Cross-Culture Returns Home. Country-Man Goin Back-Ome.

By Leyton Franklin

DE MAD RUSH STARTS, fo exit from de plane to de terminal. Rush fo enter de airport an be first; den confronted wid long lines an waitin' immigration officers. Officers wid searchin-eyes, blank facial expressions an some tricky questions, dem askin'; Which country are you from? Where will you be staying? Are you travelling alone? How long will you be staying? Do you have anything to declare? De Officer dem, placin' visitors in wan unusual situation fo few silent seconds, is wan strange feelin'. Strange cause, most of de answers to de questions, in de passport. De passport is also issued by de country where yo live, as wan landed immigrant an also lists de country of birth as different. Bein' interrogated, causes one to be cautious before answerin' de questions, although knowin' yo na guilty of wan crime. Within de few seconds, yo feel like wan foreign stranger an not wan citizen returnin' fo holiday.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: May 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781773709499

Leyton Franklin

Leyton E. Franklin was born in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana (formerly British Guiana), He is the first of six children to, Ona Lois Franklin-Nee Stuart-Medas who was the daughter of a Congregational Minister (Rev, S. B. Stuart-Medas, first a head master in the educational system). His dad, Eustace Alexander was a Senior Public Health Officer with the Government. Emigrated to Canada in 1972 and a few years later returned to school, graduating from York University with a Hon's degree in Fine Arts. Outskirts Press Inc., in the United States of America published three of his books. The title of the books; CARIBBEAN STORY SWEET, SWEET, SWEET -March 2016. POTERY: ME BRAIN OPEN-UP -September 2016 and THE IMPREGNATED SUBCONSCIOUS -February 2018.

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Cross-Culture Returns Home.

Copyright © 2019 by Leyton Eden Franklin

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-1-77370-950-5 (Paperback)

978-1-77370-949-9 (eBook)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

1. JULY 2004. PUN DE PLANE.

2. DE DRIVE OME.

3. DE MORNIN, AFTA DE WELCOME PARTY.

4. KASSA’S, CHRISTMAS AN BOXING DAY.

5. BOXING DAY.

6. DE DAY AFTA, SHE’S WEARIN HIS RING.

7. DE DAY AFTA DE REUNION OF KASSA AN LEON.

8. KASSA AN DE DRUNKEN VISITOR.

9. WAN BREATH TAKEN TURN IN DE HOLIDAY.

10. DE RETURN TRIP FO OLD YEARS/NEW YEAR’S EVE.

11. OLD YEAR’S/NEW YEAR’S EVE.

12. LAST DAYS, OF KASSA’S HOLIDAY.

Afta, de New Years.

13. VISITIN KAIETEUR FALLS.

Biodiversity and Protection

Night Tour with a Guide.

14. RETURNIN TO GEORGETOWN.

De Wake.

De Funeral.

Afta De Burial of Touches.

De Count-down Before Kassa Leaves.

15. KASSA, GOIN-BACK TO FOREIGN.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

INTRODUCTION

Broken Caribbean Language.

Two format of language used in expressing the story is, Caribbean English, proper English (Guyanese). Not-proper English is referred to as ‘Broken Caribbean English’; ‘Broken-Language’; that is also called Creole, patois, or ‘Caribbean dialect. For example, it is usually constructed as follows:

• Hyphenated, known as a form of COMPOUNDING two of more words together (‘come-in,’ ‘rubbed-off,’ ‘back-up,’ ‘up-set,’ ‘drive-forward,’).

• REDUPLICATION (‘sweet-sweet,’ ‘back-back,’ ‘mad-mad,’ or ‘sweet-sweet-sweet’).

• TOTALISATION (‘work-er,’ ‘Ca-rol,’ ‘fa-ther’).

• MULTIFUNCTIONAL (‘ah-done-hot-di-tea’).

Other examples used;

• An is the short for and.’

• Another is ‘nather’ or ‘nada.’

• Both of us is ‘both-a-we.’

• Bout is the short for about.

• Can’t is ‘kant.’

• For is ‘fo or fa.’

• Hard is ‘ard.’

• Have is ‘ave.’

• Her/his hands are in her/his pocket is ‘she/he hand lef in she/he pocket.’

• Home is ‘ome.’

• I am not going is ‘me na a go.’

• Long is ‘laang.’

• Make is ‘mak/mek.’

