I could not believe my
eyes! Nor my ears! Maud and the ‘migrants’ were coming through my gate like the
proverbial gypsy caravan! Maud must have sprouted wings in her absence because
before I could reach outside she was at my bedroom door. “Please Miss Cissy!
Please! Hear me out before you say anything!” I opened my eyes wide at her, she
knew I did not like being called ‘Cissy’! “I am sorry Miss Cecilia, please,
just let me speak.” I was about to say something but then I saw the tears in her
eyes. Maud was a tough cookie who never cries, no matter what.
I sat down on the bed with my arms crossed and waited for the explanation of why the ‘migrants’ were
once again across my border! Maud began by apologizing for not calling me on
the telephone to let me know what was happening but she just wanted to get away
from the churchyard as quickly as possible. Reverend Julian’s wife was back from
Canada even though she was not expected back for at least another three weeks.
A male cousin of hers had been deported from Canada and he had nowhere to stay
and she had promised her Aunt Joyce, the cousin's mother, that she would put him up in the
Caretaker’s quarters. She made this promise without first discussing it with the
Reverend because she knew that the Caretaker was no longer living there. When
she came and saw Cassie and the children living there she was livid.
If it were not for Maud and Reverend Julian she would have physically thrown Cassie and the children out of the place. Maud
said she was returning from the market and was just in time to hear the wife accusing
the Reverend of putting up his ‘sweetheart’ and saying that the baby had better not
be his! “What!” I exclaimed. “Oh yes!” said Maud. “That woman is a first class
lunatic!” I had nothing to say to that. Maud said Reverend Julian was very
embarrassed by his wife’s behavior and at one point the Reverend was clutching his
chest as if he was having a heart attack! That’s when she began to worry because she knew he had a heart problem. The Reverend’s wife said she did
not care if Cassie and the children had to sleep on the street, she wanted them
out of the Caretaker’s quarters so that her cousin would have somewhere to stay. She reminded the Reverend that she was the one who
had provided the furniture and amenities for the place as well as decorated it with things she had bought on her many trips abroad. No amount of pleading
by the Reverend could make her change her mind, Cassie and her children had to go. What made matters
worst, said Maud, was when she saw the wife’s cousin offering Conroy and
Courtney sweets and smiling at them with this weird look on his face. Maud said
she just went to the children, took the sweets from them and gave them back to
the cousin and told him that they were not allowed to eat sweets. I laughed when she
told me this. Cassie, obviously sad about what was taking place, came out the room with Baby Cara in her arms and
little Cuba tottering behind her. She called the boys to her and told Maud that
she was going to take the children down to the sea, drown them and then drown herself!
“Miss Cecilia, I almost dropped down when she said that!” said Maud. That’s when
Reverend Julian asked her if she could take them back to my home. She emphasized that she
hesitated to answer him but the Reverend took a page from his notepad and
scribbled on it. He gave the note to her and told her to give it to me. She
handed me the note. I sighed as I took the note from her. The Reverend wrote. ‘Dear Miss Cecelia, I know
that you have the right to refuse but I am asking you for a big favour, I am asking
you to put up Cassie and the children for at least three days until I find
alternative accommodations for them. They are indeed my responsibility now and
everything would have been okay if my wife had not returned suddenly from
Canada and wanted the Caretaker’s quarters for her cousin. Please help me with
this matter. Thank you. Yours, Reverend Julian’. I looked up to the ceiling and in my heart I am asking
God why me? Maud is looking at me. “Please Miss Cecelia, please, they’ll be
staying with me like before.” I sighed again. “Okay, they can stay for the
three days until the Reverend finds accommodations for them.” Maud grabbed me
and hugged me tightly. “Thank you Miss Cecelia, you will not regret this!” I
hope not, I said in my mind. Maud left to deal with the ‘migrants’ while I
returned to my reading. I did not feel like dealing with Cassie and her
children right now. Why me Lord! I screamed silently.
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