True Story - Allan Meets the Bermuda Governor: Sir John Vereker & his wife.

I could hear some people, in their little groups, as they discuss the incident that have happened less than hour before. They asked each other questions such as; what will be the management of the Bermuda Police Service response to PC Palmer and the incident they just witnessed on the Governor's premises? While others felt the need to abreast me of the situation: "Palmer," they said "that incident is going to reach the police authorities; the Commissioner of Police is going to hear about it, and they are not going to take it lightly." This was some of the sentiments that were being expressed on our return to the Bermuda Police Training facility at Prospect, in the City of Hamilton, the Capital of Bermuda.

While others expressed the opinion that, I was in big trouble; some went as far as to suggest, they may even send you back to your country even before you get started. This was the consensus, of all who were at the scene. "I am in trouble for what?" I asked, "for doing what is right? For doing something you guys should have step up and do?" Was my reply to the rhetoric of fear that was being propagated. 

I was on the island on Bermuda for five weeks, I left my Country, family, friends, all that I know and love, as well as, my old job behind; after providing nine years of service to my community, to take up a new job in the same field. My responsibility was to uphold and enforce the laws Bermuda an overseas territory of England. I was not alone in this new adventure; there were others from different Caribbean country and England; going through a six weeks assimilation training course, were we got a theoretical understanding of the culture, the people, the different races; the criminal climate and other related issue as well as the laws we were required to enforced. 

We were into the last week of the sixth week assimilation course. The The Bermuda Fire Service had completed a plan the Governor's office commissioned the Bermuda Fire Department, to carry out a general assessment of the Government house and create a comprehensive evacuation plan of the Bermuda Governor’s mansion and office. The Government house office, is located on the same property as the Governor's residence. This was not just an ordinary plan; but it was a detail operations plan; which, the police on duty at the Governor’s mansion were required to be familiar with, and be ready to execute in the event of an emergency. 

This, plan will aid in the quick evacuation of residence and workers at the Governor’s house; and see them quickly and safely usher to a designated safe zone on the property, until the appropriate arrangement is made to take them off of the property and away from the danger. This plan was designed and was being put into place, in order to prevent and or minimize injuries and death, in the event there was a real emergency such as a fire, a violent unlawful intrusion, or a terrorist attack, etc. 

The Bermuda Fire Service has some of the best-trained personnel there is on a small island, as a matter, of fact, the Bermuda Fire personnel are well trained and are just as qualified as any firefighter you will find in the USA or Europe. The Bermuda Fire Department follows the American model of response and operations. There are qualify fire investigators within their ranks, and a range of other specialist. They also have a medic core attached to the fire Department. And are the primary medical emergency first responders on the twenty-two square-miles island. 

The Governor on the other hand, is Her Majesty the Queen of England representative on the island. He or she is always a British citizen which all Bermudian are; however, in this case, the Governor to Bermuda, is always one who was born in England. Unlike most commonwealth countries that have since stepped from under the British Monarchy, the Governor of Bermuda has real power. Although his office does not get him involved in the day to day political and economic affairs of the island, he controls and gives directive to the Police Service, the Bermuda Regiment (The Army), the Fire Department, the Auditor General, the Accountant General and all of the major institution that are in place to ensure political and administrative accountability as well as, the continued good governance of the island resources. 

The governor of Bermuda is a very powerful man, at any time, during his daily briefing, from the key institutions heads, if he gets the sense from the reports that the government is involved in major corruption, he can order and commission an investigation into the affairs of government and if in his opinion it is needed; he has the power to, upon receiving the instruction from England; dissolve the parliament, put an interim government in place, until a suitable group is constitutionally elected, to once again administer the affairs of the island. In the same way that was done in Turks and Caicos in 2009. 

Assembled at the Government house, were groups of fire fighters, police officers and Government house staff awaiting the arrival of the governor and his wife Sir John and Lady Vereker. We were all gather there for a practical briefing and presentation of the new emergency response plan to possible emergencies. As expected the Governor must be waited upon and not the other way around. The Bermuda Fire Chief was responsible for making the presentation; he was aided by two other senor ranking firefighters, who had all who contributed to the completions of this project; all using their several expertise. 

In their introduction, they clearly explained that they used a lot of scientific calculation, their experience and world trends and extensive research to completed this plan. One of the clear example they give to help us to understand what they were speaking of the spoke about the ten (10) hundred pounds’ propane tanks that is stored on the premises for domestic use. They give the scientific calculation of the force and the velocity of an object that was propelled from an explosion of one such tanks, or the tank itself as well as the damages that may occur from such object being propelled. 

While we were taking a tour of the house, Madam Vereker objected, "why do they have to go into our home and into our bedroom" she said. The Fire official patiently and professionally explained to the Governor’s wife, in the event there is an emergency a split second can make the different between life and death. If the officers know where your rooms are then they can go directly to your room, and alert you of what is happening and safely escort you away from the danger. 

