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miktuba minn Fiona Vella

Skont studju akkademiku li wettqet Jill Lane li jirrelata ma’ riflessjonijiet dwar it-traġedji u l-fotografija, hija tgħid illi l-fotografija dejjem tieħu s-sura ta’ leħħa ta’ berqa. Dan minħabba li permezz tagħha, wieħed donnu jagħma għal ftit biex imbagħad jillumina ruħu u jara aħjar. Hi tkompli tispjega illi f’sitwazzjonijiet traġiċi, ir-ritratti kapaċi jifirdu l-preżent mill-passat, hekk kif huma jaqbdu sitwazzjoni u jimmortalizzawha waqt li din tkun diġà saret parti mill-passat. B’hekk dik l-immaġni bħal donnha toħloq xaqq ta’ realtà bejn il-ħajja ta’ dak il-ħin u l-ħajja ta’ issa.

Minn naħa l-oħra, fil-ktieb tiegħu ‘Camera lucida: reflections on photography’, Roland Barthes jisħaq illi l-fotografija kapaċi tikkrea punt li jipprovdi aċċess sottili għal dak li jsir oltre minnu. Għalhekk, bħal kif dari kien isir fid-drama tat-traġedji Griegi, fejn in-nies kienet tifhem xorta x’ġara akkost li l-vjolenza tkun seħħet ‘wara l-palk’, daqstant ieħor jiġri bil-fotografija meta wieħed ikun kapaċi jirrifletti sewwa dwar il-ħsara li tkun saret anki jekk ma jidher xejn fir-ritratt.

Sitt xhur biss differenza

Alexander James Littlejohn qabel it-trageda tat-Titanic. Infatti kien permezz ta’ żewġ ritratti li ġew f’idejn Philip Littlejohn li hu seta’ jixtarr tassew dak li għadda minnu nannuh Alexander meta dan esperjenza waħda mill-agħar traġedji li qatt rat id-dinja – l-għarqa tal-vapur Titanic.

“L-ewwel ritratt kien ħadu ftit taż-żmien qabel salpa fuq it-Titanic,” spjegali Philip. “Kif qed tara, fih tidher immaġni komuni ta’ raġel ta’ 40 sena, b’xagħru skur u b’mustaċċi folti. Issa jekk tħares lejn ir-ritratt l-ieħor tiegħu, żgur li taħseb li dan ħadu wara bosta snin, peress li xagħru u x-xagħar t’għajnejh huma bojod karti, daqs li kieku xjaħ. Madanakollu, fir-realtà, iż-żmien li għadda bejn iż-żewġ ritratti kien biss ta’ sitt xhur!”

Bilkemm ridt nemmen lil għajnejja. U nistqarr li ksaħt meta ħarsti ġriet minn ritratt għall-ieħor. Għax akkost li r-ritratti kienu jidhru sempliċi, issa stajt nifhem li dawn kienu xhieda tan-niket u s-sofferenza kbira li għadda minnhom dak il-bniedem.

L-14 t’April 1912

Fil-11:40pm, fl-14 t’April 1912, RMS Titanic, l-akbar vapur mibni biex jivvjaġġa fuq l-oċeani, ħabat mal-quċċata ta’ massa ta’ silġ li qattgħet fih diversi toqob f’numru ta’ sezzjonijiet tiegħu u f’temp ta’ ftit ħin, destinu flimkien ma’ dawk li kienu rekbin fuqu, inbidel mill-lejl għan-nhar. Fil-fatt, il-vapur li kien intqal li lanqas Alla ma kien kapaċi jgħerrqu daqs kemm kien maħdum bir-reqqa, inbela’ taħt l-ilma ftit siegħat wara; eżattament fis-2:20am. Kien mument tal-waħx hekk kif dawk li rnexxielhom jirkbu d-dgħajjes tas-salvataġġ iċċassaw imbikkma lejn il-vapur għadu mixgħul, jinqasam u jinżel fl-abbissi mudlama b’aktar minn 1500 passiġġier li kienu għadhom abbord.

L-għażla ta’ min se jsalva u min le

Alexander James Littlejohn – sitt xhur wara t-trageda tat-Titanic – “Kien lejl fejn kellhom jittieħdu għadd ta’ deċiżjonijiet sinifikanti u diffiċli fi ftit tal-ħin u permezz tagħhom tfassal min kellu jsalva u min le,” irrakkuntali Philip.

Fost dawn l-għażliet, bla dubju, kien hemm uħud li ħammru wiċċ bosta hekk kif l-aktar passiġġieri għanja ġew magħżula fost il-bqija sabiex iħallu l-vapur l-ewwel. Fl-istess ħin, kien hemm ukoll il-mumenti erojċi fejn għadd ta’ rġiel iddeċidew li jibqgħu fuq il-vapur ħalli jċedu posthom lin-nisa u lit-tfal.

“Min jaf x’kien ikun id-destin ta’ nannuwi Alexander James Littlejohn, li kien sempliċiment baħri li kien qed jieħu ħsieb is-sezzjoni tal-Ewwel Klassi tal-passiġġiera tat-Titanic, li kieku mhux għax dan ġie ordnat biex jitla’ fuq id-dgħajsa tas-salvataġġ numru 13 sabiex jaqdef u jieħu għas-sigurtà lill-35 mara u tfal li kienu fuqha?” staqsa Philip.

Il-ġrajja minn fomm wieħed li salva

Meta staqsejtu jekk nannuh kienx ikellmu dwar din il-ġrajja, Philip stqarr illi bħal ħafna min-nies l-oħra li salvaw minn din it-traġedja, huwa rarament kien ilissen xi ħaġa rigward dak il-lejl. Però fl-1912, huwa kien ta din l-intervista lil ‘The Daily Telegraph’:

“Mort biex nimla’ d-dgħajsa numru 13 u fiha telgħu madwar 35 mara u tfal. Peress li kien hemm spazju għal aktar nies, bdejna nsejjħu lil nisa oħrajn sabiex jiġu magħna imma ħadd ma resaq. Għalhekk, minflok, telgħu magħna xi rġiel li kienu tal-Ewwel Klassi. Uffiċċjal tat-Titanic ordna sabiex jitilgħu żewġ baħrin ma’ dawn in-nies biex jaqdfu d-dgħajsa, u b’xorti tajba, ipponta lejja…. F’ħin minnhom, rajna t-Titanic jgħereq min-naħa ta’ quddiem. Stajna naraw li kien għadu mixgħul u hekk kif beda jinbela mill-ilma, d-dawl beda jintefa ftit ftit. Bqajna nħarsu lejn il-vapur nieżel bil-mod sakemm f’daqqa waħda, donnu ta’ s-salt u hekk kif inqata’ d-dawl kollu li kellu fuqu, għosfor minn wiċċ l-ilma. Immedjatament wara bdejna nisimgħu qabda krib tal-biża’ u sejħiet għall-ajjut. Kien mument terribbli u ta’ qsim il-qalb.”

