Trinbagonians talk. (99) A Woman, A Bird, A Creepy Moment

 One day, ah was on meh way to Elementary school. De sun was shinin’ real bright an’ a light breeze was blowin’. A few other school children was way in front of me. A little further in front of de school children, a ‘oman was standin’ up lookin’ in de bush. De children in front of me walk by she an’ dey look at she. Dey stop walkin’ an’ dey look at de bush for a bit, buh then dey start back walkin’ again. When ah did get near de ‘oman she say in a creepy voice, “Why yuh followin’ me?”      “Ah slow down an’ ah say, “Ah not followin’ yuh,”     “Me eh talkin’ to yuh! Ah talkin’ to dat bird!” She say an’ she point she finger at a bird dat was on a branch. De bird was lookin’ at de ‘oman an’ she went on talkin’ to it. “Every whey ah go, yuh does be dey. Last Sunday mornin’ yuh did fly in de church an’ yuh make a raucous! Stop followin’ me!” De bird kept on lookin’ at de ‘omen. All de hair on meh han’ did raise up an ah start to run fast to school.

One day, I was on my way to Elementary school. The sun was shining brightly and the breeze was blowing gently. There were a few other school children in front of me. Along the road in the distance, there was a woman standing looking in the bushes. The children in front of me walked by her and they looked at her. They stopped walking and looked at the trees for a moment, but then they continued walking. When I got near to the woman, she said in a loud screeching voice, “Why are you following me!?”    I slowed my pace and I said, “I am not following you.”       “I’m not talking to you! I am talking to that bird!” She said and she pointed a finger at a bird that was sitting on a branch. It was looking at her and the woman continued talking. “Everywhere I go, you are there. Last Sunday morning, you flew into church and you disrupted the service. Stop following me!” The bird just kept on looking at the women and my pores raised. I was frightened, so I ran the rest of the way to school.

All I can say about Ms. Cicely Tyson…CLASSY! 1924-2021 Rest in Peace

 

Trinbagonians talk. (98) “This world is vast, yet at times it seems so small. We all have a look-alike and that can be Baffling.”

There are people dat ah doh kno’, buh dey does argue wit me an’ say dat we did meet at so-an’-so place. Ah does swear dat we did not meet, an' Some ah dem does get vex because dey feel ah lyin’. It hav’ times dat some people does smile at me, ah smile back at dem, an’ de moments end wit a good feelin’. At times dey does smile as if dey kno’ me an’ then ah would start thinkin’ in meh head, real hard. ‘Oh meh gosh, am I suppose to kno’ dem? Oh gosh, who is dis? “Allison? How are yuh?” dey does ask me. Ah does still be askin’  mehself in meh mind who dey is. “Ah good. How are yuh?” Meh mind would be goin’ a mile a minute sayin’, ‘Remember, remember. Oh gosh remember.’ Not for hell ah does remember.  “Yuh doh remember me, right?” Dey sometimes ask. “Ah sorry. Yuh look familiar, buh ah cyah t’ink wah yuh name is,” Ah does say an’ ah does feel real shame. Dey does tell me de name, an’ regardless if we did kno’ each other, we does hav’ a good chat. One day, a ‘oman tell me dat ah did see she in Alaska. Ah did tell she it wasn’t me because ah never went to Alaska. Ah did stand up listenin’ to she try she best to make me remember, dat we did meet each other before. It did hurt to see de disappointment on she face as she went on talkin’ about de nice time she had wit meh look-alike. A man did say dat he did meet me when he an’ he elderly mudder was travelin’ to England. Midway into de flight she had a situation, ah help she an’ ah did not complain. Ah tell he dat ah never went to England an’ he said dat ah hav’ a look-alike. Dis one did hav’ me feelin’ scared because ah did visit dem two countries, durin’ de years he talk about.    A man smiled at me an’ say, “Hi. How yuh doin’? It is so good to see yuh.”        Me: Hi, it’s good to see yuh too. Ah didn’t smile.         Man: “Yuh from Trinidad. Right?”  Me: “Yeah.”      Man: Yuh doh remember me?”        Me: “No, ah doh remember yuh.”          Man: “We did meet 1979 in Canada then 1982 in de Bahamas,” A funny feelin’ cross meh heart as ah say, “We did? Where in Canada an’ where in de Bahamas?”     Man: “At Niagara Falls, Canada an’ de both of us did stay in de same hotel on Paradise Island in de Bahamas.”      Ah explain, to he dat ah was in Canada in 1979, buh I did not visit Niagara Falls. Ah was in de Bahamas in 1982 buh ah did not stay at a hotel on Paradise Island. De man look at me like ah was lyin’, buh then he say, “There is a person out there who look like yuh real bad.”  Ah tell he we all hav’ a double, an’ dat was de end of de chat, buh de man keep lookin’ at me as if ah was lying to he.

