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Weħidna l-ħajja bla ħajra! Flimkien inħossuna aħjar u niksbu iżjed saħħa u qawwa. Jiġri minħabba f’hekk li nieħdu s-saħħa u nitħabbtu jekk insibu rifda, għajnuna u sehem min ħaddieħor. Għalkemm dan ta’ minn ifaħħru jista’ jtaqqalna u jbikkimna.

Il-ħajja dderrina nqumu fuq saqajna u nibqgħu għaddejjin meta sħabna jħalluna: mewt, mard, jew jaqilbuhielna jew jgħiru għalina. Wisq nintelqu għax inħossu l-weġgħa u nintebħu li għamlulna l-ħsara u daħku bina. Din ma tiswa ta’ ebda ġid. Iżda nibqgħu għaddejjin! Din mhux ta kemm tgħidha għax iebsa bil-bosta.

Imma jekk naħsbu għaliha u jekk nsaqsu fuqha nkunu nistgħu nidħlula. Se tiġi żgur għax l-istorja tad-dinja turina dan minn żmien għal żmien. Tkunx dawl mitfi, tknunx għadira la ilma , imma fawwara li tarmi l-ħsibijiet: għalik !  

Minn Charles B. Spiteri

Fis-snin 50, Laurence Mizzi u Carmen Spiteri ltaqgħu fil-Pjazza ta’ Raħal Ġdid, li b’paragun mal-lum setgħet b’xi mod titqies bħala l-Paceville ta’ dawn iż-żminijiet. Kienu jippassiġġaw, ġuvintur għalihom u xebbiet għalihom. Raw lil xulxin u Laurence inġibed lejn Carmen. Peress li t-tnejn kienu għalliema, u kien se jkollhom social fl-iskola primarja tal-Furjana, Laurence waħħalha f’rasu li jmur u jiżfen magħha, minkejja li għadu ma jafx jiżfen sal-lum. ġara li lil Carmen stedinha ħaddieħor qablu u kellu jistenna sa ma mbagħad qabad magħha hu u baqgħu jiżfnu flimkien.

Qabel is-social, għal darbtejn fuq xulxin kien bagħat jistaqsiha ma’ xi ħbieb xtaqitx tkellmu u t-tweġiba tagħha kienet id-darbtejn ‘le’. Fl-aħħar iltaqa’ ma’ ħabiba tagħhom it-tnejn, li kienet sejra għand Carmen biex tagħtiha ktieb li kienet silfitha u Laurence talabha tgħidilha tisilfu lilu. Carmen, ħasset li ma kellhiex terġa’ tgħidlu le u allura silfithulu minkejja li lanqas kien tagħha. Wara t-tislif tal-ktieb, Laurence ġie f’kuntatt dirett ma’ Carmen biex irritornalha l-ktieb, u meta staqsieha riditx toħroġ miegħu, aċċettat.

Għall-bidu kienu jiltaqgħu bil-moħbi fid-dar ta omm Laurence u wara kienu jmorru passiġġata qasira. Carmen kienet beżgħet ittarraf lil ommha bin-namrat tagħha, peress li kienet mara stretta ħafna.
Laurence hu t-tieni tifel fil-familja ta’ sebat itfal – sitt subien u tifla, waqt li Carmen hi l-kbira minn sitt aħwa.

Kellem lil missierha

Darba, Carmen ħeġġet lil Laurence imur ikellem lil missierha. Hu aċċetta bil-qalb u meta rah għaddej mit-triq, resaq fuqu u kellmu. Missierha ħares lejh u qallu “mela le, kollox sew, mhix problema”. Naturalment induna li kien ġuvni serju u bi ħsieb ġenwin.
Ladarba ommha saret taf bl-aħbar minn żewġha, Laurence beda jidħol għandhom ukoll. Il-ħruġ ta’ nhar ta’ Ħadd ma naqasx, iżda dejjem bix-chaperone, bil-għassa magħhom. Fix-xitwa kienu jmorru l-Belt f’xi ħanut tal-kafè u fis-sajf għal xi ġelat f’Wied il-Għajn. Iżda dejjem bl-għassa magħhom.
Kif jirrakkuntaw Laurence u Carmen, id-dixxiplina fl-antik kienet fl-aqwa tagħha. Jiftakru meta attendew għall-kors tat-tħejjija għaż-żwieħ, mill-Moviment ta’ Kana, għand l-Agostinjani f’Ħal Tarxien. Naturalment weħidhom – ħaġa li lil omm Carmen ma għoġbitha xejn.
Biex kollox jagħqad, fl-aħħar tal-konferenzi, Dun Charles Vella kien għażel lil Laurence biex jagħmel erba’ kelmiet għan-nom tal-koppji għarajjes, u għalhekk damu ftit aktar mis-soltu. Meta waslu d-dar, ommha tatha ħasla liema bħalha. Iżda dawn kienu affarijiet komuni, tista’ tgħid mal-għarajjes kollha.
L-għerusija ta’ Laurence u Carmen ħadet ftit snin u dan minħabba li dak iż-żmien, għalliema mara riedet taħdem għal mill-inqas sentejn, inkella teħel multa. Barra minhekk, jekk għalliema mara taħdem ħames snin, kienet tingħata l-gratuity meta tiżżewweġ u għalhekk qatgħuha li jistennew sa ma jieħdu din is-somma.
Iċ-ċrieket tal-għerusija berikhomlhom ħu Laurence – Patri Massimiljan Mizzi ofm conv., assistit minn Patri Innoċenz Delia, Kapuċċin, li kien ħabib tal-familja Spiteri. Wara t-tberik taċ-ċrieket kellhom festin familjari ċkejken fid-dar tal-ġenituri tal-għarusa.

‘Kaċċa’ ghal dar

Mal-għerusija bdiet il-‘kaċċa’ għad-dar tal-koppja ġdida. Jirrakkuntaw li kien diffiċli ferm issib fejn toqgħod. Iżda bil-ħniena ta’ Alla, ħabib ta’ Laurence qallu b’appartament vojt fl-Isla. Laurence fittex lis-sid, li kien joqgħod Qui Si Sana, sabu, u dak aċċetta li jikrihulu. Dan l-appartament kien fir-raba’ sular, iżda peress li kien twaqqa’ fil-gwerra reġa’ nbena mill-ġdid u kważi kważi żanżnuh huma.
Biċ-ċavetta tal-post fejn joqogħdu f’idejhom, Laurence u Carmen taw id-data taż-żwieġ. Kienet it-22 ta’ Settembru tal-1957. Il-knisja għaċ-ċerimonja kienet il-parroċċa ta’ Kristu Re, f’Raħal Ġdid u ċ-ċelebrant reġa’ kien ħu Laurence. Ix-xhieda tat-tieġ kienu 

Lewis Portelli (illum mejjet, u li kien jaħdem ma’ Laurence fid-Dipartiment tal-Informazzjoni) u Victor Attard (mejjet ukoll).
Laurence u Lewis kienu ħbieb kbar, għax mhux biss kienu jiltaqgħu fuq ix-xogħol normali tagħhom, iżda t-tnejn kienu dilettanti tal-isport. F’dan il-qasam, Lewis ta sehem fix-xandir bir-Rediffusion u t-televiżjoni.
Wara l-quddiesa tat-tieġ, li saret filgħodu, il-miżżewġin friski kellhom riċeviment fir-Reġina Hotel, Tas-Sliema. Hemmhekk sabu tilqagħhom lill-orkestra ta’ Vinnie Vella (il-missier) li dik il-ħabta kien jaħdem ukoll mad-Dipartiment tal-Informazzjoni.
Wara r-riċeviment bdew il-qamar il-għasel billi għal-lejl marru f’lukanda Għajn Tuffieħa u l-għada siefru bl-ajruplan għal Katanja. Minn hemm għal Ruma, Venezja, Innsbruck u Vjenna fl-Awstrija.
Interessanti li fl-istess jum, iżżewġet koppja oħra minn Wied il-Għajn, Lino u Rose Debono, li mhux biss kienu ħbieb ta’ Laurence u Carmen, iżda bħalhom kellhom lill-istess patri Karmelitan, li kienu jqerru għandu u jieħdu l-pariri mingħandu. Għalhekk meta ż-żewġ koppji siefru għal qamar il-għasel, il-Patri tela’ magħhom ukoll. Iżda ladarba waslu fl-ewwel destinazzjoni, kulħadd mar għal rasu.

