As a young man, I met a beautiful young lady, whom, I slowly fell in love with. The more, I got to know the student nurse, the more I loved her. Although we had not discussed a relationship, of any sought, up to this point. Karen Williams-daniel, had all of the qualities, a smart and good man, wanted in a woman. And contrary to popular belief, I am a smart and good man. Proud of my ever developing friendship, with Karen, I knew one thing, I would be a fool to let Karen get away.
We spent many hours talking, and we never got tired of; at least, I never got tired of talking to Karen; when it was time to go; there was always one more thing, we forgot to say. One thing I knew was, if there was one person that had my back it was Karen. I was told, I had a good singing voice as a child. However, I had grown to hate singing. I hated singing because, my primary school principal: Mrs. Veria-Ann Brayan, heard me sing and thought, I had a sweet singing voice and she being a musician, wanted to help me developed the talent of singing. She also thought, I would be an asset as a part of the Prep School choir to represent the school at Music Festival. As she said it was an honor to represent the School.
As a result, I was forced to stay behind after school, for choir practice. I did not mind being in the choir, but to be kept back in school, long after the school day had ended, to learn a song I did not care to sing, when all of my friends were out on the Grammer School Pasture having fun; was punishment for something I did not do and I hated it. As a result and in hope that I will be kicked out of the choir, I stopped singing, as I did, at home during morning and evening devotion, and the opening and the closing of Sabbath worship. The way Mrs. Brayton wanted me to. Eventually; she replaced me in the school choir. And I was a happy child.
Karen also discovered that I had a good singing voice also, and thought that she and I could began to sing special song in church. "Allan don't tell me you cannot sing" she said. "I have heard your voice, and it is beautiful, but you have to learn how to maintain some consistency on the notes, and the pitches; a skill I had intentionally unlearn to get out of the school choir. Karen had a good voice, began to work with me to that end and we sang a few special songs in church, with Karen doing the bulk of the work.
Later, I excitedly I told My sister Clare about Karen, she said Karen is your cousin. I was devastaed, I was so upset with Clare, I told her, I think, you just go around inventing family members. I was determined to ignore Clare, and forged head first into a relationship with Karen regardless. If I was a stern Bible student at the time; I would have shut everything out and forged on, concealing it from Karen who did not know of our relations.
However, It was Valentine's day, I had not been in any meaningful relationship, for a while. My newly discovered cousin Karen Williams had just graduated from the St. Vincent and the Grenadine School of Nursing, and she was assigned at the Kingstown General Hospital. By this time, Karen, and the Primus Sister, Lafleur and Jillian Primus, who were students, at the nursing school at the same time, had developed a very good friendship. As a result, they had rented a house at Town Hill together. They did this in order to gain easy access to their place of employment. I had became good friends with Lafleur and Jillian.
Now Valentine's day was in full swing, all day on Valentine's day, you see many people, walking about the island dressed in red or red and white, a sign they were in a relationship and they had plans to celebrate with their special someone. You could see many men hurrying about the street, as they go about their business of trying to create lasting memories, carrying roses, Chocolate, etc. While some were only trying to remain in good favor with their significant other; while others were trying to ensure, their significant other was, not the one, who was forgotten by their love on the special day, lovers celebrated their love for each other.
Many couples could be seen hurrying out to lunch, trying to get to and be seated, at one of the city's Restaurants, they also had to be served a meal, participate in a romantic lunch and make it back to work within the hour that was allotted for their lunch break.
I was not planning to celebrate Valentine's day, I had just finished work, it was about 6: 30 PM. I saw couples heading to the restaurants to uphold, the romantic tradition, of expressing love in the form of eating out, as a gift to their significant other. I was taking a leisurely walk along Backstreet, on my way home.
My only plans where to; go home, get something to eat, watch TV and then go to sleep. On reaching the Junction of Paul's Avenue and Backstreet, I noticed Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) was filled with couples, celebrating Valentine's. KFC was fairly new to St. Vincent, the interior design was beautiful, and the ambiance was great, as a result; many people flocked there, for every occasion. Most just wanted to try, the fast food they had only seen in advertising, on their TV for many years and often imagine the taste, while they salivate at their TV, as the y watch a paid actors, bit into what appeared to be, the most delicious chicken on Earth.
While I was passing KFC I saw Lafleur, walked out of the fast food join, with a box of Chicken in her hands. Jokingly, I said to her. "Big Valentine's night and you alone coming out of KFC with a box of KFC. I thought you would have been on a hot date." Lafleur, laughed it off, and we had a friendly conversation; as we joked at each other's lack of love life and lack of Valentine's plans.
Then I said to my young beautiful friend, Lafleur, you are going home to eat your KFC, watch TV, then go to bed? I said, "I am going to do the same thing, the only difference is: I will not be having KFC. Hay, it's a beautiful moonlit night, you have food, what if I get a bottle of nonalcoholic wine, some snacks, we go somewhere and have our own Valentine's celebration, two friends, enjoying each other company and good conversation." Leflour said "that's not a bad Idea."