• More is ‘mo.’

• My mother is ‘me mother.’

• My brother is ‘me brother.’

• Plenty is ‘nuff.’

• Remember is ‘member or ‘memba.’

• She/he is not coming is ‘she/him na a com/cum.’

• Sit close to her is ‘sit-down close to-she.’

• That is ‘dat.’

• Thing is spelt ‘ting.’

• The is ‘de.’

• There is ‘dere.’

• Them is ‘dem.’

• This is ‘dis.’

• Woman is spelt ‘oman.’

• You can take some more is ‘yo can tak mo.’

• You cannot take more is ‘na tak/tek none or mo.’

• Ending is ‘endin’ (words ending in ‘ing’ the ‘g’ is dropped).

This artistic expression has entered the linguistic usage of not only Guyanese language but the rest of the Caribbean and is used as a daily self-expression. It is used to describe things or events in our life and is an art form developed with its own structure and ‘passed-on’ from one generation to the next. It is also unique to local aesthetic in ‘word-usage,’ which gives support to the composition format as it is constructed in written expressions. This local style ‘broken-language’/ ‘broken English’/ ‘not proper English’ is thought to be developed during slavery as a disguise which was used by the slaves in communicating between themselves and not to be understood by the ‘slave-master.’ In fact, throughout the Caribbean, there is a local dialect that was developed, giving rise to a kind of individualistic characterization in ‘word-usage’ and pronunciation. Although we might live close to each other in the sunshine climate and eat the same food cooked differently, dress the same, dance alike, or build homes the same, they are the only common element.

In terms of communication, the dialect between each other and the use of ‘not-proper-English,’ one may find similarities in some words. There are variations in the use of the Caribbean dialect around the Caribbean in terms of language, ‘word-usage,’ and spelling, which are determined and written from the sound of the words. The Eurocentric system of divide and rule that was developed throughout the Caribbean is very productive and destructive to the existence of unity between our people and culture.

According to Viv Edwards (pages 1–5), almost everyone in the West Indies (Caribbean) speaks what is variously known as Creole, patois, or dialect and was developed as a result of contact between Africans and Europeans. It enabled communication between master and slave, and more important, between the Africans themselves who came from different language groups. The vocabulary is predominantly English, but the structures are often markedly different, sometimes reflecting the influences of African languages and sometimes showing characteristics peculiar to itself. This is not to suggest that Creole is a homogeneous language quite separate from English. It is different not deficient and there is evidence which suggests that even if Caribbean people adapt the standard English as their own, then continue to be influenced by Creole. As Creole continues to be an important force, It use has been employed in the story: compounding words like ‘up-set’ and words that are pronounced or written as they sound (‘ave’ is short for have, ‘de’ for the, ‘dem’ for them, ‘dat’ for that, ‘kant’ for can’t). The format is also part of Guyanese cultural composition.

Gone fo so

Pass-already

Past is de past

Gone laang-time

Keep in de-mind

Na a-cum-back again

Kant do nothin bout it

Remain in de-present

It done pass along

Wan passin memory

Ave fo pass dat-way

Always thinkin bout-it

Just hangin-in de brain

Stayin on rewind mood

Ard fo tek de new one

Leave de pass as de pass

Nothin remain de same

So-ard fo tak de change

Ave fo go-laang wid it now

De only way fo stay sane.

Leave de past in de past

Fo deal wid de new future

Unknown an uncertain time

Holdin de great past as de past.

Goin-back ome fo holiday is imperative to de physic, especially if yo ave not gone-back over thirty years. It is wan form of revitalizin’ fo de body, soul an mind, connectin’ wid one’s place of birth. There is always wan inner callin’ fo re-visit de place where de biblical-cord is left behind. There is wan continual silent longin’ fo unite wid de pass. It is personal, although it will not be de same. Dis process will casus wan happy or sad reaction dependin’ on de time spent away from dat home feelin’.

Changes, which is de only permanent stage in de world, would not permit one fo ave de same welcome fo de pass. Culture shock takes-over de laangin’ desire fo recapture de pass afta plannin’ de return an acceptin’ de changin’ times. In fact, de shock starts before de flight an continues on de flight, until one arrives. Awaken by Caribbean expressions fallin-out mouths leavin’ North American culture far-behind on de ride. Caribbean expressions not heard by one’s ear;

• Give me wan cold beer.

