James Hackett

Foreseeing Redman’s death the soucouyant had made plans for a new leader, Adrian. Though he is a bit reluctant, he may prove to be even worse than Redman. Two more episodes to graduation.

Adrian walked across the promenade, and threw away the cigarette, in his mouth. He was a different person now. The past few weeks had changed him-drastically. He led the group of boys across the street. They moved like a pack of wild animals. People watched them and stayed from these hooligans fearing that they would attack them, so fearsome were their demeanor. The group went up some stairs into a building overlooking the promenade. Adrian looked at it through the tinted glass, a shade darker than it really was. He had entered a darker side of Trinidad; a Trinidad that he thought never existed. Reaching up the fifth flight they entered a room. A party with mostly young people was taking place. Not staying there, the boys went to a back room. Inside there was Madame -the fire woman- sitting and drinking a glass of wine.

“We reach.” Announced Adrian, he knew what was going to happen but he was unable to save the boys.

“Good” Madame replied. “Very good.”

Rhonda was staring at the sky from her yard. It was something she liked doing when it was late and everyone was asleep. She would come out to think and to dream about her future. It bothered her that she had killed someone, even though that person was Redman. She heard nothing in the news of any body found dead in the cemetery so she was okay for the while. She was thinking about Keston and Kayla and probably how the big a bacchanal it would be on Graduation night. Kayla was obviously jealous of Keston and the new convent girl he had all of a sudden hooked up with. Keston was supposedly bright but was obviously clueless about Kayla’s feelings, or was he? She thought about her crush, David and imagined them together. Too bad he was already going around with Camille from Sciences. A slight wind blew past her, bringing a faint smell of salt, déjà-vu. A shadow moved among the bed sheets that hung on the line, “Mammy,” she stepped, tentatively toward the sheets, the figure stood still. Rhonda reached in her pockets for the piece of blue that she kept on her at all times now. The figure spoke “No need for that here girl.”

“Is this…”

“Yes we spoke already, Rhonda.” I am here because the time are changing the rules are changing.”

“Rules? What-what are you talking about.”

“You Know Rhonda. Things are happening and you must help those that need your guidance it is your gift, your mother was not strong enough but you…” the figure paused and appeared to move backward, she was going. “Why do you keep talking in stupid riddles, tell me.”

“There is one you must find before Bois…” Rhonda stepped into the sheets, but the woman was elusive. “ He is the future but you must help him see that.”

The sheets had taken on a life of it’s own. Twisting, turning and making all sorts of contortions. Rhonda fought against them trying not to lose sight of the shadow in the sheets.

“Who is that? Who must I find?” She was losing the shadow “His name is David.” The wind died down and the sheets stopped moving. Rhonda stood, wrapped in the centre of the sheets. The fact that she had to confront her crush was as exhilarating as it was frightening. She looked at the sheets around her sighed and stared at the sky “This is starting to get complicated”.

Keston continued to remain from his two friends. Kayla had grown even more jealous and Rhonda grew more suspicious of Keston’s strange behaviour. She had decided to check out the girl that Keston was hanging with. When she spoke to some girls from the Smallie’s school and found out that she was a shady character who would usually hang out with two other girls from the Sixth form. She did not really get their names, but found them to be a Red girl that was popular with the fellas and a dark girl who was a transfer from Tobago. They would only hang out with each other and was feared by all the girls in the school. One student who Rhonda spoke to, said that one of the girls worked obeah on another student who had cussed the red girl for taking her ‘man’. The next day the student’s hair had fallen out and she was vomiting a lot. Attempts to talk to Keston about his “friend” was futile as he thought they were, jealous and was trying to separate him from the girl. Rhonda and Kayla then decided to keep an eye on Keston as he was probably under some influence.

“That girl have Keston real tight.” Kayla said to Rhonda.

“I don’t think is she good looks that have he so.” Rhonda said in deep thought. “Exactly cause she not so hot, she bottom kind of flat.”

“Not that.” Rhonda slightly amused by Kayla’s remark. She had said a few minutes ago that she was okay with the whole thing. “I not sure but I will ask my mother, I feel it have obeah involved here.”

“Aye for real girl.” Exams were complete and everyone was busy liming and gaping at the fellas by the mall. They were heading there this evening.

“We go study about Keston and he jumbie girl later.” Rhonda’s hands were over Kayla’s shoulder.

“For now let we have some fun”.