It was only after some urging of the importance of the exercise that she consented to having the party of police and fire fighters into the house and up to her private quarters, not for an intrusive look but for a location identification view. Every decision the fire fighter came up with Lady Vereker shot it down like a notorious marksman on a shooting range with a loaded gun. She managed to make the hard work of the fire department useless. But what was overwhelmingly surprising, no matter how outrageous or how irrational her comments were, everyone agree with her and change their sound scientific plans to accommodate the untrained governor’s wife irrational suggestions. I was shock at the way things were proceeding. I could not believe what I was witnessing. 

There were senior members as well as some junior members of the Bermuda Fire Service present. There were also an inspector and several None Commission Officers (NCO) of the Bermuda Police Service present among the people that assembled at the Government house in Bermuda. Yet, everyone stood by helplessly, while Lady Vereker ripped the Plans of the Bermuda Fire Department apart with her forcefully objections which resulted in the Fire Personnel reluctantly changing their well thought-out and well put together plans; that was gear to saving people’s live; to accommodate the Governor's wife. Lady Vereker, slowly and intentionally decimated the esteem of the Bermuda Fire Service, objections after objections, and their plans were also decimated with their esteem and their ego. 

The continued objections resulted in the public obliteration of plans the Firefighters spent many hours, of research, the employment of skills, expertise, and experience to put together. A plan that was designed to help save life and prevent injuries in the event of an emergency. A presentation the fire personnel spent many hours preparing to make. In the process, the Governor’s wife were unknowingly, endanger her life, the life of her family, Government house staff, the police that work on the premises and were responsible for executing the plans and the life of the first responders who respond to any emergency that may occur there.

By this time, we were all out on the large grounds of the Governor’s house. There were four distinct groups congregated in the premises standing closely together in a circular position that gave each person a view of the presenters. There were the presenters who were standing with their backs to the north eastern position, there were the Governor and the Governor’s wife standing on the immidiate left of the presenters, the government house staff were on the Governor’s left, there were a small group of firefighters standing immediately opposite the presenters and to the left of the fire fighters there was a large contingent of police officers.

The Fire Personnel had a designated area on the property that was consider a safe zone in the event of a fire. The Fire Personnel explained why they selected the area, which was the lowest point on the property; and because smoke rises, this area is safe from the effects of smoke inhalation and smoke related effects on the body. It was away from the road and provided some shelter from visibility from the street; the area was also out of the reach of missiles which may resulted from an exploding propane tank, that may be propelled at high velocity from an explosion they explained. 

Lady Vereker put up her hands once again, as she has been doing although the presentation and she was acknowledged as she was several times before. Then she declared, to my disgusted surprised; “why does the safe area have to be all the way down there; why can’t it be over there.” She pointed to a spot on the property that was not too far from the building that housed the Governor’s home and office, a place that was within the drop zone of missiles that was launched by the explosions and was in the line of smoke for the area was on the same level of the house and the strong wind that come up from the sea. 

One would have thought that the Governor’s wife was not listening to what the presenters was saying. It was clear that the area that the Governor’s wife was suggesting, without considering the danger that her suggested location posed; they were just about to change the safe zone to once again appease the Governor’s wife, ignoring the potential dangers of their decisions they were about to make and have made since the presentation begin. 

I put up my hand and waved it so it will not be overlooked, when the presenter acknowledged my hand, I said I do not have a question about the presentation because the information is clear, however, I will like to address Lady Vereker, I said Lady Vereker, you have got to understand, that the member of the Bermuda Fire Department are trained men in their field, they clearly said that they used, their training in the several related field, they did research, and they used their experience in coming up with a scientific report and everything in their report and presentation was are based on sound scientific calculation. 

You are not a trained person in any of the sciences, be it fire technology or the science of explosion or any of its related field;" I continued, "when you object to the firefighters recommendations, which is based on sound, practical and scientific calculations, what you are actually doing is, endangering your live, the life of your family, the life of Government house staff; the life of the police who work on the premises, who are expected to execute the altered plan and the life’s of the other emergency workers who will attend any emergency. You have to allow the train professionals to do their jobs to the best of your ability.” Then I respectfully said that is all I wanted to say.” 

By the time I was finished speaking, I did not realize a hurricane blue over the Governor’s property. When I looked around, I realized that everyone had moved from around me. I was left standing with one other person; A St. Lucian police officer by the name of PC Peter Charlemagne, who is currently and inspector of police in the Bermuda Police Service.

Charlemagne was a young man who have served the people of St. Lucia for 10 years in the capacity of a police officer before taking up his new post in Bermuda with the Bermuda Police Service. At the tine of the event Peter had been serving in Bermuda as a police officer for about two years before I arrived to Bermuda. He refused to move and stood with me, because in his words, you were not saying anything wrong, you were not rude in you speech and what you said made sense. I got the impression, I beat Charlemagne to making the same remarks. 