There are people that I don’t know, but they argue that we met at different places. I would insist that we did not and they sometimes get angry because they believe that I am not being truthful. There are times people would smile at me and I return the smile, but those moments just end with a good feeling. There are times they smile as though they know me and then I would start taxing my brain, ‘Oh my gosh, am I supposed to know this person? Oh Jesus, who is this? “Allison? How are you?” They would ask. I would be still taxing my brain to remember, but I would say, “I’m good. How are you?” … My brain would be going a mile a minute thinking , ‘Remember, remember. Oh my God remember’, but I couldn’t remember. “You don’t remember me, right?” They sometimes ask. “I am sorry. You do look familiar, but I cannot put a name to your face,” I would say, feeling a bit embarrassed. They would tell me their name and whether or not we know each other, we usually have a good conversation. One day, a woman said that I helped her in Alaska. I explained to her that it wasn’t me because I have never been to Alaska. I stood there listening to her try to make me remember that we met. It hurt to see a bit of disappointment on her face as she went on detailing the happy moment she shared with my look-alike. A man said he met me while traveling to England with his elderly mother. Midway into the flight she had a situation; I helped her and did not complain. I told him I have never been to England and he said that I have a look-alike. This one had me in a tizzy, because I did visit those two countries during the years mentioned. A man smiled at me and said, “Hi. How you doing? It is so good to see you.”     Me: Hi, it’s good to see you too.”         Man: “You are Trinidadian, right?”         Me: “Yes. I am.”    Man: “You don’t remember me?”        Me: “No. I don’t.”          Man: “We met 1979 in Canada then 1982 in the Bahamas.” A feeling of uncomfortableness flowed through me as I calmly said, “We did? Where in Canada and where in the Bahamas?”          Man: “At Niagara Falls, Canada and we both stayed at the same hotel on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.”       I explained, to him that I was in Canada in 1979. I did not visit the fall. I was in the Bahamas in 1982 but I did not stay at a hotel on Paradise Island. He looked at me as though I was not being truthful, but then he said, “There is a person out there who has a great resemblance to you.” “We all have a double,” I said and that was the end of the conversation, but the man kept looking at me as though I lied to him.

 

Trinbagonians talk. (97) A Blind Man’s Story

She was hidin’ in a corner peepin’ an’ listenin’ to she fadder talk. He was standin’ by de door wit bags in he han’ because he was leavin’ dem. “Ah is an important business man an’ ah cyah be wit a ‘oman who is not on meh level,” De ‘oman ah seein’ hav’ a master’s degree an’ she hav’ a very good job.” He said to his wife. She mudder was cryin’ an’ beggin’ her fadder to stay buh she could not make he, change he mind. A ‘oman was sittin’ outside in she car waitin’ on he. Suddenly, de ‘oman shout real loud, “Wah yuh doin’!?” Her little brother did throw a han’full of stones on de ‘oman’s car. “Which one of you did it?” She fadder ask, buh nobody answer he. So, he start to shout at dem then she little bredda say he did it. “Do yuh see wat yuh did? Yuh is a wicked an’ destructive child!” He slap him then turned to their mother. “Ah cyah live wit yuh an’ these children! Ah gone!” He took up his bags an’ left. She mother’s tears flowed for a little while longer, then she wiped she eyes, take a deep breath an’ stop cryin’. Dat was de last time she see she mudder cry. She fadder use to send money for dem every month. She mudder did get a job, even though she fadder use to send money for dem. She mudder did saved it then she did buy a house. Dey move in an’ months later de ‘oman pulled up in front de house, wit she fadder. “Miss. James, come outside an’ get yuh husband. Ah doh hav’ no time for a blind man.” Her mudder went outside an’ took her fadder han’ an’ bring him in de house. He was cryin’ an’ sayin’ he was sorry for leavin’ dem.

She was hiding in a corner, peeping and listening to her father talk. He stood in the doorway with two bags in his hands, because he was leaving them. “I am an important business man and I cannot be with a woman who is not on my level. The woman I am seeing has a master’s degree and she have a very good job.” He said to his wife. Her mother was crying and pleading with him to stay, but he was adamant. A woman was sitting outside in her car waiting on him. Suddenly, there was a loud gasp outside. “What are you doing!?” The woman shouted. Her father ran out of the house and they followed him. One of her little brothers threw a hand full of stones at the woman’s car. “Which one of you did it?” Her father asked, but no one answered. He started shouting at them, then one of them said that he did it. “Do you see what you did? You damaged her car! You are a wicked and destructive child!” He slapped him, then turned to their mother. “I can no longer live with you and these children! Goodbye!” He took up his bags and left. Her mother’s tears flowed for a little while longer and then she wiped her eyes. She took a deep breath and stopped crying. That was the last time she saw her mother cry. Her father sent money every month and her mother saved it. She felt that her mother should spend it. Her mother started working, then she bought a house. After they moved in and settled down, months later, the woman pulled up in front of the house with her father. “Mrs. James, come outside and get your husband. There is no room in my life for a blind man,” The woman said. Her mother went outside and took her father’s hand and brought him into the house. He was crying and saying he was sorry for leaving them.