Għal bosta snin, Alexander kien imexxi żewġ ħwienet tax-xorb f’Londra u Sussex. Imbagħad meta mietet martu fl-1910, huwa telaq ibaħħar u ħalla warajh it-tliet uliedu ċkejknin. Oħtu bdiet teħodlu ħsiebhom meta fl-1911, huwa beda jaħdem mal-kumpanija White Star Line. Kumbinazzjoni, beda x-xogħol fuq l-RMS Olympic meta din ħarġet fuq l-ewwel vjaġġ tagħha. Imbagħad fis-sena ta’ wara, huwa salpa mal-RMS Titanic li wkoll kien qiegħed jagħmel l-ewwel ħarġa tiegħu fuq il-baħar. Iżda x-xebħ bejn dawn it-tnejn jieqaf s’hemm minħabba li l-aħħar vjaġġ, kellu jimmarkalu ħajtu u d-dehra tiegħu għal dejjem. Sorprendentement, minkejja din l-esperjenza trawmatika, f’Ottubru tal-1912, huwa reġa’ beda jaħdem fuq il-baħar.

L-iżgħar superstita tat-Titanic

Mingħajr ma kien jaf, meta Alexander qadef kemm jiflaħ id-dgħajsa numru 13 biex isalva lin-nies li kien hemm fuqha, miegħu kien hemm l-iżgħar persuna li finalment rnexxielha ssalva mill-għarqa. Din kienet Millvina Dean li f’dak iż-żmien kellha biss disgħa ġimgħat. Aktar tard, hija kienet l-aħħar superstita minn dawk kollha li għexu din it-traġedja. Millvina u Alexander qatt ma ltaqgħu aktar u hu miet fl-1949 fl-età ta’ 77 sena. Madanakollu, hi rnexxielha tiltaqa’ man-neputi tiegħu Philip u dan għamel aktar minn 10 snin jaħdem magħha fuq ir-radju u t-televiżjoni. Millvina ħalliet id-dinja ta’ 97 sena f’Mejju tal-2009 u Philip kien preżenti għaċ-ċerimonja meta l-irmied tagħha ġie mxerred fil-baħar minn fejn it-Titanic kien salpa fuq l-ewwel u l-aħħar vjaġġ tiegħu.

“Kien fatt ironiku li Millvina Dean u t-Titanic kellhom l-istess età,” fakkarni Philip. “Millvina kienet xtaqet ħafna tattendi għall-vjaġġ li sar fuq MS Barmoral sabiex jikkommemora l-100 anniversarju minn din it-traġedja terribbli u infatti konna ppjanajna li mmorru flimkien. Ta’ min isemmi li missierha kien wieħed minn dawk l-irġiel qalbiena li kien tqabad fost dik il-folla ta’ nies iddisprati li riedu jħallu l-vapur sakemm irnexxielu jtella’ lil martu u lil bintu fuq dgħajsa tas-salvataġġ. Ommha spiss irrakkuntatilha li kif ra li kienu sikuri fid-dgħajsa, hu tbissmilhom u sellmilhom, imbagħad tahom dahru u mexa ‘l ġewwa sabiex jistenna t-tmiem kiefer li kien jaf li ser jgħaddi minnu.”

Għalkemm Millvina ma rnexxiliex tgħix sakemm sar dan il-vjaġġ, Philip inkluda l-ġrajja tagħha fis-serje ta’ lekċers li huwa taha lill-passiġġiera li kienu preżenti fuq MS Balmoral. Naturalment, huwa ma naqasx li jaqsam ukoll it-tifkiriet ta’ nannuh u dawk ta’ xi superstiti oħra li eventwalment inġabru mill-baħar mill-vapur Carpathia.

Vjaġġ biex jikkomemmora seklu mit-traġedja

Il-vapur MS Balmoral salpa fl-10 t’April 2012 minn Southampton sabiex isegwi bl-eżatt ir-rotta li kien ħa t-Titanic 100 sena qabel. Fuqu, huwa kellu 1,309 passiġġier; l-istess numru ta’nies li kellu fuq t-Titanic. Waqt il-vjaġġ ta’ 12 il-lejl, fuq l-MS Barmoral ġew offruti l-istess ikliet li kien hemm fil-menu tat-Titanic. Barra minn hekk, banda ta’ ħames mużiċisti ġiet mistiedna fuq il-vapur sabiex toħloq mill-ġdid l-istess atmosfera li kien hemm fuq il-vapur ta’ destin ikrah.

Fil-lejl tal-14 t’April, dan il-vjaġġ kommemorattiv, waqaf fil-post fejn it-Titanic jinsab mgħarraq u hemm saret ċerimonja f’isem dawk li ħallew ħajjithom f’dawk l-inħawi fl-1912. Wara, dan il-vapur kompla fi triqtu lejn Halifax, il-Kanada fejn għadd minn dawk li tilfu ħajjithom waqt din it-traġedja kienu jinsabu midfuna. Eventwalment, dan il-vjaġġ intemm fi New York; il-post fejn it-Titanic kien mistenni li jasal seklu qabel imma baqa’ qatt ma tfaċċa’.

Sinċerament, ma nafx jekk jien kienx ikolli l-kuraġġ li ningħaqad ma’ dawn il-passiġġiera li rħewlha għal dan il-vjaġġ partikolari għax ma tantx inħobb nisfida wisq id-destin.

Philip stqarr illi, “Kien hemm xi kritiċi li maqdru din l-idea għax rawha makabra u mhux flokha. Imma għalija, dan kien vjaġġ uniku li permezz tiegħu stajt inżur post li hu tant sinifikattiv għall-familja tiegħi. L-istess qalu għadd ta’ passiġġiera oħra li l-familji tagħhom kienu għaddew mill-istess trawma.”

Wiċċ imb wiċċ mat-Titanic

Iżda fir-realtà, Philip letteralment daħal aktar fil-fond f’din l-istorja hekk kif fid-29 ta’ Lulju 2001, huwa kellu l-opportunità li jirkeb f’sottomarin żgħir li ħadu 3,800 metru taħt il-baħar sabiex jara mill-qrib il-fdalijiet tat-Titanic.

“Minn meta t-Titanic instab fl-1985, niżlu numru ta’ individwi ħdejh. Iżda jiena kont l-ewwel wieħed li kelli membru tal-familja fuq it-Titanic,” qalli Philip.

“Dakinhar kont twassalt fuq il-post mill-istess vapur Russu li uża l-grupp ta’ James Cameron meta kienu qed jaħdmu d-dokumentarju ‘Ghosts of the Abyss’. Il-baħar kien lixx daqs iż-żejt. Kont qisni xi sewwieq tal-Formula 1 meta lbist il-ħwejjeġ protettivi kontra n-nar bħala prekawzjoni kontra l-ammont ta’ ossiġnu qawwi li kien ser ikun hemm fis-sottomarin. Finalment, tlajna fuq is-sottomarin Mir 1 u bdejna niżlin fil-qiegħ. L-ilma nbidel minn ikħal, għal aħdar, għal iswed aktar ma bdejna niġbdu ‘l isfel. Ma stajna nilmħu xejn li jurina kemm konna niżlin ‘l isfel fl-Atlantiku ħlief il-figuri tal-indikatur li bdew jixgħelu quddiemna ħalli juruna f’liema profondità konna qegħdin.”

