Border Secured (A Scenario) Section 2 - Part 8

The loud knocking on the gate woke me up. I looked at the clock, it was half past nine in the morning. I had fallen asleep in the chair. I looked through the window, it was Reverend Julian knocking on the gate. Darn it! I said to myself. I hated unannounced visitors! I don’t know why people believed that they can just show up at your home anytime they wanted to, especially when rain was falling! If it were anyone else they would be out there knocking for all eternity! Jeez! I half-opened the front door and shouted out to him that I would be there in five minutes. I went and hurriedly brushed my teeth and washed my face. I changed into fresh clothes and then went outside to put the dogs back in their kennel before opening the gate to let in the Reverend. “Good morning” he said. I am here because Maud

Border Secured (A Scenario) Section 2 - Part 7

The morning when Charmaine was to start school Ben took sick, he could hardly get out of bed. Flushed with fever he told Florence to go to Stanley Wharbucks and let him know that he would have to take Charmaine to school. When Florence and Charmaine arrived at the main house Stanley Wharbucks was just sitting down at the dining table to have his breakfast. Before he could say a word Florence blurted out their reason for being there. He rose from around the table in anger and strode from the room with them running behind him. Walking very fast he headed in the direction of their quarters. Florence told Charmaine to stay on the verandah while she hurriedly tried to catch up with him. Florence could hear Stanley Wharbucks hollering

Border Secured (A Scenario) Section 2 - Part 6

The other ledgers were basically filled with stories of Charmaine growing up and trying to adjust to living with complete strangers. Charmaine, the friendly little girl that she was, could not understand the reason for being ignored and rejected by Stanley Wharbucks. Three days after the incident in the study Ben and Florence took her back to see Stanley Wharbucks hoping he had changed his mind about her. He was livid! He chased them from the house and told them if they brought her back to see him they would be fired! Ben was so upset and was going to leave the estate that very same day but Florence reminded him that they now had an obligation to take care of Charmaine for her mother Charlotte’s sake. Charmaine was Stanley Wharbucks only living

Border Secured (A Scenario) Section 2 - Part 5

Ben, Florence and Charmaine waited outside in the living room. Suddenly there was a loud crashing sound coming from the study. This was followed by a loud yell, then another crashing sound. Florence and Ben ran towards the study, with little Charmaine trying to keep up with them. When Florence opened the door of the study Stanley Wharbucks had his rifle

Border Secured (A Scenario) Section 2 - Part 4

The crowing of the roosters woke me at 4:45 am the next morning and I could not go back to sleep. I had slept well despite all that had happened this past week. I said my morning prayers and got out of bed and headed to the bathroom for a shower. While showering the negro spiritual ‘Kumbayah mi Lord’ rested on my heart and I began to sing it, crying out to the Lord telling him how much I needed Him to take charge of my situation. After my shower I went into the kitchen and made myself a ham sandwich and a cup of Milo, which I took back to the den. I was ready to begin my reading of the diaries. I started with the ledger that had the number 1 on it, laughing to myself as if there could be any other beginning. I could see that the ledgers were pretty expensive and must have cost Florence a pretty penny. Maybe they were from Stanley Wharbucks supplies, after all, he was a very wealthy man.  The covers of the ledgers showed signs of wear and tear but the pages inside were in good condition. Florence’s handwriting, surprisingly, was neat and tidy, every ‘i’ was dotted and every ‘t’ was crossed and even after all these years the handwriting was legible. I sat down in the recliner and began to read. The first words were gut wrenching. Charmaine could not stop crying when her father Charles left her with Ben and Florence. She was inconsolable, and even though they begged her to shush she cried even more. As they hurried to reach the main house before 6 o’clock Ben seemed worried, wondering how he was going to explain the presence of Charmaine on the estate. As they reached the verandah of the house they heard Stanley Wharbucks hollering “Where the hell

Border Secured (A Scenario) Section 2 - Part 3

I was so upset to see the ‘momma migrant’ traipsing in and out of my house but it was Christmas Day, and the Reverend was still on the premises. Maud kept looking in my direction, she knew me too well! However, I kept my cool, smiling and nodding at the incessant chatter of the children. Soon all the leftovers were put away and the carport was restored to its former glory. It was now time for the ‘migrants’ to go, at least to Maud’s quarters, until the next day. The Reverend handed over Cuba to his mother, Maud took the hands of the two little boys and they all left for Maud’s quarters with the Reverend carrying the bassinet. I left the verandah and went inside to the den to wait on Reverend Julian and Maud. I was so eager to hear the rest of the story about Charles and Charmaine. I waited impatiently and it seems as if I dozed off for a while because I was awaken by the sound of their footsteps returning to the house. I looked at the clock and realized that  thirty minutes had passed. When they entered the den the Reverend had a large box in his hands and Maud had her handbag in her hands as if she

Border Secured (A Scenario) Section 2 - Part 2

Christmas Day! I loved Christmas and I was not afraid to let the whole world know! Celebrating Christmas brought back fond memories of my Grandmother Charmaine. She taught me so much and I really missed her. I wiped away the tears from my eyes and got ready for the day. I went into the kitchen to find that Maud had already prepared breakfast. She had made my favorites, Johnnycakes, ackee and saltfish, fried ripe plantains and ‘chocolate tea’. I knew she was going to ask me a favour because she always did this when she wanted something, so I waited. Just as I thought, as soon as she saw me eating she asked if she could say something. I put down my fork and told her to go ahead. Maud asked if the ‘migrants’ could join us for Christmas dinner seeing that it would be their last day here. I told her that I did not want them inside my house. The children had already broken my fish tank and there was no way I was going to give them the opportunity to break anything else. She then asked if she decorated the carport and used the trestle