Contrary to what most of the people who were present thought and expressed, nothing came out of the harmless incident, I was never asked about it, I never spoke about it. This incident made the authorities took me serious and therefore, it gave me some leverage; when I discovered that the white police officers were treated differently from the black police officers. One day I brought up my observation of the racial disparity with regard to the treatments of the white police officer who came from England and the Black police officers who came from the West Indies. As a result, I informed my supervisor that I expected to be treated as if I am white and I will not accept anything less. As a result, I was treated with the utmost respect by all from the junior as well as senior staff of all rank. 

The incident that occurred at the Government House, was kept alive within the Bermuda Police Service and within Bermuda by a Dominican Senior Police Constable by the name of: Kenrick Shillingford. Kenrick was the permanently assigned to duties at the Governor’s house, because of an injury he sustained. It was my good friend Mr. Shillingford’s self-appointed responsibility to jokingly remind me of that incident everywhere he saw me.

It could be on the job, when we were out on work social, at visit to his home or on the streets. It matters not where Kenrick sees me, he automatically sticks his hands into the air, then he will recite my little speech verbatim, in a distorted voice that mimics the way I speaks. Kenrick had a hell of a time sharing this story with his friend and family especially when I was around and he will literally die with laughter each time he share it. You would have though Kenrick have just heard this for the very first time. 

True Story: Teacher Lewis - A tyrant or a man who care?

I was a normal seven years old, and to my mother’s satisfaction I was progressing well in School. I was just promoted to Infant 2, when my world came into contact with the pendulum of life. The momentum of the pendulum, although only slightly tipping my world, was great enough to send my world into an uncontrolled spin, causing it to settle upside-down. Even at that age, many of the things I took for granted, had drastically changed.

My mother took the time to prepare me mentally to deal with the physical aspect of her death. As a result, when everyone in my family was all broken up, searching for answers and means of dealing with my mother’s death; I had a very interesting prospective of mother’s death. My attitude, my reply to question about mother’s death, even my conduct at the funeral, was not in keeping with the solemnity that was expected and associated with death.

I was very casual and although my behavior and answers to questions met the common but unpracticed beliefs about what death is, and the manner family and friends should behaved at the death of a love one; everyone, though I did not understand what had happened. I could hear family members, family friends and other members of the community saying, poor child he just don’t understand. Interestingly, Mother told me to expect everyone to say the things that was being said; so I was fine with their remarks, which I ignored.

Of course, I understood what death was, I understood that it was the last time I will ever see my mother as I knew her, I understood that she will be buried and the decomposition process. My mother took the time to put death; especially her death into prospective for me. Of all of her children, I was the youngest; therefore, knowing she was going to die, she was most worried about me, and daily; Mother took the time to prepare me for her death.

She know that as a child, I was an idealist, I was also too trusting, and she knew that I may not be able to deal with her death and therefore spent a lot of time to shape my perception of death especially her death.

Although my mother’s efforts was instrumental in making sure I was prepared to deal with her death and understood what death was, She could not see far enough into the future, and therefore was unable to adequately prepare me, to deal with life without her presence. Although I was prepared to and was able to deal with the physical aspects of death, and all of the things that was expected when one die; it was her absence that really toppled my world.

Some of the singes that made it evident that something was wrong, and therefore alerted my family that something was desperately wrong was; I no longer enjoyed and no longer wanted to go to church, I did everything in my power to avoid going to church. It took a while but very soon it became a full time job to get me to go to church. I did not hate Jesus of his father; however, going to church was no longer fun. The second thing was, my schooling suffered, I slid to the bottom of the class.

I fell into a daze, and I just could not get out of it. Everything fell apart and they all lost its value. I no longer knew why I was doing all the things that I was required to do and I did not see why I should do them. Before that, I did them because it was fun, I was contented, I had a child's perfect world my mother and my father, big brothers and big sisters and being the last one I was the center of all their attention and affection. But then, the prolong absence of my mother changed it all. I did not knew what it was like to miss someone; So when I was asked, I always replied no. However, I fell down in every aspect of my life; my ability to read declined; and my attention span also declined; as well as my ability to interact with others.

My family, with their limited knowledge of what was happening to me, took every step to see if they could help me. There effort ranged from the purchase of things, a child my age may want, they also thought there was a problem with the school, so I change school, It was also suggested and I was taken to the eye specialist, to have my eyes examine. It was thought, I may have had a problem with my vision, which a glasses may correct, and therefore help me overcome my reading obstacle.

They did not want to take any chances; Dr. Cyrus had opened his hospital, In St. Vincent and the Grenadines and to the locals Dr. Cyrus was the best at everything. According to my family, if there is anything wrong, the only person who could figure it out and deal with it, was Dr. Cyrus and he was also an eye specialist (etymologist).

