Embedded Files
Announcements, events and updates
Chapter 4
Lunch With Aunt Josie
“Marlon, this one can clean up now”, said Josie Granville as she wiped grease off her screwdriver and slid it into a leatherette case. She pointed to a bench and told Cornelia and Janvon to sit while she went to wash up. Cornelia stood with her mouth agape as she watched her Aunt stride into a changing room.
“Did you know that Aunt Josie was a mechanic?” she asked Janvon.
“Of course. She used to deal with motor cars but since jet skis became popular she switched because there is a shortage of good marine mechanics in the city.”
The two sat in silence and watched as Marlon cleaned up a jet ski with a bucket of soap and water. He was not much older than they were and rubbed the fiberglass body vigourously to remove grease smears.
“Most of the people in this city work with tourism”, Janvon said. My mother sells in the craft market downtown, my father is an artist and my uncle Roger is a taxi driver. I’ll ask my uncle if he can take us when he goes out one day.”
Cornelia had no plans of spending beyond that afternoon with Janvon, but nodded anyway.
Then Aunt Josie returned. She had taken off her work coat and heavy shoes and looked like her normal self again in sensible sandals and a floral dress with a handbag over her shoulders and a straw beret on her head. She beckoned to the children and took them outside of the workshop and across an open yard dotted with grazing goats to a jetty. There were several small craft berthed there. She pointed to a canoe with an outboard motor. Janvon stepped in and held out his hand to Cornelia.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“To have lunch Cornelia”, replied Aunt Josie, “Come on, get in.”
The girl eyed the craft faintly rocking on the still water and looked out to see a wide expanse of blue green sea beyond.
“I can’t swim,” she said.
Her Aunt’s voice was firm.
“That is OK. I have lifejackets on board. Come on, let Janvon help you.” Cornelia looked again at the water. It seemed so endlessly wide, and right below the boat it was dark. Who knew how deep it was? She stepped back and shivered. Janvon spoke gently.
“I’ll hold your hand Cornelia and the boat won’t rock too much.”
He stretched out his own hand and looked at her straight in the eyes, encouraging her not to be afraid.
She looked from him to her Aunt who seemed frustrated, took a leap of faith and grasped his waiting fingers. He held firmly on to her hand.
“Look”, he said. “Put your foot here on the seat... right. Give me your other hand, then put your other foot here in the bottom of the boat... and you’re in."
With her heart beating heavily in her chest Cornelia squealed as the boat rocked a little. Janvon rested his hands gently on her shoulders to steer her to sit down on a plank seat in the middle of the boat. She had barely recovered when there was a nearby buzzing sound, and before she knew quite what had happened, Aunt Josie had also stepped in, started the engine and they were cutting smoothly across the water. Janvon reached under a seat and took out a lifejacket then helped Cornelia to put it on. It felt awkward physically, but mentally she was relieved to wear it.
The boat chugged along the coast passing other small docks on a short journey until they pulled into another dock that seemed no different from the rest, just a berthing point for a variety of small craft. As Aunt Josie pulled alongside an open space, Janvon threw a line to aman standing on the dock who grabbed it and tied it to a post. Then when they were secure, and before Cornelia could get accustomed to the boat ride, they had alighted.
Just beyond the dock was an open sided shed that served as a little restaurant, and beside it, built around a large mango tree, was a bar. From an unseen kitchen came the smell of fresh and also cooked seafood. Aunt Josie hailed several rough looking men and found an empty table for the three of them.
“Granville, my engine finish?” said a burly man sitting at a nearby table. He had paused from eating from a huge bowl of soup with a fish tail sticking out of one side. “I mean to go sea a-morning, you know.”
She replied, “Lambert, you know how hard it is to get those hose gaskets? I warned you
against buying that engine, but you wouldn’t listen. Anyway, we should get them tomorrow so, hold strain.”
She called to another man. “Skipper Andy, how the 60 holding up?”
A slim old man in a sea captain’s hat touched his hat in respect to her. “Granville-o, it running sweet, sweet, sweet. I going to earn some money this season.”
When the waitress arrived Aunt Josie demanded to know whether the fish was fresh, then ordered fish tea and other fish dishes for her lunch party. When it came, Cornelia was amazed at the size of the red snapper that stared at her from the plate where it lay beside fresh vegetables and cassava cake called bammy. Eating fish at a restaurant beside the sea vias not something that she had done before and the breeze and view seemed to make the meal all the more delicious.
