The Killing of Girlie Moonsammy

By Albert R. Cumberbatch. Ph.D

On coming of age, Rudy returns to Georgetown and gets in with three brothers about his age, who all wanted to form a construction company, with dreams of owning a large business and getting rich.

Basking in the glow of signing their first big contract, Rudy stepped out on the porch to look at the stars with contentment. On a very dark street that had no street lights, Rudy got a quick glimpse of a young girl as she passed through a sliver of light coming from a slightly opened window in the street. While Rudy was vaguely thinking why she would be out at night on this dark street, he heard a barely audible struggle across the street from where he was standing. Blackies door opened, and through the faint light from within his house, Rudy saw a struggling Girlie, a fifteen-year-old who lived a few blocks away and on the backstreet, being forcibly taken into Blackies house by him. Rudy dashed back into the house to alarm his friends, but they just shrugged. Rudy was outraged that they were not prepared to do anything about Blackie, who was known and feared in the neighborhood as Blackie the Monster.

The next morning, Girlie was fished out of a canal close to her house by her parents after some passersby raised an alarm.

Who killed Girlie Moonsammy? And why did her parents hastily take off her body into the country and cremated Girlie?

Guilt-ridden, Rudy began drinking heavily, losing his first love along the way. Will he become an alcoholic and bring ruin to their budding business?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 6, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503533547

Albert R. Cumberbatch. Ph.D

Albert R. Cumberbatch, Ph. D., is a native of Guyana, a small English-speaking country on the northern coast of South America. On migrating to the United States, he settled in Boston and attended the University of Massachusetts, where he graduated with batchelor degrees in biology and psychology. As a high school science teacher and environmentalist, Dr. Cumberbatch earned an MA (ED) and Ph.D. (Env. ED.), during that period. From writing on environmental issues and science curriculi, Dr. Cumberbatch produced his first fiction novel, Boogie Days, two years ago. ‘The Killing of Girlie Moonsammy’, can be construed as a sequel to the first novel, but stands alone as a mystery and romantic novel.

Book preview

Chapter One

Rudy Watson woke up late. He stared guiltily about him, as the sun streamed through the flimsy white lace curtains, burning his face into wakefulness. He twisted and turned to escape the intensity of the light, then, a bolt of realization hit him.

He should have been up over an hour ago!

He looked at the clock on his nightstand, he was breathing hard. His heart was palpitating, like a large drum, inside his chest. He felt as if somebody, really heavy, had been sitting on his chest, while he was asleep.

He tried to remember.

What was it that he was dreaming about?

He couldn’t remember. He had forgotten, though a sense of unease still permeated his brain.

It must have been a nightmare. Rudy hated that. It’s not that he ever tells anyone his dreams. By the time he remembers to bring it up, he usually has forgotten, at least the important parts, then everyone tries to fill in the rest for him, with their own interpretations, which was usually wholly incorrect and simply frustrating. After all, what did they know about his dreams? He sucked his teeth, and got out of bed. No use hurrying now, the three Micequiteers would have gone about the business already, without him.

Rudy looked at the old wooden clock hanging on the grey stucco bedroom wall and groaned. It was nine-thirty in the morning.

Already? He thought.

He had been an early riser all his life. Now, what was happening? He should have been at the Three Micequiteers since seven-thirty. Rudy was sure that they had left without him, but he wasn’t worried. He knew that they would understand. This business of drinking alcohol in the evenings, was still new to him.

Rudy cleaned up, saw the cup of coffee, now lukewarm, that was left for him by Auntie Ruthie. She always had a cup of coffee, sitting on the dining table waiting for him, when he got up. He was supposed to leave before she went to work. She taught at one of the high schools. He didn’t remember the school’s name and was too embarrassed to ask her again. He was waiting for it to come up in conversation, then he would commit it to memory. This morning, she had left on time, at eight. He was usually gone by seven-thirty. He didn’t hear her come into his apartment, and he didn’t hear her leave for work. She would only disturb him if he asked her to do so. He hadn’t.