Tilfu r-‘rapido’

Wara madwar 20 ġurnata barra, lil Laurence qabditu l-influwenza u xtaqu jiġu lura malajr. Għalhekk, l-aħħar vjaġġ bil-ferrovija riedu jagħmluh bir-rapido u ħallas aktar għalih. Iżda bi żball qabdu ferrovija b’oħra u ħadu l-qatgħa ta’ ħajjithom, għax beżgħu li se jitilfu l-ajruplan għal Malta. Dak iż-żmien, l-ajruplan minn Katanja għal Malta kien jagħmel it-titjira tiegħu kull tlett ijiem.
Għalhekk, xħin waslu fl-istazzjon tal-ferrovija, Laurence sab tassist u qallu jwassalhom l-ajruport fl-inqas ħin. Dan mhux saq bihom, iżda tar. Meta mbagħad Laurence ġie biex iħallsu, sab li ma kellux flus Taljani biżżejjed, u t-taraġ tal-ajruplan telgħuh imbuttati b’kantaliena ta’ kliem ‘aktarx mhux xieraq’ bl-Isqalli. Fl-ajruplan sabu lill-passiġġieri kollha marbutin biċ-ċinturin. Kienu qed jistennew lilhom u kienu diġà sejħulhom xi darbtejn. Il-Bambin reġa’ daħal għalihom.
Lura Malta, Laurence u Carmen bdew jaħsbu għall-familja u wara sena u xahrejn, fl-Isla, twelditilhom l-ewwel tarbija tifel – Alex, illum direttur tal-HSBC, li hu miżżewweġ lil Marlene u għandhom tifla jisimha Carole.
Tliet snin u nofs wara, il-koppja Mizzi saret taf b’dar li tbattlet f’Raħal Ġdid, irsistiet kemm felħet u spiċċat marret toqgħod fiha. Aktar tard, fl-istess lokalità Laurence u Carmen xtraw biċċa art u bnew darhom. Ftit wara twelditilhom it-tifla – Joanna, li hi direttriċi fl-Uffiċċju tal-Prim Ministru. Hi miżżewġa lil Noel Genovese u għandhom żewġt itfal: Jamie u Colleen. B’hekk, Laurence u Carmen huma nanniet ta’ tlieta.

Imġiegħel jitlaq mix-xogħol

Laurence għandu kliem ta’ tifħir għal martu għax kellha ssofri miegħu d-diffikultajiet kollha li għaddew minnhom tul ħajjithom miżżewġa. Isemmi s-seba’ xhur sospiż fl-1977 għax kien obda direttiva tal-Unjon; il-MGCU (illum UĦM). Iżda l-agħar esperjenza li kellu, kienet li kien imġiegħel jitlaq għaxar snin qabel it-tmiem tal-impjieg tiegħu minn mal-Gvern, fl-1983.
Fl-1986, wara li l-Awtorità tax-Xandir twaqqfet mill-ġdid, Laurence inħatar membru tagħha u tliet snin wara ngħata l-kariga ta’ Chairman fejn dam erba’ snin. Dawk kienu l-aktar snin ibsin għall-Awtorità. Fl-ewwel snin għax kienet ġejja l-elezzjoni u kulħadd kien taħt pressjoni qawwija u mbagħad, meta laħaq Chairman, daħal il-pluraliżmu fix-xandir. Kien hu li f’isem l-Awtorità ħareġ il-liċenzji lill-istazzjonijiet Radio 101, Super One Radio u lill-RTK.
Illum il-ġurnata, minn fuq Laurence u Carmen għaddew 50 sena ta’ żwieġ. Ħamsin sena bis-sabiħ u l-ikreh tagħhom, iżda kif wiegħdu dakinhar li ngħaqdu bħala koppja, kienu lesti għalihom u ħaduhom b’sabar li saħħaħhom u wettaqhom aktar f’imħabbithom. Għal dan kollu kemm Laurence kif ukoll Carmen, jirringrazzjaw lil Alla, li żamm idejh fuqhom u seddaqhom bil-barkiet, lill-ġenituri tagħhom u lil dawk kollha li b’għemilhom tawhom il-formazzjoni Nisranija.
Għall-56 sena anniversarju kellhom quddiesa għand il-Klarissi, San Ġiljan, fejn qaddsilhom Patri Victor Spiteri, ħu Carmen, peress li Patri Massimiljan, kien indispost. Wara, flimkien mal-familjari marru f’lukanda u kellhom pranzu.

Il-valuri morali

Mitlubin jagħtu l-fehma tagħhom fuq il-valuri morali tal-antik, il-koppja Mizzi qalet li dak iż-żmien tant kienu qawwija, li jmorru fejn imorru qatt ma abbużaw. Jemmnu li l-valuri ħadu daqqa ta’ ħarta bit-teleserials Amerikani fuq it-televiżjoni, fejn jippruvaw juru li xejn m’hu xejn. Kienu huma li daħħlu l-libertinaġġ. Imbagħad ġie kollox ma’ kollox. U fejn dari konna nidħlu d-dar fid-disgħa, iż-żgħażagħ tal-lum ikunu għadhom lanqas biss ħarġu.
Semmew ukoll il-valur tal-onestà, fejn dari, jekk issib xi flus jew affarijiet oħra, kont tmur dritt tagħtihom lill-kappillan.
Għall-mistoqsija fuq x’jaħsbu għall-ħafna żwiġijiet qed jaslu għal separazzjoni, Laurence u Carmen jemmnu li dan kollu hu riżultat tan-nuqqas tal-valuri Nsara. Fi żmienhom, il-Kmandamenti kellhom il-valur tagħhom. Valur li ma jinbidilx. Illum, minn stħarriġ li sar fost l-istudenti universitarji, numru kbir minnhom qalu li ma jsibu xejn Ħażin is-sess qabel iż-żwieġ. Fi żmienhom, din l-affari lanqas kienet tgħaddi minn rashom.
Laurence qal li kull żwieġ ikollu l-problemi għax raġel u mara mhumiex identiċi, lanqas fil-fehma, iżda koppja għandha tilħaq il-kompromessi u tfittex il-komprensjoni, mhux tieħu r-raġun parzjali u egoistiku.
Carmen hi tal-fehma li fin-nuqqas ta’ qbil, koppja għandha tirrikorri għall-pariri, speċjalment ta’ saċerdot, għax meta sija r-raġel kif ukoll il-mara, jiftħu qalbhom ma’ konfessur, diġa’ jkunu qed itaffu mill-istress li jkunu għaddejjin minnha. Il-verità hi li llum, ftit huma ż-żgħażagħ li jemmnu f’din it-terapija.
Interessanti wkoll li dari, rari kont tisma’ b’separazzjoni jew b’xi xbejba b’tarbija barra ż-żwieġ. Fl-antik, f’Raħal Ġdid kollu jiftakru b’persuna waħda biss li kien se jkollha tarbija hekk. U kulħadd ilissen il-kelma ‘miskina’. Jiftakru wkoll li biex dawn in-nisa jwelldu, kienu jintbagħtu Għawdex. Illum il-ġurnata, f’pajjiżna, terz tat-trabi qed jitwieldu barra ż-żwieġ. U dawn l-affarijiet saru qishom m’huma xejn, għax il-valuri ttappnu.

Sess qabel iż-żwieġ

Laurence jirraġuna li s-sess qabel iż-żwieġ hu ħażin mhux għax ma jridux Alla, iżda Alla ma jridux għax hu ħażin. L-istess id-divorzju. Hu ħażin mhux għax ma jridux Alla, iżda Alla ma jridux għax hu ħażin fih innifsu. Jaf kif ikisser is-soċjetà kullimkien.
Fl-Amerika hemm aktar min-nofs iż-żwiġijiet li jispiċċaw f’divorzju, u hemm min jiżżewweġ tlieta u erba’ darbiet.
Bħala messaġġ lill-koppji żgħażagħ, Laurence u Carmen huma tal-fehma li dawn għandhom jirrispettaw u jħobbu tabilħaqq lil xulxin, iwarrbu l-egoiżmu, li hu l-għadu taż-żwieġ. Apparti dan jisħqu li l-valuri Nsara huma l-garanzija tal-kuntentizza. Ħadd m’għandu jħares lejn dawn il-valuri bħala jasar, iżda bħala sinjal ta’ gwida għal ħajja hienja.