“So where did Janvon show you today Cornelia?” Aunt Josie asked as they enjoyed the aroma and with every bite, savoured and slowly ate the meal. Aunt Josie's dish was brown stewed fish and steamed bammy with an extra helping of boiled yellow yam on the side.
“Oh, we went to Sam Sharpe square and the Old Fort, then we had to come here,” she answered.
“Cornelia wanted to see the clock tower on Barnett Street so we went up there as well,” Janvon answered directly, and Cornelia tried to use the force of her emotion on the situation to compel her aunt to let the comment pass. Without looking up Aunt Josie casually continued.
“That is a famous landmark in Mo Bay, what do you know about the tower, Cornelia?”
The girl felt as if she could have kicked Janvon, and thought quickly.
“Well, it was important in the slavery struggle and so it kind of fitted in with the visit to Sam Sharpe Square, Aunt Josie.”
“Is that so?” Aunt Josie looked into her eyes. “So what did you think about the famous
monument there?”
Cornelia looked blank. What famous monument? Janvon had not mentioned any. She decided to wing it.
“It was, nice umm, interesting.”
Janvon spoke up. “What monument? I don’t know of any monument over there Miss Josie. Are you sure that you are not mixing it up with the Baptist church on Market Street. They have a tree that slaves were supposed to nave been hanged from.”
Josie delayed answering him after she confirmed to herself that Cornelia’s blank stare indicated that she did not have any idea about the history of either.
“You are right Janvon. I am mixing it up with the other one. Don’t you like bammy,
Cornelia? Eat up.”
Afterwards, Aunt Josie led them to the street gate of the restaurant where they could
take a bus back into town. Cornelia was glad because she did not know if she would have been seasick on the return journey. She reasoned to herself that despite the hitch about the history she had really not said anything for Aunt to be suspicious about, but decided to be extra careful in the future. So, contented, she relaxed on the bus ride back into the City Centre.
“Janvon, that was one of the best meals that I ever had in my life! Wow! And the sea was so beautiful. What do you do during the days?”
“Different things. Help my father with his craft or my mother on cruise ship days and sometimes I go out with my uncle.”
“Don’t you go to parties? What about friends?”
“No, not so much parties, and my friends have gone to the country for the holidays.”
“Country? But this is country!”
“No, this is our city.”
“If you say so.”
Cornelia slid down in the seat, contented and comfortable and watched the sea by the coastline sparkle in the afternoon sun as the bus took them closer to home.”
Cornelia spent all of the next day inside the house, and in the evening she was joined by her Aunt who decided to skip Bible study. After an early dinner, Aunt Josie tuned the radio to a religious station and pulled out the ironing board to press out some clothes. Cornelia had found a corner of a window curtain with a loose hem and had sat on the floor to mend it. Isaiah was lying on a rug next to her looking from his mother to his cousin.
Aunt Josie’s two-bedroom house was no bigger than Cornelia’s in Kingston, but because less people shared it, it seemed more spacious. Aunt Josie kept it as neat as a pin, shipshape you could say. Her garden was small, but the gardener came by once a week to keep the hedge and tiny lawn in order. On her small verandah there were a few pots with various broadleaf green plants. At the back of the house was another small lawn and a clothesline.Aunt also had four plastic chairs and a table there. Everything in the house had only one proper place and position. The room that they were in was for living as well as dining. There was the customary dark stained furniture: a four-seater dining table, whatnot and coffee table. Snuggled in between them was a three-piece red velveteen upholstered couch. The curtains were of white lace in a floral pattern that matched the starched white crocheted doilies that created bright accents on the dark furniture. In addition to not having a television, Aunt Josie had a basic telephone, so the only appliance in the room was a combination radio, which was in a place of prominence on the whatnot. Beside it were a leather-bound bible and a copy of the hymnal, Redemption Songs. On one wall hung a framed embroidered sampler that read, “The Lord Is My Shepherd”. On the adjoining wall was a calendar of a white, silky haired, blonde Jesus standing outside the door knocking. It reminded Cornelia that she needed to clarify something about Janvon.
“Aunt Josie, how comes you know Janvon?”
“What you mean? He used to live here for years with his father and grandfather.”
“I mean, because he is a Rasta and thing.”
