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
table if it would be okay for them to join us? We had so much food we could afford to share, she said. Fine,
I replied, we could have the dinner on the carport! Maud grinned and said that she
knew I would agree so she had already cleaned and decorated the carport. I opened my
mouth wide as she laughed with glee, saying that I could always pretend but she
knew that I was a big softie at heart. I ignored her and finished eating. Just
then the telephone rang, it was Reverend Julian asking if he could come by the house,
as he wanted to finish telling me about Charles and Charmaine. I was to expect
him at midday, he said. The rest of the morning went well. Maud and I managed
to finish cooking before the Reverend arrived. I told Maud to go and get the
‘migrants’ and remember to warn them to be on their best behavior. I found a
bassinet made out of bamboo and pink lace in the storeroom and smiled when I
saw my name embroidered on the little satin pillow in it. I gave it to Maud,
minus the pillow, and told her to clean it up for the newborn. Just as I
finished dressing I heard a knocking on the gate, it was Reverend Julian. It
was way past the midday that he had said to expect him, It was almost two o’
clock. I didn’t mind as it gave me enough time to get ready. Maud went to let
him inside the yard. I heard laughter and squeals of delight coming from the
children so I went to see what all the commotion was about. I laughed when I
saw the Reverend. He was dressed as Santa Claus, bag of toys and all! I was taken aback to see my 'migrants' smartly attired. I suspected that Maud had something to do with this. Anyway, it was Christmas. We gathered on the verandah as the Reverend distributed the gifts. He had gifts for
everyone, including the dogs! When he was finished distributing the gifts, the
Reverend went to change, from his Santa outfit, inside the house. When he came back outside I told him it was time to have our Christmas dinner so we headed to the carport. One of the boys touched me on my hand as I led the way and I looked at him enquiringly. He said, ‘My
name is Conroy, my mother name is Cassie, my big brother name is Courtney, my
little brother name is Cuba and my baby sister name is Cara. Please, what is
your name?’ ‘My name is Cecelia’ I responded. ‘You have a pretty name, I like
it’, said Conroy. I smiled and told everyone to have a seat around the table.
The Reverend said grace. The food was delicious, the curried goat was a
favorite as was the pot roast. The potato pudding was to die for. The Reverend
asked about the plum pudding and I reminded him that it was soaked with white
rum. He peered over his spectacles and said he would have just a sliver because
it was Christmas. I gave him a slice of the plum pudding. At about six o’ clock
we decided to call it a day. Maud, with the help of Cassie, began putting away
the leftovers. I suffered in silence as Cassie went back and forth from the
carport to the kitchen. She had finally managed to cross into my border. The
children however stayed on the verandah and hovered over baby Cara who was in the
bassinet while the Reverend held Cuba on his lap. I looked forward to the next
day when they would all be gone.
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