‘True Love Waits’

Semmew ukoll li ftit snin ilu, fl-Amerika, grupp ta’ żgħażagħ reġgħu bdew jirrestawraw il-valuri. Semmew il-grupp tagħhom: True Love Waits. Jintrabtu li ma jagħmlux sess qabel iż-żwieġ. U fih hemm eluf ta’ membri żgħażagħ li kapaċi jagħmlu wegħda.
Carmen iżżid tgħid li meta koppja taqa’ fis-sess qabel iż-żwieġ, iż-żwieġ bħala Sagrament ma jibqagħlu xejn x’joffri. Terġa’ llum, il-materjaliżmu għolla ferm rasu u ż-żgħażagħ qed jippruvaw jagħmlu affarijiet li ma jifilħux għalihom. Dan qed iwassal biex koppja miżżewġa friska jintefgħu għal xogħol wara ieħor bla ma jiltaqgħu u ma jdumux ma jfeġġu quddiemhom bosta problemi li jheżżulhom iż-żwieġ tagħhom.  

How can I forget that day? It was the 1st of July, a Friday. I was returning back from work with the wage packet in my handbag. I was having a ‘cappuccino’ at Café Nero in the town square. It was then that I saw him – coffee cup in hand, coming over to my table. He was a hunk of a man with film star looks. “May I?” he said. “You’re welcome” I replied.

“It’s my first time here, the place is full,” he said. “I’ve never been here myself,” I replied. First impressions are important and my first impression of Jim, there in that crowded coffee shop, was wonderful and absorbing, both at the same time.
We were two persons finding ourselves around one small table. We could not but strike a conversation. I studied him between words and sips of coffee. He had startling green eyes set wide apart, curly black hair, an aristocratic high-bridged nose, a beautifully modeled mouth and lovely artistic hands with long tapering fingers. I was hooked at first sight.

From that day on we met regularly and got to know each other – our likes and dislikes, our jobs and work habits, our expectations from life, our exhilarations and disappointments. We had so much in common. Our education had been the same; we both had the same propensity for talking our heads off about anything and nothing. It seemed that after we finished chatting, the world was a better place to live in, in theory of course!

As days, weeks and months rolled by, our friendship grew into love and our love into a romantic roller coaster which left us breathless. Isn’t strange, the way two people manage to find each other out of all the other men and women in the world? Somehow, someway, they get thrown together and that’s it, there will never be anyone else. Isn’t that how real love works? If I had to pick out a word to describe the first months of my relationship with Jim, it would be ‘gasping’. That’s the romantic word for it anyway.
“You’re the person I thought I’d never find. Now I’m afraid I might lose you,” he said. “But you won’t lose me. I’ll always be by your side,” I replied. He cupped my face in his hands. “I hope not, but hope seems a little flimsy sometimes. Hope is not so reliable.”

I had, by then, moved to his apartment. It made more sense in our torrid relationship. We were engaged, promised to each other. We were sure of our love but thought it wiser to get married when our financial position would get better. One day in the dusk evening of a cold February, I came home to see Jim sitting in the dark on the sofa. “Why are you so early?” I asked while switching on the lampshade by his side. He buried his hands and slowly shook his head. “What’s happened? What is it? Did someone you know die?” I asked once again. “No, No,” he replied. “What? What then?” I pressed seeking an answer. I saw tears running down his face. “I’ve been going to the hospital lately. I’ve been tested. They gave me the result today. I’m HIV positive!”

Suddenly, a lump of dread lodged stubbornly in my throat. “You’re what??” “It’s the virus that causes AIDS. I have it!” he said resignedly. I felt like reeling, feeling as if I was falling from a high place, as if the earth had been pulled out from beneath me, sending me into a freefall with no probability of stopping. “No!” I cried. “It cannot be true.” “You need to get tested”, he said. “Me? You mean ………..” I responded angrily. He looked sad. “I was informed by the hospital that any partner I had needed to be tested”. His eyes filled with tears and he shook his head. “My life would be ended if I infected you.” “You don’t think that I ………..?” I exclaimed. “I don’t know”, he said while he took my hands in his. He began to cry – “I love you”. I was silent, weeping, as we stood clinging tightly to one another.

Jim kept going to hospital for treatment but it was evident that his health was deteriorating fast. I was, by then, practically living in his hospital room. I remembered our promise – to love each other for ever. But forever does not exist for any of us. It’s infinity, it’s intangible and it’s unreachable. Forever sounds a long time but in reality it is such a short time. We can only live one second at a time. Take what we can from life. We cannot live in the time that passed or in the time that’s ahead. I recalled Dolly Parton’s song, “One day at a Time” which we both loved to listen to. But even with his illness, Jim was a pillar of strength. It was I who was weakening. “Dying is not as bad as everyone thinks”, he told me. “After a while you accept it. The worst part is realizing that you’ll be leaving everyone and everything you love. It is then when you realize that you’ll be slipping into the unknown.”

Jim was always theorizing, trying to understand what cannot be understood. “But then that passes and you get a little curious,” he continued. “People spend their lives pondering what’s out there beyond death – heaven, hell or nothing at all! But I’ll now know.” A smile covered his face. There, by his hospital bed, I let tears slide freely, slipping over the bridge of my nose, down the side of my face and into the pillow I held in my hands. I wondered then, how many tears that hospital pillow’s life had already seen and how many more yet it would see. I don’t know exactly when it changed from morning to night. I didn’t turn on the lights and I didn’t note the time. I moved my mouth against his cheek and kissed him. I put my lips to his ear and whispered –“Jim. I love you. I love you. I need you.” I took hold of his hands and caressed his fingers.

I prayed for a miracle to happen. But there were no miracles. Jesus had used them all up in Galilee. My Jim died as the early morning light began to filter through the half-opened window. Ten days after the funeral, the phone rang. “Hello” I said. “This is Dr. Helen Marsden from St. Barth’s Hospital,” was the reply from the other end. “Are you Ms Olivia Jones?” she continued. “Yes. Yes.” I answered. “I understand that you had to call the hospital for tests,” said the stern voice. I had completely forgotten that Jim had asked me to get tested. He must have given them my name and phone number. He had said that if diagnosed early and treatment started immediately, the HIV sufferer may not necessarily become an AIDS victim.

The day after, I called at the hospital, asked for Dr Marsden, made the necessary blood tests and was requested to call for the result the following week. These were seven nightmare days for me. I was nervous; afraid; panic gripped me; I did not know what I was doing. Am I positive or negative? That question was on my mind all the time. I could not sleep. The nights, when your mind is at its most fertile, were terrible. After the week passed, I went to the hospital early in the morning. I must have been the first one there until people started coming in and sat in chairs besides me. I looked around and saw people waiting, like me, for their results. The handsome young man next to me – was he ………..? The blonde girl facing me on the chair opposite, so young and beautiful – was she …………? The mother holding her ten year old son by her side – who …………?

Then the nurse called me. I stood up and followed her through the corridor. She ushered me into a small room where another woman in a blue uniform was seated behind a desk. As she looked directly at me, I knew that my life would forever be measured against the moment I was told this result – the before and after. “Good morning Ms Jones. I’m Dr Helen Marsden. We spoke last week on the phone,” she said. “Yes, yes,” I replied timidly. “I’m here to give you the results of your tests,” she said. “Yes, yes”, I replied once again, words failing me. “Why did you feel that you wanted to do this test?” “Because my boyfriend had been diagnosed with AIDS.” “Do you know what HIV means?” “Yes.” “Do you know what a positive or negative result means?”
“AIDS,” I stammered. “Not exactly, it depends” said Dr Marsden. “Positive means that a person is infected with the virus that causes AIDS; negative means ……………” My world was silent after these words. It was also crumbling. I must be HIV positive .My life was over; declared so by simple blood test. “Are you listening to what I’m saying,” she said.

