Elizabeth?: An African Princess

By Karl A. Francis

Boys will be boys, and then we grow up. Kaafra and his fraternity brothers set out to have the most fun of their college days and went to Jamaica for spring break. But Kaafra had another plan along with partying, and that was to learn the music of the country and grasp its essence. And that would happen. He would become mesmerized by the water. His future would be revealed near the water, but of course, there were mountains to climb and valleys of emotions to come out of. Maybe better days were ahead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524582593

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by Karl A. Francis.

ISBN:      Softcover            978-1-5245-8258-6

                eBook                 978-1-5245-8259-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 02/13/2017

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Contents

Two year later…

Dedicated to my wife of forty-one blessed years

Sheila Elaine Hall-Francis

Stories of love are written everyday and

Ours is my

Favorite

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He was looking forward to going to the Caribbean island. He and his fraternity brothers had planned this trip for months. It was their last spring break together and they were going to make the best of it.

He was there to party and relax. He wanted to write a song about the culture that inspired him, the scenery that was breath taking and the atmosphere that was filled with romance. That would be his challenge and she would be the challenger. Even as she walked along the water’s edge he changed. She was to be his Achilles Heal. There, near the water.

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It was spring break on campus and seven of my fraternity brothers including myself had decided to go to Jamaica for our final fling together. Some of us had worked odd jobs to get the money and the others had regular jobs on campus. We met last evening to get the final details of our trip. We were all raring to go. Just one more semester and we would all graduate. That is, prayerfully graduate. It was now time to get this spring break rolling. Packing our clothes was the last item on our list of things to do.

Finally, morning came and the taxi, which was a van, was waiting for us downstairs. We all stayed off-campus in the same apartment complex. After knocking on a few doors letting them know the taxi was there, we all met at the taxi and loaded our luggage. We piled into the taxi with our carryon bags and were ready to head on to the airport. The driver started the van and pulled off with a jerking motion as though the van was going to have some mechanical problems. The only thing I could think of at that time was that we had no time for any delays and certainly no mechanical problems. The airport was only thirty-five miles away and we were on a tight schedule as far as I was concerned. All in all, with the not too long of a ride we made it to the airport without any incidents.

We paid the driver and unloaded our luggage. We proceeded to walk into the airport to check our bags. I had to turn around and check that we were all there and no one was lagging or got left behind. I snapped a couple of pictures of the guys with some very funny and excited looks on their faces. We had gone to other spring break festivals, but never out of the country and this would be a first for them, leaving the country. I had gone to Africa with the marching band two years before this outing. I knew what to expect when it came to flying. It would be a surprise to them. They didn’t know that the airline would be serving free alcoholic drinks. I really didn’t know if they would make it through the flight awake. They would definitely get their fill of whatever was to be served. We were all twenty-one, so there was no denying us the little pleasure and we were ready to party. I knew also that we had to have our travel documents ready upon landing and deplaning. I continuously checked with all of the guys to make sure that they had their documents in their possession.

The aircraft was on its approach to land in Montego Bay, Jamaica without any problem and I was delighted. It landed and we gathered our carryon bags and deplaned. There was not a jet-way leading from the aircraft to the airport interior. We stepped off the aircraft onto a stairway leading to the same ground the airplane landed on. Everyone was in a line heading to customs so their documents could be checked. With a little bit of luck we all made it through without any hitches. Just beyond customs were some young ladies handing out drinks. It seems to be a custom of welcoming you to the island. After receiving my drink I took a sip and the rum came roaring through the punch. I had to find out what the drink was called and if possible how it is made. So I asked.

Miss, what is this called?

It is called Rum Punch, she replied.

Thank you.

I could really get use to this drink and the sound of her voice. She had a soft British accent. I had overheard some locals and was trying to understand them, but to no avail. They talked too fast. My curiosity had gotten the best of me and I decided to ask someone about the language. I was told that the dialect was called Patoi. Very interesting and sounds good. I liked it.

