I fetched the water for Reverend Julian and returned to the den.
I handed the water to him. He took it from me with shaky hands. He took a huge
gulp, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and continued the story. Yes,
it certainly seemed like one big, unbelievable story. Reverend Julian said that
after a month of going back and forth to the railway stations at Montego Bay
and Spanish Town, Stanley gave up hope of ever seeing Charlotte alive again.
Checks at the Police Station in Spanish Town proved futile as there was no
record of Charlotte
having gone there. Unfortunately for Stanley, the Policeman
whom had vouched for Charles was transferred to St. Elizabeth the same day when
Charles and Charlotte ran away to St. Thomas. Poor Stanley, he was distraught,
his only child was missing, probably kidnapped and raped. Probably murdered and
buried in a shallow grave somewhere. He returned to Ironshore a dejected man.
Meanwhile, Charlotte was enjoying her newly found freedom with Charles in St.
Thomas. There was so much to explore at this end of the island. Not many months
later Charlotte became pregnant. She cried everyday because Charles never
fulfilled his promise to marry her when they arrived in St. Thomas. Whenever
she asked Charles about it all he would say was that the Pastor was in England
and as soon as he returned they would get married. Charlotte was so ashamed
that she had gotten pregnant and was not married. She refused to leave the
house, not even to go to the Morant Bay Hospital for prenatal checkups. Charles
had managed to get a job working at the Morant Bay Slaughterhouse. The
Supervisor of the Slaughterhouse died shortly after Charles began working there
and he was given the position. This meant that he had to be at work everyday,
he left early in the mornings and reached home very late at nights, all the
while trying to assure Charlotte that things would get better soon. Charlotte
was very unhappy, and it began to take a toll on the pregnancy. One night
Charles came home to find Charlotte writhing on the floor, the baby was coming
early! He ran to get the Midwife, who fortunately for him lived nearby. When
Miss Verna, the Midwife, saw Charlotte’s condition she asked Charles to wait
outside the bedroom. It was a long night, Charles was very anxious and worried.
He wanted to go to Charlotte when he heard her screams but his cousins held him
back. About six o’ clock in the morning he heard the cries of a baby. Miss
Verna opened the bedroom door and came outside and handed the baby to Charles.
It was a girl! Charles was overjoyed until he saw the look on Miss Verna’s
face. What is it? He asked. How’s Charlotte? Miss Verna said that she had tried
everything to save Charlotte but she had lost too much blood. Charlotte was
dying, it would just be a matter of hours. No! Charles screamed in agony. He
rushed into the bedroom. Charles cries and the cries of his baby daughter
became one. He was inconsolable. His precious Charlotte was dying and it was
his fault! Suddenly there was a knocking on the front door. Charles’ cousin
went to open the door and saw the Pastor standing outside. Pastor Jeremy had
returned from England the night before and had seen a note that Charles had
left with his secretary about the urgency of meeting with him. He was going to
wait until in the evening but something about the note made him want to come
immediately. Also he wanted to catch Charles before he left for the
Slaughterhouse. Charles grabbed Pastor Jeremy by his shoulder and said, ‘There
is no time to waste, you have to marry us now!’ At that point I glanced out the
window and was just in time to see the oldest of the migrant children in front
of the kennel teasing the dogs. I ran out of the room. These people were trying
my patience!
SadaBlue…..
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