I started to stand up mechanically. “That’s it,” I murmured. “But just because you’re not infected does not mean that you should not …………” said the doctor in front of me. “Not? Not infected you said?” I replied. “You are not infected, I just told you. Are you OK?” “I’m negative? I’m negative?” “Yes. Negative. Look, here are the results of your blood test.” Suddenly everything was beautiful and colourful. Time was suddenly a gift. It made me feel generous. I wanted to sing, hug someone, dance and tell the whole world. I closed my eyes briefly, bringing my hands together, my fingers pointing upward under my chin, and mumbled – “Thank you God, thank you so much!” Dr. Marsden stood up; looked at me, puzzled; then she smiled and opened the door indicating that my appointment was over. I looked around. There were others waiting for their results. And hoping.  

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Speċi ta’ farfett ta’ billejl, b’sitt saqajn, li hu ferm ’il bogħod mis-suldati bl-uniformi, mibgħuta biex ixerrdu l-ordni l-ġdida tal-Imperu Galattiku fil-film ‘Star Wars Stormtrooper’ ħasad numru ta’ ħaddiema f’fabbrika fi Shropshire.

Il-farfett, magħruf bħala ‘Death’s Head Hawkmoth’ sikket u għaġġeb lill-ħaddiema kollha, hekk kif niżel fuq skoss injam fil-fabbrika Ricoh. Dan peress li tant hu rari jintlemaħ u għandu partikularità fuq dahru.

Andy Whyle, uffiċjal tal-ambjent qal li fuq dahru, dan il-farfett għandu kopja preċiża tal-elmu li kellhom is-suldati bla wiċċ fil-film.

L-ekologu Dan Wrench qal li kultant, friefet rari bħal dan ikollhom disinn li jixbah ras ta’ mewt. Farfett simili ntuża fil-kartellun tal-film ‘Silence of the Lambs.

Dawn il-kreaturi jintlemħu l-aktar fl-għelieqi, peress li jagħmlu għall-patata miżrugħa. Huma għandom drawwa mhix tas-soltu, fejn jidħlu fix-xehdiet tal-għasel u jikluh. Jekk jinqabdu bl-idejn minn xi ħadd, jibdew iwerżqu twerżiq qawwi.  

It-tieġ ta’ Emanuel Mifsud u Josephine nee Micallef kien kemmxejn differenti minn tiġijiet oħra. Ir-raġunijiet kienu varji, iżda forsi l-aktar waħda mhux soltu kienet il-ħtieġa tal-permess (jew bolol) biex jiżżewġu. U dan, minħabba li l-għarajjes kienu sekondi kuġini! Bolol, li spiċċaw sarulhom wara li żżewġu.

Emanuel u Josephine huma t-tnejn mill-Imsida. Kienu joqogħdu qrib l-Għajn tal-Ħasselin. Il-familja ta’ Emanuel kellha ħanut fl-Imsida stess bl-isem ta’ Tancredi Store, li minnu kienu jbigħu minn oġġetti tal-EPNS sa twiebet. Josephine kellhom id-dar tagħhom ’il ġewwa mill-Għajn, iżda ma kellhomx tfulija qrib xulxin, peress li meta fl-1940, Emanuel kellu disa’ snin, missieru miet u hu spiċċa daħal il-Kulleġġ St. Patrick’s.

Il-familja Mifsud kellha ħamest ulied u Emanuel kien it-tielet wieħed. Mal-mewt ta’ missieru, xtaq jidħol fi stitut, għax minn dejjem kien inklinat lejn il-kulleġġi. Familjari min-naħa ta’ nanntu, li kienu ħbieb mal-familja Strickland – li kellhom il-kulleġġi St. Edwards – tkellmulu, iżda ma sabulux post. Wara, Connie Strickland, oħt Mabel, staqsietu riedx imur Tas-Sliema. Emanuel aċċetta u daħal St. Patrick’s. Ħareġ minn hemm fl-1947.

Sena wara mietet ommu wkoll u oħthom il-kbira, Carmelina, li kienet diġa’ miżżewġa b’erbat itfal, spiċċat iddur bil-familja tagħha u b’ħutha kollha. Min-naħa ta’ Josephine kienu sitt aħwa. Hi t-tielet wild tal-familja Micallef. Tiftakar li minkejja li missierha kien jaħdem, il-ħajja għalihom ma kinitx wisq faċli, tant li ta’ 11-il sena kellha toħroġ taħdem man-nies, fid-dar tal-familja ta’ Buhagiar, fl-Imsida stess għal nofs lira fil-ġimgħa. Meta Emanuel ħareġ minn St. Patrick’s, flimkien ma’ uħud minn ħutu u xi ħbieb, kienu jilagħbu l-ballun fil-[anut li kellu missieru. Magħhom kien imur tifel żgħir, Freddie, li jiġi ħu Josephine.

Min-naħa tagħha, Josephine spiss kienet tmur għand oħt Emanuel, li kienet titlobha tagħmel dan biex timlielha ftit mill-vojt li kkaġunatilha l-mewt ta’ ommha. Josephine tirrakkonta li f’oħt Emanuel kellha oħt oħra, tant li kienet tgħinha wkoll f’xi xogħol tad-dar. Iżda sa dak iż-żmien, la hi ma kellha ħsiebha f’Emanuel u lanqas hu.

Ġara li darba, xi ħadd tefa’ l-ballun barra fit-triq, fl-istess waqt li kienet għaddejja Josephine. Emanuel ħareġ jiġri għall-ballun u hi qaltlu: ‘‘Ar’hemm, kont se ttajjarni’’, waqt li Emanuel weġibha> ‘‘u int żul min-nofs u ħallina’’.
Aktar tard, Josephine kienet tmur għand zijitha, li kważi kienet toqgħod bieb ma’ bieb magħhom, u minn dak iż-żmien bdew speċi jkellmu lil xulxin. Għall-bidu, Josephine beżgħet minn x’setgħu jgħidulha l-ġenituri, iżda mbagħad komplew.
Ma damux wisq joħorġu bil-moħbi bħala namrati, għax meta Josephine qalet lil ommha b’Emanuel, aċċettatu mill-ewwel, ladarba kienu jafu sew lill-familja tiegħu. Terġa’ omm u z-zija ta’ Josephine, kienu spiss imorru għal kull ħtieġa li kien ikollha omm Emanuel u z-zija ta’ Josephine kienet in-nanny tal-familja Mifsud. Għalhekk malajr ingħata l-kunsens tal-ġenituri tax-xbejba u ta’ Carmelina, oħt Emanuel.

Il-ħruġ tal-għarajjes kien jikkonsisti f’xi dawra bil-mixi fuq l-irdum, fl-Imsida. Dan l-irdum kien mad-dawra li mill-Imsida tagħti għall-Whitehall, u ngħata dan l-isem peress li fi żmien il-gwerra, il-ġebel tal-bini mwaqqa’ kien jintefa’ f’dak il-baħar. Nhar ta’ Ħadd kienu jmorru jaraw xi filmat tal-5.00 p.m. fil-Gaeity, għax fis-6.30 p.m. riedu jkunu d-dar.  Meta matul il-ġimgħa, Emanuel kien imur id-dar ta’ Josephine, mad-9.00 p.m. kien ikollu jitlaq, biex il-familja Micallef tkun tista’ tirtira ħalli torqod. Emanuel jirrakkonta li din ma kinitx xi ħaġa kbira għal dak iż-żmien, għax id-dixxiplina fl-individwi kienet mill-aqwa. Bħala għarajjes jiftakru li darba marru jixtru ċ-ċrieket tal-għerusija u libsuhom mingħajr ma berkuhom. Iżda f’dan l-istat ma damux bosta.
Ġara li l-oħt il-kbira ta’ Josephine, kienet iżżewġet lil suldat: Amadeo Micallef u fl-1949 telqu għand iz-zijiet tiegħu fil-Kanada. Ftit wara tellgħu lil missier il-mara, li fl-1951 bagħat għal martu u uliedu biex jitilgħu ukoll. Minn hawn Malta lestew il-karti kollha, il-passaporti u l-eżami mediku.