• Me want wan drink a run.

• Me want some mo ice.

• Me need wan coke fa drink.

• Na order meat but chicken.

Changin’ atmosphere on de flight, wid de removal of winter, clothes cause by de warm air invadin de plane. At de same time, use of Caribbean lingo sets de stage fo rejoinin’ de past culture in de warm sunshine. There is, wan Carib-buzz of foreigners goin-home joined wid visitors. Afta eight hours pun de plane, waitin’ fo de long trip, fo end an get-off. But de plane is full wid free movement, drinkin an talk, although it is gettin’ near time fo get off. Finally, all passengers come alive, gettin’ things ready fo disembark which is near. De plane touches-down, applauses are heard by happy passengers landin’ safely pun de ground.

De mad rush starts, fo exit from de plane to de terminal. Rush fo enter de airport an be first, den confronted wid long lines, wid waitin’ immigration officers. Officers wid searchin-eyes, blank facial expressions an tricky questions, dem askin’;

• Which country are you from?

• Where will you be staying?

• Are you travelling alone?

• How long will you be staying?

• Do you have anything to declare?

De Officer dem, placin’ visitors in wan unusual situation fo few silent seconds, is wan strange feelin’. Strange cause, most of de answers to de questions, in de passport. De passport is also issued by de country where yo live, as wan landed immigrant an also lists de country of birth as different. Bein’ interrogated, causes one to be cautious before answerin’ de questions, although knowin’ yo na guilty of wan crime. Within de few seconds, yo feel like wan foreign stranger an not wan citizen returnin’ fo holiday.

But it is part of de government system, dat all visitors must encounter, so de ones wid bad intensions get separated an held. Anyway, de process ends afta bein’ scrutinised, passport stamped, exit pass handed an let-go by de Officer. At dis stage, yo precede fo de pick-up area fo yo luggage at wan conveyor belt. Gettin’ to de area, one sees people jumpin-over luggage, lookin’ fo dem bags, like travellers at any airport in de world. Afta reclaimin’ yo baggage, yo exit de buildin, an yo get hit by de hot Caribbean air. De hot air is an instance reminder of home, brin’ wan reality back to yo memory.

Note:

For those who are not Caribbean peoples and might be wondering why I have incorporated the use of music (Calypso, Reggae and R/B) in my story. It is because music is a large part of our culture. For example, African people have always sung either in times of sorrow or joy. During slavery singing was the one form of relief used in those times of human humiliation and atrocities perpetuated on African people by none African human being. Music and the repeated suppression by those with power, money and prestige, has remained in de psyche from generation to generation. The quiet, internal struggle has projected outward into a vocal art form of lyrics and rhythms.

The new vocal art form (Calypso/Soca) was created by Caribbean people and is a resistance against both capitalisms of the past and future. It relates to and criticizes the various aspects of the Caribbean’s socio-political system, be it heritage, history of freedom from slavery, the struggle of economic slavery, racism, sexism, education and religion. The purpose of the lyrics is a message for public awareness into the inappropriate Government systems and daily events in people life not only in the Caribbean by worldwide. The rhythm messages that some outsiders believe, is only for drinking, fetes (party) or jumping up and winin-up in the streets, exploding in the air during Carnival and is also heard at every street corner, bar or homes.

In some Caribbean countries, Government systems have;

• Prevented local radios from playing calypso lyrics criticizing their political mandate.

• Prevented the calypso message to be performed in the streets at Carnival.

• Arrested calypso singers and placed them in jail.

On the other hand, there are calypso lyrics with positive messages or reminders of Caribbean educational system and peoples struggle;

• Dan is the man in the van, Sex Education, Children must learn, Good Citizen, We kinda music, I’m a slave from a land so far by Sparrow.

• Think about the children by Merchant.

• Back to School by Joey Lewis Orchestra.

• Foreign Press’ and Budget Debate" by Lord Laro.

• Gone are the days and Keep in touch by Lord Shorty.

• U.F.O. and Human Rights by Shadow.

• Drunk man by King Kaieteur.

• One family by Mighty Canary.

• Drink a rum on a Christmas morning by Lord Kitchener.

1. JULY 2004.

PUN DE PLANE.

History (His-story);

• Tells a people where they are and what they must be.

• Tells a people where they have been and what they have been.

• Tells a people where they are going and where they must be.

