Rice Pudding and Love Feast
A short story about a Grandma’s love in a Caribbean island
This story belongs to a lovingly named series “Sweetnesses of My Childhood.” I’ve translated my first short story, initially written in French. You can read it thanks to the link below:
Anusha!” My grandmother’s yelling made me wake up with a jolt. I just had time to get my wits back and to slowly go out from my slumber. I remembered today was a celebration day. Today, we were going to celebrate my Indian ancestors’ arrival on the Guadeloupe islands coasts. I could hear male voices coming from outside, and was able to identify my Grandpa Gilbert’s. He was giving instructions to my dad and his brothers. We were the hosts of the day, for a family and some friends’ gathering, in honor of our community.
I felt a little bit disturbed, and unable to get over the jet lag. But I was more joyful than ever on that day: the view on the coconut tree palms — more aged than me, for sure — the Christmas flowers tree slowly agitating. All of that was offering me an incredible sight, filling me with a pure feeling of fullness. I wasn’t missing at all the dullness of Brussels city.
In a blink of an eye, a washing face time later, I fled to the kitchen. A delightful coconut milk smell was perfuming the whole house. The familiar voices gave a promising tone to that first back-at-home day. I was definitely feeling happy.
I first saw Auntie Fanny, who had joined Grandma. She was dressed with her queen-of-the-kitchen apron. She accosted me with her usual sweetness: “What about you my love? How was the travel?”. I answered that everything was fine and that I was pleased to see her again.
Then I saw Grandma, cheerful as always. She had some tears when she saw me that she quickly wiped away, in — what she believed to be — an inconspicuous way. I held her in my arms to say hello. My ebony haired Grandma was an incredible elegant woman, even in house clothes. Though she had woken up early, she had a radiant and fresh complexion, as if she had slept soundly.
I went out from my daydreaming session when I heard Auntie Fanny’s voice:
“Today, your grandma and I are going to show you how to do a rice pudding”.
Woop woop! A rice pudding! I couldn’t hide longer a satisfaction smile, as I felt both excited and gourmand. I had the chance to taste that pastry several times, and lately at Auntie Gina’s, after a fastuous dish: a Colombo [1] on banana tree leaves. Connoisseurs do know.
I had dreamed of learning the recipe to impress my friends in the cosmopolitan city I am currently living in. But it was like a state secret, jealously guarded. Finally, I would unravel the mystery around the secret ingredient and savor of that unique taste sweetness.
The sunshine was bathing the room with its orange-colored light. The spices flavours were starting to play with my senses. Lemon peels, large chunks of cinnamon from Marie-Galante island [2], short-grain white rice blue bowl, nutmeg, coconut milk freshly extracted by my grandfather: nothing seemed to be missing. Everything was skillfully arranged with military precision.
Grandma, always true to herself, started the operations, with solemnity:
“It’s a recipe passed on by my mommie, she herself received from her grandma. No notebook or any piece of paper: it’s a family secret well kept, and shared to women only…”
Grandma’s eyes were shining with such pride, while she was telling the story, and showing me the gestures…
I felt a hand gently patting me.
Suddenly, I heard a caring and familiar voice: “Wipe out your tears honey, and please, finish your rice pudding”. And as a way to match words with action, Auntie Fanny stretched me out a tissue. I was slowly contemplating that last bite of rice pudding. It went from a delicious taste to a bitter one.
As a last attempt to bring me back to reality, I heard the distant Auntie Fanny’s voice:
“We are going to accompany Grandma to her last resting place.”
In loving memory of Mamie V. ღ
Original text: https://unefeeruedesmots.com/riz-au-lait-en-souvenir-dun-dessert-manque/
Illustrations and text: Yas VB. All rights reserved.
[1] West Indian curry dish [2] Marie-Galante is an island located in the south of Guadeloupe islands archipelago.