Keeping the appointment to see the preeminent doctor; My sister explained what was wrong, then Dr. Cyrus examined my eyes, he discovered, that one of my eye was 20-20 vision and he discovered that the other eye had extremely good vision which may be better than 20-10 vision, unfortunately the standard chart was limited to the examining up to 20-10 vision. The difference in the vision in his eyes, should not affect his ability to read he declare. This declaration put us back to square one. There was no solution to my academic problems.

It was suggested to my father that I may have some form of retardation, but he was not hearing it. I was now enrolled in the Kingstown Preparatory (Prep) School, and all I wanted was to be left alone. A good day at school was; when I was not required to participate publicly in the class. I developed a system that saw me barely passing on the final exams and ensure that I moved from grade to grade as was required. I developed a good memory, and I remembered most of what was said in the class along with paying attention and remembering the answers to the questions I got wrong in the test. As a result, when it was most important, I managed to pass the promotion exams.

I refrained from voluntarily answering questions that was asked in the class, even those questions I knew the answer to. This was my way not to bring any unwanted attention to myself in the class; as a result, most of the teacher though that I my presence was just a waste of space, and they ignored me, which was what I wanted.

One day, the class teacher while teaching science, asked a question, no one that she asked to answer the question knew the answer. Then she began to call upon the more brighter of the students; after exhausting all her options, she got angry and began to lament, I am wasting my time in this class; she began to speak of what she was going to do. If she was going to do as she say, that mean, I will be required to participate. I could not have that. I put up my hands. And she said in an angry tone. Palmer what do you want?

I said I want to answer the question; the teacher sulked; tensing her face and sucking back her lips, while rolling her eyes, as if to say, yeah right! If the others cannot answer the question how can you. However, in disgust and expecting some foolish answer; she said what is the answer. After I answer the question she looked at me with a strange look on her face. I did not know what to make of her facial expression; then she exclaimed that is the correct answer; she still had that funny look on her face; she was not please with the occurrence.

When she rarely realized what have happened she asked, Palmer how do you knew the answer to a question that no one else in the class knew the answer? I answered: I don’t know I just know the answer. The teacher immediately left the class and return to the staff-room and she did not return to the class until after the lunch period. We had about two hours of free time, everyone was happy just for the opportunity to do nothing but to talk; we even switch seats because we were totally unsupervised. Some of my classmates said Palmer you must answer more question and we will get more free time.

I was due to write the national Common Entrance exams in 1979, but I did not get the opportunity to write the secondary school placement exam. This was so, because my father saw it fit to send my sister and I to Trinidad and Tobago to escape the danger of the erupting La Soufriere volcano. Three months later, when my sister Andrea and I return to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Common Entrance exam; the exams that determined if a child was going to a secondary school or not was done and all the children knew which school they were going to attend. There were a few schools that had an entrance exam, like the Emanuel High Schools Kingstown and Mesopotamia as well as the Intermediate High School also knows as Timmy School.

By this time, all of the school with entrance exams had already held their entrance test and already made their selection. By big brother Albert who was a pass student of the Intermediate High School and who was a teacher and who knew the value of an education went and spoke to Mr. Timmy Richards; after whom the community called the school. He explained the circumstances of my situation and one teacher to another asked if he can make an exception and allow me to take the test even if the time has pass. Mr. Richards decided to do my brother whom he had taught and who was a model student in his school a favor.

My academics did not improve, not even my brother Albert who had developed a reputation in reaching hard to reach children was able to reach and help me. However, by this time, I have stop reading except for the fact, my father said he was unable to find his glasses, and therefore needed me to read various things to him. On Friday however, I had a paid assignment. I was required to read the weekly newspaper to him; after which, he paid me twenty five cent or more depending.

Daddy knew of my reading problem and was trying to get me into the habit of reading, I will mumble over the words as he sat there listening to me bumping into invisible obstacles. After which he will give me twenty. However, in High School, I still used the system I developed and used in primary school; the system that helped me to pass just when it meant the most; at final exams; which resulted in promotions. I just barely managed not to be thrown out of school.

Apart from all of my academic difficulties, I had some bright spots. There was a shapely teacher by the name of Mrs. Williams who got my attention. Mr. Williams was a science teacher; I always did well in her class. And then there was Ms. Kirby, the daughter of the well-known Pharmacist Kirby who operated a pharmacy in the capital city of Kingstown. At that stage of my life, this young women who was responsible for preparing me academically was the most beautiful woman I have every laid eye on.

The first time I lay my eyes on Ms. Kirby, she was a student, fresh out of Girls High School, a teacher with the responsibility for teaching the business subject commerce. I have never seen this lady before she came to teach at the school and immediately; I fell in love. There was no way I was ever going to fail the subject she was responsible for providing instructions. I can still hear Ms. Kirby’s melodious voice, explaining the then complex law of Diminishing Returns. She only had to say it once and I got the concept. I only understood the concept because it was coming from the most beautiful woman God had created.