Rudy was dressed, and out on the street on his bicycle, by ten-thirty. His two-week old bike was still shiny, even though it was not new. Clifton (Cliffie), the eldest Micequiteer, had insisted that Rudy get a bike, by the second week after his arrival in Georgetown. Cliffie had taken him to a used bicycle shop, and negotiated the sale for him.

Nothing doing without a bike down here, Rudy, he had advised.

Rudy smiled, remembering the shopping trip.

But he became slightly alarmed and saddened, when he thought about all the people he had left at Linden. He’d been in Georgetown for four weeks now, though it felt like a year. He hadn’t called anyone, after the burial. Not his brother and sisters or aunts, not Boogie, and worst of all, not even Joanna, his girlfriend. He had sworn he would call her as soon as things settled here in Georgetown. He winced with guilt. Why had he so callously abandoned his friends and family, his girl, he wondered?

Barely conscious of the road as he rode along, Rudy took a left turn off Lamaha Street, onto Vlissengen Road. He knew where he was going, so he barely focused on the trip. He knew Boogie had gotten a raise and now had a telephone. So too, did his aunt and uncle. His uncle had made general foreman against his better judgment, but his men loved him, so he’d had to accept the position when it was offered to him. Now that telephones had come to the citizens of Guyana, the ‘upper-crust’ was getting them first. They could afford phones. The enterprising Boogie had gotten some of his ‘contacts’ to set up a system for him too.

The Three Micequiteers were talking about getting a phone also, but they were waiting to become established first. Nevertheless, Rudy knew he could just go to the local post office, or one of the stores that sold telephone service and make calls from there.

So why hadn’t he called, at least his girlfriend, Joanna? Well, he did call her but only once, but that didn’t count. Something was holding him back. He just didn’t want her parents to see him as a suitor, since they would be expecting him to do the usual things a suitor would do, like ‘writing home’, to ask permission to visit Joanna. And that, in Rudy’s mind, would start the traditional ball rolling towards marriage. He just didn’t know why, he was faltering about that decision. He truly loved Joanna Barnes, and wanted to marry her. But in his own time, he thought. But he has to call Linden, today or tomorrow, he vowed.

Rudy was waiting at the intersection of Regent Street and Vlissengen Road; waiting for the school children and their teachers to cross. The excited chattering of what looked like six and seven year-olds, snapped him out of his reverie. He looked at them, remembering his own childhood. It now seemed so long ago. He was almost twenty-one, a man. Two weeks had passed since stepping off the ferry boat that brought him from Linden.

Rudy’s mother, sisters and brothers had been waiting for him. On the boat ride, Rudy was a bit melancholy and depressed, even though, he didn’t usually feel that way. Rudy felt that he had left some part of himself in Linden, which he was not ever going to get back. But the sight of his mother and siblings cheered him up considerably. Rudy insisted they take a taxi from the wharf to his mother’s home. His mother, as usual, was in her best school teacher mode, perceiving what was wrong and instructing him how to correct the situation.

You look like you were not eating up there. What you need is a good woman to look after you now. She advised.

Hey, don’t you start that now, Mother. Rudy laughed. He wondered when he had started calling her Mother.

Oh I heard about the girl up there. What’s her name? What about her? His mother enquired.

You’re different, you know that, Rudy said, Mothers aren’t supposed to be marrying off their sons.

I know, but you’re like the whirl in a whirlpool. She said.

What? said Rudy, And, what does that mean?

You just move around in life, and everyone is caught up in the movement, and it is good for them. I just don’t want things to get you caught up, that is not good for you. His mother said this with that serious frown, which she usually has, when she is concerned about something.

He glanced sideways at her. Rudy wondered if she knew that her sons, all frowned the same way, and it was not just poor vision.

Now that’s a new one. Don’t worry I’m still keeping my nose clean. He said.

He glanced at her again.