Magħhom kien tiela’ wkoll Emanuel, li jiftakar li n-numru tiegħu tal-emigrazzjoni kien id-9,464. Jiġifieri daqshekk kienu siefru nies qablu! Iżda f’salt wieħed, Josephine qatgħetha li ma riditx tmur. Minħabba f’hekk, Emanuel baqa’ hawn ukoll. Bi tbissima ta’ bniedem li għaraf id-dinja, Emanuel jirrakkonta li dawk in-numri dejjem lagħabhom lottu… iżda qatt ma telgħu. Omm Josephine kellha biċċa xogħol enormi biex terġa’ tħalli lil bintha warajha u ma ridithiex tibqa’ hawn jekk ma tiżżewwiġx. Għalhekk tathom id-dar tagħha bl-għamara li kien fiha u l-għarajjes qablu li jiżżewġu qabel ma omm l-għarusa u t-tfal l-oħra jsiefru. L-omm innifisha marret għand il-Kappillan u qaltlu li bintha kienet se tiżżewweġ. Għarrfitu li l-ġenituri tal-għarajjes kienu jiġu ulied l-aħwa u l-Kappillan qalilha li kollox kien sew. Jumejn qabel it-tieġ, il-Kappillan, Dun Innoċenz Zammit, bagħat għall-omm u spjegalha li l-għarajjes kellhom bżonn il-bolol. L-omm weġbitu li issa ma kienx fadal żmien, u li l-bolol iġibuhom wara. Għaddiet tal-omm!
Emanuel u Josephine iżżewġu fl-10 ta’ Frar, 1952, nhar il-festa tan-Nawfraġju ta’ San Pawl, b’quddiesa kantata. Hu kellu 20 sena, u hi 19. Żewwiġhom il-Kappillan innifsu. Lil Emanuel tellgħu zijuh Ruġġieru, peress li missieru kien mejjet u lil Josephine tellagħha zijuha Salvu, peress li missierha kien il-Kanada. Ix-xhud tal-għarus kien il-Maġġur John Dimech, li miegħu, dak iż-żmien, kien jaħdem Emanuel, waqt li dak tal-għarusa kien Toni Saliba, kuġinuha min-naħa ta’ missierha.

Aneddotu ħelu hu dak ta’ jum it-tieġ. Kienu jinkrew żewġ karrozzi. Waħda biex twassal lill-għarusa u l-oħra għall-għarus. Imbagħad din il-karrozza tmur għal mistednin oħra. Emanuel kien ftiehem li wara li hu jitwassal il-knisja, ix-xufier imur għal oħtu l-kbira, bil-familja tagħha u ħutu. Ġara li s-sewwieq mar f’ħanut tat-te’ u nesa li kellu aktar nies x’jgħabbi. Ovvjament, il-familja ta’ Emanuel ma kinitx preżenti għall-quddiesa tat-tieġ tiegħu!
Wara t-tieġ, il-miżżewġin friski marru l-Ħamrun, għand Blackman għar-ritratti. Dak iż-żmien kien jittieħed ritratt kbir tal-miżżewġin weħidhom u ieħor fejn jidhru x-xhieda, biex ikunu jistgħu jagħtuhom ritratt b’tifkira. Fir-ritratt tat-tieġ tal-koppja Mifsud jidhru bridesmaid u żewġ flower-girls.

Hawn ukoll għandna rakkont ħelu min-naħa ta’ Josephine. Tgħid li peress li l-familja tagħha ma kellhiex flus, kien hemm mara tafhom, li qaltilhom li ħu l-bridesmaid kien għadu kif jiżżewweġ, u li jekk riedu jiffrankaw il-ħwejjeġ tal-bridesmaid u tal-flower-girls, setgħu jqabbdu lilhom stess għat-tieġ tagħhom. Omm Josephine u Josephine stess qablu mal-ħsieb u Adelina l-bridesmaid u Marianne u Dorothy l-flower-girls reġgħu sabu ruħhom jippużaw fit-tieġ ta’ Josephine. Wara t-tieġ, il-miżżewġin kellhom festin ċkejken familjari. Wieħed miz-zijiet ta’ Josephine offrielhom il-kamra li kellu ħdejn il-Gillieru, San Pawl il-Baħar, biex imorru jqattgħu l-qamar il-għasel fiha, iżda huma ppreferew li mill-ewwel lejl imorru fid-dar ġdida tagħhom. F’kamra raqdu huma, waqt li f’oħra raqdu omm Josephine u ħutha. F’temp ta’ xahar u nofs, omm u ħut Josephine, emigraw.

Fid-dar ta’ omm Josephine, bil-ħila tal-Majjistra Consolata Meli, twieldu ħamest itfal lill-koppja Mifsud. Kellhom lil Charlie, miżżewweġ lil Anna; Rita u żewġha Charlie Micallef; Franco u martu Louise; Polly u żewġha Paul Grima u David miżżeweġ lil Rita. Apparti minn dan, Emanuel u Josephine huma nanniet ta’ tmien neputijiet u bużnanniet ta’ tnejn – Nathan u Ilona. Għal dawk li huma valuri reliġjużi, Emanuel jgħid li quddiesa u rużarju ma naqsu qatt meta kien fil-Kulleġġ St. Patrick’s. Min-naħa tagħha, Josephine tgħid li l-quddiesa kienet tmurha kuljum, il-parroċċa. Tiftakar li ġieli kellha taqsam il-wied fix-xita, meta l-ilma kien jitla’ sal-pexxul. Meta kellhom it-tfal u dawn bdew jikbru, kienu jinqasmu għall-quddies, iżda meta marru joqogħdu qrib il-kappella, it-tfal bdew imorru weħidhom. Għar-rigward tat-trobbija ta’ llum, Emanuel jemmen li għan-nanniet, illum aħjar, għax peress li l-ommijiet jaħdmu, imorru aktar spiss għand in-nanniet, meta mhux ukoll iħallulhom lit-tfal. Qabel, it-tfal kienu jibqgħu ma’ ommhom fid-dar.

Josephine hi tal-fehma li dari kienet teżisti aktar ġabra fil-familja. Semmiet li dari, uliedha kienu jaslu fl-4.00 p.m. mill-iskola, iduru mal-mejda u jagħmlu l-homework. Isir ħin il-mużew u jmorru. Wara jieklu, jinħaslu u jidħlu fis-sodda. Hawnhekk, Emanuel jaqbel ma’ martu. Jgħid li llum, it-trobbija hi mill-agħar. Lanqas dixxiplina ma teżisti. Illum, kompla jgħid, l-għalliema ma għadhomx meqjusin bħala dawk li jridu jedukaw, iżda bħala impjegati tal-Gvern li jridu jaqdu lis-soċjeta’ u lit-tfal. Mhux talli hekk, talli jeżisti numru tat-telefon, biex it-tfal, minn eta’ ċkejkna, ngħallmuhom ma joqogħdux għal dak li jgħidulhom min hu akbar minnhom u lanqas għad-dixxiplina. Dari, għal kull żball kien ikun hemm il-kastig, u dan kien jingħata għall-ġid tal-istudenti nfushom.

Il-koppja Mifsud taqbel ukoll li llum, lanqas il-ġenituri nfushom m’huma jisħqu għad-dixxiplina minn uliedhom. Qed jagħtuhom wisq riħ u jagħmlu minn kollox biex lil uliedhom ma jtellgħuhomx bl-istess mod li telgħu huma. Ħafna drabi, dan l-esperiment mhux jirnexxi, għax qed jagħmlu minn uliedhom tfal ribelli.

F’għeluq il-50 sena miż-żwieġ tagħhom, f’Jum San Pawl tal-2002, ma setgħux jagħmlu l-quddiesa tat-tiġdid tat-tieġ fil-parroċċa u għalhekk għamluha fil-kappella fejn kienu joqogħdu sa erba’ snin ilu. Għaliha attendew il-familji kollha Mifsud u Micallef u wara marru għal ikla f’ristorant f’Buġibba. Minn dakinhar tal-50 anniversarju għaddew seba’ snin oħra ta’ ħajja ta’ mħabba bejn Emanuel u Josephine, li lanqas biss jemmnu li ilhom miżżewġin 62 sena!  

Anne and William grew up together. Their families were neighbours in a well-knit community in Santa Clara, California. Anne fell in love with William at the age of 5! He would hold her hand as he accompanied her to infant school and carried her satchel. Her crush on him continued through her teens. But she did not tell him that she loved him as she was afraid that her declaration might lose her his friendship. She wanted to remain as close to him as possible.

Then William had to leave town to attend college elsewhere. Anne cried alone in her room. She would not see him for a long time now. And she had not even told him yet that she loved him. How would she bear this separation? On the day of his departure, they met at the train station to say goodbye. “I want to tell you something!” she said. “I also want to tell you something” he replied. She felt terribly excited that William, at last, would be expressing his love for her. “You first”, she said. “No, you first”, he replied. But then neither of them said anything, both thinking that maybe it was not the right time yet. And so they parted and both went their separate ways. Each now had priorities of their own. She thought that love can wait but it would not fade.