We walked to Mc Connie Yammy (Super) Supermarket, I got a bottle of nonalcoholic wine and some snacks. I passed home got a blanket. Now we were ready. The only thing was, Lafleur was very conservative, not the adventurous type like I was. Now we have to figure out the place, where we could hangout, undisturbed, while enjoy nature, enjoy the moonlight; chat and have our meal with a good friend. After a few suggestions, we settled on Fort Charlotte. At least if the gate to the fortress was closed, we could use the beautiful garden that is on the northern side of the Fort. This Garden did not need permission or special access to get into it.
We used the minivan Mad Dog whose last stop was three hundred meters, below the Fort. It was a nice easy walk up hill. This street was undisturbed by street lights. The moon lit up the dark night and the stars that lined the heavens creating a glittering canopy above. All of the stars can be seen in all of their beauty. However, tonight they have to share the night skies with the moon. The view was not just spectacular it was glorious.
On our arrival to the gate that lead into the historic fortress, was locked. However, the god of romance had smiled down upon us. The officer on duty at the Historic facility, was Arnold Monroe, a family friend, a neighbor and an all round good and decent fellow. I often go to the Fort at night and hang out with Arnold when he was on the night shift. The night shift at the Fort is a lonely and boring twelve hours shift. Arnold and the other guys who worked at Fort Charlotte, always welcomed their friends who drop by, for a chat, when they were on the night shift. This was not a security threat, so it was ok with the port authorities.
Upon calling my neighbor Arnold, he came down from the watchtower, and he let us in. I told him what we were up to and Arnold was cool with that. When I introduce Lafleur to him, I asked him, if he can tell Lafleur about the Fort and his duties at the Fort, which he did. Arnold explained, the way they communicated by the use of flags and a combination of flags.
This old tradition was useful because, the poor communication equipment they had. Lafleur was very impressed. She was impressed that I was able to get us into the Fort even after it was closed to the public. We had the whole place to ourselves. She was also impressed that she got the personalized attention of the officers on duty.
When it was time to eat, We informed officer Monroe, that we were going to the garden, to eat and he happily let us out and reminded us, don't forget to clean up after ourselves.
I was truly enjoying the night, whiles in the garden, I spread the blanket, then I invited Lafleur to sit. We opened the box of KFC, we opened the bottle of wine, and we drank wine from two plastic cup, we had begged for. Lafleur and I chat about many things while we ate. It was such a beautiful moon light, the moon lit up the night beautifully; and because there was no artificial lights in the area, except for the intermittent flashes from the signal light, which was hardly recognizable from the garden, which was on the underside of the Fort, the star were fully visible.
Lafleur was a good sport, we talk, we laughed we eat and we had good clean fun; no funny business, no hanky panky. I said to Lafleur, “I want to share something special with you. But in order for you to get the full jest of it. You have to come and sit next to me.” In that way, we will have the moon behind our back, and had a good view of the stars that were in full cluster in the North skies. Lafleur switched her position, and she came and sat next to me on the not so big blanket.
I said, “I want you to focus on the stars, while I share this poem with you. Try to visualize what I am saying in the context of the beauty that lay before you,” I said. I let my beautiful friend know, I had just finished a master piece entitled: Elope, that I had never shared with anyone. When Lafleur was all focused, I recited the three verses of my romantic poem titled: "Elope" to her. I began:
“Have you ever looked up in the skies in the night,
when the moon was not around;
And the clouds that often roams the skies,
are nowhere to be found.
The stars are in there places,
there Ray's uniquely shines,
I hope that space within your heart;
continue to be mine.
Should we Elope together;
and make the skies our home,
And join the heavenly body;
with twinkles of our own.”
When I finished the poem Lafleur was still gazing off into the skies, she gently leaned to her left, allowing her upper left arm to gently touch my right upper arm. Still gazing off into space, she let her head gentle fall upon my shoulder. Warmed by the beauty of the poem, said Allan that is so beautiful, Thanks for sharing that beautiful poem with me. I then gently, leaned my head to my right and rest the right side of my head on the top of my friend's head which was resting on my right shoulder. My way in the moment to say, thank you for listening, and for appreciating my work and thanks for consenting to spend the evening with me. Then I said to her, this is my best Valentine's ever.
Before we know it, it was time to leave. How time flies when you are having fun. When we checked the time, it was 10: 45 PM, it was time to ensure Lafleur, who had to be at work, the next day at 7: 00 AM, get home, so she can be well rested in order for her to function at an optimum level as she dispense medical care to her patients. I also had to be at work for 7:00 am the following day; although my work resposnibilities was not as serious and being a nurse. It was dangerous because I had to work with a range of high powered electrical tools. Electric plains, several types of electrical Saws, Routers, Jills, etc. and a range of sharp hand tooks as well; all of which need care and focus to avoid injuries to self and other workers.
By this time, the busses that ran the Eddingboro route were scarce, it was a beautiful moonlit night, so we decided to walk until we catch the next bus, either Fatty or Mad Dog. When the bus came, we looked at each other, then we looked up at the moon and decided; we should not waste the beautiful moon light, cooped up in a minivan with loud music we did not like.
As a result, we took our time, and had a beautiful leisurely walk to Lafleur's home at Kingstown Hill. After a brief hug, and the exchanged of thank yous; Lafleur went inside and I walked home. That was many years ago, and to date, it is still the best Valentine's day memory I have.
True Story -
No comments:
Post a Comment