True Story: Allan first brush with death

I was about three years old, a happy go Lucky child. At that stage of my life, my world was perfect. I had need for nothing more, I had two parents who loved me dearly, four sisters, and two brothers who also loved me and thought I was a cool little brother, and they treated me like such; and being the baby in the family, I was the center of the attention.

Life could not have gotten any better but it did. my cousin Merle, came to live with us. Merle was mother's sister daughter. Now there were serious competition for my attention. My favorite sister Charmaine and my favorite cousin Merle, was always in competition to do things for and with me. I was also their get out of the house free pass. I am going to take Pearson (the name, I was commonly called until I began school at 5 years old) for a walk, I am going to take Pearson to netball. “I was going to take Pearson” the magic words, that got them permission to get out of the house and attend their prearranged rendezvou.

Before becoming a member and apart of the Palmer's clan, Merle was a teenager and was living with our grand mother, in the small fishing vilage of Questelles, which is the birth place of my mother; and my second home.

 At that stage of Merle’s life, My mother’s mother; our Grandmother, Courtney Jack, who was getting down in age and could not give her the type of Supervision and the type of attention a growning teenager required. As a result, my mother; Merle's auntie, having four other girls, thought Merle will fit in perfect in our home; as a result Merle Came to live with us. To me, Merle was another big sister; Mother loved Merle like her own daughter and treated her the same, as she did the other girls.

One day, Merle asked for permission and was granted permission to take me to the beach. We left home Merle and I and about a block into our walk to the beach, Merle stopped and called Marcina, one of her school friends. We waited for a while then Marcina joined us. On Marcina’s arrival we continued the short journey to the beach. By this time we only had to walk a half of a block to the beach.

I loved the sea, I was always anxious to go to the beach and into the water. However, when we got to the beach, Merle and Marcina took a seat on the sand, and they became involved in a conversation. They chat and I sat and waited on my opportunity to join the others, mostly older children, who was there already enjoying the water.

After waiting for a while, I went to Merle and I asked her, “when are we going to the Sea?” Merle replied, “I will take you into the water in a little while”. As a result, I went back to play in the sand, while Merle and her friend continued their conversation. Not sure how much "real time" had elapsed from I first asked Merle when are we going in to the sea, however to an anxious child, it seems like a pretty long time. As a result, I went to Merle once more, interrupting her conversation with her school friend, she said wait a little while, I will take you into the Seawater in a while. By this time, I had heard that several times before. I went back to playing in the sand by myself.

Being bored, with playing with myself, and with a heightened anxiety from watching the other children having fun, running around, jumping in and out of the sea, I want to get in on the fun. I went to Merle once more and I asked her, when are we going in to the sea. By this time Merle have became tired of hearing me asked the same question over and over again, said to me; go on into the sea if you want to.

That was all I needed to hear, in my juvenile mind, unable to swim, I thought all will be well. I did not hear anger, frustration and I did not hear sarcasm in Merle's voice. I did not know what sarcasm was. at that age, I was unable to distinguish between them. 

I only understood words and their means. Interestingly, in some cases, even adults cannot fully distinguished between, anger, and or frustration when expected; unless the words used directly address a particular issue; therefore understanding sarcasm for a lot of adults is like earning a collage degree.

I anxiously wanted to join the other children who were enjoying the sea. Immediately, I ran full speed into the sea. My little feet got caught up, in the wave that had just washed up on the sand, My feet was swept from under me, which resulted me to fall over belly first, into the water that have just, washed up upon the shore, to bathe the sand. I made a big splash but it did not hurt. As the wave returned to the sea, it was like a man's hand, that held onto me and dragged me into the deep end of the sea. I tried to resist the water but, I was unable to.

I was too weak and too small to contend with the violent pull, and the force of the retreating sea. I tried to regain my footing, but I was unable too stand up. By this time I was in water that was too deep for me to stand in. my head remained under water all the while. By this time, I had gulped down one or two mouths full of sea water, trying to breathe whilst under the water. I did not know what to do or what was happening. But, I knew this was not good.

I could not remember this happening to me before, all of the other times, I went to the beach and enjoyed the sea. This was so because, those who took me to the beach, were always with me, while I enjoyed the water. They made sure I was always safe on the sand, where the wave came up and washed over me; or when I went into the deep area I was in their arms or hands, whatever the case maybe. 

However at the time I was in new and dangerous territory. I did not have the safe guard I always had, I was in the deep part of the sea, of the beach, that was only two short blocks away from my home; unable to swim, by myself. 

While I was in the water, I was dipping up and down, yet my head did not get above the water, I was also gulping down sea water in my effort to breathe. And then, like something out of a old movie, I heard a big splashed in the water, and immediately, I felt a giant hand, came out of nowhere and made contact with my right upper arm, grabbing on to my arm, in the area of my biceps and with one pull, yanked me out of the water.

