom hemm minn wara daharha, avolja baqa’ jiċħad li għamilhom hu. In-nanna setgħet tobsor li din kienet xi biċċa xogħol minn tiegħu għax kienet taf biżżejjed x’kien isarraf. Bagħtitu ’l hemm, ma jmurx jivvintalha xi ħaġa ġdida, u hu tela’ fuq. Kien mingħalih li n-nannu kien se joqgħod iżiegħel bih, iżda dan ukoll kien mgħaddab għalih. Beda jaħseb ħażin fih meta sab l-istatwetta tal-kristall ta’ fuq l-iskrivanija f’elf biċċa. Kien tassew iddispjaċut, għax ma kontx issib tixtri oħra bħalha minn kullimkien. Luca għalxejn ħabbat mal-bieb tal-kamra. In-nannu ma riedx jiftaħlu. Rabba n-nervi għax in-nanniet ma riduhx ma’ saqajhom.

Luca tela’ jiġri fuq il-bejt għall-kwiet biex igawdi ftit ix-xemx. Dakinhar in-nannu ma kienx se jtajjarlu t-tajra u n-nanna ma kinitx se tilgħab miegħu bil-ballun. Kienu ħallewh waħdu bħala kastig. Qagħad bilqiegħda fejn il-bieb tal-bejt u qagħad jaħseb ftit. Issa kien wasal biex jagħmel il-preċett u ma kienx jixraqlu li jibqa’ daqshekk imqareb u jinkwieta lin-nanniet. Ħaseb li kellhom raġun jirrabjaw għalih, għax żgur li ma kienx ħaqqhom hekk daqskemm kienu jħobbuh. Wiegħed lilu nnifsu li jibda jrabbi l-għaqal mil-lum ’il quddiem.

F’daqqa waħda nstema’ ħoss kbir fis-sema li kiser is-skiet, li kont taqtgħu b’sikkina. Luca ħares ’il fuq u lemaħ ajruplan għaddej. Qam bilwieqfa biex jarah aħjar u resaq lejn iċ-ċint tal-bejt. Wara ftit sema’ lin-nanniet iwerżqu tweżiqa tal-biża’. Bla ma induna Luca kien laqat iż-żewġ ċagħkiet imdaqqsa ta’ fuq iċ-ċint waqt li kien qiegħed iserraħ dahru miegħu, hu u jħares lejn l-ajruplan għaddej fil-bogħod. Iċ-ċagħkiet waqgħu għal isfel u spiċċaw fil-bitħa. Dak il-ħin in-nanniet inzertaw qegħdin isaqqu l-qsari, u l-Bambin ħabbhom li ma ntlaqtux u ma waqgħux mejtin fuq xulxin! Minnufih bdew isejħu lil Luca, għax beżgħu li hu kien waddabhom minn fuq iċ-ċint tal-bejt.

Iżda Luca kien għosfor minn hemm fuq malli ntebaħ x’kien ġara. B’għaġeb kbir in-nanniet sabuh qiegħed taparsi jaqra ktieb fil-kamra tagħhom meta telgħu jfittxuh. Hu għamel tabirruħu li ma kien jaf b’xejn.

Allaħares kellu jgħidilhom il-verità kollha ta’ kif seħħet il-ġrajja, għax kieku ma kinux jemmnuh li m’għamilx hekk apposta! Malajr kien ikollu jrabbih l-għaqal imbagħad, għax min jaf x’kienu jagħmlulu! Ħassu kuntent li tal-inqas kien irnexxielu jiżgiċċa minn dil-biċċa. La ma kellhomx f’min iwaħħlu, weħel magħhom ir-riħ li kien ċaqlaq dawk iż-żewġ ċagħkiet, meta dakinhar lanqas żiffa ma kienet għaddejja. Luca tahom raġun għax hekk qabillu jagħmel.

Charles B. Spiteri

Xi żmien ilu, id-Dar Pubblikatriċi BDL, ħarġet fis-suq il-ktieb ta’ Christine Muscat jismu Magdalene Nuns and Penitent Prostitutes Valletta li kellhom il-kunvent tagħhom fil-Belt Valletta. L-iskop ta’ dawn is-sorijiet kien li jrabbu bniet żgħar biex ’il quddiem jikkorteġġjaw lill-kavallieri. Hu ktieb li joffri studju profond ta’ dak li ġara f’pajjiżna fis-snin tal-Ordni.

