Shelter for a Nicaraguan Maid (1998)
By
Mark Farenbaugh
Major Charles Middlebrooks was stationed in Nicaragua as an attaché. The primary mission was intel gathering. After 15 months of training, Charles knew that one of the best places for “collecting” information is at the residence. He had a large, rich-looking house with a gardener and a maid, all provided by the military. He was expected to use the residence several times per month. A maid was provided to cook typical British meals for the guests and keep the house in good order. During events, drinks would be offered in expensive crystal and tasty food would be served on fine china. Usually, the guests would become comfortable and lower their defenses. By keeping the alcohol and good conversation flowing, quality information would eventually be released to the listening attaché ears.
As the months of his two-year assignment passed, Charles realized that besides being a natural in the kitchen, his maid was truly a good person. She had two very small children and was a single parent.
Months earlier.
Major Middlebrooks had inherited a different maid when he arrived. Anna was from Belize and could read and speak Spanish and English and had no problem cooking new recipes. A perfect fit. Charles was told he had the best maid of any officer in the unit, and he thought he was lucky to have her.
Then, Charles’ boss departed. That boss didn’t bother passing his maid on to the incoming Colonel because she couldn’t make anything beyond Gallo Pinto (dark beans and rice) with fried eggs. Meals at the Colonel’s events were all catered. A disaster for the colonel, but he was too sympathetic of the poor maid’s situation to just fire her. It wouldn’t look good.
When the new boss arrived, it was immediately apparent that he didn’t speak Spanish beyond “El caballo está saltando,” the opening phrase in Rosetta Stone. The horse is jumping. Basically, See Spot Run. Not a good situation for the boss. The logical move, Major Middlebrooks thought, was to give him his bilingual and polished maid.
That started Major Middlebrooks’ search for a replacement.
His introduction to Julia was not by chance, but good fortune. The word got out that the major was in search of a maid with cooking skills. Friends and coworkers arrived to suggest that they had a person who would be a “great” replacement.
But they didn’t know that a test would be given. Charles would kindly invite the sponsor and potential maid to come to his castle-house. When they arrived, he would take them to the ample kitchen and present the test to the new contestant: a thawed chicken, a few potatoes, a bag of frozen vegetables, and spices. The exam was to cook a meal for the sponsor and himself, to be served on china, at six o’clock in the late afternoon. Upon agreement, the sponsor and attaché departed the premise.
Sadly, they would return to an overcooked chicken still in the oven, cold mashed potatoes in the refrigerator, and a cold tomato sauce for gravy. The common approach to the frozen bag of vegetables was, “No sabía que hacer con la bolsa congelada.” (I didn’t know what do do with the frozen bag).
One contestant after another failed the test. The hopeful sponsors routinely admitted they had been on a steady diet of spaghetti or Gallo Pinto and would supplement the diet with ordered food. Each contestant was given whatever food they cooked to take home.
Then, late one Sunday afternoon, the house phone rang. “Mí Colonel, cómo está?” greeted the office secretary. Pleasantries were exchanged.
“I have found a maid for you, but you have to call quickly to reserve a time to speak with the French attaché’s wife.”
Major Middlebrooks thanked her and made the phone call. The office secretary was the wisest woman he had met in Nicaragua, and she wouldn’t have called him without a good reason. Not on a Sunday.
“Good afternoon,” answered a lady with a French accent.
“Yes ma’am, good afternoon. I am Major Middlebrooks. I understand that you and your husband are nearing the end of your tour and might have a maid who needs a job?”
“Yes, you are correct. Would you like to meet and talk about it?”
“Yes ma’am. When are you available?”
“This Wednesday at 3 pm.”
A few days later
The door opened and an elegant lady introduced herself. She then pointed at a small table. “Please join me for some coffee.” Major Middlebrooks walked toward the table to sit down. He could see that there was a platter on it with a few tasty-looking desserts.
The polite lady told a story about where she and her husband had lived during their career and how they had enjoyed seeing the sites of the world. During the conversation, she offered Charles some of the pastries on the table. There was apple pie, pecan pie, chocolate chip cookies, and sugar cookies. He wasn’t much for sweets, but who could resist what cannot be found in Nicaragua. The apple pie was delicious.
Then, the questions came. The lady wanted to know who Major Middlebrooks was and what type of maid he was looking for? How many hours on weekends was the maid needed? How many events per month? How much pay was he willing to offer her?
Major Middlebrooks quickly realized that he was being interviewed!
At the end of the questioning, the polite French lady seemed satisfied. She then turned her attention to the pastries. “All of these pastries were prepared by Julia, our maid. Would you like to meet her?”
The major was stunned. The office secretary had found a gem!
“Of course,” nodded the eager major. “Of course.”
A year later.
One midweek day, he returned to the house to change into a formal uniform for one of the many social events of the embassy. It was a last-minute invitation from the ambassador, which required an unannounced return to the house earlier than the end of the day.
“Hola señor Charlie. Cómo está?” said the tired-looking Julia. “Why are you back so soon? Can I help you with anything? Are you hungry?”
Julia had worked out very well and had gained the reputation of an honest worker, besides becoming the best cook.
Charlie responded, “No, Julia, nothing needed. I just have an event to go to and need to change into a uniform.” He then noticed that she was walking a little slowly. She seemed to be fighting exhaustion. Maybe she was sick?
Watching her move around he suddenly realized that she had been slowing down all week.
Not wanting to avoid the matter, he told her that he could tell that she was tired and just wanted to know if something stressful was going on in her life. She reluctantly said that she hadn’t been getting much sleep since she had to evacuate quickly from her rented apartment and was now living on her property.
Charles vaguely remembered that she had recently bought raw land and asked if she was in a tent or something. She replied that it was a small structure. He then insisted on taking her home. He would simply arrive late to his military function and changed into jeans and boots.
Her land wasn’t in the best area of Managua. Once departing asphalt roads, one had to have a sturdy vehicle to negotiate the narrow and uneven dirt roads. After crossing an open area, Julia pointed to a tree covered hill. Somewhere in there was her small piece of property.
Major Middlebrooks thought about it for a second, then engaged the vehicle’s four-wheel-drive to ascend the narrow, winding dirt roads. When he got to the property, he couldn’t see where she would possibly be sleeping and stopped the Range Rover. After a short walk into the property, he saw her shelter…..a 15 foot-square mess of 4 vertical-but-curved tree limbs, not taller than his own shoulders, covered and sided with old, twisted, corrugated zinc sheets of metal. All of her belongings were jammed into the small structure. It looked like it was about to fall over. No wonder she wasn’t sleeping. She and her two small children were living in the outside elements.
A few feet away there was the start of dirt excavation and an outline of a foundation. One barrio neighbor was building her a house at the snail’s pace of her $275 per month budget.
Charles then strongly suggested she move into his government-furnished house, or a hotel that he would provide. She strongly resisted.
For two days Charles couldn’t sleep, knowing her situation.
Charles finally arrived at a solution. He found a civil engineering team to improve Julie’s temporary shelter, while designing and building her permanent home. He also offered them a completion bonus if quickly done - as fast as the cement would dry.
In no time, he found the right crew and threw money at the task. After a few thousand dollars and two weeks of no rain, the foundation, walls, roof, and floor were completed. Julia and her kids could move in while the inner walls and windows were finished.
With a simple gesture, everyone was sleeping better…..and a long-lasting friendship was created.
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