• Tells a people (and continues to tell them) where they have to go and where they still must be. Dr. John. Henrick CLARK. January 1988. Brooklyn N. Y.

After living in North America, Kassa is returning to his place of birth for the first time; returning to the Caribbean after spending 50 years of his life away from where his ‘navel-string’ (unbiblical cord) is buried. For these years, he did not ‘keep-in-touch’ with any of his relatives or friends at home. There are also surprises waiting at home and two are,

• His parents are dead.

• The only relative alive is his young sister and they are strangers. She does not know he is on his way.

Kassa is leaving his adopted home in the ‘dead-of-winter’ for the loving sunshine, thinking he can remember. Takes exit from his home for the airport, as the temperature falls to 50 degrees below and according to the late Bob Marley’s song, Coming in out of the cold, for a short stay. Kassa will surely be out of the cold and into 90degree heat. Hot! Hot! Hot! He drives to the airport, enters the plane and starts to remove some of his winter clothes. He is also a lonely passenger on the trip because he knows, he would not know anyone on the plane.

Kassa keeps looking around for a face he might know but finds none. He sits in his seat and thoughts enter his mind,

• Will anyone at home remember me? It is strange after all these years away, his mind rewinds and questions of his homeland and people arise. The questions continue,

• Who do you know on the plane? He silently answers, No one.

• Then he hears his inner voice,

Do you understand Caribbean people, when dem speak? He thinks he remembers but he knows he knows not if he knows and does not answer.

Then, questions continued,

• Can yo take de heat after all the years, yo neglected your country?

• How much of yo village or Guyana, yo think yo remember or can yo find yo way home?

• Would yo remember any of yo school friends or family?

Kassa’s computer started to go into over drive trying to find answers to the questions kept coming to him but could not. He tried to be quiet, feeling for the answers but the Caribbean voices kept disturbing his thoughts. The only thing Kassa recognizes to some extent is the sound of the lingo spoken in the plane.

• Did he really understand? No.

Hearing the Caribbean lingo made him feel a little at home. Kassa remarked to himself, these are my people I have forsaken. He continued to listen carefully to his Caribbean people speaking and trying hard to understand what they were saying but the fast talkers makes it worst.

The voice inside said to Kassa,

Those are the voices of yo Caribbean people an de language is yours that yo have forgotten. Yo have been in North America too long an yo are corrupted by dem style an system.

Kassa tried to feel comfortable but remained uneasy because he did not want to meet any of the other passengers. Meeting them would be disastrous, because he was afraid to answer any questions, if asked. In his mind, he could not understand them and thought they might not understand him. He was also afraid they would take him for an American visitor.

The more Kassa heard his Caribbean people speaking it continued ‘to turn his head upside-down’. He knew he was looking for a missing link why he took the trip and could not find it or explain it, if asked. Kassa was ‘day-dreaming’ and in a state of trance until the plane crossed the equator. He had extra clothes on and had to remove more of his clothes because the plane became hot and he ‘kind-of’ knew it had to get hotter. After removing more clothing, he was down to a tee shirt and sweating unbearable. He had never felt this way for years and he became very uncomfortable.

The heat of the Caribbean sun and its effect on Kassa’s body suddenly awoke his memory bringing him back to reality. This was the first links about his past in the Caribbean he quickly remembered.

• When it hot, it real hot man an it mak de bad water, ‘run-out’ of yo skin like wan river.

Although Kassa, quickly becomes conscious of the heat, his inward thinking rejects, Caribbean passengers who are very loud in their discussions and he is disturbed.

The inner voice,

"But, dat is how dem talk man. Is wan part of yo Caribbean culture. What a way yo longin’ fo yo country an yo can’t take yo people loudness.

• Can yo really handle de borin’ North American ‘rat-race’?

He is encountering a delayed cultural shock, unlike his first time to North America. He did not belong and could not really be a part of their society. His inner voice said,

Imagine yo can’t take de heat, yo can’t handle yo people, an yo can’t get accustomed to de cold. Yo get soft or what in North America man.

Kassa has not recognized he has changed. It might be different for his people to understand him but in his mind, they are different. They have plenty bags in the plane, more than is allowed. Also, lots hugging, touching, loud laughter and talking, strange ascent he has not grasped. The heat from the sun was making him irritable. He becomes passive because his inner voice is talking,

• Man, yo a product of dat culture, so deal wid de Caribbean expressions, country man.

