Ditta Sylvester

Miss Rosalind Green was one of the most important citizens of Cattle Ridge. She owned and made her living from the big shop in the village square, and she had an only son, Karl, whom she loved more than life itself. Nobody in the village had ever seen Karl's father but they had heard that he was of Irish descent.

Karl was a good, hard-working young man who was liked by everybody in Cattle Ridge. He seemed completely unaware of any difference between himself and the others, whose skin was darker. He was humble and pleasant. His mother had had ambitions of making him into a white-collar worker but Karl was determined to become a farmer and refused to be dissuaded.

What his mother still clung to was the dream of one day having a crop of beautiful, fair-skinned grandchildren to call her 'Grandma'. She had often spoken of this to Karl, whose response was always a chuckle, with the advice that his mother should not count her 'grand-chickens' before they were hatched. But when Karl began to show interest in a not-exactly-brown girl, Miss Green did not hesitate to show her disapproval.

'But is what dat you gone pick up?' she asked him.

'But you well fresh, you know, Mama!' Karl responded. 'Is who you callin 'what'? Bernice is a very nice young lady. I don't see nothing wrong wid her.'

'Karl,' his mother tried to reason with him, 'you is mi only chile. You don't expect dat I would want what is bes' for you?'

'Yes, Mama, an' I tank you. But I still don't see anyting wrong wid Bernice.'

'You don't see her colour?'

'Her colour?' Karl turned to face his mother. 'Her colour? What dat have to do wid anyting? Black skin don't mean black heart. You should know dat. Bernice is a kind, decent person ...'

Miss Green was exasperated. 'Is me you want to look shame!' she said. 'A nice brown-skin boy like you should try to hole up you head. Instead you gone to get youself mix up wid dis black gal.'

'Is what you talkin bout, Mama? No matter how fair a person skin is, if him not fully white, him black! You nevva know dat?' And he smiled patiently at his mother. 'You an Bernice have di same colour. Maybe dat is why you both so nice. You two will just have to learn to like each other!'

Rosa's expression did not change. Karl blew her a kiss and took off to his banana field. His mother went to serve a customer and the matter was forgotten for a while.

Some weeks later, Rosa's best friend Margaret paid her a visit. They sat close to each other as they considered the latest developments in the light of the local gossip. Rosa was startled when Margaret said: 'So you soon turn granny, mi frien.'

'What! Is what you talkin' bout now?'

'Mi say it look like you sooon turn granny pon wi!'

'Me? Explain youself, Margaret.'

'Is di gal Bernice. It look to me like she pregnant.'

'Oh Jesus!'

'Don't get so frighten, man,' Margaret said. 'Mi don't sure say she pregnant. Mi jus' a say how she look fat. Ask Karl 'bout it when him come.'

Rosa Green cleared her throat nervously. 'Look here, Maggie. You know what ... Is a whole heap a tings I have to do before night, you know. Why you don't come back tomorrow?'

Margaret got up to go. 'So is why you a run me out a dis place so sudden?' She asked.

'Tomorrow, man. Tomorrow we talk again.'

'A'right. Me wi' see you,' Margaret said as she left.

His mother could hardly wait for Karl to come home so she could accost him about this new development. She heard him come in, long after she had locked the shop, jumped out of bed and hurried to the confrontation.

'Is where you comin from dis time o' night?' She shouted.

'Mama?' Karl turned to look at her. 'Is what you doin' up so late? You not getting any younger, you know!'

But Rosa was hopping mad and in no joking mood. 'Is dat dutty gal what you take up wid! You is a big man now but you still livin unda my roof. An' I not puttin up wid dis slackness no more. Shape up or ship out!'

The words were hardly out of her mouth when she began to wish with all her might that she could call them back.

They stared at each other in silence. Then Karl said quietly: 'OK, M'am. If is so you want it. You know how long I been askin Bernice to come talk to you? But she know you hate her, so she fraid. We kinda get a place a'ready anyway. Good night, Mama.'

He went to his room and to bed.

Rosa went back to bed too, but she slept very little that night.

That was the last night that Karl slept in his mother's house.

In the days that followed, Karl saw what seemed like a change in his mother's attitude. She begged him to come back home. She seemed sad and lonely and he felt sorry for her. She seemed not so quick to criticise his girlfriend; but whenever he tried to talk about her, his mother grew silent. She couldn't help asking whether or not Bernice was pregnant and was relieved when he told her she wasn't. They had no plans to start a family, until they were married, Karl told her.

When he said that, Rosa said to herself: 'Family! Wid dat black gal? Over my dead body!'

She could not have selected a more unfortunate phrase.

A few weeks later, Bernice herself walked shyly into the shop. She was bubbling with joy and holding a telegram.

'Mornin, Miss Green!'

'Mornin,' Rosa said shortly.

'I jus get a telegram for Karl. '

'Oh?'

'Him get call to do farm work in America. See di telegram here,' the girl said, handing it over.

Miss Green stiffly took the telegram and tried to read it but she was so angry that she could hardly see. Karl had not even told her that he was seeking employment abroad. She felt betrayed. Obviously, the only person he cared about these days was this girl smiling broadly in front of her. But she kept her composure and asked, 'So is when him goin?'

