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Charmaine Tanti M.A.

Kollox kien miexi ħarir, sakemm il-mamà nbidlet mil-lejl għal nhar. Filli kienet tmur għax-xogħol kuljum, u filli bdiet tibqa’ d-dar, tistrieħ fuq is-sufan, u tara t-televixin jew taqra ktieb. Is-soltu mhux biss kienet tlaħħaq mal-karriera tagħha, iżda anki mal-faċendi tad-dar. Issa bilkemm kienet għadha tmiss biċċa tal-art b’idha. Lil Luca u lil Elise bdiet ta’ spiss tibgħathom jilagħbu f’kamrithom għax ma kinitx tiflaħhom jagħmlu l-istorbju fil-kċina. Meta l-papà kien idoqq xi ftit diski Taljani fi tmiem il-ġimgħa, il-mamà kienet tmur tistrieħ minflok ma tiċċaqlaq mar-ritmu u tkanta l-lirika, bħal qabel.

Din l-imġiba stramba tal-mamà ma waqfitx hawn. Meta qorob Jum il-Missier, hija ma wriet ebda entużjażmu, bħas-snin l-oħra. Elise u Luca baqgħu skantati kif ma kienet ħadithom imkien biex jixtru rigal u kartolina lill-papà. Huma bdew jinkwetaw, u jitnikktu għax ħasbu li kien ġralha xi ħaġa lill-mamà, u ma kienet uriethom b’xejn. Jekk lill-papà ma setgħux jagħtuh rigal għax kienu għadhom żgħar wisq biex imorru jixtru waħidhom, huma kienu jafu jagħmlulu kartolina sempliċi! Lejlet Jum il-Missier, Elise qasqset ftit karti bojod, u waħħlithom flimkien bil-kolla. Luca sab stampa sabiħa ta’ plejer tal-futbol mill-magazine, u waħħalha fuq in-naħa ta’ quddiem tal-kartolina. Imbagħad, Elise kitbitlu fuq in-naħa ta’ wara b’ittri kbar: ‘INĦOBBUK, PAPÀ!’

L-għada filgħodu wara l-quddies, il-familja kollha nġabret madwar il-mejda tal-ikel. Il-papà ferra’ t-te lil kulħadd, u ħareġ platt fond mill-armarju, u mlieh bil-gallettini taċ-ċikkulata. Elise marret tiġri f’kamritha, u ġabet il-kartolina. Marret tagħtiha lill-papà, u hu tgħidx kemm ħa gost biha. Il-mamà bdiet titbissem. Issa kien wasal il-waqt li tiżvela s-sorpriża, li kienet ilha taħmi għal dawn l-aħħar ġimgħat.

Il-papà ma  riedx jemmen lil widnejh meta ħa l-aħbar, li se jerġa’ jsir missier. Dan kien l-aqwa rigal, li seta’ jaqla’ dakinhar, propju fil-ġurnata ddedikata lilu. Il-Bambin kien reġa’ ftakar fihom u kien se jagħtihom ġawhra oħra. Elise u Luca mhux biss ferħu li kien se jkollhom żieda fil-familja, iżda ħassewhom li qegħdin jerfgħu biċċa mir-responsabbilita` wkoll. Ma kinux jaraw is-siegħa u l-mument li jaraw lit-tarbija l-ġdida fid-dar tagħhom, u tgħidx kemm ħadu gost iduru l-ħwienet mal-mamà u l-papà biex jixtrulha l-ħwejjeġ u l-ġugarelli.  Ftit tax-xhur wara, twieled Peter, ġmiel ta’ tifel, kemmxejn samrani, u b’għajnejh kbar, żoroq. Malli rawh, Elise u Luca stħajluh pupu tal-laħam, u ma kinux jiċċaqalqu minn ħdejh ħlief biex imorru l-iskola. Il-mamà u l-papà raddew ħajr lill-Mulej talli kompla jżejnilhom ħajjithom b’dan it-teżor. Il-papà kien ferħan id-doppju li kien twelidlu tifel għax kien diġà deċiż li jibda jibagħtu jittrenja l-futbol ma’ ħuh Luca la jitfarfar ftit. Miskina l-mamà! Aktar ma kien idejjaqha l-futbol, aktar kienet se tibqa’ mwikkija bih.