“Konnha tlieta abbord inkluż il-pilota Russu. Miegħi kien hemm wieħed li kien għamel riċerka qawwija dwar it-Titanic u għalhekk kien eċitat ferm li fl-aħħar kien ser jara dan il-vapur mill-qrib. Min-naħa l-oħra, ħsibijieti marru fuq nannuwi u f’moħħi staqsejt x’kienet tkun ir-reazzjoni tiegħu li kieku kellu jkun hemm miegħi, 89 sena wara li seħħet dik it-traġedja.”

“Ħadna sagħtejn u nofs sakemm ilħaqna l-fdalijiet tal-vapur. Intbaħna li wasalna hekk kif ħabta u sabta t-Titanic tfaċċa taħt id-dawl tal-bozoz tas-sottomarin tagħna. Kien f’dak il-mument ukoll li rajna d-dawl tas-sottomarin Mir 2 li kien niżel magħna. Permezz ta’ żewġ idejn robotiċi, is-sottomarini ħallew plakka kommemorattiva ħdejn it-Titanic; waħda mill- British Titanic Society u l-oħra għall-ħaddiema tal-post li tilfu ħajjithom waqt li kienu qed jippruvaw jiġbru l-ittri kollha hekk kif it-Titanic ħabat mas-silġ.”

“Wieħed mill-aktar mumenti memorabbli kien meta sibna ruħna fil-parti fejn kien hemm id-dgħajjes tas-salvataġġ għax proprju hemm kien nannuwi f’dak il-lejl fatali,” ftakar Philip. “Madanakollu, kont emozzjonat ħafna wkoll meta għaddejna minn medda ta’ madwar 800 metru li fiha kienu għadhom jidhru sewwa xi oġġetti tal-passiġġiera li tkaxkru f’dan il-lwog meta għereq it-Titanic.”

B’kollox dan il-vjaġġ ħa sitt siegħat hekk kif huma kellhom bżonn sagħtejn u nofs oħra biex reġgħu telgħu fil-wiċċ. Meta staqsejt lil Philip jekk qattx għaddielu minn rasu li seta’ jinqala’ xi inċident waqt li kienu ħdejn it-Titanic, huwa weġibni li lanqas biss qatt ħaseb dwar dan.

Għall-kuntrarju ta’ ċerti kritiċi li jsostnu li l-post fejn it-Titanic jinsab mgħarraq għandu jiġi rispettat daqs ċimiterju u għalhekk għandu jitħalla fil-kwiet, Philip Littlejohn jemmen li din il-ġrajja għandha tibqa’ titfakkar ħalli b’hekk ma ninsewx.

Fil-ktieb tiegħu ‘Waiting for Orders’ huwa jirrakkonta ġrajjet nannuh, “Inħoss li huwa obbligu li niftakru dak il-lejl infernali li ħalla warajħ tant vittmi fejn bosta kienu dawk li ġabu ruħhom ta’ eroj. B’hekk nittama wkoll li din l-istorja ma terġa’ qatt tirrepeti ruħha.”

 (Dan l-artiklu ġie ppubblikat fis-sensiela MINN RITRATT (4 parti) fit-Torċa tat-12 t’April 2015)

From my small balcony overlooking the Lake, I could see the tourists embarking on boats to go to Bellaggio, Tremezzo, Varenna and the other enchanting towns and villages on the Lake. On my right, the caterpillar train was slowly climbing the Brunate mountain, taking people there to be closer to nature. Nearby, the strong smell of good coffee coming from the cafeteria below my balcony, filled my nostrils.

I checked my mobile to see if I had any messages, wanting and not wanting to receive any. The screen stared vacantly back at me and I put it back in my bag, only to take it out again and check a few seconds later. I stared again at the scene before me. The sun was up, shedding colour on the buildings, the blue sea glittered and the boats plied the Lake from one end to the other. I shielded my eyes against the glare with my arm, hoping my mood would improve as the day got hotter.

I had come to Como to rest and think things over in peace after a few problems had cropped up in my life. My mother, widowed for the last few years, had died a few weeks ago. I had reeled from her death, missed her terribly, she was so part of my life.
Also Brian and I have had frequent arguments lately culminating in a rather big one some days ago when I had stormed out of the house after a shouting match. Was it the end of my marriage? I just don’t know. I needed some time and space to think things over.
Brian had since been phoning me but I did not reply. He had also been texting me endless messages which I ignored or only just glanced at. He wanted us to get together again, make an effort to make our marriage work again. He was convinced that we could do it. But was I?

I was angry with myself for giving in to melancholy. I grabbed my sun hat, slipped my sandals and made my way out of the hotel, crossed the piazza and walked along the promenade. There were a lot of people about, mostly tourists starting on their sightseeing for the day. I noticed this endless procession of people of different nationalities communicating in various languages. There were young couples embracing each other without a care in the world, older ones holding hands and guiding each other with care and students overflowing with energy, laughing at each other’s antics. I wondered what their life was really like, whether they too had problems.

Sitting on the wooden bench facing the shimmering Lake, I let my mind wander and go back to far-away London. Brian and I had met at a friend’s birthday party, we started dating, he came to our house and met my mother and after some time, we married and set up house in nearby Chiswick. Brian loved children very much but we both led a hectic life and I never gave it much thought or importance. I remember Mum telling me before and after marriage, that all marriages have their ups and downs, that life is not always a bed of roses. She insisted that you have to make marriage work by compromising, by giving besides taking, by showing love to one another. I now remembered all these things. Sometimes, however, we forget the things we don’t want to remember. It was now nearing noon.

The sun was getting hot. I crossed the busy piazza again, entered the cafeteria of the hotel, sat down on an outside chair in the shade and ordered a cappuccino. Various boats still plied the bay. People were in movement everywhere. The piazza thrived with activity. The telephone rang again. I retrieved it from the bag. It was Brian but I did not reply. Perhaps he was trying to find where I was, to discover my hiding place. But I still felt comfortable in my loneliness. I looked at the heart-shaped chocolate coating on top of my cappuccino. It is nice to have everything exactly as you wish. But life is not like that, is it? Things happen that we cannot change and we have to learn to deal with them as best we can. I have to learn to accept other people’s weaknesses as well as their strengths, particularly because I have discovered that I am weaker than I thought. 

I remembered King Solomon’s wise words when he was pondering on life’s ups and downs. In the book of Ecclesiastes he wrote – “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” Perhaps for me it was time to heal the wounds of the past and look forward to the joys of the future.

