True story - Michael Webb - More than a brother

The family relationship the Palmer’s family developed the Culzac family of Rose Place (Bottom Town) and the Young family of Questelles; was the same type of a relationship the Webb family of Lower Middle Street, in Kingstown, and the Palmer’s family had developed. This relationship developed into an unbreakable bound, to the point where people mix up who we were.

I am often called Young and Culzac, and some people, not knowing my name, called me Mallo brother; thinking that Malcolm and Michael Webb are my brothers. I do not know how the Palmer's and the Webb’s developed such a close relationship; however, I knew that the husbands had some unique things in common. Both James Webb and My father Hamilton Palmer were small business men. Both men operated shop in Kingstown; they were also both members of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.

These qualities were not unique, for most of the Business men in the era were Lodge Men. But there were something else in my opinion that brought these two families together, which was primarily responsible for the development of a mutual love and respect that developed between the children of these two couples that is still alive many years after their parents passed on to the great beyond. A bond that sees my sister Chriscita and Vendy Webb still spending hours on the phone in New York City, speaking only God and them know what. A bound that see Mikey and Mallo had with my brother Albert and Val and a bond that still exist today with my sisters. Both the Webb Brother still go to the assistance of my sister Clare upon request, or even going by to see if she wants a ride to church etc.

The thing that was responsible for fostering the unbreakable bound between the two families that still exist today, was a decision that was taken by the matriarchs of the two families: Elaine Webb or sister Webb was what all of the Palmer's childrens call her and Verina Palmer. I do not know, what moved the women to make the decision they made and where they get the strength to take the steps they took, but it was a bold move by both women in that era

I don’t know when and who acted first or if they were friends when they acted. However, both women became converted to Christianity, but not just any Christian, they became Seventh Day Adventist Christian. For the wives of two active member of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, this was a travesty. The decision of their wives angered both James and Hamilton and they did all in their power, from gentle persuasion to shouting to have their wives abandon their little game; but they did not. However after many years My father Hamilton quietly give up the Lodge and James Webb later became a Seventh Day Adventist; James Webb even became an elected official administering the affairs of the church.    

Of all the people I knew, Sister Webb was one of the few person my father handled with kitten gloves, He was always genuinely delighted to see Sister Webb, who will often pass by on her way to and from her business in that area. When she pass by she will always say hello to My Father. He never invited Mrs Webb into his shop, in the same way, in later days, my my mother was not allowed in the shop. This was so because my father believed, a lady must never be seen in a liquor (Rum) shop. However he will always asked Mrs. Webb, you are not going up stairs to say hi to Mrs P; very often, she will, and then he will ensure that the ladies had refreshment that is befitting of ladies. 

likewise, James Webb was always happy to see my mother, especially on Saturday when we were walking home from church. He will insist that we come into his shop, (Mr. Webb never sold alcohol) which was located on Back Street where the Gibson Building Supplies is currently located sit down and take a rest on our journey home.  Mother will be given a malt to refresh herself as we rested, the children will be given a School Boy Beer, even against my mother's express wishes. Mr. Webb will quickly open the drinks and then he will say, I already open them don’t let them waste. Sister Webb and my mother spent hours together talking about many thing and in bible study.

Then my mother took ill and after a battle she succumbed to her illness, leaving seven children behind, Andrea and Myself were the youngest Andrea was 9 years old and I had just turn Seven years old. Sister Webb fit in the void the best that she could, with three young kids of her own. There was one thing I always knew is; I had a place to go to, a shoulder to cry on, a listening ears to hear my complaint and a wealth of Godly wisdom to source from in Mother Webb. 

At that age, I was not comfortable visiting The Webb’s home without my mother, so in the early stages after Mother’s death, I did not visit her home, however, I sat with Sister Webb and her family in church, it was a requirement; SIster Webb insisted on it. In my mid teens, I felt the need to visit Mrs. Webb, who by this time have become Mother Webb on the regular basis, I did not know why, but I will go to her house and I will sit in her presence for hours, she kept my interest, she will teach me the bible and she will speak to me, until it was night when I will leave. One night I return home from one of my visit to Mother Webb's home, my father was waiting for me, when I got in he asked where are you coming from at this hour; I said I went to visit Sister Webb. He look at me and said; at this hour, I confidently answered yes. He looked puzzled but did not continue the conversation, because he knew that I was not one to lie to him.

If Mother Webb was tired or if she was busy she always made time for me. She never told me when to leave; I left in my own time and on my own account. I literally hijack Mrs. Webb’s time. My father, James Webb and the Webb children did not expect her to go to such means to live up to the commitment she may have made to my mother. 

On hind sight this was the time I needed my mother most, and although I did not have a mother, Mrs Webb was a mother, although she was not my mother, she was the perfect substitute and she did her best to facilitate me. I could remember, on several occasions, while I was learning from Mrs. Webb, Michael came to his mother and I was there, disappointingly he turn around and leave without what he came for, because I monopolized his mother time.

So the next time I visit, Michael was present, I asked Mikey is mother Webb at home, he said no she went out and she is not back as yet. However This happened a few time. After my visits began to get scares Mother Webb sent for me, she wanted to know why, I was not coming by any more. I told her, I came by a few times and Mikey told me that you were not at home so I left. Mother Webb was very disappointed, she said, I am always home, I don’t go anywhere except to shop for the home,  I will have to have a talk with Mikey she said. 

Mikey is one of the most loyal man you will ever meet, he is the type of man, whom anyone can depends on, he is a simple guy with very little hang ups, one who values friendship, and is willing to help and share what he has with no hope of getting anything in return. I have never seen Mikey angry.

I get the impression that I was being a bother to the Webb Family, and I was but the matriach and the patriarch of the Webb family was to kind to tell me. So I stop going by the Webb’s house. On hindsight, My visit to the Webb was really too frequent and my stay was too long; but Mother Webb was too kind to even suggest it. She also knew that I was having a difficult time, having lost my mother as such a tender age and felt some obligation to her very good friend my mother.

Then surprisingly, I saw Mikey, we exchanged the regular greetings and then he said Allan, mother was asking for you, she was wondering why you were not coming by the house any more, we chat a little and then he said, you must go an look for mother. My visits restarted however, the visit was not as frequent and the amount of time I spent was not as long, because, my needs for a mother was not as great as it was in the initial stages.

However, Mikey’s never had a negative attitude to me, but his behavior to my visit and the monopolizing his mother's time change all together, then Mikey and I began to do things together, He will let me help him fix his bicycles, I began to do a lot of things with Mikey, who later became "brother Mike". Mikey became my big brother. Even when I became an adult, and as a police officer, I will pass by the Webb shop just to hang out and chat with Mikey, I will even park the police Vehicle at the Webbs residence and both Mikey will chat, and I will respond to what ever call from the webb's shop. when Mikey was fixing the family truck, when it was a problem Mikey could not figure out, he will consult my big brother Val and or Albert both of whom loved to play around with vehicle. Mikey always had some piece of took that one of my brothers often did not have and will borrow such. I will hop on to the truck with the other guys from Devil Street when Mikey was going to purchase cooking gas for the family business.

If he saw me on the street, I will hear the long shout Allan! he will pick me up and have me tag along with him. I still do not know what Mother Webb told Mikey that cause a complete change of attitude towards my visiting her, even to the point where me monopolizing his mother’s time was not a problem to the point where he (unofficially) adopted me as his little brother.