“The Marijuana Tree”

In Trinbago a flu is given a name. The name derives from a hyped up situation. The Asian Flu took Trinbago by storm. Everyone in our home and the neighborhood had it. One morning Mrs. Khan a family friend walked into our yard and she called out to my mother. My brother was in the yard and he told her good morning, but then said, “Mrs. Khan what are you doing with that little tree in your hand?” She said that she brought it for my mother to make tea for us to drink for the Asian flu. She made it for her family and they are all feeling better. The flu is gone.

He said, “Do you know what kind of tree it is?” She told him no. He told her that it was a marijuana tree. Mrs. Khan suddenly dropped it on the ground, walked quickly into the house and nervously told my mother that she could have been arrested.