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
out Ben’s name when he reached the house.
“Ben!” he shouted. “I do not believe you are sick! You are trying to pull a
fast one on me!” “No Mass Wharbucks” said Ben weakly, leaning on the armchair.
“I am really not feeling well today, please take Charmaine to school for me. If
Florence could drive the jeep I would not have bothered you.” Stanley Wharbucks glared
at Florence and muttered something under his breath about women’s capabilities
but Florence ignored him. The only thing that mattered to her was that he took
Charmaine to school. “I’m only taking her to school today so try and be well
tomorrow!” he yelled at Ben and walked out of the house. He turned back abruptly and said to
Florence, “As a matter of fact you come along with us to the school!” “B-b-but-t Mass
Wharbucks”, stammered Florence. “I can’t leave Ben by himself!” “Oh yes you
can!” said Stanley Wharbucks. “Tell your helper Nancy to keep an eye on him and
let’s go!” Florence grabbed Charmaine’s lunch pan that she had left on the table and they
headed back to the main house. Stanley Wharbucks went to the garage for his car. When
Charmaine saw the car she opened her mouth wide at its beauty. Stanley
Wharbucks drove the most expensive car that side of the island. The
cream-coloured Jaguar, custom built in England and shipped to Jamaica, was
Stanley Wharbucks’ pride and joy and the talk of St. James. Whenever he drove into Montego Bay there would be a crowd of admirers hanging around wherever he parked. Those folks learned early that they could look at the car but they could not touch it, or else they would feel the wrath of Stanley Wharbucks' infamous temper. He opened the back door for Florence and Charmaine to get in, giving Florence a look, that said ‘make sure the child touches
nothing’. The ride to the school took an hour and they rode in silence. When they arrived, Florence took
Charmaine to find her classroom and her Teacher. Charmaine was shy at first and
did not want to let go of Florence’s hand but the Teacher told her that
everything would be okay so she must not be afraid. Florence kissed Charmaine
on her cheek and left her with the Teacher. On the way back to the estate, Florence told Stanley Wharbucks
that he had to return to pick up Charmaine when school was over. He did not
answer her. She told him the time that the school would be over. He still did
not answer her. When they reached the estate he dropped her off at her quarters
and continued on to the main house. Ben seemed to have been listening out for her. He asked her what
had transpired and she told him that everything went well. Ben was coughing a
little but he told Florence he was fine. About three o' clock in the afternoon Charmaine came skipping
through the gate. Obviously Stanley Wharbucks had gone for her. All Charmaine
could talk about was the car and its interior, she went on and on about the
car. Ben and Florence chuckled. It was the same reaction her mother Charlotte
had the first time she had driven in the Jaguar. She was truly her mother’s
child. When they asked her if her Grandfather had spoken to her on the journey home,
she said nope but it did not matter because she was in the car. Ben looked at
Florence and smiled. Yep, she was truly her mother’s child! For the remainder
of the evening Ben kept coughing but he told Florence not to fuss over him because
he was okay. However, he went to bed early than usual that night. The next morning, it was evident
that he would not be able to take Charmaine to school because he was still
sick. This meant that Stanley Wharbucks would have to take Charmaine to school again.
Charmaine clapped her hands with glee as this meant that she would be riding in
the Jaguar again. Florence took her up to the main house and was surprised to see Stanley Wharbucks ready and waiting to take Charmaine to school. He
told Florence that she should stay home and look after Ben while he took Charmaine
to school. The ledger almost fell from my hands when I read this! I laughed. Charmaine will soon have Stanley Wharbucks eating out of her little hands I said to myself.
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