Some 10 minutes before school was due to let out, Stavros spotted two women wearing hijabs heading toward the school. One was striding along confidently while the other was gawking at her surroundings. So...likely Danica's aunt and her mother. He'd not expected both, but it really didn't matter.
As they neared the entrance, Stavros stepped out, bowed and asked, "Are you two ladies perhaps Danica Karongo's aunt and mother?"
They exchanged a glance. Neither knew this boy, so why was he speaking to them? Her aunt recovered first and asked in turn, "Why is it that you ask, and, while we're at it, who are you?"
"I beg your pardon. I'm Stavros Donetti. I'm one of Miss Karongo's classmates. Mrs. Krait, the headmaster, asked me to speak to you."
He gestured to the side of the road, "Please, join me over there. It would be best not to block the street."
As they moved in the direction he'd pointed, he updated 'Suela. "I've met them...yes 'them'. Her mother came too. I expect that we'll be there within 10 minutes."
"OK. Got it. I'll let the others know."
By then, the ladies had reached the wall and turned to him with questions in their eyes.
"Please be at peace ladies. Nothing horrible has befallen Danica. For some reason, she developed a fever at lunch time. The school nurse, Mrs. Chandler decided that she should go home.
"Of course you see the problem. She doesn't know where her home is yet and had no way to contact you. Therefore my sister Consuela suggested that Danica go to our home where she could be treated by a physician as soon as possible."
He made a show of glancing at the passersby in the street, while still watching Danica's family out of the corner of his eye as he continued, "Knowing that you would likely not want a strange male physician examining her, our mother summoned a skilled physician who is also female."
He noticed that their shoulders relaxed as he mentioned Kaho.
Turning fully toward them, he offered, "My mother has sent me to guide you to our home where you may converse with her and Dr. Fukui. I'm sure that they will be able to answer all of your questions.
"Will you please follow me?"
After a hurried, whispered conversation, Danica's aunt nodded. He led them to his home and was surprised to see that his mother answered the door. Uncharacteristically, she was wearing her headscarf indoors.
As soon as he saw her, Stavros stepped aside, his mother stepped forward, and she said, "As-salāmu ʿalaykunna".
The ladies both responded with, "as-salāmu ʿalayki" and, clearly relieved, were ushered into the house and then to the family parlor, where they were introduced to Kaho.
Stavros made to follow them, but he was intercepted by Mimi's scowl and a whispered, "Idiot. Remember what your mother taught you about women in Muslim households? This is 'Suela's job."
Turning to 'Suela, who had been hovering around a corner, Mimi said, "Go. Stand just inside the door of the parlor but say nothing until your mother introduces you. When she does, you bow and you still say nothing, but be sure to smile. You don't know any Arabic yet, and if you try to repeat what you heard earlier, you'll mangle it and might upset our guests. Also, you are not to sit unless your mother invites you to do so.
"Do you understand?"
'Suela nodded and hurried to comply.
Next Mimi turned to Stavros. "Go find Rosalind and tell her that she's going to be in charge of supervising dinner. After that, take yourself to the Little Cathedral and brief Sara and Paolo. We don't want them blindsided when they arrive home.
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"I'll attend to those in the parlor."
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As Mimi arrived at the parlor, she could see that Danica's aunt and mother had just fallen back on the settee due to shock from having heard Kaho's report. As always, no matter how hard she tried to be diplomatic, Kaho had told the unvarnished truth.
Mimi nodded. Her timing was good. She busied herself with serving tea, gesturing for Consuela to aid her. Getting settled and taking a sip of tea allowed Danica's family to take some deep breaths and calm themselves.
Kaho finally managed to come up with a way to soften her report. "Regardless of how precarious your daughter's health was, that is no longer a major concern. As long as she gets sufficient rest, and works to improve her health, given time, she should recover fully."
Danica's mother Miriam nodded. Her aunt Zaynab seemed somewhat skeptical, but she did eventually nod as well.
