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.