'It in di telegram,' Bernice told her. 'Next week Friday.'

'Oh yes,' Miss Green said, looking back at the paper. 'Next week Friday. Tell Karl to come see mi later.'

Miss Green locked the shop early that evening and went to bed, but she got little sleep that night. She felt pain, disappointment and a white-hot rage. She could not allow somebody like Bernice to take her son away from her. What of the grandchildren?

A few nights later she was on her way to visit one of Jamaica's most famous obeah men. The car belonged to Old Edwin, who was famous for saying that his car was almost as old as himself. But it was a reliable car and in lees than three hours they had arrived.

Obeah was expensive but Miss Green was willing to make the sacrifice. Edwin took silent note of the fact that the bag his passenger had gone into the yard with was much bulkier when she came back out. She hardly looked at him. What he didn't know was that she was also a little afraid. Rosa was remembering how the man had impressed upon her to be careful with the 'the parcel'. It was deadly. The first person to walk over

it, he had said, would be dead in a matter of weeks. It was up to her to make sure that only the intended victim would suffer.

Driver and passenger spoke little on the way back. Edwin was used to minding his own business and the lady's mind seemed to be far away. They arrived back in Cattle Ridge in the small hours of Sunday morning.

During the week of Karl's departure, his mother seemed happy. Karl assumed that she was happy for him. On the day he left, however, she did not accompany him to the airport. He was disappointed, but he kissed her goodbye and promised to keep in touch.

They arrived at Norman Manley in good time. Karl and Bernice were about to say their farewells when it was announced that the flight for the farm workers was cancelled. Departure was rescheduled for late the following day. Karl was more than a little annoyed. Bernice was happy to have him for a few more hours. It was eight o'clock when they set off on the journey back home.

At about that same time, Miss Rosa Green was moving stealthily along the foot-path which led to her son's home. She was carrying the parcel from the do-good man. The moon was big and bright. She crept through the small wooden gate and walked up to the little house. Carefully, she hid the parcel below the entrance to the house, noting in passing that Bernice was doing an excellent job of keeping the steps and surroundings clean. Then she turned and left as quickly and as quietly as she had come.

When Karl, Bernice and their friends got back to Cattle Ridge that night, everybody was fast asleep. It was almost midnight when the couple crossed the threshold of the house they called home.

Big Moon was just thinking about making way for his hotter and brighter rival when he glimpsed Rosa retrieving the parcel. He had watched her place it there earlier. Unlike him, she had no idea that Karl was in the house. Big Moon watched as she disposed of the despicable object in a deserted pond nearby. He thought to himself that she would not have dared to do such evil when the Hot Sun of heaven was up and about.

Shop opened early that Saturday morning. Rosa was excited and a little nervous. She sat gazing out into the square. She was sure that Bernice would turn up before long to tell her of Karl's departure.

It was about mid-morning when her eyes fell upon Bernice and Karl walking up the hill to the village square. For a moment she just stared, hoping that she was watching a spiteful mirage. Her heart stopped briefly and the goods she was weighing fell heedlessly to the floor. She ran out of the shop shouting, 'Karl! Karl! What happen? I tink you gone! What happen, Karl? What happen? What you doin here?'

'But I didn't know say you so well want to get rid o' mi!' Karl said, reaching out to her.

Miss Green stamped her foot in agitation and grabbed his arm. 'Dis is no jokin' matter!' she cried. 'Tell mi what happen. What you doin here?' Her lips were trembling. 'You a'right, Karl? You a'right?'

Karl held on to his mother to calm her. 'Easy, Mama,' he said. 'Don't get so excited. Is jus di flight get cancel. I goin back later. Everyting a'right.'

'Come, Miss Green,' Bernice said, taking her arm. 'Come sit down. If you did come to airport wid we you wouldn't get such a bad shock.'

Rosa allowed herself to be led into the shop trying very hard to keep calm. She couldn't help asking: 'Is which one of you did go into di house firs' las' night?'

Karl looked at her with concern in his eyes. 'What dat have to do wid anyting, Mama?' He asked. 'You sure you feelin a'right?'

Rosa shook her head as if to clear it and laughed vacantly. 'Is a surprise,' was all she could find to say.

'Surprise? Surprise for who?' Bernice asked.

'Both of you,' she answered lamely.

'So how you did know say both of us comin back?' That was Karl.

Miss Green tried to laugh some more. 'You all confusin' mi, man!' she said. 'Jus' tell mi which one o' you did go into di house firs' las' night.'

The young couple was looking at her gravely. Then Bernice said, 'If I rememba right, both of us did go in together.'

'Yes. But one mus' go in before. Which one o' youÉ'

Karl cut her off at this point. 'Mama,' he said. 'What is dis all about? Something happen since wi leave?'

She could see they were both becoming suspicious, so she compelled herself to stop speaking. With as much composure as she could muster, she gave them the goods they had come for.

As Bernice took the things Karl said, 'Mama, you don't look too right to me at all, you know. Maybe you getting flu. Is either that or dis travel excitement get to you. You should go lie down now. When I leavin later I gon check you.'