He then remembers Caribbean people speaking different to the Europeans at home as they ruled the country.

• "But did it really sound like that?

The more he tries to remember, the worst it gets. As he is in deep thought he is awaken by a loud voice saying,

• "Wa appenin’ man an how yo doin?

Kassa wanted to answer but for a second taught the person was not talking to him. Anyway, he looked in the direction of the voice, and realizes he does not recognize the person or the face. He was unable to reply because he could not find words. In the Caribbean, they would say,

• Cat eat he tongue.

Luckily, for Kassa, as he was struggling to find which of his languages to use, then the passenger behind him replies,

Me da man an wha bout yo?

The first man replies,

Me fine an goin ome fa few weeks.

Question from the second man,

When last yo bin ome?

Answer from the first man,

Christmas last an it sweet fo so at ome. So, sweet dat me na bin want fo leave.

Reply from the second man,

Dis is me fus trip fo de last ten years.

By now, Kassa is ‘really-confused’ because he cannot follow the conversation clearly. Although he was close, he recognizes some of the words, trip, year, last, weeks and Christmas but the broken Caribbean lingo does it to him.

Unexpectedly one of the men turns to Kassa and says,

• Banna yo is Guyanese na?

Banna was the best word the man could have used to get Kassa’s attention. No Guyanese ever forgets that word. It is regularly used, especially when men greet another male friend;

• Banna, wha happenin?

• Banna, me wan cold beer.

• Banna, a wha yo a do tonight?

Kassa’s became conscious, when he heard the word and answered before he knew it. Yea man, ‘flew-out’ of his mouth like a bullet from wan gun.

The man continued,

Yo na sound like G.T. banna, yo mo talk like wan Yankee.

Kassa,

Yes, I am and have been away for some time, and this is my first trip home in years.

The man,

Banna, yo can’t talk like wan Yankee down-dere, cause dem gon rob yo blind. Yo betta practice fo talk G.T stylin’ from now, cause de place change bad. So, take it easy an me talk to yo lata.

Kassa was ‘up-set’ at the man’s statement after he left and started to talk to himself.

• "Am I speaking a different language from them?

• I am Guyanese too, who left a few years, so why can’t they understand me?

The only language I know, is English language they thought in school. It is not a true language but a universal one made-up of different languages. Some Caribbean people even profess they speak perfect English.

• Nevertheless, how can they?

They are born Caribbean people and not British but British Subjects. They will have to listen and understand me before they know I am speaking different to them."

However, what Kassa forgot was, some of the words Caribbean people living abroad use, on their return will give them away too. For example, these words or phrases when used will give him away,

• Please.

• Thanks, or thank you.

• Is there anywhere I can have some more?

• Can I have this or could I have that?

• How much does this cost?

• How much is the fare to Buxton?

• Can I have a soft drink or soda?

• What other beer do you have beside Banks Beer?

• Can I have coffee black with brown toast, eggs and no butter?

Kassa went on,

• How can they rob me?

There are Police Officers in the city to protect me on holiday and I am Guyanese. I don’t think Guyana has more crime than North America or any other part of the world."

The information, caused Kassa to sat quietly, trying to think how much Guyana has changed. He was brought-back to his thoughts, when the hostess serving refreshments asked,

• What would you like to have, beer, scotch, soft drink, tea or coffee?

Kassa replies,

• Can I have a beer, Colt 45 please and what is the cost?

The hostess,

Sir, we have only Caribbean beers. Do you want to try a Carib or Banks?

Kassa taught for a second, he remembered a beer called Banks in Guyana and said yes, Banks Beer. He was handed the beer and it remained in his hand for a second. He later raised the bottle to his mouth being hot and drank some of it. He remembered the taste and said quietly,

It does not taste bad.

The flight is eight hours and Kassa is becoming restless. Restless because he wants to get to Guyana and see how much the place has changed. The people on the plane seemed different in their behaviour, from when he was young. The passengers, were, drinking too much, men making passes at the hostess and female as they walked-by up-set Kassa.

Looking-around he observed most of the young women were also drinking more booze than the men. The scene, reminded him of a party atmosphere, which shouldn’t be encourage. Kassa continued to look at the women as they passed. As he reads them, some drank too much, few were over-dressed and the rest had very little clothes on. They are dressed like women, in T V videos and actors in North American movies. The North American culture has ‘taken-over’ the Caribbean and we are lost, he thought. All winter clothes were off and unlike him, they have prepared for the real-heat in the Caribbean climate. Actually, two reasons for his return were,

• To find one of his ‘countrywomen’ to marry but these on the plane look like hustlers or gold- diggers. Dressed, in too-much gold and not to his liking.