My mother’s wise and gentle words came again to my mind – “Make your marriage work”; “Don’t be stubborn in love”. I finished my coffee and recalled a time when Brian and I were so much in love, the kisses and the laughter, the hugs and the smiles. “We could do it again”, I said to myself. “Especially now, especially now!”

I placed my hand on my belly. Through the folds of my dress I caressed the new life inside me. I took out the phone from my bag and with shaking fingers typed a message – “Come to me Brian. I’m at the Bayview hotel in Como. I have something to tell you.”  

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Terz tal-poplu Ingliż ma jafux li Charles Dickens kiteb Great Expectations. Dan ħareġ fid-dieher minn stħarriġ li sar fuq il-qari. Persuna minn kull sitta li ġew mistoqsija jafux min kiteb Hamlet, wieġbu li ma jafux.

Dickens u Shakespeare mhumiex l-uniċi awturi magħrufin li sezzjonijiet kbar tal-poplu ma jafux bihom – 28 fil-mija tal-adulti ammettew li qatt ma qraw xi ktieb tagħhom. Mhux hekk biss, talli persuna minn kull sebgħa intervistati stqarret li fl-aħħar sena ma qratx lanqas ktieb wieħed.

L-istudju wera li ħafna nies mhux biss irnexxielhom ikomplu l-istudju tagħhom bla ma qatt qraw letteratura klassika fid-dettall, tallli l-istess drawwa baqgħet tkompli f’ħajjithom sakemm kibru. Irriżulta wkoll li 12 fil-mija biss qraw ir-rumanz Much Ado About Nothing; 18 fil-mija Cather in the Rye, u 26 fil-mija għażlu Pride and Prejudice – minkejja l-popolarità enormi tiegħu bħala drama televiżiva u fiċ-ċinematografu.

L-istudju sar fuq 2,000 ruħ. Kwart mill-adulti qalu li qraw inqas minn ħames kotba fl-aħħar sena u l-medja telgħet għal seba’ kotba. Nofs dawk li jaqraw inqas minn għaxar kotba f’sena, qalu li ma jsibux ħin għall-qari u kwart minnhom qalu li jippreferu jagħmlu xi ħaġa oħra. 

Mill-istħarriġ ħareġ ukoll li l-aktar ħin popolari fost in-nies għall-qari tal-kotba hu qabel l-irqad, meta jkunu daħlu fis-sodda. Kien hemm numru ċkejken minn dawk intervistati li stqarrew li l-aktar li jaqraw hu meta jkunu għal xi vaganza.
 

Joseph Henry Abela, Qassis

Il-Malti jgħid: Asħaħ kelmet il-Malti minn kelmet is-sultan u kieku kull min għandu daqna raġel kieku l-bodbod missier l-irġiel.

Fihom x’ taħseb u fl-istess waqt iserrħulek rasek li fid-dinja ssib minn kollox. Tkun żgħir: temmen u toħlom u tibla’ wkoll. Maż-żgħożija tibda tnaqqi u tara min iwiegħed u ma jasalx, u min fommu sieket u ssibu miegħek.

Hemm nies li tismagħhom u tifraħ għax kliemhom balzmu u tassew tħossok il-ġenna magħhom u tfittex tkun qribhom u ħdejhom. Oħrajn ipinġu bi kliemhom u jfasslu u milli għedna ma hemm xejn. Dawn ikunu nies tal-paroli.

Ġorġ Preca il-qaddis Malti kien jgħid ‘Għandna paroli’. Fil-ħajja trid tagħraf tagħżel, tkompli ma’ kulħadd u min hu paroli iżżomu talli hu. L-oħrajn mexxi magħhom (in-nies tal-kelma) kemm tista’.

Dejjem tista’ tiżloq u tiżgarra, imma ma tkunx  waqgħet id-dinja. Tagħmilx plejtu: uża moħħok u dawwar ir-rotta; il-kliem (dak li tgħid u temmen) tridu, il-paroli evitaħ.

Saħħa !

Kien beda Awwissu u l-festa ta’ Santa Liena kienet fil-qrib. Xi jiem qabel, il-mamà ħadet lil Luca u lil Elise sa Tas-Sliema, u xtratilhom libsa u żarbun mis-sbieħ nett. Imbagħad lejlet il-festa, marru għand in-nanna Marija u n-nannu Ġużi. Malli dalam, in-nanniet u t-tfal irħewlha lejn il-pjazza ta’ Birkirkara biex igawdu l-atmosfera tal-festa. Kullimkien kien maħnuq bin-nies. In-nannu refa’ lil Luca fuq spallejh biex jara l-murtali li bdew ifaqqgħu waħda f’waħda fis-smewwiet. In-nanna u Elise qagħdu jħarsu lejn il-vetrini tal-qubbajt. It-tiżwieqa ta’ kuluri tas-sigarri tal-qubbajt imkebbin fil-fidda roża, ħadra, blu u vjola kienet iżżid mal-atmosfera allegruża tal-festa.

Mat-tokki ta’ nofsillejl beda l-ġigġifogu. Kulħadd sab postu fuq iz-zuntier tal-knisja u fil-pjazza biex isegwi l-ispettaklu. Luca u Elise baqgħu ċċassati jħarsu lejn ir-roti jduru bin-nar ikkulurit għax tassew kien fihom gost x’tara. Kien tard ħafna xħin in-nanniet u t-tfal marru lura d-dar u daħlu jorqdu mill-ewwel.

L-għada kulħadd qam kmieni u libes f’ħakka t’għajn. Elise kienet donnha pupa bil-libsa bajda silġ kollha fjuri roża żgħar u bil-kappell tat-tiben f’rasha li kien jaqta’ sew mal-kulur qastni ta’ xagħarha. Lil ħuha wkoll xeraqlu l-qalziet qasir jagħti fiċ-ċelest u l-qmis oranġjo bil-rigi bojod. In-nanna Marija żanżnet libsa roża l-ġmiel tagħha u n-nannu Ġużi libes qalziet griż u qmis bajda.

Wara ftit tal-ħin il-familja kollha marret fil-Bażilika ta’ Santa Liena. Luca u Elise kienu aktar ħsiebhom fil-marċi milli fil-paniġierku. Malli ntemmet il-quddiesa bdiet il-purċissjoni bl-istatwa ta’ Santa Liena fost l-għajjat, iċ-ċapċip u d-daqq tal-marċi. Wara ftit, Luca ntefa’ bilqiegħda ħdejn il-papà u kważi raqad, iżda Elise kompliet iddur qalb il-karti mitfugħin mit-twieqi tan-nies u tiżfen mal-marċi. Sadanittant in-nannu qagħad jixrob il-birra mal-ħbieb tiegħu u n-nanna u l-mamà qagħdu jitkellmu ma’ xi ġirien.