All this time, I was trying to drop out of school, but My Sister Clare was not having it. She had invested lots of money and time in my life since my mother died. And she wanted the best for me and in her opinion there is nothing like an education. She insisted that I go to school and out of respect for her and all that she had done for me I reluctantly complied. She knew better and she used rational in keeping me in school.

One day during assemble, Mr. Richards the principal of the Intermediate High school had and made a big announcement. Like a professional sport team owner today, he made a big acquisition. He managed to lure a prominent, experience English teacher by the name of Mr. Lewis to join his staff. He said, Mr. Lewis was at home doing nothing all that talent was just being wasted.

Mr. Lewis was the type of the teacher who held his students responsible and accountable. He wanted maximum participation from each student and expects to see results; some type of improvement from every student. I was in big trouble, this was the type of teacher I spend my whole life resenting. In the pass, I burn the other teacher out and after a while, they just ignored me. Mr. Lewis was relentless in his pursuit to get me involved, he held me accountable and responsible for assignments and my academic development. There was never a day, I did not have an encounter with Mr. Lewis.

I did not do homework when it was given, I did not revised for test, and I did not take anything that was taught in the class serious, unless it was being taught by Mrs. Williams or Ms. Kirby. After Mr. Lewis started becoming overbearing, I took some time and I did my homework. Mr. Lewis made a big deal in front of the class. He said class Palmer actually did his homework assignment. Then he said to me: "Palmer; you see what you can do when you apply yourself." He continue: "you can actually do the work but for some reason you do not apply yourself.

It was not too long that I went back to my old ways; however, Mr. Lewis was not taking my in activity lying down. I just could not see what Mr. Lewis was making this big a problem of. No one else has ever made all this fuss before. I thing this man just don’t like me, I concluded. Each day I had to mentally prepare to deal with Mr. Lewis. Mr. Lewis needed to know, we were making an academic effort, even when we were not in school and homework was his evidence of that. Every day it was a constant battle between Mr. Lewis and I. Mr. Lewis tried everything in his power in order to get me to apply myself academically, but nothing he tried worked.

In his never ending battle to get student participation in the class, Mr. Lewis said: "from today, I whenever we are reviewing a story, I am going to have everyone reading out loud. I said to myself, this man is really out to get me. I have not yet overcome my vision problem and therefore did not read much; I was an extremely poor reader. The next day Mr. Lewis began his new student participation exercise. I was happy, because he started at the back; I prayed that by the time he reached to me, the time that was allotted for the class period would have ran out. And everything was going good. There were people with different level of reading skills, in the class.

Then it came to my turn, I became nervous, my palm sweat as I began, I began to chew up the over words, as stumble through the selected passage of literature. At the end, Mr. Lewis said, in a serious authoritative tone “Do you call that reading? How did you make it this far in school reading like that? I have a nine year old son at home, who reads much better than you!" I was totally embarrassed, but I played it off, after all, it was not the first time I have heard those sentiments.

I became fascinated by my sister Andrea's newly developed penmanship, and she took the time to teach me how to improve my hand writing. She said, it will not happen over knight, it takes time, but after a while, it will come natural. Each day I practiced with the objective of improving my penmanship. One of Andrea's instructions was simple, she advised me to get a book and start writing the words; she further said, I had to take my time writing the words exactly as they appear in the book. I wanted to improve my hand writing, as a result, I follow her instructions. Before I knew it, I had a beautiful hand writing. When I write all of the letters were all the same size, they were well formed and they had fancy hooks and curves.

There was also an added perk; without realizing it, by copying large volumes of words from different books, I began to relearn a skill I did naturally before my mother’s death; a skill that the average person never had to worry about. I began to retrain my eyes to focus in harmony on organized words. My father was the first to notice there was a change in my reading. He said “your reading is improving,” I did not even notice that I was reading better even though the focus problem persisted, I began to get some level of control over reconciling both eyes to the task of reading.

By this time, I have left school after a serious conversation with My sister Clare, promising her that I will continue my secondary schooling by going to evening classed. Clare reluctantly said, I cannot give you permission to drop out of school, if you choose to stop going to school that have to be your decision and it will be your lost.

I had stopped reading the newspaper for my father and he stopped asking me to. He found his glasses which he claimed, was lost and he began to read the paper for himself, as he did before the mysterious disappearance of his reading glasses. I will volunteer to read the paper for my father when I wanted something from him.

One Friday afternoon, while I was reading the weekend Newspaper to my father, I saw a well written letter to the editor, at the bottom to the letter the name Aubrey Burgin appeared as the writer. I knew this fellow; I said to myself, we are friend and my sister Andrea was dating his brother Elliot. I did not know regular people can write in the newspaper. I always had an opinion and I wanted to be heard. So I took my time and I penned a letter to the editor of the Vincentian Newspaper Ms. Nora Peacock. At that time, The Vincentian newspaper was the more popular of the two newspapers on the island; the other one being the Star Newspaper.