Finally, we had all collected our luggage and began looking for the transportation to the resort where we would be staying. We saw this guy waving a sign with our fraternity name on it and we walked over to him. After a few questions for identity purposes the driver told us to place our bags at the rear of small bus and hop aboard. He remained at the back of the bus and loaded our luggage. After he closed the back door, he got in, welcomed us and we were on our way. He played the radio at a moderate volume and the music sounded good. It was reggae and from what I had heard of reggae this was a really raw version of that type music. It seemed to be harder in diction and not the smooth bouncy stuff I was use too. It was harder for me to understand.

After about and hour’s drive we pulled into the resort. The gates opened automatically and we casually drove up to the registration office. As we pulled in the driver advised us just to get out and check in at the front desk. He assured us that our luggage delivered directly to the rooms. A good thing that all the bags had luggage tags with our names. These guys weren’t use to this and started saying that they were getting first class service. They were enjoying it so far and so was I.

He stopped the bus and we got off and walked over to the front desk. The receptionist checked us in and advised us that our luggage would be up shortly. They had placed us together in an eight bedroom villa with an ocean view. French doors with flowing sheer curtains opened to a private pool in what I would call our back yard. Thirty yards away was the beach and there were others there relaxing and having fun. Of course we all wondered what was going on and were eager to get out there.

I had wandered back inside with amazement.

Hey Keith, come and take a look.

Keith and I were really close. We had gone from elementary school to college together. We had always been the best of friends and now fraternity brothers on the spring break of our lives.

There’s a wet bar and it’s stocked! Can you believe this?

Keith looked in total amazement also.

Kaafra, what can I say? You picked the right place. On the other hand it looks like a pretty good party going down on the beach and the other brothers and I are ready to get our party on.

That sounds great Keith, I said.

Keith stepped away for a moment to check on the other brothers. He came back a bit excited.

Man those guys are gone, he said with a jolly laughter in his voice.

I turned my back for a moment while lifting my bag and Keith was gone also. A knock came from the door and Charles walked in. He hadn’t gone with the others.

Are you ready to go down to the beach Kaafra? he said with excitement in his voice also.

I’m trying to get ready Charles. The others have gone to the beach already while Keith and I were talking. Just let me get ___.

I turned around and Charles was gone also.

I stood there wondering. Why was everyone leaving my presence so quickly? I took a shower before we left. Oh well, maybe I was just slow. Besides, I wanted to get some music manuscript to write down a few ideas. I wanted to relax from the early wake up today. I didn’t sleep good last night and it was coming down on me. I really wanted to pace myself. The next few days as I thought of it were going to be busy and I wanted to have the energy to do it all.

I wanted to write about the things that were going happening on the beach. I wanted to somehow put the atmosphere to words. I could hear the music and the crowd from my room and it was exciting. Finally, I retrieved my manuscript a couple of towels and some water and was off to the beach. It was really hot and when I approached the beach I found an empty cabana and grabbed a spot under it. I needed the shade. I was no sun worshiper by any means. The guys found me and sat for a short time and drank a beer and they were off again. They decided to go check out the other areas of the resort. I stayed behind. I just wanted to rest a little longer. That didn’t bother them. And now there was one. I looked up and down the beach trying to be inspired by something. I watched the waves as they curled along the shoreline. A breeze was blowing and this was a nice time to get a power nap, but I couldn’t. The breeze was warm and it didn’t stop the sweating.

I was content to sit, look at the people and let my mind wonder. All of a sudden, I saw from a distance a young lady as she walked down the beach. She stopped and stared out onto the ocean watching the waves roll. She would occasionally look inland and seemingly nowhere intentionally. She couldn’t have noticed me sitting because she never really looked up as she walked. She mostly looked down, as though she was in thought. As I sat and stared, I noticed that something had caught her attention. There was a group of divers tumbling off the boat about a hundred yards offshore. I thought that diving may have been an interest of hers. I was beginning to admire her from afar. From time to time as she continued to walk in my direction she stopped and wondered out to sea. After a few minutes she continued her walk. I couldn’t wait for her to come closer.

