True Story - Budge: the wisest child, my teacher & my best-friend.

I was about 8 years old, One evening, during the after school hours, I was walking along Lower Bay Street area, in the vicinity of the Anglican Primary School, in the capital city of Kingstown, on the mainland, in my native home land: St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I looked into the gate of the Anglican school yard and I saw a few young boys, some of whom I knew, but were not friends with, playing a game of Marble Ring.

In the Anglican School yard, there was a netball court, with dilapidated net ball rings, a patch of dirt off to the north eastern side of the yard that was used as a cricket pitch. It was on the cricket pitch, the game of marbles were being played. I had a pocket full of marbles so I entered the yard and I asked if I can join the game. They were playing for teck; which is the opposite of playing for fun. When players play for fun, it means that you are competing just for the fun or enjoyment of the game, you are required to return to marbles won. On the other hand, when one play for teck, it means you keep what you win and you part with that which you lose. The word tack is the dialect for the word take.

The game was going well, until an older boy, ran into the school yard, where we were playing, grab some of the marbles out of the ring and run off with them. As a result the other members of the game rush to the ring in order to try to salvage for themselves what we could.  At the end of the scramble, An argument erupted between Budge and I over the marbles that we collected. 

Budge is the older brother of Pepper, they lived on Higginson Street or Devil Street, in Kingstown. Budge was a big boy for his age and had the strength to match his size. Budge also had a little reputation, among children our age as a strong man, no one dear to fight with Budge because of his strength. I had one little fight previously, where I got the upper hand over my opponent, as a result; I had a little reputation of my own, among my little friend. Budge lived immediately opposite the Anglican school, on the other side of the street; I on the other hand; live four city blocks away from where I was involved in an argument with Budge. Most of the other children, who were involved in the game of marbles, were children who lived in the general vicinity of the Anglican Primary School or who attend the school. In other words, I was the only outsider.

Someone came up with a bright idea, for Budge and I to fight in order to settle the argument, I did not think it was a good idea, and neither did budge. But on the other hand, each of us: Budge and I had a little reputation to uphold. So we agreed to settle the argument in a fight. Neither Budge nor I wanted to appear to be coward or afraid of the other. So we consented to fight. Both Budge and I locked up in a clinch, but we did not get anywhere, this happened a second time and we did not get anywhere.

I was willing to go a third time just so I will not appear to be afraid, It was then I heard Budge said, Allan you are strong and I am strong, let’s call this fight a draw. I quickly agree with budge, because my big Brother Nazi, who often taught me karate moves always told me, never to fight and never to use these move against anyone unless you are in danger.  Budge had another surprised for me; Budge stretched out his right hand as if to shake my hand. I took Budge’s hand and we shook and that was the beginning of a forever friendship, that extend even onto Adulthood.

A few weeks later, school were on Easter Holliday, As a result, Bread Head, (Garfield Mayers) Bangalan (Anthony Culzac) Boy-e (Wallsworth Bellgrave) Nie Blue (Nigel Sylvester), Animal (Steve Fox) and I went to catch bird over the reclamation sight. The reclamation sight project was still incomplete and some small birds that we call Garlings, and Ground Doves love the area. The unfinished project became a habitat for Garlings and Ground Dove. While we were making chaps to snag the birds, up come three older boys from Devil Street, and about six young boys our age group all of whom were from Devil Street.

The first thing came out of one of the guys mouth hay let’s play fighting. It was the first time I have ever heard of any such game. This was the way of the older guys to get we kids to fight for their own enjoyment. Among the older boys was a guy who my mother and his mother were very good friends. We often visited each other homes with our parents. This fighting game was his idea. So the older devil street boys began to pear us up to fight. They match it so the devil Street boys will have the advantage. 

The guy waned to ensure that I lose the fight, so he match me up to fight with you know who Budge. I did not want to but I was willing to fight budge to save face. Then I heard the words coming from budge mouth. He said: "Allan Never do me anything, Me and Allan are friends and I am not fighting with Allan, the bigger and instigator said to Budge, Budge don’t be afraid, you can beat him. Budge say I am not afraid, Allan never did me anything and I am not fighting him, I will fight someone else Budge continued. After a little while budge said I am going home and he walked away from the crown, in the direction of his home, Budge Say Pepper lets go home, Pepper was reluctant to go because he wanted to belong, then budge said, Pepper I am going to tell Ma-ah (Ma-ah was the name the brothers called their grand mother) you over the wharf fighting. Then Pepper followed his brother, from Budge's courage, everyone got the courage to tell the bigger guys we are not fighting. and we went back to what we were doing.

Budge and I developed a wonderful friendship over the years, when we were older and began go play soccer representing our respective school, Budge had developed a reputation as a dangerous defender, who will cut you down without hesitation. He often played with the older guys on Devil Street and held his own. I on the other hand was just an average player; nothing special; I made the School team because my school team had a reputation of always and consistently being the worst soccer team on the island. In the game of soccer I was average but being from Bottom Town on the school team I was good enough to be in the first eleven line up.

I remember, Budge and I met in a qualifier football game to advance to the quarter finals, I was playing right wing and Budge was playing full stopper. The venue was the Bishop Collage Football field; I could remember the events as if they had just happened yesterday. It was a rainy day; just the kind of pitch Budge relished and loved to play on. This means he can slide and tackle any one cutting them down, like a lumber jack chopping down trees with even greater ease.

Then I was given a pass and I broke away, coming down on the right wing with the ball, On my way to the gold, I held up my head, and guess who I saw coming at me full speed ahead? Yes you are right, it was Budge. Fighting each other was one thing, but this was soccer a different thing all together. I knew Budge was going to look for the perfect opportunity and them he is going to cut me down. If I am lucky I will leave the field with a sprain ankle. I was in danger because budge took no prisoner and he did not show any sign of easing up his pace was consistent. I was hoping by some lucky move I can get around Budge and evade his notorious tackle. I was shock when Budge forgo his vicious slide and tackle move, which he had master even at that young age and decided to defend me in the regular. Needless to say, Budge detained me until the other members of his defense came back and foil my attack. This was Budge remembering our friendship he had forged with me a few years earlier and was not going to make me look bad even on the field of competitive football.  

From that day until today, I have never forgotten the lesson My friend Budge have taught me even as a child. Budge will forever be my brother and my friend. We have had many more encounter as we grow up into teens, and adulthood. One thing we had incommon was a great respect for each other. Through it all Budge have always been one of my best friends and still remain so today.