Wara d-dħul tal-istatwa u l-barka sagramentali kulħadd telaq lejn id-dar u poġġa madwar il-mejda tal-ikel. Ir-riħa tfuħ tal-istuffat tal-fenek kienet ilha tinxtamm minn filgħodu. Issa kien imiss li jittiekel flimkien mal-ispagetti. Meta l-familja kollha kienet kielet u xorbot bil-qalb, in-nanna ħarġet il-plattini u serviet is-suflè. Kif  raw lil kulħadd medhi jitkellem, Luca u Elise marru baxx baxx fis-salott biex jiskopru x’kien hemm fiż-żewġ pakketti żgħar miksijin bil-karta minn lewn il-fidda li kienu lemħu aktar kmieni fuq l-armarju tal-kewba. Iżda kienu qegħdin fil-għoli wisq u ma setgħux jilħquhom. F’daqqa waħda semgħu lin-nanna tgħajtilhom b’dak il-leħen ħelu tagħha. Huma ħarsu lejn xulxin, u ftehmu li mal-ewwel ċans li jkollhom jerġgħu jiżgiċċaw sas-salott.

Kienu saru madwar l-erbgħa ta’ wara nofsinhar xħin il-mamà u l-papà bdew jaħsbu biex imorru lejn id-dar. In-nanna Marija refgħet lil Luca u lil Elise u tathom bewsa fuq il-warda ta’ wiċċhom. In-nannu Ġużi mar fis-salott, ħa ż-żewġ pakketti minn fuq l-armarju, u newwilhom lit-tfal. Wiċċhom xegħel għax saflaħħar kienu qabdu l-oġġetti misterjużi b’idejhom. Tahom ferħ ta’ ġenn sakemm qattgħu l-karti tal-fidda, u xħin sabu żewġ kotba bil-Malti tgħidx kemm qabżu bil-ferħ, u għannqu waħda kbira lin-nannu. Wara ftit, il-mamà, il-papà u t-tfal rikbu fil-karozza, u n-nanniet baqgħu jxejrulhom sakemm tbiegħdu sew mit-triq.

Laura was taking a strong cup of Earl Grey tea in her small kitchen, thoughtfully and calmly. The family photo, mounted on a small silver frame, looked down on her from the mantelpiece. It showed a beaming man posing on a sandy beach. A woman beside him was holding on to his arm. A ten year old girl, in a red bathing costume, was perched on his shoulders. 

How well she remembered that day. It was in Blackpool, during their summer holiday some twelve years ago, when her father was on leave from his naval base in Portsmouth. She used to look forward so much to her annual holiday by the seaside. What a happy family they were then. How time flies!

It was now two years since both her parents had died within a few months of each other leaving her alone in this house in Chester. Both her parents would have approved of Daniel, especially Dad who was, like him, a keen football follower. She had met Daniel Johnson six months ago when they were both following a short computer course at the Polytechnic in her home town. She had then just turned 21. They used to have coffee together during lesson breaks. They opened up to each other and talked about a hundred and one different things. They knew, after only a short time, that it was the beginning of something special for both of them. 

Daniel was not a handsome man. Hardly! His nose was large, his mouth stretched too much and his eyes drooped on both sides of his face.  But he had a winning smile. Every time he smiled his face shone, changing its configuration completely. Being a keen singer herself, they attended karaoke nights at the Carlton Club where she would enjoy herself singing ballads and other songs especially ‘Danny Boy’ which was undeniably Daniel’s favourite. He told her about Edinburgh, his home town in Scotland. It is, he said with pride, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe draped across a series of rolling hills overlooking the sea. 

Their romance prospered and, after a short time, he invited her to come with him for a short visit to his birth town. There he showed her around this historic capital city which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. Daniel drove her around quaint little villages that nestle around the city. They walked hand in hand along narrow country lanes; window shopped in busy main streets and looked around lovely public gardens. She enjoyed it immensely especially because she was close to the man she had grown to love so much. She vowed that she will continue to remember that day forever. When the computer course ended and he had to go back to Edinburgh, he promised to phone her and continue their love story.     Days, weeks and months passed since his departure. She waited for the promised call or letter. Her new-found happiness was slowly ebbing away. But he never phoned and he never wrote.

Laura did not believe that he must have met another girl and that their own love was over. Their love was short but it was too genuine for him or for her to forget so easily. She was sure that there must have been a plausible reason for him not to contact her. But, subconsciously, she was certain that Daniel still loved her.  In time, which is a great healer, she put her love experience behind her and immersed herself in her work. There was so much to do. Following the computer course she was appointed as supervisor and was having great satisfaction in her work. She made new friends and had dates with different young men from her office. Six months passed. She decided to go on a holiday. But where? London was very metropolitan and too chaotic. Blackpool and other seaside resorts would be too crowded and full of children. No, she wanted somewhere else. Edinburgh? Why not? It would give her the chance to see the sites which Daniel had shown her and which she had loved so much. And maybe look him up or make enquiries about him somewhere.

She arrived at Edinburgh station on a cold January morning and, following directions from a tourist map, set out on her visits – Princess Street, the Castle, the Royal Mile, the magnificent monument of Sir Walter Scott. Daniel had told her that Edinburgh was very closely connected with Alexander Graham Bell, the engineer and telephone pioneer; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the famous Sherlock Holmes; J.R. Rowland, the author of the Harry Potter books; Robert Louis Stevenson, who wrote Treasure Island and other classical books; Sean Connery and others. 

One evening, while strolling down Princess Street, she heard singing coming from a pub sited nearby at the end of the street. A Karaoke was on. She entered the place filled with jovial Scots lads and lasses singing their hearts out and enjoying themselves immensely. The announcer was shouting through the microphone. “Any one here game for a solo song?” Caught in the joyful atmosphere of her surroundings, Laura went up the stage, whispered to the band leader, took the mike in her hands and said – “This song is for one who is very close to my heart, wherever his is today !” Then she began to sing Daniel’s favourite song. 

“Oh Danny Boy, the pipes are all now calling,

From glen to glen and down the mountain side.

The summer’s gone, and all the flowers are dying.

If you must go, then go and I must wait and bide,

But come you back when summer’s in the meadow

Or when the valleys hushed are covered white with snow,

I’ll be here waiting in sunshine or in shadow.

Oh Danny Boy, Oh Danny Boy, I love you so.

And if you come when the flowers are all dying,

And I am dead as dead I well may be,

You’ll come and find the place where I’m lying,

And kneel to say an ‘Ave’ there for me. 

Then I shall hear how soft you tread above me

And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be 

If you’ll not fail to tell me that you love me,

I’ll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

Oh Danny Boy. Oh Danny Boy, I love you so. 

The crowd was enthusiastic. They cheered, clapped and shouted for more. They had not heard such a lovely voice for a long time. Everyone was familiar with the powerful words of this song but never before had they heard it sung in such a way. There was not a sound while Laura was singing. Even the barmen stopped their service and, spellbound, concentrated on the heavenly voice. Laura’s caressing words bathed the cool night in soft gentle warmth, weaving a magical spell all around. “But come you back when the summer’s in the meadow, or when the valleys are white with snow.” Her lovely voice rang out clear and fine, as now the folks began to sing along with her, until the chorus swelled so strong that it could have been heard many miles away. “For I’ll be here in sunshine or in meadow – Oh Danny boy, Oh Danny boy, I love you so ….”