Charles B. Spiteri

Meta twieldet Harriet Beecher Stowe, in-nies fl-istati tan-naħa t’isfel tal-Istati Uniti kienu għadhom iżommu l-ilsiera biex jaħdmu għalihom. Fl-1852 ir-rumanz ta’ Harriet, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, għen biex jipperswadi lill-poplu li l-iskjavitù kellha tinqered.

Harriet twieldet u kibret f’Connecticut. Fl-1832 marret Cincinnati biex tgħallem fil-kulleġġ ta’ oħtha Catherine. Hemmhekk, fix-xatt tal-Punent tax-Xmara Ohio, saret taf bl-orruri tal-iskjavitù, peress li ħafna lsiera kienu jinqabdu quddiem għajnejha jippruvaw jaħarbu billi jaqsmu x-xmara.

Fl-istati ta’ fuq tal-Amerika l-iskjavitù ma kinitx permessa u l-maħrubin saru nies liberi. Madankollu, fl-1850, il-Gvern għadda Att li jgħid li n-Nordiċi kellhom jirritornaw lill-ilsiera kollha tagħhom. Min jonqos li jagħmel dan kien jitqies hu stess bħala kriminal. Harriet, bħal ħafna oħra li xtaqu li titneħħa l-iskjavitù, irrabjat qatigħ li din kienet se titneħħa minn parti waħda tal-Amerika. Kienet diġà kitbet bosta stejjer u artikli kontra min iżomm l-ilsiera. Kitbet ukoll Uncle Tom’s Cabin bħala puntati f’magazin.

L-istorja erojka ta’ skjav maħrub, jaqbeż minn fuq firxa ta’ silġ għal oħra, tul ix-Xmara Ohio, ħafnet l-immaġinazzjoni tal-qarrejja. Ir-rumanz inbiegħ bl-eluf. Illum l-eroj, Tom, hu kritikat għax ma ġġilidx lis-sidien bojod tiegħu, iżda dak iż-żmien l-istorja laqtet ferm lin-nies ta’ dak il-perjodu.

Bejn l-1861 u l-1865 faqqgħet il-Gwerra Ċivili Amerikana bejn il-Unjonisti tan-Nord, li riedu jxejnu għalkollox l-iskjavitù, u l-Konfederati fin-naħa t’isfel, li riedu jżommu l-iskjavi. L-Unjonisti rebħu u l-iskjavitù nqerdet.

Charles B. Spiteri

Dan l-aħħar, żewġt irġiel kienu fiċ-ċentru ta’ misteru mħabbel ftit lil hinn minn Roswell, fi New Mexico, wara li aktarx għebu mix-xena ta’ ħabta kerha b’karozza. Huma dehru seba’ sigħat wara f’għalqa tal-ħmir.

Iż-żewġt irġiel, li isimhom inżamm mistur, ammettew mal-pulizija li kienu qed jixorbu meta f’xi s-sagħtejn ta’ filgħodu kienu qegħdin ’il barra mill-belt sinonima mal-aljeni u l-UFOs.

Ħaddiema tal-Emerġenza u oħrajn tat-tifi tan-nar waslu fix-xena tal-ħabta iżda ma sabu lil ħadd fil-karozza. Seba’ sigħat wara, is-sewwieq ċempel 911 u qal lil min wieġbu li ma setax jiftakar fejn kien il-lejl ta’ qabel. Irrakkonta biss li xħin qamu hu u ħabibu sabu ruħhom f’għalqa bil-ħmir.

Roswell fi New Mexico bdiet tikseb fama internazzjonali fit-8 ta’ Lulju 1947, meta l-ġurnali lokali rrappurtaw li uffiċjali governattivi tal-belt kienu qabdu flying saucer. Iżda minn dak iż-żmien kollox waqa’ f’idejn il-militar.