Madankollu, dan l-aħħar, l-istess sorijiet issemmew fl-Irlanda, wara li l-Gvern tal-pajjiż talab apoloġija lill-10,000 ‘skjavi’ tas-Sorijiet tal-Maddalena, li qafluhom u ibbrutalizzawhom bejn l-1922 u l-1996. Fuq perijodu ta’ 70 sena, hu stmat li madwar 10,000 tifla ntbagħtu fil-laundries tal-Maddalena biex jagħmlu xogħol manwali iebes taħt is-superviżjoni tas-sorijiet Kattoliċi.

Uħud intbagħtu hemm għax kienu t-tfal ta’ nisa mhux miżżewġa, waqt li oħrajn intbagħtu fuq akkużi ċkejknin, fosthom għax ma kinux ħallsu l-biljett tal-ferrovija. Inkredibbilment, l-aħħar mill-għaxar laundries li kienu jaħslu l-ħwejjeġ u l-lożor tal-lukandi ewlenin, tal-forzi armati Irlandiżi u tad-ditta tal-birra Guininess, baqgħet taħdem sal-1996. Bħala laundries, bdew jiffunzjonaw fl-1922. L-apoloġija statali waslet tmintax-il xahar wara li saret inkjesta mmexxija mis-Senatur Martin McAleese, li sab li waħda minn kull erba’ nisa, ntbagħtu fil-laundries mill-Istat.

Hu żied li r-rapport ma sab l-ebda abbuż sesswali fil-laundries; li għaxra fil-mija tal-maqfulin intbagħtu mill-familji tagħhom u 19 fil-mija minħabba xi nuqqas jew akkuża li wettqu. Iżda dawk li baqgħu ħajjin, irrifjutaw l-apoloġija li talab hu, u stennew apoloġija aktar wiesgħa mill-Gvern u l-ordnijiet reliġjużi involuti.

Maureen Sullivan, ta’ 60 sena, l-iżgħar vittma tas-sorijiet, ittieħdet għandhom meta kellha 12-il sena. Dak iż-żmien kien miet missierha u ommha reġgħet iżżewġet. Kien intqalilha li se tkompli l-istudju tagħha, iżda qatt ma reġgħet rat il-kotba li kellha tal-iskola.

Għal 48 sena baqgħet imwerwra mill-memorji tal-passat; ta’ tfulija mitlufa u ta’ xogħol iebes li jwettqu l-iskjavi. Issa qed tistenna apoloġija mill-gvern u l-ordnijiet reliġjużi talli serqulha l-edukazzjoni, isimha, l-identita’ u ħajjitha.

Irrakkuntat li sena wara l-oħra, filgħodu kienet taħdem fil-laundry. Jagħtuha tiekol biss ħobż u tilqit. Aktar tard kienet taħdem is-suf u qabel l-irqad, tagħmel il-kuruni tar-rużarju. Kien xogħol ta’ rutina, tqil u ta’ dwejjaq. Tirrakkonta: “Darba, meta ġew l-ispetturi tal-iskola jagħmlu żjara, ħbewni f’mina, għax naħseb li kont għadni żgħira għax-xogħol fil-laundry.”

Fi tmiem il-ġimgħat kienet imġiegħla taħsel l-art tal-knisja lokali, minflok titħalla tilgħab għal ftit tal-ħin. Issostni li s-sorijiet qerdulha ħajjitha u ma ħallewha qatt tiżviluppa bħala tifla żgħira.

Jum mill-ħajja fil-‘Laundry’

F’intervista li tat fl-2011, Sarah Williams, li qattgħet sentejn taħdem f’laundries differenti tal-Maddalena tat din ix-xhieda tal-biża’, fuq il-ħajja fl-istituzzjonijiet:

• Inqumu fis-6.00am. aħna t-tfajliet, b’veli suwed fuq rasna, nimmarċjaw għal quddiesa fil-kunvent kiesaħ silġ.
• Il-kolazzjon ikun porridge b’ilma kiesaħ silġ u f’xi s-7.00a.m. ningħataw it-te u biċċa ħobż, qabel ma nerġgħu mmorru l-kappella għat-tieni quddiesa.
• Imbagħad immorru fil-laundry biex naħslu, ngħallu, nonxru, ngħaddu u nitwu l-ħwejjeġ. Kien ikollna waqfa waħda għal ftit soppa qabel is-6.00 p.m.
• Għall-ħabta tas-7.30p.m. wara li ninqaflu fiċ-ċelel żgħar tagħna, mgħammra biss f’barmil u sodda tal-ħadid, ningħataw mug ieħor ta’ soppa, li ġeneralment tkun tant kiesħa li konna nsaħħnuha xi ftit fuq il-kanen tas-sħana fil-kmamar tagħna.
• Ir-rikreazzjoni kienet tkun ta’ nofs siegħa wara li nlestu x-xogħol, u stajna nisimgħu r-radju. Ix-xogħol kien isir fi kwiet strett, inkella nkantaw l-innijiet u nirreċtaw ir-rużarju, ħames posti f’ħames posti.
• Offiżi żgħar bħal tinsa tilbes il-kappell istituzzjonali jew tinqabad tidħaq, ikunu kkorreġuti bi swat fuq ir-ras, b’mazz ta’ ċwievet  tqal, minn soru rrabjata.
• L-eżerċizzju uniku tagħna kien ikun mixja ta’ nofs siegħa, tnejn tnejn, fil-bitħa. L-awtorita’ tas-sorijiet kienet assoluta, u l-bniet kien ikollna nitolbu permess anki biex immorru sal-kamra tal-banju. Jekk xi tifla toħroġ ‘il barra mil-linja tagħha, kienet tinqafel f’kamritha u għal bosta jiem, titħalla fuq ħobż u ilma biss.
• Nhar ta’ Ħadd ma konniex naħdmu u konna permessi niktbu l-ittri li mbagħad jinqraw mis-sorijiet. Spiss kont nikteb lil ziti, nitkarrbilha tiġi għalija u toħroġni, iżda naħseb li qatt ma rċeviet xi ittra minn tiegħi. Meta mbagħad, xi ħadd kien jirċievi xi ittra, kienet tinqara mis-sorijiet fil-pubbliku.
• Darba fix-xahar kien ikollna viżta, iżda l-viżitaturi tiegħi kienu jkunu n-nisa tal-Leġjun ta’ Marija, li dejjem kienu jgħiduli li qed ningħata kura u attenzjoni tajbin.

Ħabs ta’ dawk li ‘jisparixxu’

Il-Laundries tal-Maddalena nfetħu fis-seklu 19 bħala refuġju għall-prostituti, u saru ħabsijiet għal dawk li ‘sparixxew’.

Fajliet orfni, li ma kellhomx fejn imorru, bniet li ma kellhom lil ħadd min jieħu ħsiebhom, jew tkeċċew mid-dar għax inqabdu tqal u tfal li l-ġenituri tagħhom ma setgħux jgħajjxuhom aktar; kif ukoll dawk meqjusa mis-saċerdoti jew reliġjużi, li jinsabu f’’periklu morali, għax kienu sbieħ ħafna, jew iħobbu jiġġerrew, kienu jiġġiegħlu jidħlu fil-laundries tal-Maddalena. L-akkuża tagħhom setgħet tkun tant fażulla, bħal meta tinqabad li tfajla jew xbejba, ma tkunx ħallset in-nol tal-ferrovija. U l-maġġoranza ta’ dawk mitfugħha f’dan il-‘ħabs’ kienu jkunu minuri b’akkużi żgħar ta’ serq u mhux għal xi qtil jew infantiċidju.

Charles B. Spiteri

Żgur li kulħadd sama’ bis-Save the Children Fund, il-karità enormi li tqiegħed il-ħtiġiet tat-tfal fl-ewwel post. Madankollu, żgur li ftit semgħu b’Eglantyne Jebb, il-mara mill-aqwa li bdiet il-Fond.

Eglantyne kibret fi Shropshire, fl-Ingilterra. Kienet tomboy enerġetika li kienet tħobb ħafna l-qari.

L-Universitajiet kienu għadhom kemm fetħu l-bibien tagħhom u Eglantyne ħadet l-opportunità li tmur tistudja f’Oxford. Wara, ħadmet bħala għalliema u aktar tard mas-Soċjetà li tieħu ħsieb il-karità.