I was all excited when I saw my letter appeared in the Vincentian Newspaper, I did not have to tell anyone about my accomplishment, for it seems that everyone saw it. At that time reading was the most fashionable form of entertainment and the newspaper was read by everyone. Back then, one newspaper moved from house to house in the same way Santa Clause was believed to have done, each year on the night before Christmas.

About a year or so after leaving school, I return to the Intermediate High School for proof that I attended the school; and evidence that I had attained form four. I need this in order to gain employment with the vector control unit. I did not care to see any of the teachers, except for Ms. Richards who was always respectful and kind to all of the students. I certainly did not want to see Mr. Lewis and I was sure that he did not want to see me either; was I wrong.

I was waiting in the small corridor outside, Mr. Richard’s office, which was also the main entrance into the staff room. While I was in the corridor waiting, I saw Mr. Lewis sitting at his desk, reading as usual, or maybe he was devising some way of making some helpless student life a living hell. My efforts to remain conceal from Mr. Lewis failed, when he heard my voice speaking to someone in the corridor, where I was standing with some students who were defaulters and were probably awaiting Mr. Richards attention; most likely they were to be flogged. Mr. Lewis quickly lifted up his head, taking his attention from that which he was so keenly focused upon, and then he laid eyes on me. He focused, to ensure he was seeing correctly; after which, a big commotion erupted in the staff-room.

Mr. Lewis got up from where he was comfortably seated at his desk and he began to shout at the top of his voice “there he is, there he is” he said. I began to look around to see who he was speaking to, by this time the students recognizing that Mr. Lewis was speaking to me, they all shifted away from me, not wanting to be implicated in whatever I have gotten myself into. I said to myself, Lord have Mercy! I have left this school more than a year ago, and he is still having problems with me; I searched my mind to see how I could have offended this man in the pass year of so; but I could not find an incident that could have provoked his anger.

Mr. Lewis quickly grabbed a fold up piece of paper from his desk and began to wave the piece of raggedy paper in the air somewhat over his head in his left hand; as if to be directing the attention of everyone to that which he was holding in his hand; while he shouted at me. His tone was not one of anger; but more one of frustration. I looked at Mr. Lewis as he made his way nearer to where I was standing, still waving the paper around and still shouting the same three words. I whispered to the students who were now looking at me strangely and with some measure of relief that they were not the center of this kind of attention. “I hope he realized that I am no longer a student here.”

By this time, Mr. Lewis had the attention of the entire staff-room; he also had the attention of the defaulters who were awaiting their flogging; as well as, those students who were in the yard. He walked down aisle of the staff room as the other members of the staff that occupied the teacher office with him followed his movements with their eyes, while others turn in their chair following his movement along the narrow aisle of the staff-room curious as to what the whole commotion was about. When Mr. Lewis got about three quarters away down the passage way to one of the teachers who knew me, he stood up at her desk and violently slammed the fold up piece of what appeared to be a newspaper, which was neatly fold to a particular area onto her desk and declared. There he is, I knew this child is a brilliant child, I knew he had it in him to produced good work, I tried all I could to get this guy to apply himself and he never made an effort while he was a student here.

Take a look at this, he said pausing only to take a breath of air before he continued, he is now writing in the newspapers. Look at the quality of his writing, I knew he had it in him but I just could not get through to him. He look at me he said it is a good article and he encourage me to continue to write, then he retraced his steps back to where he was sitting, and went back to what he was doing; leaving the shabby newspaper on the desk before the teacher who then took up the shabby newspaper and began to read the article. I watch her as she raising her brow with surprise as she read.

I felt good to be recognized and to be complemented by Mr. Lewis. All this time, I thought Mr. Lewis hated me; however, he recognized the abilities I had and he tried to get me to apply myself, so I could have develop that which I did not know I possessed.

Today I have encountered another Mr. Lewis on Facebook. When he read my post, articles and he sees some common error, he will shoot me an inbox, "Palmer pay attention to your writing you may lose the meaning of the thought you are conveying." He will direct my attention to the error, which I will correct. I take this time to publicly say thanks to My Regimental Sergeant Major in the cadet force: Dr. Alwayn Leacock. As simple and as infrequent as Dr. Leacock took the time to hold me grammatically accountable, I have used his actions, to developed an accountability on my own; and in the process I recently developed a love and an appreciation for a practice I once hated: that is the practice of consistently reading over my writing until I am totally satisfied with the end product.

Previously; I only took the time to read over random paragraphs, and edit the particular paragraph. In my lazy mind the odds were with me but they were against me. For I learn that there is only one way to edit or to proof read writing and that is to take it line by line and when you are finished do it again and again. As a result, I can see my writing is getting better every day but I have a long way to go.

ASoccer Drama - Ali Monroe Vs. Raymond Ballantyne A test of Power and Courage.

The greatest unexpected encounter that took place in St. Vincent and the Grenadines football history was between Ali "Bice" Monroe at the time one of the national goalkeepers. Ali was a tall well-built young man that played the goalie position, for a young upstart team of skilled dreadlocks players called Superstars.