After a further half hour of discussion, the only remaining sticking point revolved around Danica living in the Donetti home until she was stronger. The problem was one of saving face as much as it was concern about living with strangers.
Finally Miranda asked, "Does not the Holy Quran say that one should do good to neighbors who are near and neighbors who are strangers? Will you not allow us to follow the words of the Prophet by aiding you in this matter? It is true that we are strangers, but in The City we are all neighbors."
After that, Danica's family sat quietly, saying nothing further as they considered the matter.
Finally Miranda stood, approached them, and held out her hand. "Come. Let us go see your daughter, then you may make your final decision."
Miriam nodded firmly, took Miranda's hand, and stood.
Miranda tucked Miriam's hand under her arm, then they walked side-by-side down the hall and up the stairs to the second floor. Zaynab followed behind, with Mimi and Consuela at the rear.
As they walked Miranda was explaining something of how the household functioned, "We have a small room on the first floor that is dedicated to prayer. There is water for proper purification, and there are salii. I shall arrange for someone to help Danica to the room at the appropriate times. Also, all food in the house is either halal or kosher."
She smiled at Miriam. "You also need not worry about Danica falling further behind in her studies. My daughter-in-law Sara is the head librarian in The City and is already tutoring two other girls in our home. I've not had time to tell her about Danica yet, but I guarantee that she will be thrilled to have another student to work with."
Upon hearing all this, Miriam would have stopped still due to shock, but the steady pull of Miranda's arm kept her moving.
"Ah, here we are." Miranda pointed to the room on the left. "That room is shared by my daughters Consuela and Heidi." Gesturing to the right, she continued, "We have Danica in this room."
As she was speaking, she quietly opened the door on the right and peeked in. Danica was still asleep since 'Suela had not been able to sneak away to awaken her. Miranda laid her finger across her lips and led the others to Danica's bedside.
Miriam knelt by the bed, took Danica's hand, and began to sing what sounded like a lullaby.
Danica's eyes fluttered, then opened fully as she turned her head toward her mother. "I've always loved that song. You only sing it when someone in the family has been ill, and you know that they are going to live."
She laid her right hand on top of her mother's. "I'm sorry about not telling you. I was so worried for you all that I just couldn't say anything."
Then she burst into tears and threw her arms around her mother.
Soon there were no dry eyes in the room, and handkerchiefs were much in evidence.
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The surprises were still not over. As Danica's relatives were in the entryway saying goodbye, the door opened. Sara was preceeded in by Paolo, who was still wearing his cassock. Danica's mother and aunt pulled back, suddenly afraid that here was another Christian who would try to convert their daughter.
Their fears were quickly put to rest. Seeing two women in hijabs, Paolo stopped before fully entering the house and spoke, "As-salamu alaykum".
Though they were still somewhat in shock, the ladies automatically responded, "Wa ‘alaykum al-salaam".
Miranda said, "This is my son Paolo."
Miriam and Zaynab turned to each other and exchanged a look that said everything. This house, and the people in it, were much stranger than they could ever have imagined.
When they turned back toward the door, Sara spoke, "As-salāmu ʿalaykunna".
Again Danica's family responded. The ritual greetings had comforted them, allowing Miranda to hurriedly arrange her thoughts. "This is Sara of whom I spoke."
Gesturing to the ladies, she added, "These ladies are Miriam and Zynab Karongo. They are the mother and aunt of Danica, who will be staying with us for a few weeks."
Attracted by the voices, Kaho loomed behind Miranda, who turned to her and said, "I'm sure that Dr. Fukui will be pleased to explain the situation to you in more detail. So, Paolo, Sara, if you would please follow her to the family parlor?"
The pair followed Kaho down the hall while Miranda arranged with Danica's mother the times she planned to visit the next day. After she saw them out the door, she leaned against the wall and took several deep breaths. It was almost time for dinner, and she still had a number of items on her desk that needed doing today regardless of how tired she was or how much time she'd lost dealing with Danica and her family.
Standing around feeling sorry for herself would accomplish precisely nothing, so she pushed herself off the wall and headed upstairs.