When I was out of the water, I took a deep grasp for air, through my mouth, automatically I began to cough, while, I coughed water began to be expelled from my lungs, as snat (mucus) ran from my nose, even though I did not have a cold.

Before I arrived at home Mr. Father knew what had happened, as he always did and he was angry. Merle was not his family and therefore was not his responsibility, so he brought the incident to my mother's attention and give her clear instructions. This was the first of the many life threatening experiences that would have add color and flavor to the exciting roller coaster ride that had become my life.

Even at that age, I knew I was in big trouble, I knew if someone did not come and get me, I would be dead. However, I was not afraid of dying, but I wanted to live. That incident burned a place in my memory, and I remember every detail, of that incident up to this point in my life.

BETRAYED - By Chief Strong-Blood

I was about sixteen years old. At this point and time in St. Vincent and the Grenadines history, Roller Skating was the in-thing. I was a big part of this roller skates era. I was also dearly in love, with my first true love Janet. Janet meant the world to me.

The Most High God used Janet to play an important role in my life. After my mother died, my life was shattered and suffered in every aspect of my living. I suffered emotionally, socially, academically etc. My confidence was shot. I moved from a witty, intelligent, talkative child, to a shy timid kid. However, all this changed, when I was fourteen years old; exactly seven years after I lost my dear mother.

There was a drastic and unexpected change in events, that occurred. My life turned around when Janet entered my life and showered me with her love. When this happened, it was like a light switch suddenly turned on within me and expelled the darkness. Now, I was able to shake myself, out of the dazed, I was trapped in; for seven years.

Janet always spoke of and looked forward to, the time when she and the other members of her family, would join, in Janet's case her grandmother in the United States of America. I dread the thought of losing Janet to migration, but it was more than likely, it was inevitable.

I could remember it like it was yesterday, when Janet came to me bursting with joy and overwhelmed with excitement. She was happy and she wanted to share the good news with me. Janet's immigration papers were successfully processed and returned, she was now eligible to travel to and live in the USA. She was just in her early teens and looked forward to a new life, of endless possibilities.

Janet's good news, represented major disappointed for me. For soon, I was going to lose the most important person in my life. I did not want to be a selfish, party pooper, by bringing to Janet's attention, what her exciting news meant for our relationship. I kept my thoughts to myself and I celebrated with Janet. At this juncture, Janet's happiness was most important.

When the reality of how her migration, was going to affect our beautiful relationship set in, and Janet realized, we will be torn apart, she told her mom, she don't want to go to America again; she changed her mind. But Janet was just a minor; she had no say in the matter. Her papers were fixed and she was going to America, weather she wanted to or not.

After Janet left our shores for the USA, I was lonely and I felt lost, so I became consumed with roller skating, it was one of the things, Janet and I spent a lot of time doing together, As a result, I became extremely good on the roller skates. I was able to do lots of very cool things on skates.

Because of my Roller-Skating skills, I received a lot of attention from many girls. However, none of the girls who were interesting in me; were good enough, to fill the void Janet's absence left within my heart. The truth is: I did not want anyone but Janet. So, I ignored all of the female attention that came my way.

One of the things we did as Roller Skaters was: we hanged-out at the Kingstown Netball Center, we often used the hard court at the center; to practice our roller-skating skills and play games on the skates. As a result, we became very friendly with the net-ballers.

It was during this period that I came to know and became friendly with, a beautiful net baller by the name of Bridget Ash. Bridget was beautiful, intelligent, funny; witty and fun to be with and around. I slowly began to fall in love with Bridget; and as I got to know her better, the more I loved her. Bridget began to fill the void in my heart, left by Janet's absence.

I wanted to take my relationship with Bridget, to the next level, but I was not sure, Bridget felt the same way about me, as I felt about her. It has been several years since Janet left St. Vincent and the Grenadines, I kept my end of the pact we made to each other. However, it was just about time, to let Janet know, it is time for us to move on with our separate lives.

I did not share my feelings or my plans for Bridget with anyone. I was not going to sabotage my plans for Bridget, by prematurely sharing my feeling about her with anyone, while I was in the process to figuring out, the best approach to let Bridget know how I felt about her, I got some troubling news.

While I was trying to come up with a plan to sway Bridget into my life, Bread-head told me, one of our friends was in love with Bridget and he asked him, to put in a good word with Bridget for him.

When I heard this awful news, I immediately but reluctantly, stop my pursuit of Bridget, I did not want to be the source of any disharmony among the Roller Skaters. Some time later, Bread-head told me, our mutual friend requested, I put in a good word with Bridget on his behalf. To which I agreed.

One evening after the netball game and netball practice ended, I told Bridget I will like to have a private conversation with her. I noticed Bridget became visibly happy, when I requested a private conversation with her. Later Bridget and I excused ourselves from her friends.

