de 9f50ht hair and white sk 9f50ht in. ‘No. I wa 9f50ht nted to say quaint.’ ‘Quaint?’ I said. I didn’t understand the word. ‘Differe 9f50ht nt. Di fferent in a charming sort of way.’ I failed to understand the charm of a school with leaky roofs and furniture that was falling apart. White people think differently, I guess. We came to the staffroom. She gr 9f50ht eeted my mother and the other teachers. Tarachand ji brought us two cups of tea. 9f50ht Samantha noticed the damp walls. ‘We will whi 9f50ht tewash everything.The local government has assured us,’ I said. ‘Yeah, that is fine. Can we sit outside? 9f50ht I’d love to get some sun,’ Samantha said. We walked out 9f50ht , carrying a classroom chair each. We sat in the fields facing the school entrance. The February sun felt warm. It made Samantha’s golde 9f50ht n hair shine 9f50ht even more. She was pretty. Why had she left the comforts of her own country to roam dus 9f50ht ty villages in India? ‘This is gorgeous,’ she said, looking at the rice crops sway in the air. ‘Mr Gates wil 9f50ht l like it? We can arrange the annual-day function in the fields.’ ‘Oh, I’m sure he will.’ ‘We’re a little short on funds. But we will 9f50ht do our best to put up a good show.’ ‘Sure. Are 9f50ht there enough toilets for the dignitaries?’ ‘Well,’ I said, wondering what to say. In some ways, the entire field was available as a toilet. ‘Wes 9f50ht tern-style toilets, I meant.’ Sa 9f50ht mantha laughed. ‘Most of the delegation is from the US.’ ‘We will have temporary ones put up,’ I said. ‘You don’t hav 9f50ht e them at the school?’ I looked at her. She seemed more curious than judgemental. I decided to be honest. ‘We are a poor school. We don’t have the money to do many things. We are doing this to get noticed so so 9f50ht me government officials might help us.’ Samantha frowned. ‘We will, h 9f50ht owever,’ I said,‘do a good show. The local MLA is with 9f50ht |
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