Iżda t-twemmin fl-attività aljena fil-post wassal lill-Air Force biex tibda investigazzjoni wara kraxx li kien sar fl-1995. Huma kkonkludew li l-UFO kien parti minn balloon varat fl-atmosfera mill-gvern, bħala parti minn programm sigriet ta’ sorveljanza fuq l-Unjoni Sovjetika.

Madankollu kienu bosta dawk li rrifjutaw milli jaċċettaw l-ispjegazzjoni u allegaw li sar kumplott biex jaħbu l-eżistenza ta’ ħajja estraterrestrijali.

It is an accepted fact to all Christian faiths that Adam and Eve were the first man and woman created by God. According to Luke “God created Adam from dust, and then breathed life into him”. Then, in the first-ever ‘surgery’, God removed a rib from Adam’s side and from it he created Eve. When God pronounced judgements for their disobedience, he told the serpent that he would crawl on his belly and eat dust; he told Eve that she and all women after her would have pain in childbirth; and he told Adam that he and all his descendants would experience painful toil on earth until death. When bad Cain murdered good Abel, our fore-parents had another son, Seth, from whom, it must be, we are descended.  

And what about the apple? Was it really an apple? There are different interpretations of this incident that happened at the Garden of Eden. Some say that the word ‘apple’ is symbolic; it means God forbade our fore-parents to do something, but not exactly not to eat an apple. Others say that it was the ‘Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil’ that was forbidden, and others hold that it was truly an apple fruit. I sometimes wonder what today’s picture would be if our fore-parents had not disobeyed God’s wishes. The idyllic life of no labour, no disease and no death, would have meant that today there is no need for work, for hospitals, for cemeteries, for doctors and for undertakers. It would also mean that men and women, thousands of years old, would be roaming the streets of town! I don’t know what to think really. 

But all that was in the very remote past. Today, as it happened, Adam and Eve were drifting smoothly on cloud 9. They had, so many thousands of years ago, by hook or by crook, made it to the Heavenly Gates and into Paradise, but only just. As they looked down on the world below them, they saw 7 billion people on planet Earth spread out over the five continents. All these people were family members but so different in appearance, language, religion, ideologies, culture, skin colour and way of life.  

They noticed how things have progressed since their early and primitive time – skyscrapers in every city, nuclear energy, medical advances, sending rockets to the stars, computers, fashion, entertainment and so many other things besides. But they also saw that the people were in a race to dominate each other and were often intent on hating and hurting each other – wars, killings, burglaries, injustices, accidents and other catastrophes. These self-inflicting sufferings have been repeating themselves so many times over and over again. They never learn. 

Eve elbowed Adam as she pointed downwards. “But there are some very good men and women around. Look at that humble man from Argentina preaching love, peace and brotherhood to everybody; and several others who, unknown and behind the scenes, work tirelessly to help those in need of assistance – the poor; the sick; the elderly, children, those living in war-shattered zones. These are only a few, I know, but they are so good people who need and deserve our support.”  “Yes. It’s a pity that the good ones are only a few”, replied Adam, “What can they do against all those others, intent on making their own world such a bad place to live in?”

Suddenly Adam, still handsome despite the years, turned towards Eve and said to her, “Why did you do it Eve?”  “Do what?” she replied taken aback by his sudden question. “Give me the apple, in the Garden of Eden, remember?” he retorted. “Oh, that”, exclaimed his wife. “It was the ugly serpent. He tempted me and I believed him”. “You know something Eve?” said again Adam, “I didn’t even like it. I have not eaten another one during all these years!” 

“And that damned apple has brought us and our descendants so many troubles and tribulations” said Adam. “Yes, Yes”, replied Eve, “As a result of our folly we and all the members of our family, had to toil for our living, we contacted all kinds of diseases and we had to die”. “Imagine if we had not eaten that apple, what a wonderful life we would have had Eve” said the first man on earth. 