Superstars were a top, first division team, on the island. On the other side there was Raymond "Ballie" Ballantyne. Ballie was a short fair skinned young man, from the popular sporting family the Ballantynes. He also played on the St. Vincent and the Grenadines national football team and was a key player in the famous 1979 Soccer squad.

Raymond had a pair of big, well-developed thighs, which were pack with power. Bally was capable of taking a spot kick, from the penalty spot, and send that ball flying into the penalty area on the other side of the football field; Raymond was a powerful freak of nature. He played the full-stopper (defender) position on the national team and for the first division team Frenches, which he also led.

A week before; Frenches played one of the bottom teams, for which a young Mouth-Champ, called Maurice was the Goalkeeper. Raymond Ballantyne, the full stopper broke through the team's defense; which left an encounter with him and Maurice.

Maurice, understood the type of Striking power Raymond possessed and did not want none of it. Instead of defending his goal, as is his responsibility; Maurice ran out of the goal and left, the gold to Raymond. Raymond had the opportunity, to just place the ball gently into the empty net, but instead; he struck that soccer ball so hard, it broke the net and went flying into the foreground, in front of the Player provilian at the Victoria Park in Kingstown.

When Raymond, Kicked that ball with such velocity, it was a part of his strategy. Bally was a player, who knew and understood his strength, he wanted the big name goalkeepers to know, I am the monster that goes roar in the night when you sleep. You truly don't want none of this.

Alwyn "Ali" Monroe was in the Western Stand where the soccer fans from Bottom Town congregated, when at a soccer match. Ali being a season and well rounded National Goal keeper, began to tell us what Maurice's mistakes were. Ali said if I was in that position I will not run. I will face Bally and eat the shot. I did not know what Ali meant when he said I will eat the shot.

Ali's utterance, was mighty big talk from a man sitting in the stand. In my mind I said Ali I love you and you are my favorite in a lot of things, but you were not in Maurice's position, you did not have to contend with the power of Raymond Ballantyne; with no defenders to help you. I did not want to believe Ali would have ran from Raymond as Maurice did, but as the old saying goes it is who in the kitchen, that feels the heat; and clearly Maurice did not want to feel the heat.

It was two or so weeks later, a Sunday afternoon; Victoria Park was packed to capacity with soccer fans from all over the country. All of the hardcore soccer fans came out to watch. Two football titans Superstars vs. Frenches was about to clashed. At this stage of the game, Superstars were defending the north goal, while Frenches had responsibility for defending the southern goal. In the same way it was when Maurice, forgot he was in a soccer match but took part in a one hundred Meters dash.

Super Stars was a different caliber team, then the one Maurice played for. I cannot remember the circumstances that lead to the particular play, that give birth to the memorable event that had stuck with me, all of my life; however, Bally caught the Superstars defenders napping, in Frenches half of the field and he broke through their defense.

It was happening again, it was the Maurice Saga happening all over again, however, there was only one difference. Maurice was not in the goal this time it was a Ali Monroe. Ali knew exactly what to do when Maurice became afraid and ran from the power of Raymond Ballentyne.

Raymond got the ball at the half line; there was no Stars defender in sight. It was Ballie in full control of the ball, moving at full speed ahead, Ali still in the goal, desperately shouting orders trying to get help from his defenders, but they were too far away from the play to slow down or to provide any type of interception to Raymond steady advances; Ali was on his own.

By this time the entire stadium was on its feet, you could felt the tension of the superstars fans, as their hopes of a victory evaporate right before their eyes. Some hopelessly put their hands on their heads; as their facial expression melted from optimism and disappear into disappointment; while others bit their lips hoping, what they were looking at was not happening; while still others stood, with open mouth, slightly bend at the knees, with hands in the goalkeepers defensive position trying to miraculously will Ali into some unperformed action. They all watched helplessly concerned about losing the game while others were concerned about Ali's safety.

The Frenches fans on the other hand, were in victory mode, as they jumped to their feet, in an eruption; as optimistic voices shouted deafeningly cheering Ballie on. Some overly ecstatic fans, ran along the side lines out of the view and out of the way of the officials, confident that their powerhouse Raymond Ballantine was going to leave a hole in the net that was at the back of the goal, designed to contain the ball that had made its way past the goalkeeper; or if the opposing goalie try to stop Raymond's shot, the ball will leave a hole in him.

It was not a matter of hoping, it was a matter of when he (Raymond) was going to capitalize on this opportunity to put Frenches team one goal up. In everyone's mind; it was a done deal.

Ali Monroe was like my big brother, he was always by us hanging out with my big brothers. Because of my closeness to Ali, I had a vested interest in Ali's success and his safety. I knew the danger that confronted my friend and big brother; because previous to this encounter, I have seen men on the ground rolling, whimpering and whaling in pain, like a kids, who had just received a good parental trashing; after they have had an inadvertent collision with a bull-wood (a ball kicked with tremendous power that moved with jet fast speed) from Raymond.

