Kevin "Wak" Williams
I must have been about eight years old. The Carnival season was in full swing on the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Vennor, operated a liquor and grocery shop, on Lower Bay Street and street, next to the Cable and Wireless store room.
Many of the Adults from, in and around Kingstown, who had migrated to the USA, had returned home for Carnival, and they were having fun, even before the big day. Vennor's shop was a popular hangout for many of the migrant returnees. One of the reasons for this was; most of the guys grew up in Bottom Town, or surrounding area, and or played soccer together or against each other as young men. As a result they develop a lasting friendship.
When my father realized he cannot keep me under his protective arms forever, he began to encourage me to go down to the Bay, or to the playground to see what was happening there. The older boys, often encouraged me to join in a game of soccer with then. Happy that I found acceptance, they used it as an opportunity to try to injure me. On many occasions, I left the playground crying, because I was intentionally bad played so viciously, I suffer sprained ankles, or some other injury that needed me to wear a bandage and get my feet nointed (A therapeutic massage of an injured body part in order to aid healing of injuries, reset dislocated bones and restore proper blood circulation).
I was just beginning to find my way with the other neighborhood kids that were in my age group. By this time, I have discovered line fishing, how to play marbles, eating long back and some other things. However, It was a beautiful summer day, some of my friends and I gathered in the yard of the Cable and Wireless building to play a game of marbles.
Then one of the popular neighborhood guys who had returned to St. Vincent for the carnival celebrations, called all the children into Vennor's shop. We all assembled in the shop, not knowing what to expect. However, the man called each child one by one, when a child was selected, he said; "give him a malt," then he called another and then he said give him a malt. Each child was called, and a malt was ordered for that child.
All the kids were happy, we were all expected to be treated by the buyer, I did not have any reason to believe I will not be treated because the man and my father were friends, at least he is always seen chatting with my father on his way to and from his home.
Then it was four people remaining who was not offered a drink. The guy's actions were deliberate. In situations like that a guy would say Vennor's give each of the children a Ju-c and put it on my bill. Then a tally of head will be made, the number of drinks will be taken out of the fridge and given to each person.
Then the man called another child, and he said give him a malt. When each person was called and given a malt, they became elated, they were happy that they were given an adult (by virtue of the price) drink, and at least they were not the last persons to be called. You could have seen the look of disappointment began to creeped upon the faces of those of us whose names were not yet call. Then he called another person and said give him a malt. He did not called each person by his name, those whose names he knew, he called by their names; he identified others by their parent's names, while he simply pointed at others and said you come, give him a malt.
Now, I was the last one standing in the shop, at least someone has to be last. I did not know what to expect. All of my other little friend were all happily posing off with their malt in their hands, next to the counter. They were happy to be acknowledged, happy to have the pleasure of having a whole malt for themselves, and happy they were not the one that was called last. for all of us, It was Christmas comes early.
And then as if I was not there, the man said that's it! I said to myself maybe he have not seen me standing here in the shop. I stood there disappointed, not knowing what to do. I stood in my place in the shop, as I watch my friend enjoyed their tasty treat. All my friends were happy, they did not laughed at me for being left out and not given a drink. They were just happy they were not the one, who were left in that awkward position I found myself in. After my friends had completed their drink, we went out to continue the game.
Immediately after the incident someone informed my father what had happened. Later when I arrived at home, I went to my father, who was my strength and my security. Daddy was still in his shop. Daddy meant everything to me, he knew who to fix everything. When my father saw me coming, he pretended as if he did not know what had happened; then he asked me what happened? I told my father the short version of the incident as it took place. Then he asked me, how did it made you feel? On hindsight my father must have been a psychologist, because he always used all of the techniques a psychologist uses.
However, I was too immature and my vocabulary was not developed enough to give my dad a rational answer, that would have let my father know, how disappointed, ashamed and rejected that man's unkind and inconsiderate actions made me feel. Just the opportunity to talk to my father about what happened was all I needed to know that everything was going to be OK. At lease daddy knew what happened.
For another father that would have been ok, however, Hamilton Palmer wanted to make sure, I was never hurt in this way again. He did not get angry, he was calm as he began to help me over come my hurt feelings.
Then my daddy called me by a pet name he had for me; A name I cannot spell, “don't worry about that.” he said; however, it was what he said next that put the whole incident that happened earlier into prospective. "You cannot be upset with him, you see, he went to America to work, and he left his family behind, that is very difficult to do. He has to work really hard, even in the snow when it is very cold." My father established and kept eye contact with me, to ensure I was getting the concept of what he was saying.
Then daddy continued; "He has earned the right to the money he earned, and he has the right to spend his money how he feels and on whom he feels. He also earn the right to buy you a malt if he felt like it. It is clear he did not want to buy you a malt; but nothing is wrong with his actions."
Then my father continued by saying to me. "Don't expect anyone to give you anything you did not deserve or worked for." I am the only person who has to give you anything, That is because, I am your father, you are my responsibility." I have to take care of you. So when you see people spending their money or with their things; don't be jealous of them, You did not work for it. you don't know how hard they work for it. or what they do to get their money. If they did bad things to get their money; one day they will have to pay for the bad things they did. You not going to help them pay for the bad things they did, are you? he asked not expecting an answer.
Then my hero looked at me, gave me a reassuring smile, then he said to me “do you understand me? I said yes daddy and just like that the day's events was not as bad; the horrible events I experienced, took on a whole new meaning. Then he said to me; go and wash your face, hands and feet, go upstairs and have your dinner. I was good and I knew my dad had my back.
A few days later, I was at home hanging out with my father in his shop. I was trying to make myself useful, while keeping out of sight and out of the customers way. While there, I heard my father called the fellows name, I heard the man's voice answered in response to my father's called.
By this time the man had walked over to my father shop. Then I heard my father said to the fellow in a calm tone of voice, "Someone told me how you embarrassed my son the other day." Then he (daddy) related the story as the third person had told him. Then Daddy said to the man: “that would have been an embarrassing situation for anyone; especially a child. You really hurt his feelings. I am not saying you were wrong in the way you spend your money, and you don’t owe him anything, but you could at least buy him a Ju-c let him feel like he was a part of the group, helped him to fit in.
The man said he did not intended to hurt my feelings then the man and my father chatted a while longer about his return to the USA before the man continued his Journey. However, that experience stuck with me and helped to mold my character. Thanks to the best Father in the world.
On Hindsight I am happy that none of my other friends were put in that situation, it was quite embarrassing and they did not have an understanding father who knew how to make everything better by explaining things to them. That experiences and the manner in which my father dealt with it, taught me some vital lessons that have kept me out of similar situations, lessons that still helps me even today.
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