But there is one thing that puzzles me” retorted Adam again. “What?” asked Eve. “Its’ that today, so many thousands of years after we had eaten that apple, the learned doctors on earth tell their patients that ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away!”  

Charles B. Spiteri

Elizabeth Fry kienet mara mhux tas-soltu. Ħafna nies kienu jaraw kif jevitaw il-ħabs iżda hi daħlet fih biex tara b’għajnejha l-ħajja li kienu qed iqattgħu hemm in-nisa u t-tfal. Tant indiehxet b’li rat li qatgħetha tagħmel xi ħaġa biex tbiddel il-qagħda.

Elizabeth twieldet f’Norfolk u l-membri tal-familja tagħha kienu Quakers. Kien fl-1813 li semgħet dwar il-kundizzjonijiet fil-ħabs ta’ Newgate, u ma’ grupp ieħor ta’ Quakers marret iżżur l-agħar ħabs fl-Ingilterra.

Nisa u tfal inġemgħu madwar Elizabeth. Hi osservat kif kienu jilagħbu, jixorbu u jisirqu lil xulxin il-priġunieri, għax ma kellhomx ħaġa oħra x’jagħmlu. Elizabeth marret kemm-il darba b’mod regulari żżur il-ħabs ta’ Newgate.

F’ċella vojta, introduċiet skola għat-tfal u lin-nisa ħaditilhom xogħol ta’ ħjata, li għalih kienet tħallashom. Aktar tard, Elizabeth introduċiet għaqda ta’ għajnuna lill-ħabsin u ppruvat tipperswadi lill-Parlament jibdel il-ħabsijiet. L-awtoritajiet semgħu minnha. Emmnu li l-metodi tagħha ħadmu. U l-ħabsijiet fl-Ewropa, kif ukoll fl-Ingilterra, bdew jinbidlu għall-aħjar.

Il-Quakers huma grupp Kristjan li jemnu immens fil-paċi u fl-għajnuna lil nies oħra. Anki meta kienet ċkejkna, Elizabeth kienet iżżur nies morda u tgħallem kemm tista’ lit-tfal foqra.

Fl-1780, is-sena li fiha twieldet Elizabeth, fil-Ħabs ta’ Newgate kien hemm rewwixta. L-għamara u l-bini ngħataw in-nar u 300 priġunier inħelsu.

Helen and Margaret were sisters but they were as different as chalk and cheese. Helen was outgoing, extrovert, friendly, confident, talkative, noisy, exuberant and always laughing. She was also beautiful with a fine delicate complexion, high cheekbones and long auburn hair that seemed to be always shining. Margaret, on the other hand, was introvert, timid, lonely, more of a listener than a talker and unsure of her place in the world. She was also rather common-looking with a pallid face, slightly protruding nose and mousy black hair which seemed always needing to be combed. 

And yet they were as inseparable as twins – always together, looking after each other, going out together. They had no secrets between them so much so that oftentimes they recounted their dreams and expectations of life. Very often they were in each other’s room, swooning over records of their favourite singers. Helen liked modern singers and bands like One Direction and Rihanna while Margaret favoured the old singers like Elvis Presley, Dean Martin and Johnny Ray. 

Margaret ran single-handedly the town’s library with dedication and fervour that put a smile on her face every day. She was passionate about books, reading everything that came her way, whether they were ‘classics’ or ‘comics’. She knew all there was to know about books and their authors. Clients told her that she was ‘a walking reference book’. She had purposely sought work at the library because she genuinely loved books. She felt calm and at ease in the quite atmosphere of the library surrounded by shelves and shelves of all kinds of books. 