• To see his family.

Kassa was in deep meditation, when the warning sign for seat belt to be secured sounded. He returned to reality, thinking it was getting close to his destination, TIMEHRI now CHEDDIE JAGAN AIRPORT but he was wrong. There were stopping, for the first time after leaving North America. It was, Trinidad for two hours, so passengers could leave and ‘picking-up’ those for Guyana. Guyana; returning for Christmas holidays (after shopping). There was another reason, to refuel and clean the plane. The refueling took about one hour and all passengers had to leave. Kassa emerges, into the real heat for the first time in years and it was a shock. He had really forgotten what a Caribbean climate was but remembered, the instance he stepped-out of the plane. Kassa was surely getting-out of the cold and into fire.

Walking towards the terminal, he felt heat coming through his shoes from the tarmac and started walking, ‘like a cat on hot ashes’. On entering the terminal, it was a beehive, filled of passengers, moving around like crazy. After seconds, realized there was no air condition system. He could not believe in times like this, the Airport had no such system. It was not the only problem as he went to the bar, asked for a cold beer and got a hot beer. He was told, the fridge was not working and there was no ice.

• What is this Caribbean Government doing with the monies, collected for the sale of oil and taxes?

• How can a restaurant in an Airport, have no cold drinks for passengers to purchase, when it is hot as hell?

What saved Kassa, from getting more ‘up-set’ was the call for re-boarding. He was in a hurrying to get-back to his seat but could not pass the Guyanese passengers. They were heavily loaded with baskets, boxes, large handbags and luggage that shouldn’t have been taken on the plane. He finally got to his seat and found another person sitting in it. He surely got ‘up-set’ again, after trying to reason with the person in good faith. He continued telling the person It was his before leaving, but it did not work. He turned Caribbean in a second and told the person off in their lingo. It was the first time Kassa was ‘up-set’ with a female in years. In all of his North American travels, this had never happened. White people always return to their seats.

The woman said,

Man, anytime de plane land in Trinidad; passengers reenterin, tak any seat fo ‘sit-down’ in. Dem don’t care where we sit. We all goin ome fo Christmas; so, let’s enjoy de ride; na fight over de people seat in de plane. Tek wan seat next to me, it is only wan half-hour to Guyana airport. Christmas is de time fo be happy an share love. Yo look like yo na bin to Guyana fo wan laang time. Things change, so ‘com-on’ man, like yo fraid me, me an’t gon bite yo. All de things yo lef here, still here an it safe.

The problem was, Kassa wanted a window to see how Guyana, (the place of his birth), looked from the sky, but had to take a seat in the passage way. Before he could sit, another woman said,

Foreigner, de oman is wan good oman; she na do people bad an she mind she own business. Dis is she first time in Trinidad to buy clothes fo sell fo Christmas because, things ard in Georgetown. Don’t spoil she first trip. Give she good luck so, she can mek money an ave wan happy holiday wid she mother. She father, just dead; he was de breadwinner in de ouse. Just ‘sit-down’ close to she an mek she stay-calm. Tek it easy wid she too, cause she nervous bout de customs; hope dat dem na give she wan ard time. Where yo comin from, it easy fo mek wan dallar, an get food. In Guyana, every ting ard.

Kassa sat quiet and ashamed, next to the woman. He was feeling sorry for treating her bad and blamed it on the hot beers he drank. His heart became very heavy with guilt and it ease after he told the woman sorry. The woman said,

It Ok. De Christmas rush gets people ‘up-set quick.

Then the woman, ‘strike-up’ a conversation with Kassa and asked him his name and said Kassa. He then got nerves to ask her, hers. She told him, Pam Singh an all de people call her P.

In Kassa’s quick survey, Pam Singh was in her early thirty without fat in body composition; confident in her gate and didn’t look as if she encountered any stage of motherhood. Tall, slender in size, broad hips and flat bum supported by long legs properly structured. She had small breasts, a flat tummy with a small waste; face was typical Indian with a straight nose, long features and small kissable lips; teeth in her mouth were well kept and