Paul H. Williams, Contributor

Williams

The cellphone rang loudly. Ryland quickly grabbed it and hurriedly removed himself from the table. He went outside. Retinella, his wife, was annoyed. It was the third time that the phone had disturbed their Sunday morning breakfast. And, every time Ryland dashed outside to talk. He returned to the table the previous two times with a broad grin on his face. That, too, was disturbing. So, this time when Ryland rushed outside, Retinella hurried to a window close to where Ryland was.

She was in luck. He was near the window talking in a low pitch.

"Yes Pastor, everything all right? So, she is by Gifford? ... Good ... Thanks ... I will go right after Retinella gone to church ... No, no ... Not coming this week ... You know why ... Glad you understand ... Thanks again, Pastor."

There was a pause, but no movement. Retinella's heart became heavy. She did not move either. She listened. There were beeps coming from outside. Ryland was dialling.

"Morning Ralph ... How yuh doing ... Mi all right ... Yes man, she come ... She over by Gifford house ... last night ... can't wait to see har again ... look good? How yuh mean? Yuh fi see har ... fat and nice, backside broad like the mayor nose ... Ha haa haaa, yes sah ... And har breast dem full an' round ... Har leg dem fleshy ... What colour hair she have? ... Hair? Mi no call that hair, mi call it fur, dark brown and silky, feel nice ... As soon as Retinella gone to church a going over, a can't wait ... She name Rosella ... awright, soh later den, mi wi tell yuh how it goh."

There were footsteps. Retinella rushed towards the kitchen.

As she washed the dishes, her hands trembled and her lips quivered. All sorts of thoughts were going through her mind. And, to think that Pastor Bembridge could be a part of what was going on was even more sickening to her. She heaved and sighed incessantly.

Meanwhile, Ryland was splitting wood in the yard and joyously singing to himself.

After the chores, Retinella dressed for church. She was perturbed, but she did not let Ryland be wiser. For she, too, had her plans. As she stepped out, she shouted to Ryland not to burn the peas. "Walk good," Ryland heartily responded.

As soon as Retinella was out of sight Ryland dropped the axe. He went to wash off and to put on his clean khaki outfit. After test-tasting a pea, he turned down the fire. Still singing to himself, he left the yard in high spirits.

Retinella watched from behind Mavis' house. Ryland was now around the corner. She walked briskly through Mavis' gate in anxious pursuit of Ryland. Her heart thumped. She made sure Ryland did not see her by hiding around bends along the way. From around the last bend, she saw Ryland enter a yard. She waited for a while before hurrying up the road. Her entire body shook.

When Retinella reached the gate, she opened it gingerly. There was no one in the front yard, so she decided to proceed to the back. She stood at the side of the house and poked her head around the back. She did not see Ryland. A man whom she presumed to be Gifford was cutting grass in an open lot some distance from the house. She pulled back her head.

Then, she heard movements behind her, and quickly turned around. A four-by-four piece of lumber fell from her hand as she stood wide-eyed looking at Ryland patting the neck of a big brown cow. With a broad grin, Ryland said, "Retti, this is Rosella, your anniversary gift."