The song had never moved her so deeply. Where was her Daniel? If only he could hear her sing his song. When her sad eyes scanned those faces all reaching out to her, she saw one other who stabbed her heart. It was an old man who appeared to be isolated from the crowd – a small solitary figure lost in his thoughts, his face creased with anguish. But through the tears which ran heedlessly down his face, there shone a defiant pride which lit up his features with a haunting beauty and which made Laura wonder whether he also was thinking of his beloved one, now gone away from him. When the song drew to a close, the crowd stood transfixed, then, of a sudden, the silence was broken. The cheers that had caught in the choking fullness of their thoughts broke through in waves of shouts and cheers, all praising Laura and all wanting more. She thanked them all but went down the stage and sat at a table to compose herself. The melancholic lyrics of this beautiful song had brought up so many memories of her Daniel that she needed to rest. Then slowly and discreetly she went out of the side door. 

On the last day of her visit, tired from her walks, she entered St.Mary’s Cathedral and sat down admiring the architecture and paintings of this lovely church.  Then she followed other visitors who wandered to the churchyard alongside the same church. The grass here was green and fresh. A place that spoke of peace and rest. She passed the time reading the epitaphs mounted on the rows of graves, people who had lived and died in this northern town – “Shaw”, “Gilbert”, “McCulloch”, “Spencer”, “McTavish”, “Williams” …………….

Then she saw it. The epitaph on a white marble headstone – “Daniel Johnson, born 20.6.1986. Died in a car accident on 15.4.2009. Rest in Peace.”  She gasped. Daniel was dead! This was his grave! At that very moment she realized what had prevented him from writing or calling her. She turned blindly away, the tears, stemmed for so long, flowed unheeded down her cold face.  

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Il-koppja Saver u Olga Camilleri minn Ħ’Attard jistgħu jgħidu li l-aħħar gwerra dinjija kienet katalista biex laqqgħethom flimkien, iżżewġu u ilhom flimkien għal 69 sena.

Olga, flimkien mal-ġenituri u ħutha – li kienu 13, kienu joqogħdu Tas-Sliema, iżda fi żmien il-gwerra spiċċaw evakwaw ruħhom u sabu refuġju Ħ’Attard, f’dar – quddiem il-Villa ta’ Strickland – li serviethom ukoll bħala xelter. Imbagħad, ommha kellmet lill-Kappillan Balzan, li kien minn Tas-Sliema, u tahom joqogħdu fil-kappella u s-Sagristija tal-Museum ta’ Ħ’Attard. Kien hemm numru ta’ familji, li ħadu kamra kull wieħed.

Wara krew mezzanin fit-triq tar-Rabat, li kellha xelter ukoll. Damu fiha xi sitt xhur, għax twaqqgħet fl-attakki tal-għadu. Minħabba f’hekk allokawhom fil-knisja tas-Salvatur, li kienet faċċata tad-dar fejn kienu. Wara xi tmint ijiem, il-knisja wkoll twaqqgħet mill-bombi tal-għadu u hi, ħutha u l-familja spiċċaw mirdumin taħt l-art, għax ix-xelter tal-knisja kellu bokka waħda, li ġiet imblukkata. Madankollu ħadd ma weġġa’ bil-goff, u ġew salvati mill-ħaddiema tas-salvataġġ.

Saver minn dejjem kien joqgħod Ħ’Attard u jirrakkonta li kienu familja ta’ ħamsa min-nies: missieru u ommu, hu u żewġt aħwa bniet. Iżda fi żmien il-gwerra u f’temp ta’ tliet snin mietu l-ġenituri tiegħu u oħtu l-kbira.

L-introduzzjoni

Darba, waqt li kien f’passiġġata mal-kuġina tiegħu Carmelina, li llum tinsab l-Amerika, lemaħ lil Olga u talabha tintroduċih magħha. Din qablet max-xewqa tiegħu u qalet lil Olga li kuġinuha xtaq ikellimha. Min-naħa tagħha, Olga weġbitha li lesta tkellmu iżda bi prova, għax ħasbet li l-kuġin li qaltilha bih Carmelina, kien ġuvni ieħor. Dan kollu seħħ fl-1944.

Għal dawk is-snin, in-namur kien ikun l-ewwel pass għall-ħajja tal-imħabba, fejn in-namrati jippjanaw biex jagħtu l-aħbar lill-ġenituri. Saver jgħid li madankollu, fin-namur tagħhom kien diġa’ beda jidħol fid-dar tan-namrata. Miegħu kien jieħu lil oħtu iżgħar minnu Ġuża, għax huma biss kien fadal mill-familja. Missier u omm Olga, li sadattant kienu saru jafuh sew, ma oġġezzjonawx għall-imħabba ta’ binthom lil dan il-ġuvnott.

Bħala namrati kienu jitħallew joħorġu flimkien, bil-patt li fis-7.30 p.m. ikunu rritornaw id-dar. Kienu jmorru passiġġata sal-istazzjon tal-ferrovija f’Ħ’Attard u xi kultant, nhar ta’ Sibt jew Ħadd imorru jaraw xi film il-Prince inkella r-Roxy, Birkirkara. Il-films kienu jintemmu fit-8.00 p.m. iżda għal okkażjonijiet bħal dawn kienu jkunu permessi jittardjaw dik in-nofs siegħa. U jmorru fejn imorru, magħhom kienu jieħdu lil oħtu Ġuża u lil waħda minn ħut Olga.

Xi xhur wara ħadu l-għerusija, fejn xtraw iċ-ċrieket u tawhom lil xulxin. Riċevimenti ma kinux jeżistu, peress li kien żmien il-gwerra.

Wara sena u erba’ xhur mindu ltaqgħu, ħasbu li jiżżewġu. Kellhom l-ewwel dar tagħhom fi Triq San Antnin, Ħ’Attard stess. Olga tiftakar sew li l-libsa tat-tieġ tagħha, li kienet simili għal dawn ta’ llum, kienet bagħtithielha zijitha mill-Amerika. Saver, li kien daħal minn jeddu mal-Air Force biex ma jinġabarx bil-lieva u jispiċċa fl-Armata – li ma kellux grazzja magħha, kien ħa kors mal-Uffiċċju tal-Posta u daħal bħala Postal Clerk. Naturalment, kellu l-uniformi u allura, dak iż-żmien, kulmin kien jaħdem mal-Ingliżi u kellu uniformi, kien obbligat jiżżewweġ biha.