What are you looking for? His mother asked, To see if I still don’t love you? I’ve always loved you, and all of your sisters and brothers. You will never know what it is like to be a mother, out of wedlock, or a mother, period. Sometimes we have to do what we have to do. Her voice sounded a bit raspy.

Don’t you worry, Mother, he said, moving closer, and putting his arm around her shoulders. I didn’t have to wait long to find out, you had done the right thing. Look at me now.

She smiled, as if a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders.

It’s good to hear you say that. Lord only knows the struggle. She said.

By the way, Rudy’s mother continued, I know you’ll want your own space now, so I’ve talked with a friend of mine, Mrs. Ruth Robinson, a teacher, who has a spare apartment, a small one. Her husband is deceased. Will suit you just fine. Her only son, and his pregnant girlfriend, will be moving downstairs to the flat below, and so you can get his. It’s in Newtown, Kitty; a very nice area. She would love to have you there. She’s heard about you. From me, of course. His mother smiled.

She doesn’t have a daughter too, eh? Rudy laughed. You’re not trying to fix me up now, are you?

No, only a son, but he is much older than you. His mother replied.

That’s okay with me. Your place would be too congested. Rudy said.

Congested! Right. You can’t bring your women friends there, that’s why. But she was laughing.

No, no, seriously! But he was laughing too.

When they arrived at his mother’s home, Rudy gave his grandmother a big hug. He looked at her closely, and kissed her cheek. She was hobbling a bit. It was her knee, she had said. Observing his mother and grandmother, he thought one had brought him into this world, and one miraculously had kept him in it. He felt the sadness of seeing her movements slowing, as she aged.

Rudy took them all out to a Chinese restaurant for dinner, which they confessed would not have been done ordinarily. It was not usual for the family to eat out. It was all home cooking for them. His grandmother and mother believed in home cooking, but they enjoyed themselves nevertheless, savoring the rare treat of eating out.

His grandmother had died in her sleep, two days later.

She just waited for you to get here, Rudy. She kept talking about you each day, asking when you were coming. Rudy’s mother sobbed uncontrollably. He was kept busy having to comfort everyone. He had the necessary funds to pay for all of the funeral arrangements, and the Wake which lasted two nights.

All of their relatives came for the funeral, from Linden and elsewhere. Boogie arrived the day of the funeral. Of course Rudy had called him and everyone else; even Joanna. She was so shocked and started crying, even though she did not really know Rudy’s grandmother. But she couldn’t come for the funeral. Her mother was very sick and in the hospital. Everything was on her shoulders, since her father had fallen to pieces. I felt for Joanna, but my grandma was now gone, and it was so hard to focus on another’s grief. I told Joanna I would come up in a while, after the mourning season was over. I told her that I loved her, still, and nothing would change that. She said the same too, but wanted me to hurry up and come to see her.

After the burial, and having spent a couple of hours at home, Rudy and Boogie walked to the car park. Boogie was leaving for Linden that evening. They went to a liquor store and bought a fifth of rum and a bottle of ginger ale; got two plastic cups and stood by the side of the Vreedenhoop ferry’s wharf, drinking.

The old ones are dying off, and we’re replacing them, Rudy. Boogie said.

Rudy laughed. Hey brother, we still got a few years left you know.

Yeah I know. Boogie said wistfully.

They didn’t know who turned to the other first, but they were hugging each other and crying, on each other shoulders.

Men don’t cry in public, Rudy thought.

They cried over lost innocence. They cried over maturing and going their separate ways. They cried over the loss of Boogie’s mother and Rudy’s grandmother. And they cried knowing, they had missed doing so when Rudy had looked at Boogie’s bleary eyes, as he boarded the ferry to leave Linden, and for the fact it was all over, gone. He remembered their childhood misadventures, the mischief they had gotten into many times. In its place, a new life had begun for each of them.

It was Rudy, who broke the silence.