Fl-1913 intbagħtet il-Maċedonja, tqassam il-flus lir-refuġjati li tiflu djarhom fil-gwerer tal-Balkani. Dakinhar fehmet li l-fatt li tqassam il-flus lir-refuġjati ma kienx biżżejjed. In-nies ħtieġu l-art mill-ġdid fejn jistgħu jgħixu.

Fi tmiem l-Ewwel Gwerra Dinjija, miljuni ta’ familji fl-Ewropa kienu qed imutu bil-ġuħ. Eglantyne bdiet il-Fight the Famine Council  (Għaqda li tiġġieled il-ġuħ) u fond separat bl-isem Save the Children.  Għall-bidu n-nies qalu li kienet traditura: tiġbor il-flus għall-għadu, iżda Eglantyne saħqet li l-ħtiġiet tat-tfal kellhom ikunu trattati l-ewwel. Il-flus bdew deħlin fil-Fond. Intużaw biex twaqqfu sptarijiet, djar u skejjel.

Eglantyne fasslet skopijiet u regoli ċari għall-fond, li għadhom fil-prattika sa llum. Dawn jinkludu l-ħarsien tat-tfal, ikunu ta’ liema razza, nazzjonalità jew twemmin u jgħinu ’l-familji jieħdu ħsieb tagħhom infushom.

Eglantyne Jebb emmnet profondament fil-ħtieġa li tindokra t-tfal. “Kull ġenerazzjoni ta’ tfal toffri lill-umanità l-possibbiltà tal-bini mill-ġdid tar-rovina tad-dinja,” qalet. Fl-1923 fasslet dikjarazzjoni dwar id-drittijiet tat-tfal. Aktar tard kienet adottat min-Nazzjonijiet Uniti.

Fl-1921 ġuħ fir-Russja hedded miljuni ta’ nies, inklużi ħafna tfal. Is-‘Save the Children Fund’ kien kapaċi jagħti l-għajnuna tiegħu.

I didn’t believe her when she said that she was leaving. She had been telling me this many times before, but knowing her – a lot of words and no action – I took it with a pinch of salt. However when I returned from work on Friday afternoon, I caught her packing her things up in boxes. “What are you doing?” I said. “I’ve told you that I’m leaving,” she replied. There were several boxes lying about in the room, some closed and taped, others still open being filled up.

We’ve had our tiffs sometimes . These were nothing of a serious nature really, just what two different characters living together normally argue about. We always made up almost immediately, apologised, shared a hug and continued our life together, although 

the situation appeared to be serious today. She was definitely leaving. Her mind was made up. There was no turning back. I would have to adjust to living in this house without her. She was throwing discarded clothes in a corner. “Don’t throw that out,” I told her. “That dress had always been one of my favourites”. “You’ve never told me that before Jimmy,” she responded. It was a simple cotton dress, old fashioned really, but it had looked nice on her.

We’ve always been sensible and practical, so I helped her choose and pack. “Are you sure you’d be happy with him? I asked. Despite her decision to leave, I still felt responsible for her in a way. “Of course I’d be happy! It’s not as if I’ve just met him, I’ve known Ben for six whole months now,” she replied exuberantly. And so we continued packing. “Keep looking after the garden,” she said. The garden was always her favourite place. She’d go out on the patio early in the morning, wrapped up in her dressing-gown, and drink her hot mug of coffee. “I’ve never been much of a gardener, but I’ll do my best,” I said, not looking forward to the task that now fell on me. 

It broke my heart when she first told me that she was leaving. We had talked about it for a long time. She told me that it was time to leave, but that she would keep in touch. I would certainly miss her warm soft hands, her gentle words, her happy disposition, her breakfast in the morning, her calls of “Jimmy, are you there?” as she entered the house. Oh! I’ll miss so many things about her. I’ll certainly have to adjust my life now. It was a big decision for her to make. I understand that. At first I didn’t make it easy for her. You see, I loved her, loved her with all my heart. But I had to accept it. We are both mature adults and know that things have to move on. In truth, I hold nothing against her. I wish her happiness in her new life with her Ben. To be honest, he’s a good man and I have no doubt that he’ll treat her well.

