The Sunday Mail
Harmony Agere
“Mum, dad is back,” seven-year-old Shaun Mashapaidze shouts as he heads towards the gate in response to a honk from a vehicle parked there.
As he peeps through the gate, his face is filled with that welcoming joy children exhibit when their parents return home, be it from work, church or any other place.
Moses helps his two sons Munashe (Right) and Shaun with homework despite the fact that it was Christmas day
However, the excitement on Shaun’s face quickly turns to anxiety when he realises it is not his father’s car.
“It’s not him mum,” the disappointed boy mutters while retreating, almost crashing into his mother who is approaching.
Larassa Richards (31) wearing a red cooking apron that indicates she has been busy in the kitchen, does not waste time: “How can I help you, gentlemen?”
Our news crew has randomly picked this family, in Sunningdale 1, Harare for this Christmas visit.
We explain that The Sunday Mail knows nothing about the family, but wants to get a feel of how they celebrate Christmas.
Larassa is at first surprised, and then almost instantly gives her excited assent.
As she ushers us into their yard, a white Toyota Hilux double-cab roars up behind our vehicle. The man of the house has returned.
“Fortunately that’s my husband arriving, you can talk to him for the final approval, but you are most welcome to come into my house,” she says.
As Moses Mushapaidze disembarks, little Shaun’s joy is restored.
It was easy to tell why. His father has brought a lot of goodies — including various types of candy.
“Come in gentleman you are most welcome to spend the time with us, we are happy to have you,” says Moses after we brief him.
Larassa shows her husband how to cut some vegetables into fine chops
Moses’ first born Munashe (12) comes running to help his father and Shaun carry the groceries into the house.
“I had gone out to get a few items that we did not have in the house,” Moses says while leading us into his house.
Inside, the mood is relaxed. Soft music plays from an LED television set and there is evidence — items strewn around in a homely clutter — that no visitors had been expected.
“You will have to do with this gentlemen,” Moses says while offering us stools. “We recently moved to this place and a lot of furniture is still (to be brought from the previous house).”
Moses tells us what a special day Christmas is to his family.
He says, though, that the family “no longer gives a big deal about Christmas as we used to do in the past”.
As he talks about Christmas past, his two sons fiddle with a laptop on the floor.
They too did not seem to give much thought that Christmas was being celebrated.
Moses helps Munashe with some holiday homework, while mouth watering aromas waft from whatever pots Larassa is busy with in the kitchen.
Moses (centre) grabs a chair upon arriving at his brother Shingi’s (right) place while Shingi’s ‘daughter Isabel (left) enjoys her lunch in Waterfalls
There is love in this home. You feel it as soon as you enter.
We don’t sit and marvel for long. The aromas from the kitchen pull us there.
“I have (beef) pot roast, potatoes saute, marinated chicken and white sauce with broccoli and cauliflower,” she tells us.
“The pot roast is a silver side I marinated with garlic and rosemary with a tablespoon of oil overnight. I slowly fry all sides sealing the flavours.”
She sounds like a professional. Or maybe just a mother who enjoys giving the best to her family.
Larassa explains the other recipes while peeling potatoes, which she will later fry in oil garnished with rosemary for her potato sauté.
Moses invites us to tour his house, talking about how good a bottle of Super Chibuku would taste right now.
“I like my Castle Lite, but this time I am trying Super Chibuku because I like the taste.”
Moses then goes to help his wife with the cooking, while the children now play outside.
Around midday, a feast fit for a king is served.
The kids clean their plates as they watch cartoons. All round, everyone expresses pleasure at the culinary delights the lady of the house has cooked up.
The eating done, Moses announces he is taking his wife and children to see Shingi, his younger brother, in Prospect, Waterfalls.
There, they intended to cap the day with a braai.
We are invited. We will not say no!
At Shingi’s place, Shaun leads a regular regiment of rabble rousing kids blowing rounds of fire crackers. Shingi has that much-wished-for Super Chibuku.
Unfortunately we cannot wait for the braai proper. We say our good-byes and leave the family after six wonderful hours. To Moses, Larissa, Munashe and Shaun — and Shingi and his family — we hope you had as great a Christmas as we did with you and we wish you a prosperous 2016.