Għallmu u żewġu

Saver u Olga żżewġu fid-29 ta’ April, 1945 fil-Parroċċa Santa Marija ta’ Ħ’Attard. Żewwiġhom Dun Pawl Said, li lil Saver kien jgħallmu meta kien għadu student is-Seminarju. Wara ż-żwieġ, il-miżżewġin friski rikbu l-karrozza u marru l-Ħamrun għand Cassar Photo Studio, biex jiġbdilhom ir-ritratt tal-okkażjoni. Kienu marru bil-biża’ fuqhom, minħabba li l-attakki tal-gwerra kienu għadhom jimmiraw fuq Malta. Mill-Ħamrun telgħu d-dar tal-ġenituri ta’ Saver, fejn kellhom riċeviment familjari u kienu mistednin xi ħbieb.

Għat-tieġ, Saver kellu ħabib li sablu tliet mużiċisti li marru jdoqqulhom u ħolqu ambjent ferrieħi fost il-mistednin.

Minkejja li kien żmien il-gwerra, Saver u Olga marru għal qamar il-għasel f’lukanda Birżebbuġa, li kienet ta’ Dowling.

Lura fid-dar matrimonjali, bdiet ħajja ġdida għall-koppja Camilleri, li xxettlet bl-ulied. L-ewwel ma kellhom kien lil Philip, armel ta’ Nathalie u għandu tlett itfal: TracyAnn, Adrian u Audrey. Imbagħad kellhom lil Tony, li hu miżżewweġ lil Rosemary u għandhom żewġt itfal: Stefan u Michelle.

Saver, li serva fl-Air Force għal 26 sena, kellu jsiefer fuq ix-xogħol tiegħu. Dan għamlu fl-1949. Ħadem fil-Lvant Imbiegħed, fil-Lvant Nofsani, fl-Ingilterra u f’Ċipru. Meta kien l-Ingilterra, martu Olga kienet miegħu u hemm tweldilhom Peter, li llum hu miżżewweġ lil Irene u għandhom tlett itfal bniet: Hayley, Ashley u Natasha.

Fl-aħħar, Saver u Olga kellhom lil binthom Maria, illum miżżewġa lil Francis Pisani u huma l-ġenituri ta’ Ephrem u Victoria. Maria twelditilhom f’Aden, fejn marru għal sentejn minħabba s-servizz ta’ Saver. Illum, Olga u żewġha huma bużnanniet ta’ żewġ pro neputijiet, li huma Maria u Harley.

Meta Saver iħares lura lejn ħajtu jiftakru jwettaq ix-xogħol mitlub minnu mill-Air Force, tant li l-aktar li għandu għal qalbu huma l-medalji kommemorattivi li ngħata u li apparti milli jilbishom f’ċerti okkażjonijiet, huma esebiti f’vetrina.

Medalji kommemoratti

Għas-servizz li ta, Saver irċieva l-Africa Star, id-Defence Medal, Il-Long Service u Good Conduct Medal, żewġ General Service Medals, mogħtijin f’perijodi differenti u l-Victory Medal . Barra minhekk għandu medalja oħra mogħtija mill-Gvern Malti lil dawk li taw servizz f’Malta.

Mitluba tirrakkonta fuq id-differenza bejn il-ħajja ta’ tfulitha u dik ta’ llum, Olga tgħid teżisti differenza kbira. Illum hawn ħafna aktar divertiment. Dari, biex familja tiddeverti kienet tmur għal xi opra milli kienu jiġu Malta, u li kienu jkunu preżentati fil-Gaeity jew fir-Radio City, il-Ħamrun.

Il-ħajja tal-mara tbiddlet ukoll u b’rata mgħaġġla. Dari, mara miżżewġa kienet tieħu ħsieb id-dar u lil uliedha, meta mhux ukoll lill-ġenituri. Illum, mhux talli kulħadd jirsisti biex joħroġ jaħdem, talli qed tinbet il-pika bejn il-miżżewġin għax f’xi każi l-mara taqla’ aktar flus minn żewġha. U dan qed joħloq il-problemi u ġieli jwassal għas-separazzjonijiet.

Olga hi tal-fehma li problema ewlenija oħra fost il-miżżewġin ta’ llum hi ma jafux jistennew. Iridu kollox fil-pront, sew f’kulma jeħel ma’ moħħhom kif ukoll f’dik li tiqies bħala lifestyle u oġġetti tad-dar.

Forsi problema oħra li l-koppja Camilleri tara fit-tfal li telgħin illum hi n-nuqqas ta’ ħeġġa li għandhom għall-attivitajiet b’rabta mar-ruħ. Hawn numru kbir ta’ żgħażagħ tal-ġabra u li jagħtu sehemhom kollu b’riżq il-proxxmu, iżda hawn numru ieħor li huma berdin għall-ħwejjeġ tal-Knisja.

Olga tirrakkonta li meta kienet żgħira, qatt ma kienet titlef quddiesa u din id-drawwa sabiħa għaddietha wkoll lill-erba’ uliedha. Tiftakar żmien meta kienet tattendi quddiesa b’xi tarbija milli kellha fi ħdanha. Illum, li qabżet it-80 sena, tmur mill-inqas darbtejn fil-ġimgħa. Żewġha Saver kien l-istess, u jgħid li anki meta kien imsiefer, kien ifittex biex jara fejn kienet se titqaddes xi quddiesa, ħalli ma jitlifhiex.

F’Malta u Għawdex m’aħniex imxaqilbin fuq il-mixi jew is-sewqan tar-roti; għalkemm hawn ġibda u xewqa u ħajra għaċ-ċaqliq tal-ġisem: tlielaq, roti. Maratona li seħħet fit-22 ta’ Frar 2015. Hemm waqtiet fejn ikollna nħallu l-karozza u nimxu: il-mixi hu sagrosant, bih ngħixu, bih niltaqgħu, tajjeb li niftakru u nwettqu mġiba ta’ ħarsien.

Int u miexi ħares ’l hemm u ’l hawn. Ara fejn miexi ħaddieħor, tiqafx titkellem taħt il-bankini; hemm jgħaddu l-karozzi suppost jarawk u jevitawk. Imma mhux kull sewwieq ta’ karozza jagħmel hekk.

Ara daqsxejn il-gazzetti, isma’ r-radju jew televizjoni u tintebaħ kemm tfal, żgħażagħ, mdaħħlin fiż-żmien ħallew ħajjithom jew huma u jaqsmu fuq il-faxxi bojod tat-traffiku jew fuq bankini jistennew tal-linja u dak li qabel kien ġisem sabiħ u b’saħħtu jew jgħaddi, issa jinsab mkisser jew bla ħajja.

Ħadd ma jaħsillek wiċċek biex tkun aħjar minnu u anqas fit-toroq u fuq il-bankini. Ħu ħsieb saħħtek, ilbes ħwejjeġ jixegħlu bil-lejl fejn tagħti fil-għajn u tidher: b’hekk sewwieqa ta’ karozza u roti jarawk. Taqsamx bl-addoċċ! Ieqaf u ħares u erġa’ ħares. Aħjar uff milli ahh. Saħħtek tiswa: ħarisha u ħalliha sħiħa.

Is-Saħħa t-tajba !