When the day of her move arrived, I had some time off from work as I could not let her leave without saying goodbye. It was not something I was looking for. I would have preferred had she decided to remain with me.  But, yes, life has to go on.  He had arrived on time to pick her up, and her things, in a small black car. “You all right Jimmy?” he called as soon as he came out of the car. Ben was a small man but with a large smile on his face. 

Together we loaded the boxes in the car boot and inside on the back passenger seat. “You had better look after her,” I said sounding jealous but wasn’t. “Don’t worry Jim,” he replied, “I love her dearly and she’ll lack for nothing”.

“What are you two talking about?” she said as she saw us together. “Just chatting,” said Ben, smiling, as we continued packing the boxes. 

“I’ll just have a last look inside,” she said as Ben started the car. She and I went inside. “I have something for you,” I said. “Don’t make this difficult for me,” she replied. She opened the wrapping. It was a red scarf. I knew she liked scarfs and that red was her favourite colour. “Thank you,” she said as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I love Ben,” she exclaimed. “After your father passed away, I thought that I would never love anyone else.” She kissed me on the cheek as we hugged each other tightly. We held each other’s hands as we went out to the car. Ben and I shook hands. “Drive carefully and phone back when you arrive home,” I said. 

“Take care son,” Mum said, “Don’t forget to look after my garden.” I waved to them both as they drove off. I knew that Mum would be happy with Ben. He was a good man.  

Charmaine Tanti M.A.

Elise kellha ġugarell wisq għal qalbha, u dan kien il-pupa kbira liebsa ta’ prinċipessa, li kienet qalgħet mingħand Father Christmas. Mill-ewwel inkarmet għaliha u l-mamà ħasbet li, wara ftit taż-żmien, il-pupa kienet se ssib ruħha mwarrba f’xi rokna qalb il-ġugarelli l-oħrajn. Pero` kienet marret żmerċ għax iżjed m’għadda żmien, Elise wrietha li ma kinitx tgħaddi mingħajrha. Kieku mhux għax kienet tibża’ li xi ħadd minn sħabha seta’ jeħodhielha, kienet saħansitra ġġorrha magħha l-iskola wkoll. Iżda malli tasal id-dar, Elise kienet taqbadha f’idejha u ma titlaqhiex biex donnha tpatti għall-ħin li fih ma kinitx tgawdiha. Tant kienet tistħajjilha ħlejqa tad-demm u l-laħam, li kull filgħaxija kienet traqqadha magħha u tħaddanha biex ma tibżax rieqda fid-dlam. Meta kibret ftit, bdiet ukoll tqegħedha bilqiegħda fuq il-mejda tal-kċina u tqatta’ s-sigħat tkellimha, tipprova tgħallimha xi ħaġa milli tkun qaltilhom l-għalliema fil-klassi, jew taparsi titmagħha xi biċċa ħobż jew xi ftit ċikkulata. F’kelma waħda, il-pupa kienet saret qisha oħtha ż-żgħira.

Luca ma kienx jieħu daqshekk gost xħin jara lil oħtu mwaħħda daqstant mal-pupa u kien iħoss li din ix-xi ħaġa tal-plastic kienet ħaditlu postu f’ħajjitha. Kien jixtieq li Elise wkoll tilgħab miegħu, meta tkun id-dar, għax ma kienx irid jilgħab dejjem ma’ ħuh, Peter biss. Huwa tgħidx kemm kien iħarsilha bl-ikrah lill-pupa, u kieku seta’ kien jisparixxiha ħalli oħtu tibda tagħti kasu bħal qabel.

Darba fost l-oħrajn, Luca daħal baxx baxx fil-kamra tas-sodda, ħataf il-pupa minn fuq il-komodina, qalgħalha rasha,  idejha u saqajha, sabbatha mal-art bl-herra u telaq `l hemm. Dak il-ħin, Elise kienet għand in-nanniet u l-mamà u l-papà kienu fil-garaxx qegħdin jaħslu l-karozzi tagħhom. Peter kien rieqed fil-fond fuq is-sufan. Wiċċ Elise sfar lelluxa hekk kif waslet id-dar u rat x’kien ġralha l-pupa, li kienet tant tħobb. Ma riditx tieqaf tibki u l-mama` u l-papà tassew tħassruha għax qalbha riedet tinqasam bid-diqa kbira li ħasset fiha.