'A'right,' Miss Green said quietly.

If somebody had asked her to recount the events of the rest of that day, she would not have been able to. She felt dizzy and scared. She vaguely remembered Karl bidding her goodbye as he started on his second trip to the airport. She had to take a pill that night.

She woke up groggy and weak. The whole morning she waited anxiously for Bernice to come by. Evening came but the girl did not, so she sent to call her.

Bernice bounced healthily into the shop, her breasts jiggling like jello. Rosa was hoping that some sign of the parcel's effect would have begun to show on the young woman.

Weeks passed. Karl kept in constant touch with his mother and she was convinced that he would be just fine. Clearly, he was not the one who had stepped over the parcel first. Miss Green saw Bernice every day. The girl was always cheerful and seemed to be in the best of health. She began to think that the do-good man was no good.

Then Margaret turned up one evening. 'When las' you see your daughter-in-law?' she asked her.

'My daughter-in-law?' Rosa answered. 'But is what wrong wid dis ooman eh! You hear say Karl married?'

'Answer me, man. When las' you see her?'

'Who, Bernice?'

'Who else?'

Miss Green hesitated. 'Bout three days now. Is what?'

'You don't hear say she sick?'

Miss Green's heart skipped a beat. Finally! Finally something was beginning to happen! She hid her excitement and asked with apparent concern, 'So is what do her?'

'Mi hear say she weak an' can't eat,' Margaret told her.

'Well, wellÉI wonder what dat could be now.'

'Mi hear say she goin to clinic tomorrow.,' Margaret said as she got up to leave. ' Well, I goin now. Teck care.'

'A'right, mi chile. Tank you fo' dat piece o' news,' Rosa said without thinking.

Margaret gave her friend a puzzled look before she walked away.

Rosa remained seated long after her friend had left. She did not feel quite as happy as she thought she would on the discovery that her plan was working. She reluctantly admitted to herself that she had begun to like Bernice a little. Pity she was the wrong colour. But what was done was done. She roused herself and started to sing a chorus.

She received a letter from Karl two days later. The work was hard, he complained. The place was so cold that he was beginning to suffer pains in his back and legs. He had missed a few days work but the guys said he would become accustomed to the weather before too long.

Late that night, she heard a loud banging on the front door. She opened up to find Bernice standing there in tears.

'You hear from Karl, Ma'm?' Bernice asked.

'Is Karl you worryin bout at dis hour of di night? I hear say you sick. What you doin up here at dis hour of di night?' She motioned for the girl to come in.

Bernice entered and said, 'One of my frien husband jus call her. Him did go on farm work too an' him say Karl sick bad over dere.'

'But is today I hear from him an' him didn't tell me dat. I don't teck dat back problem too serious, you know. Him sufferin from dat from him was a little boy. An dat cold weather jus' meck matters worse. Him soon a'right again.'

'So it happen to him a'ready?' Bernice asked.

'Yes. Him was only eight years ole when him drop off a guinep tree. Is dat cause it.'

'Oh.' Bernice wiped her tears away. 'Me feel so much better now,' she said.

'So is what wrong wid you,' Rosa asked. 'Mi hear say you sick.'

Bernice got up and moved to the door. 'I don't tink is anyting so serious but mi not feelin' so good now, so mi goin.'

'A'right, mi dear. Walk good.'

Bernice left and Miss Green returned to bed. She was not at all worried by the news that Karl was ill. He was a strong young man and she was sure he would be okay. She slept peacefully.

The telegram came the following day. Its message was brief and brutal: 'KARL MACNIEL IS DEAD,' was all it said.

Most of the people of Cattle Ridge thought Miss Green would go crazy. Nothing passed her lips for close to a week. Her friends sympathized and grieved with her. They understood. What they didn't understand was why she blamed herself for the young man's death. They tried to console her by telling her how good a mother she had been to him. That made her wish she was dead, too. She came very close to telling it all. She felt that the pain would become more bearable if only she could tell everybody that she had unwittingly murdered her own son. But in the interest of self-preservation she did not.

A few days after the funeral, Bernice, weak from mourning, came to see her. Miss Green had given little thought to the girl's existence since she had gotten the news of Karl's death. Once or twice, she had wondered briefly what had been wrong with Bernice. She asked her now: 'You did go back to docta?'

'Docta?'

'Yes. Dat problem you was havin. You a'right now?'

'Oh, dat problemÉMiss Green,' she continued quietly. 'Mi have something to tell you.'

'Oh?' Is what dat now?'

'Mi did go back to docta an him did sayÉ'

'Say what? Talk up, man!'

'Him say mi pregnant. I believe it happen di week before Karl leave here.'

The air was still as the two women stared at each other. Then the tears came again. The older woman wept like a child as the younger one reached out to comfort her. Minutes passed. Rosa wiped her tears and asked, 'Karl did know bout it?'

'No ma'm. By time me to tell him, himÉ' Bernice was crying again.

Then Miss Green said, 'No mine, mi dear. Don't worry youself. You can depend on me to help you.'

They clung to each other, like two lonely stragglers caught in the swell of a vile and vengeful storm.

END

-Ditta Sylvester