Alone, I sat there in the shade of the cabana concentrating on writing the lyrics and music to a song that I had no subject. The will, desire and motivation to write were there but no inspiration. I even wondered how my fraternity brothers were getting along with there desire to party and have a good time. They wanted to experience it all. It was still the best thing that we could have done. Our biggest venture together and this time we had money.

Still I sat watching her walk down the beach in my direction. Each moment she grew closer as I had hoped she would. As she came closer I noticed the moisture on her face and such a beautiful face. I had to quickly come up with a plan to draw her nearer. I couldn’t be too forward so, when she came close I thought I would ask her if she wanted a bottle of water. She drew near and the pressure of what was about to happen had given me chills. I was never too aggressive, but I could be for what I wanted. Still she drew near than before. I bowed my head for just a moment in thinking about what I was about to do and then to my surprise.

Hi! Is this your paper? she asked. A sheet was blown away from you while you had your head down. Were your eyes closed? she asked.

Oh thank you I said. It was clumsy of me to not notice that it was taken by the wind.

I can assume that you write music? she asked. I like music. It’s such a beautiful art. It’s so expressive and so personal.

Yes I write, I answered. I’m still in school working on my degree in composing and arranging. I will be graduating this spring. Say, you look a little exhausted. Have a seat and a bottle of cold water.

She looked at me questionably and then answered, I will, thank you. I don’t make it a habit of sitting with a stranger unless there are others with me, but you look harmless enough.

Don’t worry I’m not one of your everyday felons.

I could tell that she was serious about not sitting with strangers and in a small way it made me feel a little less that just a normal. I questioned myself. Why would she have to fear me? I’ve never done anything to anyone and don’t plan on starting. Maybe I was becoming a little paranoid, but I was confident in myself and I was going to win her over, I hoped. I handed her a bottle of water paying close attention not to make hand to hand contact. I then handed her a towel just so she could wipe the perspiration on her forehead and neck. It was hot and the little breeze that was blowing at the time did not provide much comfort.

Thanks for the water and towel she said.

She began to wipe the perspiration from her forehead and neck. She was indeed beautiful. I watched her as she dabbed her face ever so gently. She noticed me watching her and smiled so sweetly, a charming little smile. After talking for a short time, I could sense that she was becoming more comfortable sitting with me the stranger. I was still amazed with her beauty. Her eyelashes and eyebrows were silky black. Her hair was thick, long and curly. Even though the wind had blown it wildly, it managed to keep its body. I wasn’t really into two-toned hair. But it fit her perfectly. Her hair was dark, dark brown and near the end (about six to seven inches long) was bronze colored. Her beautiful smooth mocha colored skin reminded me of the swirls of the warmest and smoothest caramel candy. Her bathing suit looked like it had been painted on and it looked marvelous on her statuesque frame.

My name is Kaafra, and yours?

Elizabeth she said.

She spoke her name so soft and eloquently. I also recognized that she had an accent. I couldn’t tell where she was from, but I knew that I had heard that accent before. Well, it didn’t stop me from getting more acquainted with her. I continued to talk.

Elizabeth, that’s a very nice name. Where are you from Elizabeth?

Africa. I attend school in London. Previously, I attended school in France and Germany.

That’s interesting. I’m sure you can tell that I’m American and you would be correct to think that I have not gone to school outside of the U.S. It must be interesting living and studying in other countries?

Of course I can tell that you’re American, but not that you’ve never studied or lived abroad. What brings you to this beautiful island? she asked.

I’m here on spring break from school with my fraternity brothers I replied.

Okay. So there are others with you? Where are they?

We separated upon arrival. They went one way and me the other. I wanted to relax and concentrate on writing a song. They wanted to party and see the rest of the resort. I figured that there would be time for that and here I am. What brings you here?

"I’m on holiday, like your spring break from college. I was just out for a walk and some fresh air. I wanted to do a little thinking. Something was bothering me and I just wanted to think it out. I’ve thought it through and have the solution. The walk has done me good and