In 1949 Eladio Goicoechea arrived in Guinea. He had always loved the tropical heat and adventure. His wife, Soledad, remained in Spain with their children, Eugenia and Álvaro.
Eladio always liked commerce, so he decided to dedicate himself to the production and exportation of coffee from Guinea to the Peninsula.
As time went by, he liked being in Guinea more and more, so he only went to Spain on vacation. His wife never wanted to accompany him and she never left her country. Soledad had the impression that she would not have the same comforts as in Bilbao, the city where she lived. In addition, she felt that she would not have friends according to her social status. She only thought that the natives were savages and she didn't want to take any risks with the children. What her husband told her horrified her, especially the native customs.
Eladio always traveled to spend the vacations with his children. Three years after his arrival in Africa, he fell in love with a young woman born in Guinea, Chloe, daughter of a general of the colonial guard. They do not get married, but they make their friends believe that they did it secretly. Nobody knows that Eladio is married in Spain.
The years went by and he definitely did not return to his homeland..... His daughter, now in her twenties, decided to go to Africa to spend some time with her father. Eugenia inherited the same adventurous spirit of her father. Unlike him, she is risky and impetuous, she likes freedom and making her own decisions.
The rebellious Eugenia arrives in Guinea accompanied by her nanny, Francisca, a woman who adores and protects her. Francisca reminds her:
-Eugenia, freedom is good but you have to adapt your indomitable character and, achieve balance. Remember that here they have other customs. Besides, I don't want to have problems with your father.-
Eugenia hugs her, kisses her and says:
-All right, I'll try, but I won't promise anything. Just with the air I'm breathing here, my spirit feels emancipated.-
When they arrive at Eladio's house, they are greeted by Cloe. Something unexpected for them. Cloe calls Aka, one of her servants, and then goes to the cook Nayah. Eugenia is horrified to see how they treat the employees.
She immediately protests:
-Why do you treat the employees like that?-
-It's the servants. Get used to it. Your father and I are a family that belongs to the high society of Rio Muni. That's what they're there for. Besides, they have no rights,- says Cloe.
Francisca intervenes:
-Let's get settled Eugenia. You'll have time for everything. .....-
Eugenia and Francisca go to their assigned rooms. As they unpack their luggage, they comment:
-Nana, it comes to my mind to make a diary with everything I'm seeing. This is unheard of.
-Daughter, calm down. Remember what we talked about.-
-I don't know, I can't promise you anything at this moment. .....-
Due to her character and her ideas, Eugenia will often clash with her father's mistress. The opposite happens with Angel, Chloe's son, whom her father raised as if he were his own. Soon, to everyone's astonishment, Angel and Eugenia get along as if they were real siblings. A friendship and an immense affection between these young people arises.
Eugenia has very different ideas from the rest of the Spaniards living in the colony. She disagrees with the restrictions on citizens' rights imposed by the government. She is astonished that only white people have control of all government, production and commerce. People of color are not respected for their cultural and ethnic diversity. She does not like this. She talks to her father and explains her vanguardist ideas to him:
-Father, how is all these injustices possible? We have to do something to put an end to this.
Chloe listened to them:
-Eladio controls your daughter.-
-Eugenia, leave us alone.-
The two of them argue. They had never done it before.
-You have to put a stop to Eugenia's ideas. Besides, Francisca approves of all her excesses. Maybe if she were alone it would be easier to live together. Why don't you return Francisca to Spain?-
-I can't do that. She has been with Eugenia since she was born.
-As you can't, I can. You'll have to deal with the consequences.
-Don't threaten me. .....-
The days passed, everyone calmed down. Eugenia talks to her father again:
-I want to set up a business of wooden jewelry for women. I already have the designs. Can you help me?-
-Well, it occurs to me that you could start by working in the carpentry shop of my friend Bernardo Velázquez. That's in order for them to get to know you. There you would design furniture, another of your passions. That way you can see how the business is run. -
-Perfect-
In the carpentry , Eugenia would work in a team with Malik, an excellent native designer with tanned skin. In time they would establish a friendship, which would be frowned upon because of the difference in skin color and social class. Of course, that didn't matter to the indomitable young woman.
One day Malik invites her to get to know the jungle and his community. They go on the sly. They arrive and she sees the tribe's sorcerers performing a ritual. She watches in silence. Then the music begins and the people join in, dancing......Fascinated she joins in without thinking. She enjoys it very much. Then comes the exotic meal: smoked chicken, fish soup with peanuts and some kind of sweet potato crackers. At the end of the meal, she says goodbye and says thank you. She has to go back.... Without thinking about it, Eugenia and Malik are falling in love.
When she returns, she runs to her nanny. Francisca is lying on the bed. She calls out to her and moves .... but she doesn't answer. Her father helps her. They take her to the hospital. There is nothing to do...they give her the news:
-Francisca is dead.-
She cries disconsolately, she suspects her stepmother, and says:
-Cloe is not going to make fun of me. I will denounce her. It was she who killed her.-
Her father tries to reassure her:
-Calm down. Everything will become clear in due time. Now we will think about the funeral and about notifying her family.-
After the funeral Eugenia continued to write in her diary the events of her life. ..... was her only consolation.
Time went by and Chloe's influences paid off, she was absolved of everything. But.... by that time the family was going bankrupt...... Eladio decided to ask Enrique Andueza for a loan. Already gathered in the club, he would grant it to him with a condition....
-Eladio we have known each other for a long time. We can be partners. I give you my support but, in exchange, I demand that our children, Jorge and Eugenia, become engaged to be married.-
-Yes, all right, whatever you say. -Eladio answered in desperation.
-We could make a toast to announce the engagement. I know that my son is in love with Eugenia,- Enrique insists.
-Give me time, Eugenia has not yet recovered from the death of her nanny,- replies Eladio as he says goodbye.
It is already evening, the dining table is served with an exquisite meal ....... but dinner would have to wait a little longer.... When Eladio arrives home, he meets with his family. They talk to analyze the economic situation they have. Eugenia is told her part of the plan. If not, she would have to return to Spain.
She angrily leaves them without further explanation. It is too much to ask of a young woman who always makes her own decisions. She leaves for her room. She lies down on her bed.... she remembers her beloved nana.... she remembers that in difficult situations she used to tell her:
-Ask the angels for their help and protection. They will guide your path.-
Eugenia falls asleep trusting in the angels..... they will help her in time, to decide her destiny: Spain or Guinea.
Decision time: Spain or Guinea by María del Carmen Sánchez Copyright © 2022
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)