Anne, by now a student nurse, had to care for her grandparents who were unwell and needed her. William continued his studies away from his home town where he was following the architectural course at University. Although it pained her, they cut communication with each other.

Anne never dated another boy. None could hold a candle to him. In her mind she was sure that he will, one day, return to her. Time is of no importance, she will wait for him as necessary. As the years rolled by, there were no letters and no phone calls between them. His parents seldom mentioned him to her or in her presence. But she waited and waited. She was steadfast in her belief that one day William will return to her and say the words she wanted so much to hear; the words he nearly told her at the station prior to his departure for College.

One day, out of the blue, she heard the message on her mobile voicemail. “It’s me, William. I‘ll be coming home on Friday. Can I see you at the airport at 6 pm? There’s someone I want you so much to meet .Hope you be there.”
She was crashed. She thought that all that waiting had been in vain; He has found another girl; maybe he has already married her; a girlfriend or a wife. He wanted her to meet her. He had been so far away from her for so long. As she heard again the voice on her mobile phone she cried. That night, in her room, she could not sleep.

On the day of his home-coming, Anne went to the hairdresser, dressed her best, made her face and then went to the airport full of anticipation. It had been years since she last saw him. She now wanted so much to see him. She also wanted to see the new girl in his life. If only things had turned out differently. She wanted them – William and his new girl – to see her at her very best. The plane had landed and she waited anxiously at the arrival lounge. Suddenly a beautiful girl came up to her. “You’re Anne, William’s friend, is that so?” “Yes, yes” she replied. Anne was mesmerized. No wonder that William had forgotten her. She was definitely no match for his new girl.

Then the lovely girl offered her hand. She took it and held hers very tightly. “It’s me, William. I hope you’ll accept me as I am. I tried but did not have the courage to tell you before. I hope however that you remain my best friend!”

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Ftit żmien ilu nqala’ battibekk wara li persuna tal-IRA (Irish Republican Army) allega li l-mexxej tas-Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, kien ordna l-qtil ta’ mara, talli għenet suldat Ingliż, ferut mill-balal. Għal dan l-għemil, hi nħatfet minn skwadra tal-qtil u ġiet maqtula. Madankollu, Adams għadu jiċħad.

Sadanittant kien rappurtat każ ieħor. Eamon Molloy, imbikki u mtertaq bl-uġigħ, kien jaf li ma kellux tama ta’ ħelsien wara li nħataf mill-iskwadra, magħrufa bħala ‘The Unknowns’ li kienu jwettqu l-ordnijiet tal-ogħla awtorità tagħhom.

Molloy, ta’ 22 sena, ittieħed minn Belfast għall-interrogatorju li sar f’caravan f’għalqa diżabitata. Hu talab bil-ħniena lil dawk li ħatfuh u qalilhom li kien membru leali tal-IRA u li qatt ma kkoopera mat-truppi Britanniċi. Iżda kien hemm rapporti xejn fondati li Molloy seta’ kien qed jgħin lill-għadu.

Minkejja l-protesti għall-innoċenza tiegħu, Molloy induna li s-sentenza tiegħu kienet il-mewt. Hu ġie ttorturat minn irġiel lebsin il-balaklavi, li ma emmnux l-innoċenza tiegħu, waqt li membri oħra tal-iskwadra qagħdu jilagħbu l-ballun tul it-tortura msemmija.

Iżda fl-aħħar tas-swat, dawk li ttorturawh tawh ċans għal xewqa. Din kienet li jinġieblu saċerdot. Saret sejħa lil Fr Eugene McCoy, qassis tal-lokal. Membri tal-iskwadra marru għalih u qalulu li r-raġel weġġa’ gravi f’inċident tat-traffiku u kien jeħtieġ il-Griżma tal-Morda. Iżda s-saċerdot ma sab ebda inċident. Kien hemm caravan mitluqa, fejn sab żagħżugħ kollu demm, imneżża’ għarwien għajr għall-qalziet ta’ taħt, fl-aħħar mumenti ta’ ħajtu. Dan kien f’Mejju tal-1975. Minn dak iż-żmien, is-saċerdot qatt ma żvela xejn jew irrapporta.

Iżda l-każ jaħraq li jinvolvi lil Adams hu dak tad-deċiżjoni li tinħataf, tiġi ttorturata u maqtula l-omm żagħżugħa ta’ għaxar ulied. Din l-akkuża saret f’rekording minn Brendan Hughes, magħruf bħala ‘The Dark’ Deputat Kmandant tal-IRA, li miet fl-2008. Hu kien qal li Admas għandu jġorr ir-responsabbiltà tal-qtil tal-omm u l-futur inċert u ta’ biża’, li kellhom jiffaċċjaw l-għaxar uliedha, tul ħajjithom kollha.

L-omm, Jean McConville, kienet tgħix ma’ uliedha ta’ bejn sitta u 16-il sena f’appartament tal-Kunsill. Hi nqatlet fl-1972 meta xi ġirien infurmaw lill-mexxejja tal-IRA li hi kienet simpatizzanta Britannika. Dan ġara wara li ntlemħet tagħti l-għajnuna tagħha lil suldat milqut u ferut quddiem darha. Ftit wara l-att ta’ karità mas-suldat, Jean, ta’ 37 sena, instabat imsawta brutalment u kollha dmija fit-toroq viċini.

Żewġha kien miet sena qabel u għalhekk uliedha stess kellhom joħduha d-dar u jnaddfulha l-feriti li kellha. Iżda ma fiqitx. F’inqas minn 24 siegħa, aktar minn 12-il ruħ, uħud mistura fil-balaklavi, waslu f’darhom u bdew jgħajtu li riedu jaraw lil ommhom.

Huma kaxkruxa mill-bieb, b’uliedha mqabbdin ma’ saqajha biex jippruvaw iżommuha magħhom. Iżda uliedha ma rnexxilhomx. Ġimgħa wara, raġel li qal li kien mill-IRA mar f’dar it-tfal u qalilhom li kien mibgħut biex jagħtihom il-portmoni t’ommhom u ċ-ċurkett tat-tieġ. Fuq it-‘tape’, Brendan Hughes, li darba kien l-id il-leminija ta’ Adams u figura leġġendarja tal-kmand tal-IRA jinstema’ jgħid: “hemm bniedem wieħed biss li ta l-ordni biex dik il-mara tinqatel. Dak ir-raġel hu l-kap tas-Sinn Fein.”

Mill-inqas, kien hemm 16-il persuna li ‘sparixxew’ minn ‘The Unknowns’ qabel ma fl-1972 ittieħdet deċiżjoni li ma jintremewx l-iġsma mutilati fit-toroq ta’ Belfast, ta’ dawk li tqiesu bħala tradituri.

Ulied Jean qed isostnu li l-qtil t’ommhom ma jistgħu jinsewh b’xejn u qed jallegaw li dan għandu jitqies bħala krimini tal-gwerra u min kien responsabbli għalih għandu jitressaq quddiem il-Qorti f’The Hague, biex jieħu li ħaqqu.
 

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Żwieġ fil-Palazz tal-Arċisqof

Victor Mario Abela, Ħamruniż, qabad ma’ martu Carmen b’imħatra ma’ ħabibu għal flixkun cola. Kien student fil-Kulleġġ De La Salle u l-ħabib tiegħu Guido Camilleri, li darba raha l-Kalkara fejn kienet tgħix, qallu li xtaq ikellimha, iżda kien jistħi. Victor inkoraġġieh jersaq lejha u fl-aħħar għamlu l-imħatra bejniethom li allura jkellimha hu.

Dak iż-żmien Victor, l-uniku wild tal-familja, għax l-erbgħa l-oħra ta’ qablu kienu mietu, kellu xi 17-il sena u kien Form V. Carmen, li kellha xi 16, kienet tattendi l-iskola sekondarja l-Belt. Fil-Kulleġġ kienet id-drawwa li l-istudenti jaqbdu xogħol ta’ Shakespeare u joħorġu play għall-palk. Il-klassi tiegħu kienet se tippreżenta l-Merkant ta’ Venezja, u Victor kellu l-parti ta’ Antonio.

Sadattant sar jaf li ħuha l-kbir Joe (illum Professur tax-xjenza teknika) u ż-żgħir Vanni, (magħruf bħala bużullottist ewlieni), kienu wkoll studenti f’De La Salle. Peress li Victor kien ikun spiss fit-tuck shop ibigħ u jagħti palata lill-brother, meta kien imur Vanni, kien jagħtih il-ħelu mingħajr ma joħodlu flus. Iżda dan il-‘pjaċir’ kien jagħmlu bi ħsieb!

Stedina

Allura meta ngħata l-erba’ biljetti li kull attur kien jingħata biex jistieden lil min ried, Victor sab l-opportunita’, waqqaf lil Carmen, qalilha li hu ħabib ta’ ħutha, u li japprezza ferm kieku tattendi għar-reċta. Hi weġbitu li l-problema kienet il-mama’ tagħha, iżda hu għeleb din il-problema billi taha żewġ biljetti, biex tieħu lil ommha magħha.

Carmen u ommha attendew u wara l-play kellhom xi drinks fejn seta’ jitkellem kemm magħha kif ukoll ma’ ommha. Aktar tard bdew jiltaqgħu fit-triq u jsellmu lil xulxin.

Darba, Victor, li t-tagħlim tiegħu kien jispiċċa qabel dak ta’ Carmen, mar il-Belt jistennieha tiskola u qagħdu jitkellmu fit-terminus. Maż-żmien bdew jitkellmu regolarment sa ma titlaq il-karrozza għall-Kalkara. Ħbiebu, li bi ftehim miegħu kienu marru jittawlu hux tabilħaqq kien qed ikellimha, kellhom iħallsulu l-cola li rebħilhom.

Fil-frattemp il-kulleġġ kien joħroġ il-gazzetta Il-Kewkba u fiha kien hemm ritratt ta’ Victor mal-kast. Vanni, ħu Carmen, li ġieli ħaditu magħha meta kienet tiltaqa’ ma’ Victor, ħa din il-gazzetta d-dar u qal lil ommu li dak tar-ritratt, kien qed joħroġ ma’ Carmen. L-omm qabdet u marret għand Bro. Robert, id-Direttur, li lissnilha l-kelmiet: ‘‘irringrazzja lil Alla u ixgħel xemgħa lill-Bambin. Dak tifel tajjeb.’’

Jiġu minn xulxin

Wara ftit, Victor ta l-aħbar lil ommu u saru jafu li l-ommijiet kienu jiġu minn xulxin mill-bogħod. Iżda missieru ried ikun jaf min huma l-ġenituri tax-xbejba. Għalhekk Victor inqeda bi Bro Michael Buttigieg, li mar ikellem lil missieru meta hu ma kienx id-dar. U mhux talli missieru ma qallu xejn meta rritorna, talli staqsieh meta se jlaqqgħu ma’ Carmen. Min-naħa ta’ omm Carmen, din qalet lil Victor li kienet lesta ddaħħlu d-dar, ladarba l-ġenituri tiegħu jkunu jafu li qed ikellem lil bintha.

L-għerusija ta’ Victor u Carmen damet madwar seba’ snin, u dan għall-fatt li hi daħlet il-College tal-għalliema mill-ewwel u hu baqa’ barra minħabba li marad missieru. Xtaq jattendi l-Universita’ biex jaqbad il-professjoni ta’ avukat. Meta ra applikazzjoni għal għalliem, tefagħha, u ngħażel. Għamel żmien jgħallem ukoll lill-persuni neqsin mid-dawl. Wara, mar il-College, intbagħat jgħallem fi skola primarja u aktar tard intbagħat jgħallem fis-sekondarji.

Victor jirrakkonta li meta qabad jaħdem, missieru kien qallu ‘‘il-paga trid tagħtiha lil ommok, għax dawk il-flus m’humiex tiegħek.’’ Jien obdejtu, u kont nagħtiha kollox.

Dar f’Ħal Balzan

Darba waħda staqsieh kemm kien se jdum jaħsibha biex jiżżewweġ u Victor wieġbu li ma kellux flus biex jixtri post, u li la ried joqgħod f’dar il-ġenituri tiegħu u lanqas f’dik tagħha. Missieru qabel miegħu u qallu li kellu l-flus fid-Defence Bonds. Il-Ħadd ta’ wara l-missier reġa’ qabadhielu u staqsieh fejn xtaq imur joqgħod. Victor ħatfu fil-kelma u qallu li l-isbaħ post għalih kien Ħal Balzan, viċin San Anton. Kien hemm xi reklam f’gazzetta u marru jċemplu għalih minn barra, għax dak iż-żmien ma kienx hawn telefons fid-djar.

Raw id-dar, bil-garaxx u għoġbithom, iżda missieru ried li qabel jiftiehmu fuq prezz, jarawha l-għarusa u ommha, biex wara ma jkunx hemm tgergir. Hekk ġara u l-proprjeta’ xtrahielhom missieru għall-prezz ta’ Lm2,500. Dan il-prezz kien 46 sena ilu.

Missier Carmen kien Chief Engineer fuq is-sottomarini fit-Tarzna. Kien raġel kwiet, tant li Victor jirreferi għalih bħala ‘San Ġużepp il-mutu’. Iżda kien kapaċissimu għax il-Commander-in-Chief dejjem jirrikorri lejh f’kull problema. Kien ukoll l-ewwel chargeman u peress li kien iħobb jara lil min jistudja — lil Salvu Debono u lil Nazju Abela, — li kienu jaħdmu t-Tarzna, kien jagħlaqhom f’kamra u jħeġġiġhom ikomplu jistudjaw biex isibu post aħjar. Xogħolhom kien jagħmilhulhom hu.

Victor jgħid li kien jistħi minnu u l-biża’ tiegħu kienet biss meta jilagħbu t-Taljani, għax kien partitarju kbir tagħhom. Darba sa kellhom joħdulu tabib id-dar!

Victor u Carmen damu għarajjes erba’ snin. Fl-għerusija, berkilhom iċ-ċrieket Dun Carmelo Xuereb, li kien kappillan tal-Kalkara u aktar tard Vigarju Ġenerali.

Żwieġ fil-Palazz

Iżżewġu fis-6 ta’ Novembru, 1966 fil-Palazz tal-Arċisqof il-Belt, peress li l-Arċisqof Gonzi kien jiġi z-ziju ta’ missierha. Qaddsilhom hu stess fid-9.00 a.m. Wara marru għall-festin, li dam sat-3.00 p.m. u sar fil-Lukanda Phoenicia, fejn kellhom madwar 600 ruħ mistednin.

Il-familja ta’ Carmen hi waħda numeruża, u biex Victor ikollu l-mistednin, stieden lil tal-familja u lill-ħbieb li kienu miegħu l-Kulleġġ tal-Għalliema. It-tie; ħallsuh l-għarajjes.

Dari, meta ħaddiema mal-Gvern tkun se tiżżewweġ, kienet obbligata tieqaf mix-xogħol li jkollha, u tingħata somma flus. Carmen kienet se tingħata Lm300 iżda sat-tieġ dawn il-flus kienu għadhom ma ħarġux. Allura marru għand ziju tagħha, issellfu Lm600 u bejn iċ-ċekk tagħha u xi flus li qalgħu fit-tieġ, ħallsu għalih.

Il-qamar il-għasel qattgħuh id-dar, għax ma kellhomx flus. Wara t-tieġ, Victor qal lis-sewwieq biex joħodhom Ħ’Attard. Dak ħaseb li kienu sejrin il-Corinthia, iżda ftit qabel waslu hemm, Victor waqqfu u qallu li kienu waslu.
Għamlu ġimgħa xalata. Filgħodu jieklu għand ommu u filgħaxija għand ommha u f’jumejn minnhom marret għalihom kuġina ta’ Carmen, li żewġha kellu karrozza Anglia, li ħaduhom magħhom għal dawra u kielu barra.

Ra ’l missieru jibki

Meta ġew għat-twelid tat-tarbija tagħhom, Victor xtaq li jkollhom tifla, peress li fil-familja ta’ missieru kien ilu ma jkollhom waħda għal tliet ġenerazzjonijiet. U meta mar iħabbarlu li twelditilhom tifla, ra lil missieru bid-dmugħ f’għajnejh għall-ewwel darba f’ħajtu.

Bint Victor u Carmen twieldet il-Ħadd u l-omm xtaqitu jmur iħabbarha fil-gazzetta. Meta mar sab tfajla li staqsietu x’kien beħsiebhom isemmuha. Peress li kien għadu ma jafx, staqsa lilha x’kien jisimha. Dik qaltlu Rosanne u hu qalilha li se jsemmiha bħalha.

Lura d-dar, Carmen staqsietu wkoll x’se jsemmu lil binthom u hu għarrafha b’dak li ġara ftit qabel u li se jsemmu lit-tarbija Rosanne. Illum, binthom hi miżżewġa lil Stephen Calleja u għandhom żewġt itfal, Luke u Sarah.
Rigward il-valuri Nsara jemmnu li dawn kienu hemm, għadhom hemm u jibqgħu hemm. Il-biċċa xogħol hi kemm qed ikunu pprattikati. U min jipprattikahom irid jagħmel hekk mhux biex jidher iżda għax iħoss minn qalbu li għandu jimxi magħhom.

Meta jitrattaw id-dixxiplina, jaqblu li saret taqliba enormi tul 50 sena. Dari, il-qofol ta’ kollox kienu: il-kappillan, in-nutar, is-surġent u l-għalliem. Għan-nies, dawn l-individwi kienu qishom il-Kunsill Lokali. Isemmu li fl-istess żmien, meta ssir il-Parents’ Day, minkejja li ħafna ġenituri ma kinux jafu jiktbu, kienu jattendu biex jaraw kif sejrin uliedhom. Illum ftit huma dawk li jagħtu kas uliedhom. Mhux biss, talli dari, studenti li ma joqogħdux sew, kienu jingħataw xi daqqtejn bir-riga. U ebda ġenitur ma kien imur għas-sodisfazzjon, għax kien jemmen fid-dixxiplina, iżda llum, anki jekk iżżiegħel b’xi student, jakkużawk li qed tabbuża minnu.

L-għaks kien deheb

Anki l-għaks tal-antik ħdejn il-lussu ta’ llum, jitqies bħala deheb, għax it-tfal ma kienu jippretendu xejn. Illum tixtrilhom x’tixtrilhom, ukoll b’liri kbar, jifirħu ftit biha u jwarrbuha. Ir-raġuni għal dan kollu hi li l-progress dejjem ġab rigress.

U l-agħar ħaġa bħalissa hi meta ssib ġenituri li jkunu f’qagħda finanzjarja batuta u jridu jikkupjaw lil ħaddieħor, għal dak li jqisu bħala benefiċċju għal uliedhom. Mhux sew li familja tipprova tagħmel aktar milli tiflaħ. Lit-tfal u liż-żgħar irridu ngħallmuhom li l-imħabba ma tissarrafx fi flus.

Victor semma eżempju tipiku ta’ studenti universitarji li għandhom l-isbaħ karrozzi għax strawhielhom il-ġenituri tagħhom, meta għadhom lanqas bdew jaħdmu. Iżda ġenituri hekk qajla jaħsbu fil-ħsara li jagħmlu f’uliedhom ladarba jiġu biex jiżżewġu. Għax żgħażagħ li jkunu draw f’ċerta ħajja lussuża, ma jkunu lesti għal ebda sagrifiċċju. U ż-żwieġ għandu jitfassal fuq is-sagrifiċċji.

It was to be 21 year old Jenny Stevens first day at work. She had graduated as a Secretary following a two year course at the Secretarial College a few months ago. Her dream had finally been fulfilled, well, partly at least. She still had to find a job. She had filed several applications for secretarial job vacancies appearing in the papers. But she received no feed-back. As the days passed into weeks and the weeks into months, she began to lose heart. Her dream would not be fulfilled after all. In her depressive mood Jenny lamented with her Mum – “Don’t you think that life is strange Mum? I had studied so hard, obtained my certificate, yet I am being turned down everywhere!”

Her Mum sympathized with her daughter, especially knowing the sacrifices she had endured to qualify. “Life is full of surprises my dear. One can never be sure of anything in this world. It is wise to take each day as it comes. But your day will come.”
It was some days later that she noticed an advert for a secretary with Johnson’s Import & Export Company Ltd. She put her application immediately but with not many expectations. She was however surprised and jubilant when they requested her to call at their offices for an interview.

On her way for her first day at work at Johnson’s she recalled when she had sat for the interview. She had faced the three partners of the Company who asked her many questions and observed her closely to assess her suitability for the post. The older man, the Chairman of the Company, appeared not to favour her very much.

He had told her that they would prefer an older girl with experience rather than a young one who was after her first job. He could not be blunter than that! But Jenny got the job nevertheless. As Secretary to Mr. Johnson himself, the Chairman of the Company! Apparently, on the insistence of the other directors, it was agreed that she be given a chance to prove herself. She was determined to prove Mr. Johnson wrong and the other partners right. On this, her first day at the office therefore, she wanted to give a very good impression of herself, especially to Mr. Johnson – dress her best, hair in place, arrive early. She took out her car from the garage and, to avoid the early morning traffic, headed for the ring road from where she would take the one leading directly to the company offices. It was normally a three-quarter of an hour trip. 

But half way down the motorway she saw what appeared at first glance to be an accident of sort – a stationery car on the wayside and a woman with her head slumped on the steering wheel. She stopped immediately and went to her aid. She opened the car door, looked at the woman, an elderly one, and saw that she was unconscious. She felt her pulse. It was not beating. Her heart must have stopped. Without losing any time, she phoned emergency to the ambulance services and the Police. Then she laid the well-dressed woman on the ground and commenced to give her mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration. She had a life-saving certificate from her girl guides days and knew what to do in such circumstances.
Jenny repeated the process at intervals, trying with all her will power to breathe life into the lungs of the unfortunate woman. It was a trying process but she continued without losing heart. Time was of utmost importance. It was a question of life and death.
Then, when she was about to stop, she felt the woman’s chest heave. She was coming to. Her heart started beating again, slowly at first and then more rapidly.

Some cars had by now stopped, their drivers looking at the scene and offered their help. But Jenny was now in control of the situation. Then the Ambulance and the Police cars screeched to a halt beside her. Out came the paramedics with the stretcher. She explained to both Police and paramedics what had happened. The paramedics told her that her immediate response in giving her artificial respiration had definitely saved the woman’s life. Then they transferred the woman to the ambulance and sped to the nearest hospital. The Police then took Jenny’s personal details for their report. Still in a state of shock, she went back to her car, rested for a few minutes, arranged her hair in the car mirror, dusted down her clothes, started the car and continued her journey to the office.
Her first day. And what a day!! She looked at her watch. It was now 10 am. She would be more than an hour late at least. What would Mr. Johnson say? She expected to be given a dressing- down at least or be fired on the spot. She worried what fate awaited her.

She arrived at the office breathless, saw the receptionist busy on the telephone, murmured “Good Morning” and sat down on a chair waiting for her to finish the call. When the receptionist hang down the phone, Jenny informed her that she was the new Secretary to the Chairman, apologized for being late as she had met a car accident on the way and enquired whether Mr. Johnson had asked for her. The receptionist welcomed her to the office but told her that Mr. Johnson had not arrived yet. Jenny felt relief. Thank the Lord! Mr. Johnson would find her at her desk when he arrives and he would be none the wiser that she came late. The receptionist looked at her, saw her somewhat disheveled and informed her that she could use the bathroom if she wished. Jenny grasped the opportunity with both hands. She definitely needed to put on some make-up and do her hair properly. When she came out of the bathroom, the receptionist accompanied her to her office and made her a cup of tea. Jenny looked at the office, it seemed nice and comfortable. But would she be here tomorrow?

An hour later she heard Mr. Johnson come in and head straight to his office. He buzzed her immediately and Jenny entered his office. With a smile on her face she murmured – “Good morning Mr. Johnson” The Chairman looked somewhat agitated. He told her that he was delayed because his wife had been admitted to hospital earlier this morning but is now well and should be discharged later this morning.

“Miss Stevens”, he continued, “Contact the Police and get the details of the young woman who apparently gave my wife artificial respiration while she was unconscious in her car on the ring road. We are both indebted to her and wish to meet her and thank her personally for saving my wife’s life!”