In the evening, when her sister was out with her boyfriend, Margaret liked lounging in the small sitting room engrossed in a new publication while her father smoked his pipe or read the newspaper. The picture-frame on the mantelpiece showed a photo of her mother who had died five years ago. It was, in fact, her Dad who saw to their up-bringing, watching them emerge from teens to young women. And Margaret was Dad’s favourite. “You know Marge”, he told her as he put his newspaper down for a moment, “You may think that beautiful people have an advantage over the likes of you and me. But if Helen’s got beauty, you have brains. You’ll always have a good brain to rely on while beauty fades with age. Just remember that when you feel sometimes envious”. “I’m not envious Dad, but sometimes wish that life is more generous with me, that’s all” replied his daughter. “That’s why you must use the talents you’ve been given Marge, to get what you want from life” retorted her Dad. He patted her affectionately on the knee but he could see that she had more than her fair share of lemons and therefore could understand her attitude to life.

When Helen took up with Ben, she encouraged her sister to go out on dates with friends of her boyfriend. She did go out with a couple of boys but there was no follow-up interest and, therefore, she returned back to her old routine of library work and home by her father. One evening, while smoking his pipe, her Dad noticed that his young daughter was staring at the ceiling. “A penny for your thoughts Marge”, he said. “They aren’t worth a penny Dad”, she replied. “A half-penny then”, he again responded. “They aren’t even worth that much either”, said Margaret in a subdued tone, fed up and feeling miserable. “Some aspects of life are sad dear, but there is nothing we can do to change them”, said her father in an effort to cheer her up. 

One day at the library, she noticed a man looking for a book in the ‘classics’ section. It looked as if he had not found what he was looking for. She left her desk, went over to him and asked if he needed any help. “I’m looking for ‘The Black Arrow’ by Robert Louis Stevenson, but I can’t find it under the ‘S’ shelf”, he replied. She went to check the movement of books loaned out to clients in her computer and found that the book had been loaned out two weeks ago. “It’s out Mr, but it should probably be returned by next week, shall I hold it for you?” she asked. 

When he returned the following week, she gave him the book but they also started chatting about the ‘classics’, what books they liked, their favourite authors and other subjects. His name was Steve and he worked as an accountant. They found that they had a lot in common, especially books. He came frequently to the library and their conversations about books and about life in general continued. Margaret found that she liked him and looked forward to see him. He was decent, intelligent, book lover and, of course, good-looking men don’t come along very often. This could be her spark of happiness. She also hoped that he liked her, despite that she was not beautiful like her sister and that eventually he would invite her for coffee or something. With such small things does love begin, she thought. 

Their unscheduled meetings and literature gossip continued for some weeks. She still harboured hope of a romantic ending with Steve. One day, after discussing the merits of an author and his novels, he asked her – “Are you free next Saturday Margret?” She was stunned. Her heart beat faster than usual; the words she had hoped to hear had finally been said. This was the beginning of something special. “Yes, yes, I am”, she replied. “In that case, I want to invite you to my house for tea, would you accept Marge?” her new-found friend asked. ‘He is serious in his intentions’, she thought and immediately accepted his surprise invitation. She waited, in anticipation for his next words. Then he continued “I want you to meet my wife! She’d be pleased to meet you”.  

Charmaine Tanti

Matul is-sajf, il-mamà kienet taħdem bin-nofstanhari. Kien ikollha aktar ħin liberu mix-xitwa, li fih setgħet tnaddaf id-dar, taħsel il-ħwejjeġ u tistrieħ xi ftit. Kif tasal id-dar mix-xogħol, kienet tiekol xi ħaġa żgħira tal-ikel u l-frott, u wara tintefa’ fuq is-sodda għax is-sħana kienet tħalliha bla saħħa. Is-skiet ta’ madwarha kien idejjaqha u għalhekk kienet tiftaħ ir-radju ta’ fuq il-komodina biex ikollha kumpanija.

Ta’ kuljum, fost il-ġimgħa kien ikun hemm programm fuq wieħed mill-istazzjonijiet tar-radju, li dejjem kien jibda għall-ħabta tal-erbgħa ta’ wara nofsinhar. Il-programm kien jismu “Lenti Fuq Il-Malti” u kien iddedikat kollu kemm hu lil-lingwa u lill-poeżija Maltija.