Il-mamà u l-papà rrabjaw ma’ Luca bil-kbir meta, sa fl-aħħar, tgħarrfilhom li hu kien kisser il-pupa, iżda lil Elise ma wrewhiex biex ma tiġġilidx miegħu u l-biċċa titwal. Minflok, il-mamà għamlet tabirruħha li waqqgħatilha hi l-pupa xħin kienet qiegħda tfarfar il-komodina tal-kamra tas-sodda. It-tifla dendlet geddum sal-art, u l-mamà riedet issib mezz kif tqajjimha ftit fuq tagħha u tagħmlilha l-kuraġġ. Għalhekk, qaltilha biex kull filgħaxija qabel ma torqod, titlob lill-Bambin ħalli jagħtiha pupa ġdida. Elise, li ħassitha tassew stramba mingħajr il-pupa, bdiet ta’ kuljum toqgħod għarkupptejha għal ftit ħin fuq is-sodda tagħha, torbot idejha flimkien u tlissen talba ċkejkna biex forsi l-Bambin ikollu ħniena minnha. Il-mamà kienet tiggustaha wisq meta taraha titlob b’dik il-ħrara u b’dik l-innoċenza kollha.

Meta kienet għoddha tilfet it-tama li l-Bambin jisma’ talbha, Elise sabet pupa oħra, eżatt bħal dik li kellha, tistennieha fuq is-sodda, meta darba waħda ġiet id-dar mill-iskola. Hija nfexxet taqbeż u togħla bil-ferħ u dlonk ħadet ir-ruħ. Il-mama`  u l-papa` setgħu jobsru kemm it-tifla kienet se tkun fis-seba’ sema. Luca ma ried qatt jirrepeti dak li għamel lil oħtu għax kien iddispjaċieh ħafna meta ra kemm il-pupa kienet għażiża għaliha. Ma setax jibqa’ egoist u jippretendi li oħtu tilgħab miegħu biss u ma tilgħabx bil-ġugarelli minħabba fih. Iżda l-akbar kurżita` kienet dwar min kien poġġielha pupa ġdida fuq is-sodda lil Elise. Il-Bambin kien jaf li Elise kienet tifla brava u qalbha tajba, u għaldaqstant kien ipprovda xi ħaġa żejda tal-flus lill-mama` u lill-papa` fl-aħħar tax-xahar biex setgħu jixtrulha pupa oħra u jagħmluha kuntenta.

Charles B. Spiteri

Clara Barton kienet tifla kwieta, iżda bħala adolexxenti, dejjem stqarret li riedet tgħin lis-suldati feruti u lill-vittmi ta’ diżastri. Ipperswadiet ukoll lill-Istati Uniti tingħaqad mas-Salib l-Aħmar Internazzjonali.

Clara twieldet f’Massachusetts u kienet dejjem ħsiebha f’nies inqas tat-tajjeb minnha. Hi fetħet waħda mill-ewwel skejjel bla ħlas għall-pubbliku fi New Jersey, iżda rriżenjat meta ntbagħat raġel biex imexxi fuqha.

Fl-1861, faqqgħet il-Gwerra Ċivili Amerikana. Clara marret fil-kampijiet tal-battalja biex tara kif setgħet tgħin. Ġabret numru ta’ bgħula, li għabbiethom bl-ikel, ilma u provista mediċinali li setgħet tqassam lis-suldati. Ħafna drabi rat il-mewt hi stess.

Fl-1869 marret fl-Ewropa biex tistrieħ, iżda minflok ivvoluntarjat fl-għajnuna li kien hemm bżonn fil-gwerra bejn Franza u l-Prussja.

Organizzat l-għajnuna li kellha tagħti l-Assoċjazzjoni tas-Salib l-Aħmar, li kienet għadha kemm stabbilixxiet ruħha u nsistiet li l-Istati Uniti tingħaqad magħha. Meta fl-1874 irritornat f’pajjiżha għamlet kampanja iebsa u twila biex introduċiet is-Salib l-Aħmar Amerikan. Hi kienet tal-fehma li l-għajnuna ma kellhiex tingħata biss lil suldati feruti, iżda lill-vittmi tal-għargħar, tal-ġuħ u diżastri oħra.

