Another day of trouble, and his name was Clyde.  He was not a man as yet but acted like one.  Tall and fair of skin with a booming voice, and was able to terrify the people in our village, or so he thought. 

Then one day he staggered drunkenly towards his neighbor's locked gate. 

"Open da gate short man.  Me want talk to you.  I like you daughter, you know.  All a then good looking, maybe I tek all three ah them."

Staring at Clyde from beneath his house, Ramu shook his head then slid off the bench he was sitting on, and  reached below and pulled out the largest greenheart fire wood he could find, then began walking towards Clyde.  Thinking all the time he was just glad that his wife and daughters were not home to witness what was about to happen.  Then Ramu saw Chun running toward her son, saying loud enough so everyone can hear. 

"Move you backside from them people gate.  Da man go kill you, and he would get off." (meaning, he will be free from legal judgment)

Then grabbing her son she pried loose his hands from the gate, and moved away.  After a few steps away she glanced at Ramu  sucking her teeth and mumbling, "What you think you gonna do with dat wood?" Then she spat in disgust and kept dragging her son along. 

That night long after every one was in bed Clyde woke the neighborhood again.  This time he was sober, standing on the bridge and rattling the locked iron gate that separated him from Ramu's front yard. 

"Come down here short man, me soba now.  Them gal need a husban.  Come le we talk."

Inside Ramu's house the girls were awaken  with fear, while at the same time listening nervously at their parents whispering. They heard their father say calmly to mother, "Nah worry, Bass."  With that, Ramu went towards the enclosed stair and began his descent towards the kitchen area.  There he found the plastic container and began to pour the special liquid.  All the while the incessant cursing and defamatory ranting was still coming from beyond the gate.

Then a sudden splash and the night started to scream. 

Standing over Clyde on that moonlit night, Ramu watched as Clyde dived into the filthy trench, next to the gate,  trying desperately to wash pure vinegar from his face and body.  Then Ramu said in a commanding voice, "The next time you die!  Remember your momma word. She tell you already,  I will get off."

Its been so many years now but whenever I hear the words "I will get off,"  I am reminded of Ramu's way

and how he dealt with a mad man who by some strange coincident, I have been told,  does not live in the village anymore.

Hmmm?

© 2003 by Ann Diamond.   All rights reserved.