Behind the quarters to the left of the tenement yard is a small secluded area where the men of the yard would meet to smoke and discuss politics or their latest conquests. The area was called Headquarters and women and girls were not allowed there. You could stay at the front of the yard and hear the loud guffaws from the men when whatever they were discussing took a humorous turn. The smell of cigarettes and marijuana would permeate the air on a windy day. The youths of the tenement yard
were told time and time again by their parents not to join the men in Headquarters but they would gather around there anyway. Sissy Bernard's son Michael, and the son of Mrs. Leana, Errol, were sitting under the guinep tree in Headquarters discussing the argument that had taken place between their mothers the day before.“Yu nuh tink seh a time Mama and Miss Sissy stop the foolishness!” says Errol as he takes a ‘draw’ of his ganja spliff.
“Yes I, I don’t know wha wrong wid de two a dem! Fram mi a pickney till now dem a quarrel, it even worse now dat we big!” Wha cudda meck dem always a quarrel?” asks Michael.
“Two bull caan rule in a one pen and two lions caan be de king a de jungle at de same time.” says Errol laughing.
“But dem a cow and lioness, so how dat go?” asks Michael while laughing.
“Same ting Iya, same ting! Is two strong-willed woman we a talk bout,” says Errol, “De two a dem waan control de yard when Missa Vincent nuh deh bout ya.” he continues.
“Yu nuh tink it strange dat Mr. Vincent nuh married? Plus mi neva see him bring a woman here yet.” says Michael.
“Fram him wife dead him seem to lose interest in a everything, but mi notice fram wha day how him a eyes Marsue!” laughs Errol.
“Don’t run dem kind a joke deh Iya! Fire fe dem talk deh bout mi sistah!” says Michael.
Errol just continues to laugh in between taking ‘draws’ of his ganja spliff.
“Seriously though, I will neva understand women. Look how de I and I live good. We sisters dem talk but we mothers caan talk to dem one anedda widout it turn in a quarrel. Jah Rastafari man! If dis continue suppen bad a guh happen in a de yard!” says Michael.
“Yes I, suppen drastic a guh happen fe real fe bring dem to dem senses.” agrees Errol.
Black Boy comes around the corner and takes a seat beside them under the guinep tree. Errol hands him the spliff and says,
“Teck a draw off a de good good sensimilla Black Boy!”
Black Boy takes the spliff from Errol and after taking a couple ‘draws’ he hands the spliff to Michael.
Michael refuses it, saying,
‘Yu mussi mad! A mi madda yu waan fe kill mi!”
Black Boy laughs and says,
“Big bway like you still fraid a yu madda? Teck de spliff man!”
Just at that moment Michael’s little brother Christopher comes around the corner and sees Black Boy handing the spliff to Michael. He shouts out,
“Ee een now! Spanish Town! Mama a guh beat yu wid de doodoo stick! A gwine tell Mama seh yu round here smoking ganja!”
He turns around and attempts to run back around the corner when Michael gets up and grabs him by his shoulders and says,
“Come ya! Yu likkle bugga yu! Yu see mi a smoke any ganja?”
“Yu haffe pay me fe nuh talk!” says Christopher.
“Me seh mi wasn’t smoking nuh ganja!” shouts Michael.
Black Boy opens his wallet, takes out ten dollars and says,
“See ten dollars here, go round to yu grandmadda likkle bway!”
Christopher takes the money from Black Boy, laughing, he lolls out his tongue at Michael and leaves.
“Whey yu give him so much money fa?” asks Michael.
“A long time me promise him a ting. Dat a fe him Christmas and New Year’s.” says Black Boy laughing. He hands the spliff to Michael who still refuses to take it. Black Boy laughs and tells Michael that he’s too ‘fraidy-fraidy’. Michael responded,
“Look like yu feget a who a my madda. If she ever come from town an ketch mi round ya dawg nyam mi suppa! Anyway, talking bout dawg, me a guh feed Brutus and guh water de plant dem before mi grandfather reach home. Lata.”
Black Boy and Errol says they’ll be staying there until he returns and Michael leaves to do his chores.
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