The Heart of a Woman - Maya Angelou [124]
That was unacceptable. Guy had been through as much as I could handle.
Conor Cruise O'Brien was vice-chancellor of the University, and Nana Kobina Nketsia IV, a paramount chief, was former vice-chancellor. I made an appointment to see Dr. O'Brien, and Efuah introduced me to the Nana.
I pleaded and talked, moaned and whined, said I wasn't asking for a scholarship or any financial aid. I would pay tuition and for his books. After weeks of haunting the offices, collaring the men in halls, catching up with them on the campus paths, I was finally told that they had decided it was not fair to penalize students coming from American schools.
They had arranged a three-part test. Guy would be expected to take the examination on Monday at nine o'clock.
I took Guy the news, and since I hadn't told him of the trouble, he took it casually. “O.K., Mom. I'll be ready.”
Monday morning my desk felt like sponge and the papers on it were unintelligible. I looked at my watch every five minutes. Efuah passed and stopped to chat, but I was too distracted to keep up my end of the conversation.
At last, Guy came loping across the campus, his cast helmet looking almost white under the noonday sun. I forced my self to remain seated. He entered my tiny office, taking up its spare room.
“Finished.” His complexion looked healthy, and his eyes were free of worry.
“How did you do?”
“Great. I won't get the results for a couple of days. But I did great. Mom, do you know that Conor Cruise O'Brien is the same man who headed the U.N. Congo project?”
I knew.
“Well, one of my questions was ‘What role has the European in African development?’” He chuckled with pleasure. “Well, I'll tell you. I ate Dr. O'Brien up in little pieces. I read his book To Katanga and Back in Cairo.”
He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I'm going to meet some guys in the Junior Common Room.”
Speechless, I watched him bound away. I had tommed, mewled and begged to get him registered, and in an attempt to show how manly he was, the smartass had bungled everything. I allowed myself to relish the fury.
After an hour, when I could walk without my knees wobbling and speak without yelling, I crossed the campus and found Dr. O'Brien in the Senior Common Room. I grinned for him and was prepared to shuffle and scratch. My people had written the book on dealing with white men.
I spoke out of a mealy mouth. “Dr. O'Brien, Guy told me how he answered one of those questions. You haven't had a chance to see his exam yet …”
“Oh, but I have, Miss Angelou. His answers are fine. His registration papers will be sent to your office. We want minds like that in the university.”
I grinned again and backed away.
Sooner or later, I was going to have to admit that I didn't understand black men or black boys and certainly not all white men.
Guy was moving into Mensa Sarba Hall. I had seen his room in the dormitory and it looked too small and too dark, but he loved it. For the first time in his life, he was going to live alone, away from my persistent commands. Responsible to himself and for himself. My reaction was in direct contrast with his excitement. I was going to be alone, also, for the first time. I was in my mother's house at his birth, and we had been together ever since. Sometimes we lived with others or they lived with us, but he had always been the powerful axle of my life.
He dragged the old trunk toward the door, but I stopped him.
“Don't lift heavy things like that. You could hurt yourself. I want you to be careful. Remember your neck.”
He put the trunk down and turned. “Mom, I know I'm your only