“Is not the poor boy’s fault that he wears locks. His parents were Rastas, then his mother decided to come out of it. That caused them to break up, but the father kept Janvon and raised him that way.”
“So you and his father are friends?”
“All of us grew up together. Me, your mother, Devon, Roger...”
“Who are they?”
“Devon is Janvon’s father and Roger is his brother”.
“Oh yeah, Janet and Devon.”
“I don’t mix up myself with Rasta, but God gave everybody free choice and I try to respect that. I can deal with anybody once they follow certain basic morals.”
“Really Aunt Josie? But my parents don’t like me to choose who I have as friends.”
“That is because you are a child and it is their responsibility to protect you. From what they told me, you were hiding things from them, and that made them worry.”
“They wouldn’t like my friends anyway.”
“Why not?”
“Because they don’t go to our church.”
“That can’t be the only reason.”
“Yes Aunt Josie.”
“Come now Cornelia. Is there anything about these boys’ behaviour that your parents would not like?”
“Well, they smoke and drink...just a little, but I don’t.”
“Even if you don’t, it is your duty as a young lady not to be seen in a compromising situation. So if you can’t protect your reputation, they have to protect it for you. It is as simple as that.”
Cornelia said nothing, but finished hemming the curtain and neatly snapped the thread off and stuck the needle in the pincushion in Aunt’s workbox.
“Anyway Cornelia, you were asking me about Janvon.”
“I was wondering if it was OK for him to show me around.”
“I am responsible for you while you are here, child. So if you want to go anywhere you ask me first.”
“I know Aunt Josie.”
“You can never trust boys, even when they come with good recommendation, like Janvon.”
“Well, I was hoping to go into town myself tomorrow to visit the library,” Cornelia held her breath as she listened for her Aunt’s reply. Her entire stay depended on this response.
“No, not tomorrow. I want the helper to rub out some clothes so you will have to be with the baby. You can ask Janvon to go with you on Friday.”
There was finality to her voice, and Cornelia felt as if Janvon had now been put over her as an approved sentry. She resented that and started plotting her way around it. Not having a cell phone was very inconvenient as she could not plot around how to use Janvon as a cover, she had to wait until he visited again, which happened to be the following morning. Cornelia saw him through the front door and waved at him with relief. He said that he could not stay to talk for long, but they quickly arranged that they would meet at eleven o’clock the following day. She figured that would give her enough time to get to Barnett Street, establish contact with Jimmy and then get to the library on time.
On Friday, she left home shortly after the nursemaid arrived to take care of Isaiah. Cornelia remembered the walk into town and found Barnett Street without a problem. Even though there was no street sign, she remembered the high walls of the police station and the clock tower, noting with surprise that the time was correct. In the distance was the post office where they had stopped to turn back; but before that, she could see that the silver car was parked in front of the custom’s brokers and almost ran the rest of the way.
The building lobby was modern and breathtaking; the total opposite of her aunt’s house in every way. The air conditioning was refreshing from the city heat and a small water feature formed the backdrop behind the receptionist’s desk. A flat screen television was on a European football game. The receptionist herself was fully made up and welcomed Cornelia with a respectful smile. Cornelia felt happy already.
She presented herself at the receptionist’s desk.
“Hello, I am here to see Jimmy. My name is Cornelia.”
The receptionist dialed a number and spoke into the telephone.
“Hi Jimmy,. There is a young lady in the lobby, Cornelia to see you,” she nodded and invited Cornelia to have a seat.
Cornelia sat on one of the plush armchairs lobby. The wall had large framed promotional posters of freight airplanes and shipping lines. Then Jimmy came down the stairs and stood before hear with a smile. At once, she felt self-conscious about her looks and outfit; as to her he looked even more stunning. He wore a patterned silk shirt that hung outside of his blue jeans trousers and had a thick gold chain around his neck and a matching chaparetta on his right wrist. He flicked his wrist and smiled at Cornelia who instantly felt intimidated and self-conscious at what she considered to be her dowdy, childish appearance. Jimmy spoke.
“Hi, I wondered if you forgot me.”
Cornelia wondered if he was playing with her. How could she ever forget him!
“Well, I just got to know a little bit of the town. I came by the other day but I did not see your car.”
“That’s true, am out a lot. Come see my office.”
Cornelia stood up and followed him upstairs. She guessed that he was about 19, and he had an office!
“Wow.”