Man, I can barely give you a hug now. Rudy said patting Boogie’s cheeks, and laughing. They made you mayor, and now you got the mayor’s belly and chubby cheeks!

Boogie twisted his head sideways and gave that grin, which took Rudy back to the day when Boogie yelled at him for sitting on the front steps, in the high-noon tropical sun, without a hat. For a brief moment, they were boys again, planning to conquer the world.

Yeah, man. Boogie said. I have to take up a sport, before this weight kills me.

Don’t want that to happen in my lifetime pal, Rudy said as they headed to the car park. I’ll be up there in a few. Kiss the wife and kid for me.

Okay, will do, my brother, I’m waiting for the visit, and so is you-know-who.

They both laughed, just like the old days, and parted company.

Even though he was grieving, Rudy had gone to see the apartment the day after his grandmother’s funeral. It was too sad being at his mother’s home, with his grandmother not being there. He loved the apartment instantly. He liked that part of town. His landlady was like a second mother, and he loved her instantly. She told him her sister had gone to England and left her three teenage boys to take care of the home. She had died suddenly while there, so the boys without parents were doing a great job living independently. She guaranteed Rudy would fit in and get along well with them. She generously said, he should call her Auntie Ruthie, like her nephews.

The following day Rudy moved into the apartment. It was in the front section of the second floor, of a two storied house. Upon entering the front door, there were two inner doors; the one on the left was his, so he had complete privacy. He gave his landlord the full run of his place. Auntie Ruthie had her maid clean and cook for him, if he let her know when he was going to be around, for whatever meal it was. She was very funny and made everyone laugh a lot. She was very happy to have a second son and Rudy was pleased for all the loving attention.

That same day, he moved in around noon. Three young men showed up. Since they were calling her Auntie, Rudy didn’t have to guess who they were. The Jones’ brothers were bright and funny. They were true city guys, and seemed to know everything that was going on in the city. The eldest decided Rudy was going to join them. They called themselves the, Three Micequiteers, they confided in him; telling Rudy that only the four of them now knew that secret, besides their father and mother, who were no longer alive. It was to remain a secret. Rudy vowed to do so.

They all spent the next three hours eating lunch and talking. Auntie Ruthie just loved her nephews. They were likeable too. It was decided they would take Rudy over to see their place. So with Rudy sitting on Douglas’ (Dougie’s) bicycle’s cross-bar, they headed for Major Thom. This was the housing development, where the Jones boys lived.

At the Jones’ home, they sat around drinking gin and ginger beer and getting to know one another. This was a totally new experience for Rudy. They caught on right away. After Rudy mentioned he was going to be twenty-one in two weeks, the brothers decided to throw a party for him, but they were going to keep it a secret from the family, which Rudy found out many parties later, is what they usually did.

So, in the days leading up to the Saturday night birthday party, Rudy got to know the three brothers a bit better. Clifton (Cliffie) Jones; the eldest at 24 years, known to his siblings as, the Czar. Clifton ruled the roost, but most importantly, he knew the plans for their success. The other two brothers agreed with him completely.

Douglas (Dougie) Jones, the second, was 22 years old. The Jokester. He saved his practical jokes mostly for his younger brother, whom he always managed to aggravate, but in a good natured way. Dougie was the cook, the gardener, the organizer of social events, and the one who knew wood construction. That meant, he was responsible for any part of a job, the Czar got, that required the use of wood. Frederick (Freddie) Jones was not only Rudy’s age, but seemed to be on the same wavelength, in what they said and did. He was not as strong, or as healthy, as his two brothers, but he had an even-keeled disposition, that unconsciously, placed him as the true leader of the group. He was called Brain, and for good reason. He kept the books, managed their accounts, advised the other two on when to get new clothes; kept tabs of their health, and was responsible for the brothers fostering good relations with the community. He readily offered assistance and advice to their neighbors. He was a very intelligent young man, relatively quiet by nature, and didn’t seem to be the girl-chasing type, like his two brothers. He was much respected by everyone.

