Aunt Marjie smiled lightly

This is a true image of Aunt Marjie. She is almost, but faintly smiling. That is what she was like. Mr. Mataka was the titular head of this household, but he did not rule actively. It was up to his daughter, Aunt Marjie, to run things and to make decisions, and to say who might stay and who must leave because there was always many people and many children at Mataka's house.

But Aunt Marjie was a quiet one. You can look at this photographic image and see a kind of firmness, a touch of sorrow, but also a touch of happiness. She was a sensible woman who knew how to enjoy herself. But she was not a fool.

I seldom talked with her. I usually sat with Mr. Mataka on the front porch, and she sat with her friends and sisters outside the kitchen door on the side of the house.