 Il-mamà kien l-għors tagħha tisimgħu għax kien iġibilha bosta memorji sbieħ tal-lezzjonijiet tal-Malti ta’ tfulitha, li kienet tattendi għalihom b’tant ħerqa l-iskola. Anki għall-eżamijiet tal-Malti dejjem stinkat u studjat għalihom bil-ħeġġa u ta’ kull sena kienet tiġi l-ewwel fihom minn fost xi disgħin studenta. Elise kienet fula maqsuma magħha minħabba li fil-Malti kienet tibbrilla wkoll u tkaxkar il-premjijiet l-iskola. Dnub li fil-ħin tal-programm ma kinitx tkun hemm, iżda fil-vaganzi hi u ħutha ma tantx kienu jfittxu l-kenn tad-dar.

Darba minnhom, il-preżentatur għamel kompetizzjoni ferm interessanti għas-semmiegħa tiegħu. Kienet tikkonsisti f’kitba ta’ poeżija qasira u min kien imħajjar, kellu biss ġimgħa ċans biex jieħu sehem fiha. Il-mamà ħatfet l-opportunità u daħlet għall-kompetizzjoni b’ruħha u b’ġisimha. Riedet tittanta xortiha u tikteb poeżija ta’ ftit versi għall-ewwel darba f’ħajjitha dwar uliedha li għaliha kienu kollox. Damet taħseb x’versi se tikteb, u n-nannu Ġużi għamlilha kuraġġ ta’ sur biex tipparteċipa. Meta l-versi kienu ċari f’moħħha, qagħdet bilqiegħda u ħarbxithom fuq karta:

                                                       Uliedi   

                                                     Uliedi tassew ħelwin.

                                                     Jinkwetawni mhux ħażin

                                                     Għax ftit jew wisq imqarbin.

                                                     Iżda huma tfal tajbin

                                                     Kif iridhom il-Bambin,

                                                     Għax iħobbu lil xulxin.

Wara li lestiet din il-biċċa kitba li semmietha “Uliedi”, il-mamà marret tiġri turiha lin-nannu Ġużi, li tgħidx kemm ferħilha tal-isforz li għamlet għax tassew kellha xogħol tajjeb. Kienet poeżija sempliċi għall-aħħar, li kienet tikxef kemm il-mamà kienet kburija b’uliedha. In-nanna Marija u l-papà wkoll ħadu gost jaqraw din il-poeżija hekk ħelwa. Imbagħad il-mamà ttajpjatha pulita u bagħtitha bid-dettalji tagħha mehmużin magħha lill-programm tar-radju.

L-eċċitament tagħha beda jiżdied dejjem iżjed ma’ kull jum li jgħaddi, u meta waslet il-ġurnata tant mistennija, il-mamà kellha seba’ mitt sena sakemm jibda l-programm. Qalbha bdiet tħabbat sitta sitta xħin il-preżentatur kien se jħabbar ir-rebbieħ tal-kompetizzjoni, u waħħlet widintha mar-radju biex tisma’ sew. Kif intqal l-isem tar-rebbieħ, il-mamà ma riditx temmen lil widnejha u kienet għoddha mietet bil-ferħ. Minnufih, ċemplulha l-papà u n-nanniet biex jgħidulha prosit għax kienu għadhom kemm semgħu isimha jissemma’ bħala r-rebbieħa tal-kompetizzjoni tal-aqwa poeżija. Dakinhar il-papà kompla jikkonferma kemm il-mamà kienet tinqala’ għal kollox, u bis-saħħa tal-kapaċita` tagħha, Elise, Luca u Peter gawdew il-premju li rebħet. Il-vawċer ta’ tmenin ewro f’xiri ta’ kotba, li rċeviet xi ħmistax wara bil-posta mingħand l-isponsor tal-kompetizzjoni, nefqitu kollu għalihom biex ikollhom ħafna kotba x’jaqraw u b’hekk tgħinhom jitjiebu iżjed fil-Malti.

                                                               TMIEM

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.