by Alexander McCall Smith, 2009
Great book! LOVED this one!! Mma Ramotswe solves the mystery of why the soccer team, the Kalahari Swoopers, are losing all of their games. Actually, her foster son, Puso, figured it out – it was that the owner, Mr. Molofololo, kept changing things and their shoes were uncomfortable so they couldn’t play their best football any more. Mr. Molofololo thought there was a traitor on the team but it turned out to be him and his insistence on them wearing these new shoes!
Also, Violet Sephotho goes to work for Phuti Radiphuti’s Double Comfort Furniture Shop, selling beds. Her idea is to steal him away from Grace. She sells many beds. Mma Ramotswe decides to have Charlie go buy a bed. He plays interested but then says he has to think about it and she propositions him – if you buy this bed, I’ll help you try it out. Charlie tells Phuti – not knowing it was Phuti – and he fires Violet on the sot. She is a wicked woman!
And Mma Ramotswe’s little white van dies – she is so very sad. Mr J.L.B. Matekoni buys her a beautiful blue van. She still misses her little white van and she and Fanwell drive to the junkyard to get it back but it was already sold.
One very poignant part was Mma Ramotswe’s worry and love for Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni on the day he goes to help a friend in his garage in Lobatse.
“She waved back from the window, and suddenly, inexplicably, felt an urge to rush out into the yard to speak to him before he left, to tell him something…She gave his hand a squeeze. “I wanted to thank you,” she said. He was puzzled “For what? Thank me for what?” “For everything you’ve given me, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni.”
“He looked away. He was not one for displays of emotion; he never had been, but it made his heart swell to be thanked by this woman who stood for so much in his eyes; who stood for kindness and generosity and understanding; for a country of which he was so proud; who stood for Africa and all the love that Africa contained.”
BEAUTIFUL BOOK!! LOVED IT!!