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Waqt prietka kontra l-korruzzjoni, il-Papa Franġisku kien ferm iebes, u kkowta passaġġ mill-Evanġelu skont San Luqa, fejn Ġesù qal lil xi midinba, li ħaqqhom jintrabtu ma’ mażżra u jinxteħtu fil-baħar.

Din tqieset bħala omelija mill-aktar qawwijin lill-Insara, minn meta f’Marzu li għadda, kien elett il-Papa Arġentinjan. Hu enfasizza li min qed jgħaddi ħajja ‘doppja’ billi jagħti l-flus lill-Knisja waqt li jisraq lill-Istat, ikun qed jidneb u ħaqqu jkun ikkastigat.

Waqt li ma aċċennax direttament għall-korruzzjoni fi ħdan il-Knisja Kattolika, ir-rimarki tiegħu saru ftit jiem wara li faqqa’ skandlu f’ordni reliġjuża antika, marbuta mal-Vatikan. Madankollu l-Papa wera li hu determinat jieqaf lill-korruzzjoni u jeqred irregolaritajiet finanzjarji li sa tappnu lill-Bank tal-Vatikan.

Hu ddeskriva wkoll lin-nies imdaħħlin fil-korruzzjoni bħala ‘oqbra mbajda’ u qal li “minnbarra jidhru sbieħ, iżda minnġewwa huma gozz għadam mejjet u jinten.

Hu magħruf li l-Papa Ġiżwita kapaċi jkun ġentili f’diversi suġġetti sensittivi, bħall-omosesswalità u d-divorzju, iżda sa minnmeta ġie maħtur f’Marzu li għadda, il-prietki u l-omeliji tiegħu dejjem inkludew kliem iebes u referenzi għall-ħidma tax-Xitan.

Papa Franġisku għamel dawn ir-rimarki waqt il-quddiesa ta’ filgħodu f’Casa Santa Marta, id-dar għall-mistednin fil-Vatikan, fejn għażel li jgħix wara li rrifjuta l-appartamenti aktar kbar fin-naħa l-oħra tal-Bażilika ta’ San Pietru.

Kienet it-tieni darba fi ftit jiem, fejn hu attakka l-ħażen tal-korruzjoni. L-ewwel darba mar kontra l-Kattoliċi li stagħnew mill-korruzzjoni politika biex saħansitra jixtru rigali lil uliedhom u jibagħtuhom fi skejjel li jiswew ħafna flejjes.

L-aktar skandlu riċenti li laqat lill-Knisja Kattolika kien żvelat ħmistax ilu, fejn Dun Renato Salvatore ta’ 58 sena, u li jmexxi ordni reliġjuża ta’ 440 sena, kien arrestat fuq suspett li ħoloq xnigħat foloz kontra żewġ saċerdoti li kienu kontra n-nominazzjoni tiegħu biex jerġa’ jingħażel bħala s-Superjur Ġenerali tal-Camilljani, jew aħjar l-Ordni tal-Ministri tal-Morda.

Dun Salvatore kien magħżul għall-kariga mill-Papa Benedittu XVI biex jipparteċipa fis-sinodu ġenerali tal-isqfijiet f’Ottubru tas-sena l-oħra; ħames xhur qabel mal-Papa Ġermaniż iddeċieda li jirriżenza mill-papat.

George Hurley and his petite blonde wife Rebecca never saw eye to eye. They had been married for ten years but their union was always turbulent. They quarreled practically every day and neighbours heard their shouts and accusations even during the night. George and Rebecca Hurley’s marriage was definitely not a happy affair.

They had two children; a boy and girl, now five and six respectively. Neighbours wondered how they found time to make love. “Probably”, some said ironically, “they must have been drunk at the time!” Others said that maybe both children were the result of Rebecca’s many extra-marital affairs.

It was undeniably true that while George was at work, Rebecca was entertaining other men. This was no secret as practically everybody in town knew of her exploits. As also did her husband, of course. She did not hide what she was doing and did not care a penny who knew of her love affairs.

One day Rebecca was reported missing. She was not seen for a whole week while her husband continued as if nothing had happened. She was reported missing not by her husband but by the neighbours. When questioned by the Police, George told them that it was not the first time that she walked out of the house and returned some days later. He also told them that he was glad to have got rid of her. But the Police were not convinced. They continued with their investigations to see what had happened to Rebecca Hurley. They discovered that George had told his children, when they had asked him about their mummy, that she has gone away and maybe would not return back.

Neighbours reported to the Police that George had made a large bonfire in his back-garden where they saw him burn Rebecca’s clothes. Furthermore, the Police also learned that someone with a detailed knowledge of the missing woman’s bank accounts had forged her signature and took everything out of her savings accounts. The Police found that George had tapped the telephone at home to record conversations between Rebecca and her lovers. The Police inspector questioned him thoroughly. They told him that they knew that his wife had a string of lovers and was a bad wife. “We can understand that sometimes pressure like that can drive a man to murder,” he told George. But he denied murder or that he knew what happened to his wife.

George Hurley, who had a history of poor health and heart ailments, never faltered once during the long sessions of interrogations. Although they pressed him, the Police did not want to use excessive pressure because of his health condition. The Police dug out his garden and searched his bungalow and surroundings in an attempt to find the body but they did not find any clues whatsoever. They knew that circumstantial evidence pointed directly at him – the frequent quarrels; the fact that he did not report her missing; that he told his children that their mother would not return; that he burned her clothes in the garden; that his wife’s bank accounts were withdrawn by an unknown person with intimate knowledge of her particulars.

But where was the body? Unless the Police found the body and examined it for clues like fingerprints, they would have difficulty in putting up a case of murder against him. But they did not lose heart. They went to the bungalow again. They ripped the floorboard, probed the brickwork for hidden cavities, scanned the gardens around the house using tracker dogs and plugged lakes, streams and ponds in the vicinity. They interrogated him repeatedly hoping that he would finally break down and admit to the murder. But they did not find anything and he did not admit. George had told the Police that she had walked out of the house and he did not know where she was. In the circumstances, the Police through newspapers, television and radio, issued calls for her or for people who might have seen her, to contact them immediately. But they failed to produce any response either from the missing woman or from people who might have seen her. The Police were therefore convinced that she was murdered and her body was hidden somewhere. 

After three months, George Hurley could not stand it any longer. He was under continuous pressure from the Police and shunned by his neighbours. Everybody was convinced that he had murdered Rebecca. No, he did not admit to the murder but he died of a heart attack. The murder inquiry on Rebecca Hurley was closed, the Police case file was marked ‘suspect deceased’.

George Burley’s funeral after the ceremony was carried out in a quiet chapel outside the town. The police saw no useful purpose to attend. They never saw the wreath besides his coffin with the strange message – “Have a nice flight to Paradise George – R.”
When the funeral service was over, the last prayers said, the earth sprinkled on top of the coffin, the stone slabs laid down and the grave closed and sealed, none of the few people present noticed the petite blonde woman across the road who, with a broad smile on her face, turned and went away.