I said "Bridget such and such (person's name) is in love with you and he asked me to put in a good word with you for him. Before I could continue, making my case, on my friend's behalf, I noticed tears began running from Bridget's eyes, down onto her cheeks. Through her tears Bridget said to me, Allan how could you do such a thing. Bridget said this over and over through her tears.

I did not know what my beautiful friend was speaking about, I became confused. All I wanted to do, was to help a friend find love, I did not intend to make my beautiful, always cheerful friend: Bridget cry. My objective quickly changed, now my goal was to get Bridget to stop crying and to find out, what I did wrong, so I could apologize to her and correct my error if I could.

When Bridget friends passed us on their way home, they began to make sly remarks, which implied, Bridget and I were romantically involved. Or was on the verge of a romance. However, Bridget kept her face to the wall; she did not want, any of her friends to know she was crying her eye balls out.

I became confused and I began to get frustrated, I wanted to know What I did to my friend so I asked Bridget what did I do. After I asked that question, Bridget made an effort to regained her composers then she said to me.

"Allan; I don't love your friend, I love you, it is you I love. For weeks, I have been rattling my brain; trying to figure-out, how to get your attention, how to let you know, how I feel about you. It is you I want, instead of you coming to talk to me for yourself; you are talking to me for someone else."

Bridget paused for a little moment, then she continued, I have no interest in that guy, she referred to my brother on skate by an unflattering name. We went to school together, If I was interested in him, we would have been together a long time ago. It is you I want, Allan it is you I love; after Bridget said her piece, the sobbing began once again.

I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I loved Bridget tremendously and I just found out she loves me too. But I promised my friends to work on Bridget on his behalf.

By this time, all of Bridget's friends had left, and the dark of night have engulfed us. It would not be right for me, to let this beautiful, heart broken damsel walked home in the dark by herself. Bridget was happy when I offered to walk her home. We slowly walked along the dark star lit streets to her home, just two friends chatting. I enjoyed Bridget's company and every step we took together.

I knew I had to have a conversation with my friends, my brother on skates, the one on whose behalf I was working; but the truth would have crush his already fragile self-esteem. What do I do? I continue to put off the conversation, I knew I should have had with my friend. In all honesty, I did not know how to tell my friends the truth.

As my relationship with Bridget grew into a beautiful relationship, I convinced myself; maybe, just maybe; he will forget the whole sorry episode and move on. But he did not.

It was not to long after, I heard some of my Roller Skates brothers said to me. Our friends, told them, he told me, to put in a good word with Bridget for him and I went and put in many good words for myself and took Bridget for myself. My broken hearted brother was not wrong, to believe that because he was not exposed to the reality.

It was then I explained to my friends, who accused me to my face, of betraying the trust, our mutual friend placed in me, then they understood the situation I found myself in; after I explained to them, I wanted to tell our mutual friend but I didn't know how to break such a news to him. No one wanted to share the sad but difficult reality with our mutual friend. And up to this day, I did not build up the courage to.

Maybe, just maybe; it was/is better for my friend, to view me as the one who betrayed his trust; than to have told him the awful, hurtful truth.

What would you have done?

When I was a teenager, attending the Kingstown, Seventh day Adventist church, a young church member, came to church, one Sabbath, with Jerry curls hair style. An upstanding female elder give her a good talking too about getting involved in worldly activities.

About a month or so latter that same, upstanding female elder came to church wearing a Jerry curls hairstyle, just like the one young lady she gives a talking too had. Not one word of criticism was hauled at her and that upstanding female elder never apologize to the young lady.

Sometime later, one Sabbath, the Superintendent wanted to spice up the Sabbath school program with a skit. The skit was about the woman with the issue of blood. They had people to play all of the parts except the part of Jesus.

They came to me, and asked me to play the role of Jesus. They were convinced I will make a good Jesus. To which I agreed to play the part of Jesus. The same upstanding elder passed by and saw our last minute rehearsal, she said:

"I am not comfortable with someone being Jesus, I think, you should just have the voice speaking the words of Jesus. You can stay behind the curtain and say your part".

Everyone agree Allan is not Jesus it is just a dramatization of Jesus. She said I know but I don't think it is right. Since the upstanding female elder overruled the youths, and the upstanding elder is so petty, I said I am not going to participate.

I went back to my seat, only to see the skit with, with a pink skin youth, playing the role of Jesus; as I was too. Wow! That same Sabbath just after the pink skin youth had just finished playing Jesus, I heard him in a casual conversation, in the church yard, with some other church youth, his age; he was flinging out fucks, like it was the word bless.

What was interesting; this upstanding female elder was black as night. I wondered to myself, what about me that was offensive to this lady? Was it my beautiful, golden skin, that looks like the skin of the so-called Jesus or was it the fact, I came from St. Vincent: Nazareth (Bottom Town)?

Opinion Please!