The raucous in the park was still momentarily, while everyone tensely awaits the outcome of this confrontation. Raymond was known for his frequent overlapping, and I have seen goalkeeper Dorian Philips comes to mind, briefly abandoned their goalkeeping responsibilities.

I have seen many Goalkeepers become so afraid when confronted by an overlapping Raymond Ballantyne, leaving the goal open for Raymond, to have his way, rather than to face the power that he possessed. You can hear the odd voice of prediction predicting he is going to run, Ali is going to run they said.

Running away from the approaching Raymond Ballantyne, out of fear of Ballantine's kicking power, would have made Ali a laughing stock and the butt of jokes for the rest of his life. There is always that one guy, who never forgets, and who thinks it is his only mission in life, to make sure you never forget a bad or negative incident that made you look weak, or stupid.

Raymond was still quickly advancing, and there were still no superstars’ defenders in sight. Just then, I saw Ali began to run out to meet the quickly advancing Raymond Ballantyne. Ali"s movements forward to meet Bally reduced the visibility and striking option to the goal that Bally had. Ali followed the same defensive technique, he spoke of when Maurice ran a few weeks earlier.

This was a move of experience; As he said a few weeks earlier; If Ali had stayed in the gold, it would have been impossible for him or any other goal keeper to stop a shot coming to the goal from the powerhouse Raymond Ballantine. Not even if that goal keeper flew, full length, out stretched in midair at the ball.

With the power Raymond Ballantyne possess; that ball would have made its way pass the goalkeeper before he could have reacted it. Ali’s decision took a way most of Raymond’s options, it also hamper Raymond ability to properly attack the goal. The added pressure also increased Raymond's chances of error and therefore, gave Ali a good opportunity to make a save if the ball was kicked. But who is going to risk injuries in confronting the power of Raymond to prevent him from scoring a goal.

By this time; Ali and Raymond were about 15 feet apart Ali had stopped his advancement, and somewhat reduce Ballies’ speed and progress. This gave the superstars defends and midfielders a little more time to get back on defense, but by this time most of Ali team mates had lose hope and had retired to the fact that there was nothing they could do. There were two guys that were making a futile but desperate effort to get back on defense.

Raymond Ballantyne realizing the quickly changing situation decided he was going to strike while the iron was hot. It was time for the show down and the two titans were just outside the 80 years box. Raymond Ballantyne struck the ball, with so much force you could hear his foot colliding with the ball. The sound was so loud, it echoing around the entire park.

One would have thought that the police were on parade and had fired a round from the old British 303 rifle. The ball was traveling at high speed, straight and at about three feet off of the ground; much like a torpedo would. Everyone including the man at the other end of the quickly moving missile knew there was no way to put hands to the quickly moving missile that may have had a nuclear warhead attached.

This was serious business and as far as I can see, Ali Monroe had but one option, that was to get out of the way of the oncoming rocket, after all it was only a game, no one was being paid if they win the match, the special efforts were not going to be rewarded, there was no victory parade for the winners, it was not even a finals or a qualifying game; and he was not going to get the key to the city for being a hero and risking injury to win the game.

This boiled down to pride, bragging rights, a compliment from some one that you may never see again; the accolade of friends nothing else. There is also a respect for the game and healthy competition.

The missile was on its way and Ali was yet to make a decision, it seems like time froze only for a moment, and when time restarted, it went into slow motions.

I was standing in the grandstand lost in the moment, when I saw Ali dropped to his knees, as if he was about to call upon God in prayer to send help or to take him out of the predicament in which he had found himself.

But now, it was much too late for praying. As soon as Ali's knees collided with the ground Ali pulled his head back and turned his face to the left, as he braced his body to observed the oncoming and expected blow, he was about to received. Like Superman Ali stopped the incoming missile with his chest saving his team, and his reputation.

The collision of the ball to Ali's chest was even louder that when Raymond foot make contact with the ball sending the ball at high-speed ahead of him. The collision of the ball onto Ali Monroe’s chest sounded like the burst of a cannon gun. This was so because the impact surface of the oncoming missile to Ali Monroe’s chest had a much greater contact surface than the surface of Ballies’ foot to the ball.

The spectators waited to see if Ali was going to fall off of his knees from the impact of the collision of the missile to his chest. But instead of falling to the ground rolling in pain, he sprang to his feet, without using his hands, now crouching and alert with both hands in front of him, in ready defensive position; Ali was immediately ready for any further attack that maybe oncoming. The ball after ricocheting off the chest of Ali went over Ballys' head and fell about 15 feet behind him. By this time the Superstars’ defenders were back in position and the game continued.

I have never seen such a drama packed minutes in any sport before that event before that time or after that event. I was blessed to have witnessed what happened when the unstoppable force meets the immovable objects.

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