It was the proposed day of Casmir's vague event and she'd just finished helping Maria in the kitchen to prepare three types of soup, a stew, a sauce and a dish of porridge yam, when the amiable woman had announced that she was leaving.
"Are you going to the market?" Louisa had asked with a slight frown.
The middle aged woman had chuckled, "No, as next tomorrow is Christmas, I need to be with my family and need to also prepare special meals for them."
"Sorry, I wasn't thinking; this Christmas is fast to come, sha," she joked in pidgin English. "I've gotten used to you here, now I'll be by myself," she'd made a mock pout, causing Maria to laugh.
"Don't worry, I'll be here tomorrow to drop off groceries for the store, besides, Mr Casmir usually rests at home on Christmas day."
"That's good to know," she'd replied.