The Czar secured employment for them. He came up with the schemes, most times brilliant, that got them jobs repairing houses and buildings, paving walkways and bottom houses. His only other job was interceding between the other two brothers’ squabbles. He would do this by saying, ‘All for one.’ And the others would say, ‘and, one for all.’ That was the extent of his discipline. As a matter of fact, any of the brothers, who said that very popular and memorable phrase, would immediately bring the others to the same line of thinking or behavior. They were very close, and had each other’s back at all times. They would quickly close ranks, if one was threatened. The outside world dealt with the three of them, or none of them.

It is not that they were not educated. All three had scored high on their high school final examinations, and were students at the University of Guyana, taking courses in electrical engineering, construction engineering and business administration, respectively. As the Czar would say, they only were studying enough for their business. Their attendance took a back seat to that business.

The Czar was an excellent talker. He could talk a turtle into leaving its shell, and lease it back to the turtle, for a commission, Dougie would joke. In the mornings, when the boys did not have a job secured, they would ride around town asking and looking to see who had a job for them. Then the Czar would go to work. He never gave up. If he wasn’t successful, he would make a note to revisit the person, again and again, until he, most times, got a job. He could have been an outstanding car salesman. He operated the same way with his girlfriends and everyone else. He was very articulate and persuasive. He never had to argue with his younger siblings, they just went along with whatever he said, trusting that he was right. He almost always was.

Rudy was now on Eternity Road, crossing the short bridge into the cemetery. The faint smell of the deceased and flowers, which no one planted in their gardens at home, were in the air. In the distance, he saw a casket being carried by pallbearers, with a small crowd following them. The men wore suits, but it was windy, so Rudy figured they were not as uncomfortable as could be, if that noon-day sun was shining down, without a cool wind blowing. This was probably the largest burial ground in all the British colonies, Rudy thought. It was about a half mile across (north to south), and about a mile long (east to west). The place looked like it was slowly going to seed. And the British hadn’t left as yet! They might be already giving up, since independence for this country, was in the making.

Rudy continued riding and daydreaming.

Alicia and Brenda King had come to visit a few days before the party. Actually, Freddie confided in Rudy, they had come to check him out. Dougie had decided that Brenda was going to cut the cake with Rudy, since she could easily be talked into doing such things. Brenda didn’t have to get to know Rudy now, her role was already assured. Alicia, who was the shorter but younger of the two, looked boldly at Rudy, up and down. She then acted as if she was reassured of something.

I heard you’re from the country, Alicia said.

He just spent time there, girl. Chimed in Dougie. He was born in Georgetown.

Nevertheless, said Alicia, Watch out for these city boys. They have no good virtues.

Well, you don’t know about us, you got your boyfriend already, said Dougie.

Oh, I heard about you three. Laughed Alicia. Heaven help the girl who falls for any one of you.

Brenda apparently didn’t like her sister chatting up the boys, so she hurriedly said, We got to go. C’mon sis. You would chat all night if I let you.

As they headed out the door.

Alicia leaned back in and said, I will make the Cake. Mommy will help me.

And ran down the stairs.

And when did this transpire? Asked Brenda. Look, don’t try any of your old tricks, Rudy’s mine at the party. You got a boyfriend already, sheesh!

You got your boyfriend too. So what do you want? Two men fighting over you?

Well, I was asked. Said the lighter complexioned of the two, Brenda.

They were like night and day in complexion, Allison, very dark-skinned and Brenda, much lighter. Alicia was shorter but statuesque. The look of a model.

And besides it has nothing to do with my boyfriend. Brenda added.

But you’re going to make sure he’s not coming. I know you. Mine is going to be there. He knows our relationship is going nowhere fast. Alicia replied.

The sisters kept up the argument as they left on their bicycles. The brothers were laughing and looking at Rudy.

Boy, you got two for the price of one, and you just got here! laughed Dougie.

What do you mean price? Added Freddie, He ain’t even paying. He’s even getting free birthday cake too! What a sweet man!

They all were laughing now.

Other kids, both boys and girls had come to visit on occasion, checking Rudy out. Some of the boys were trying to make friends. Rudy was a quiet person, but he was friendly also.

The night of the party, he was supposed to get there by seven-thirty but he arrived an hour late. Everyone was fretting. Thinking he had gotten cold feet. Rudy was supposed to cut the cake at eight. By the time he got there some kids from the Soldiers’ Housing Scheme had sneaked up the back stairs, and grabbed handfuls of the huge three-tiered cake. The cake was over twenty pounds in weight. The Cake now looked like a bombed-out shell of an ancient Roman building, with about three-quarters of it still standing.

Rudy went over and apologized to Alicia, who was crying. Her masterpiece was ruined. Rudy gave her a small hug. Brenda, who was standing a few feet away was looking daggers at Alicia.

Rudy went into the kitchen and had Clifton herd everyone out of it, except for the three brothers. He looked at the brothers and started cracking up. They saw the humor of it all, and started laughing too. Rudy got the knife sent by Alicia’s mother, and neatly paired off the ruined part of the cake. By then, other boys had returned to the kitchen to see what the laughter was about, and they too started laughing, but they were laughing at the new creation, which made Rudy and the brothers laugh even harder.

They finally took the cake into the living, and Dougie shouted, Friends, Romans, Countrymen, we came to cut the cake, and by God we will cut the cake. Or, its remains, if it pleases everyone.

Now everyone was laughing—even Alicia and Brenda.

After cutting the cake, the kiss had to be redone three times, since the boys were yelling it wasn’t done right, the first time. Rudy eagerly obliged. As he and Brenda were dancing the supposedly first dance, she whispered in his ear.

Your cousin is a lying bastard?

Who? Rudy asked incredulously.

Dougie, that’s who. He said you were an innocent, who knew nothing about women. She replied, not angrily.

Are you complaining? Rudy asked her, smiling to himself, on hearing this bit of news.

Nah. Brenda said. But I’m now wondering what else you have experience in.

You’d better not. I hear your boyfriend is outside, and he is very jealous too. Rudy said. Besides, your sister is staring at us. I will have to dance with her soon.

‘Oh, okay, Brenda said. ‘But her boyfriend is here too. Can you see him?

Yes, I know, and I see him. Rudy replied. Not to worry, I’m not going to make anyone jealous tonight.

Good. Brenda said, as she walked away at the end of the song.

The Three Micequiteers knew how to throw a party. There were lots of food and drink. They had warned the invitees they would not get more than three drinks for the night. They just didn’t want any problems with the police. Everyone seemed to be happy with that pronouncement. The police, a couple of them, showed up around ten p.m., and asked to see the party’s police permit. The Czar took them into the kitchen where they were given their plate of goodies and drink. When they refused alcohol, the Czar laughing, had mints for them. They spent a half an hour eating and drinking and chatting with the young men who knew them, and were allowed to come into the kitchen.

As they were leaving, the policemen told Czar the usual. When he sees them outside in the street, the party had an extra half an hour, before it had to end. That meant it actually ended at twelve-thirty, instead of twelve midnight, the legally allowable time.

Rudy didn’t ask Alicia to dance. He saw her casting quick glances his way, sometimes when she thought he wasn’t looking. Freddie danced with all the girls who probably wouldn’t have gotten a dance that night—the Wallflowers. Rudy joined him. Rudy felt he had to make their night too. Alicia finally came over and stood in front of Rudy. He had noticed before, that she had moved away from her boyfriend.

So, I had to come begging for a dance? she asked.

No, Rudy replied, looking at her earnestly.

He took her in his arms. She was looking at him straight in the eye.

I wanted to show my appreciation for the cake, but I don’t want any fights or other problems, y’know. Rudy said.

‘And who’s going to give you problems?" demanded Alicia.

You. Said