Ix-xewqat tagħha rnexxew u fl-1881 saret l-ewwel President tas-Salib l-Aħmar Amerikan.

Is-Salib l-Aħmar Internazzjonali tnieda minn Henri Dunant fl-1864. Fl-1859 fil-battalja bejn il-Franċiżi u l-Awstrijaċi Dunant baqa’ skantat bl-għajnuna fqira li ngħatat biex ikunu megħjuna s-suldati feruti. Is-Salib l-Aħmar jieħu ħsieb il-ħtiġiet tas-suldati kollha indipendentement min-nazzjonalità jew twemmin tagħhom.

It was just three years ago since her husband, God rest his soul, had left to the other world. He had come into her life to steal her heart and disturb her soul. He was the only man in the world that she had wanted as her companion for life. They had spent thirty wonderful years together. Many times now, sitting in her favourite armchair sipping a hot cup of coffee, she remembered the places they had visited together, the joys and the heartache of everyday life, the charming words he said to amuse her, so many things. How she missed him. 

Ella, her only daughter who had married and was living abroad for the last eighteen years, encouraged her when she phoned to go on outings which the Local Council organised frequently for elderly persons. “We both loved Dad, but we cannot bring him back. You should think of yourself and move on now Mum,” she often told her. She did go for a couple of outings, not because she felt like doing so, but because she did not like to displease her daughter. 

Her new life began when Gianfranco walked into her life. He was born in the Tuscan region of Italy. Life was so much simpler and less hectic over there. “Don’t be sad”, he would tell her, “I want to see you happy and enjoy life”. His English, with a marked Italian accent, uplifted her spirits and brought a smile to her face. 

The first night he stayed at her house in London, she cooked him a hearty English meal of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. He enjoyed it immensely. He then made her sit down, brought her a glass of wine, sat down beside her and both talked for a long time of this, that and the other. 

One lovely summer evening they went to the park together, sat down on a wooden bench and looked at the stars shining in the sky. He told her the names of the stars, how far away they were from our world and other things he had learned at the University in Pisa. She was mesmerised as she had scarce knowledge of the immense universe that surrounds us. On the way back home, he held her arm in his and they walked slowly together to her house, engrossed in each other’s company. 

He felt such a mystery to her, so different, yet every time she looked into his eyes, he filled her with hope. They chatted and got to know each other a little better every day. He told her about his native Tuscany – the lovely little churches, the paintings and sculptures, the sprawling countryside, the food and wine and so many other things. 

After a few days of getting to know him, she observed his easy going way of looking at life. She thought that the hustle and bustle of London life would tire him and he would surely return back to the hills and valleys of his Tuscany. He was never in a hurry; he did a bit now, a bit later and has some fun and rest in between. 

“Why don’t you sit down and enjoy your garden?” he would ask. “Why don’t you stop and look at the flowers?” He charmed her with his dark skin and ebony eyes. “Yes, I should. I did not have so much time before” she replied nostalgically. “I had a job, a husband and a daughter to look after. I’ve spent my life rushing around. Now I’m retired I should relax. You are right dear”. 

She had grown to love him immensely. She had never experienced this kind of love before. There was something special that thrust them together. While previously her time passed slowly by, now it flew so quickly it left her breathless. She enjoyed her time with him so much; she wished he’d never leave her.  

Her daughter often phoned her from abroad to see how she was getting along. Her mum seemed enthusiastic, she was enjoying herself. Her daughter was very pleased that she and Gianfranco had hit it off together, that they like each other and that he was settled with her.

On her part, once he was now to live with her, she showed him the London where she was born and grew up – the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace; the evening band concerts at St. James Park; the flow of the Thames from the railings of Tower Bridge; lounging on deckchairs in Hyde Park watching the squirrels hurry to and fro; the beautiful facades of the theatres along The Strand; the multi-coloured river boats on the canals of Little Venice.

She had met him three weeks ago at the airport. He came over to attend a year’s course at the London School of Economics. He had lived in Italy with his parents since he was just two years old. Her daughter had asked her to look after him during his stay in London. When they saw each other and embraced at Heathrow, his first words were like balm to her “It’s so nice to see you Gran, you look wonderful!”