"Well, yes. But Ellen didn't use good judgment about it. She's married a Tongan and she's gone to live in Nuku'alofa."
"Does Anita feel that they should live here? In Christchurch?"
"Eh? No, no! It's the marriage she objects to."
"Is there something wrong with this man?"
"Marjorie, didn't you hear me? He's a Tongan."
"Yes, I heard. Since he lives in Nuku'alofa, I would expect him to be. Ellen is going to find it awfully hot there, after being brought up in one of the few perfect climates. But that is her problem. I still don't see why Anita is upset. There must be something I don't know."
"Oh, but you do! Well, maybe you don't. Tongans are not like us. They aren't white people; they are barbarians."
"Oh, but they're not!" I sat up in bed, thereby putting a stop to what hadn't really started. Sex and arguments don't mix. Not for me, anyway. "They are the most civilized people in all Polynesia. Why do you think the early explorers called that group 'the Friendly Isles'? Have you ever been there, Bertie?"
"No but-"
"I have. Aside from the heat it's a heavenly place. Wait till you see it. This man- What does he do? If he simply sits and carves mahogany for the tourists, I could understand Anita's unease. Is that it?"
"No. But I doubt that he can afford a wife. And Ellen can't afford a husband; she didn't finish her degree. He's a marine biologist."
"I see. He's not rich... and Anita respects money. But he won't be poor, either-he'll probably wind up a professor at Auckland or Sydney. Although a biologist can get rich, today. He may design a new plant or animal that will make him fabulously wealthy."
"Darling, you still don't understand."
"Indeed I don't. So tell me."
"Well... Ellen should have married one of her own kind."
"What do you mean by that, Albert? Someone living in Christchurch?"
"It would help."
"Wealthy?"
"Not a requirement. Although things are usually smoother if financial affairs aren't too one-sided. Polynesian beach boy marries white heiress always has a stink to it."
"Oh, oh! He's penniless and she has just collected her family share-right?"
"No, not exactly. Damn it, why couldn't she have married a white man? We brought her up better than that."
"Bertie, what in the world? You sound like a Dane talking about a Swede. I thought that New Zealand was free of that sort of thing. I remember Brian pointing out to me that the Maori were the political and social equals of the English in all respects."
"And they are. It's not the same thing."
"I guess I'm stupid." (Or was Bertie stupid? Maori are Polynesians, so are Tongans-what's the ache?)
I dropped the matter. I had not come all the way from Winnipeg to debate the merits of a son-in-law I had never seen. "Son-in-law
." What an odd idea. It always delighted me when one of the little 'uns called me Mama rather than Marjie-but I had never thought about the possibility of ever having a son-in-law.
And yet he was indeed my son-in-law under Ennzedd law-and I didn't even know his name!
I kept quiet, tried to make my mind blank, and let Bertie devote himself to making me feel welcome. He's good at that.
After a while I was just as busy showing him how happy I was to be home, the unwelcome interruption forgotten.
VII
The next morning, before I was out of bed, I resolved not to open the subject of Ellen and her husband, but wait until someone else brought it up. After all, I was in no position to have opinions until I knew all about it. I was not going to drop it-Ellen is my daughter, too. But don't rush it. Wait for Anita to calm down.
But the subject did not come up. There followed lazy, golden days that I shan't describe as I don't think you are interested in birthday parties or family picnics-precious to me, dull to an outsider.
Vickie and I went to Auckland on an overnight shopping trip. After we checked into the Tasman Palace, Vickie said to me, "Marj, would you keep a secret for me?"
"Certainly," I agreed. "Something juicy, I hope. A boyfriend? Two boyfriends?"
"If I had even one boyfriend I would simply split him with you. This is touchier. I want to talk to Ellen and I don't want to have an argument with Anita about it. This is the first chance I've had. Can you forget I did it?"
"Not quite, because I want to talk to her myself. But I won't tell Anita that you talked to Ellen if you don't wish me to. What is this, Vick? That Anita was annoyed about Ellen's marriage I knew-but does she expect the rest of us not even to talk to Ellen? Our own daughter?"
"I'm afraid it's 'her own daughter' right now. She's not being very rational about it."
"It sounds that way. Well, I will not let Anita cut me off from Ellen. I would have called her before this but I did not know how to reach her."
"I'll show you. I'll call now and you can write it down. It's-"
"Hold it!" I interrupted. "Don't touch that terminal. You don't want Anita to know."
"I said so. That's why I'm calling from here."
"And the call will be included in our hotel bill and you'll pay the bill with your Davidson credit card and- Does Anita still check every bill that comes into the house?"
"She does. Oh, Marj, I'm stupid."
"No, you're honest. Anita won't object to the cost but she's certain to notice a code or a printout that means an overseas call. We'll slide over to the G.P.O. and make the call there. Pay cash. Or, easier yet, we'll use my credit card, which does not bill to Anita."
"Of course! Marj, you would make a good spy."
"Not me; that's dangerous. I got my practice dodging my mother. Let's pin our ears back and slide over to the post office. Vickie, what is this about Ellen's husband? Does he have two heads or what?"
"Uh, he's a Tongan. Or did you know?"
"Certainly I knew. But 'Tongan' is not a disease. And it's Ellen's business. Her problem, if it is one. I can't see that it is."
"Uh, Anita has handled it badly. Once it's done, the only thing to do is to put the best face on it possible. But a mixed marriage is always unfortunate, I think-especially if the girl is the one marrying below herself, as in Ellen's case."
" 'Below herself!' All I've been told is that he's a Tongan. Tongans are tall, handsome, hospitable, and about as brown as I am. In appearance they can't be distinguished from Maori. What if this young man had been Maori... of good family, from an early canoe... and lots of land?"
"Truly, I don't think Anita would have liked it, Marj-but she would have gone to the wedding and given the reception. Intermarriage with Maori has long precedent behind it; one must accept it. But one need not like it. Mixing the races is always a bad idea."
(Vickie, Vickie, do you know of a better idea for getting the world out of the mess it is in?) "So? Vickie, this built-in suntan of mine- you know where I got it?"
"Certainly, you told us. Amerindian. Uh, Cherokee, you said. Marj! Did I hurt your feelings? Oh, dear! It's not like that at all! Everybody knows that Amerindians are- Well, just like white people. Every bit as good."
(Oh, sure, sure! And "some of my best friends are Jews." But I'm not Cherokee, so far as I know. Dear little Vickie, what would you think if I told you that I am an AP? I'm tempted to... but I must not shock you.)
"No, because I considered the source. You don't know any better. You've never been anywhere and you probably soaked up racism with your mother's milk."
Vickie turned red. "That's most unfair! Marj, when you were up for membership in the family I stuck up for you. I voted for you."