White Ladies

Last Sunday, Mum was driving Kibbim and Seffy home after dropping me at the airport. Mum is Bubu to the kids, ‘grandmother’ in PNG Motu language.

     They past the White Lady Funerals advertisement.

     “Bubu, does that mean only white ladies can be buried by them?” asked Seffy.

     “No,” said Bubu.  “It’s a brand name for a funeral service that only women work in.   People think women are gentle and caring and just right for helping organise funerals when families are sad. The women organising the funerals wear white clothes, like a uniform and everyone knows them as White Ladies.”

     Seffy thought about that for a few moments.  
     “Will they bury black men?”