“You like it?”
“Jimmy, this is your office, I mean, not your father’s?”
“No, my father is abroad. Over there”, he gestured with his hand, “Is my mother’s office. She is the Managing Director and I work with her.”
Jimmy’s office overlooked the street and had one-way glass that blocked out the direct sunshine but kept the view. A huge semicircular glass-topped desk that had two telephones on it dominated the office. The usual trade posters were framed and hung on the walls as in the rest of the office. Behind the desk was a high backed swivel chair and on the other side two executive desk chairs, and in a side of the office was a sitting area with two carved armchairs and a small coffee table. Cornelia sat on one of the executive chairs, feeling the cool leather under her jean skirt.
“So what do you do?”
“Me, or the office?”
“Well, both.”
“Our office specializes in bringing in goods for hotels. I spend a lot of time down on the wharf or at the freight terminal at the airport clearing stuff, but the work comes and goes, you know. As it turns out, today is a light day, I can take you out for a drive.”
Cornelia groaned to herself.
“No, I have to meet someone in a few minutes.”
Jimmy raised his eyebrows.
“You’ve made friends already? I am jealous.”
“My aunt’s neighbour really, he is like my approved escort sort of thing.” Thinking that she might be turning Jimmy off, she quickly added.
“But I know that we can arrange something. I would really like to hang out with you, you know.”
“Well call me”.
She cringed even as she replied.
“Can’t, there is no phone at home! No land line, no cell.”
Jimmy seemed amused as he shrugged his shoulders. “Seems as if you’re under serious lock and key Baby Girl.”
Cornelia decided to take a gamble on a strategy, she stood up to go.
“I know getting to know me will be an inconvenience, so I’ll just go now.”
It worked. Jimmy stood up as well and reached across the table to hold her arm.
“Hey, hey, don’t say that. You’re a visitor to my city and I have to be a gentleman, plus, I can see that you are something special, so I can work with the situation. Listen, just leave a message for me at any time and I’ll work with the programme, OK.”
Cornelia nodded and insisted that she had to leave but would be in touch. Jimmy walked with her to the street and she quickly made her way to the library where Janvon was patiently waiting on her.
He greeted her then asked how comes she was coming from the direction that she was.
“I was early and went for a walk. Something strange about that?”
“No, I just wondered. I thought that you might like to see the duty free stores today.” Cornelia agreed and spent the next couple of hours in absolute amazement window shopping for jewellery, perfume and fine ceramics in the duty-free district. It was not a cruise ship day so the area was almost bereft of customers and Janvon allowed her to feast her eyes in contentment. Growing up in Kingston, Cornelia had visited jewellery stores before but she had never seen so much gold and precious stones in one place and deeply desired them. Bitterly, she thought that even if she had the money to spend on the smallest object, she would not be allowed to wear it.
“You really like these things huh, Cornelia,” Janvon commented after watching her ask a store clerk to take out a tennis bracelet for her to admire.
“It is so pretty. Look at how the diamonds flash in the light,” she whispered as the clerk returned it to its case behind the glass.
“Their brightness in the day does not even compare to your eyes in the evening light.”
“What?”
“I just think that you should not think that these piles of stones can even try to match your natural beauty.”
“Oh.”
Cornelia moved away from Janvon, the last thing that she needed now was to be fawned over by him. God knows that she would not be able to shake him off from her when she needed a bit of escape.
They had come out of the air-conditioned store and were standing on the piazza when Janvon suggested that they could now visit the Craft Market.
“I don’t know about that, I’m a bit tired right now Janvon, let’s get something to drink.” He agreed to this and took her to a pastry shop where they ate patties.
“My Uncle is taking some tourists out tomorrow and he asked me to come with him. I know that he won’t say no if I told him that I wanted a friend to come.”
Cornelia immediately saw an opportunity.
“You say that you will be out of town all day tomorrow?”
“Yes, we will be going to...”
“No, sorry, I want to stay in tomorrow Janvon, maybe some other time. Are you finished? Good, I want to go home now.”
As they walked back to Aunt Josie’s house, Cornelia planned to go to Barnett’s Customs’ Brokerage early. The sign on the door has said that they were open on Saturday, and even if Jimmy were not there, she would leave a note for him to meet her at the library. With Janvon safely out of the way, after going to early morning market with her Aunt the day seemed full of pleasant possibilities.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse