For the new book I thought I will bring a lot of my fashion ideas into the design of the characters, in fact I have slowed down a bit in my progression to think about how these people look. In my mind I am looking at the people and imagining us how we would dress with more assertion about our own local flavour and tastes as opposed to it being heavily influenced by specific dominant cultures.

With the douens, these were drawn some months back as I observed how a lot of  the younger people dress now. It started off with me kinda poking fun but then I thought how can I make it a cool fashion statement. I called them chicken heads with the mohawks and calf cut style jeans.

Every time I imagine douens I think of lost children, and I think in this time that is the look of a lot of these types. My designs are an attempt to put some edge to that look.

The action continues as we get closer to the Graduation. What is in store, what bacchanal lies ahead? Can Kayla compete with smallie? Will Rhonda meet David? It all unfolds as we head to the big event.

Keston sat waiting on smallie-strangely, he thought, he never got her name. However, she entered the living room with her two friends and he quickly forgot everything that was in his head.

“Girl, you look real good. I might as well walk with protection.”

“Protection…?” A playful smile slowly spread across her face.

“Protection from them fellas that go be fighting me to get you-What protection you was thinking about?”

She looked at her two friends, and both grinned back at her. Smallie hugged Keston, “Babes, you really don’t want to know right now.”

Wait we going… I ain’t see your parents.” Smallie stammered a reply: “Umm they had a dinner meeting to go to.”

Rhonda looked behind her and clapped. “Girl you looking better than me.”

Rhonda turned from the mirror in earnest: “You think so? You really think this looking  good?”

Rhonda wore a silky, flesh-toned dress that draped from her neck. Kayla wore a black chinese-style outfit. Preparations for graduation had both excited and they giggled as they put on their make-up. Kayla’s father offered to drop them to the dance as they had foregone dinner.

As Kayla’s father turned in the driveway they looked out the window at the students that were already there talking and liming. Kayla froze, nervously looking at the crowd. Rhonda leaned over and whispered in her ears, “Aye at least they is not Redman.” Kayla eased a little. As she stepped out of the car, Rhonda immediately put on her ‘hater’ face. It intimidated people and she needed that power now as everyone was looking at her and Kayla, who was starting to regain self-confidence – some of the fellas were checking her out. The girls were the centre of attention until a car screeched into the driveway. All eyes turned to see Keston, Smallie and her two friends step out of his car.

Dub styles blasted from the speakers in the room and Adrian went back to the party outside. He felt guilty for what he was about to do but he had no choice. He was powerless against the Fire woman. Candace, the girl he met when he was first seduced, told him about the Fire lady’s evil mission.

A flash of light escaped from the room. The deed was done; she had taken more children like she did him. Would he ever be able to stop the madness? He pushed the thought out of his mind as he entered the back room. The boys were all afraid , confused, more lost than they ever were.

“Children, there is work to be done,” Madame’s eyes were blazing fire itself. Adrian felt as though he was looking into hell itself as he caught her stare.

“Adrian, the bikes.”

The boys were led down a back staircase. The path they chose eventually ended at the East dry river. There a twin and a girl stood guarding a bunch of BMXs. Adrian instructed the boys they were to pick one each. One boy complained that he could not ride and Madame, looking even more fearsome in the dark, took him with her. Adrian could feel here power, she had the children ina trance so that they would not fear her.

“Tania, you know what the mission is, Adrian, you know who I want.”

Adrian mounted his blue Mongoose obediently. All was silent except the trickling green water. He looked at Candace wordlessly. He did not speak to her, she knew  his feelings. He bit his lips and toughened his resolve. His heavy voice echoed in the tunnel.

“Roll out.”

Last Episode: …Barely escaping with their lives, Keston and Kayla witness the unique and bizarre departure of the Posse.

The heat was taking its effect on the classroom; children were restless and talked aimlessly among themselves. Redman, in his usual spot at the back of the classroom, casually took his feet off the desk and stood. His hand craftily twisted his hair into dreaded knots. Trying to maintain their students neatly combed hair gave the teachers no end of trouble. “Sir I need to go to the toilet,” he said, approaching Mr Sunny. He was ignored. Mr. Sunny was new to the school but he had already heard countless tales in the staff-room about the delinquent child. He gave his answer without turning. “Sit down boy!” The boy walked closer, his hands pleading. “But sir ah…” He was not allowed time to finish. “But nothing! Sit down and cool it!”

Mr Sunny turned his glasses in his hand. He had to make his authority known. If that was not done, Redman would assume he could do what he wanted. “Class will be over just now. You will go then.” The voice was loud and firm. The class simmered down, and started to pay attention to the scene. Redman was not intimidated.  “Sir let me just go nuh.” The teacher swirled from the blackboard. He had enough of the boy already, and the heat did not make the matter any better -he wanted air conditioning and the old school couldn’t afford it.  “Young man-I said SIT!”  Mr Sunny put his hands on Redman’s shoulder, griping firmly. Redman stood back shoving away the teacher’s hand.
“I just want to go to the toilet, sir. Let meh go nuh, sir.” Redman’s nostrils flared-Sir actually put his hands on him. Nah! “I just want to go to the toilet yuh know, dread!”
His eyes glowed. Mr Sunny put his glasses back on… was he seeing things?
Tania made a secret signal to the twins. Redman’s face became darker as he made a sly glance toward Tania, then, as Mr Sunny
tried to grab the errant child again. “Move from me nah boy!” the teacher was flung back onto his desk. Tania and the twins immediately took chairs and flung them
out the window, broken glass falling in their wake. The proverbial line was crossed. Chaos followed rapidly -one student clouted another over money owed; another got a buss-head because the boy in front did not like him. In a matter of moments the
classroom was a melee -quarrels broke out for nonsensical reasons and fights for even less.
Redman watched his teacher who was unsuccessfully trying to quiet down the out-of-control class. Occasionally he would have to duck from a misguided chair here, a flung book there. He watched Redman, who was walking up to him, his hat proudly on his head.  “This is your fault!” said the teacher, still angry at the young man. Mr Sunny attempted to take the hat off the boy’s head. Redman pulled back and Mr. Sunny’ s hand passed into the shadow of Redman’s face. His hand went into it like a void deep, black and empty. He shuddered as green eyes glowed back at him, ugly and evil.  Mr Sunny ran for all he was worth, almost knocking over the students and teachers that were in the corridors wanting to see what
was causing so much commotion….
The entire class was expelled. School was finished early as similar incidents threatened to occur in other classrooms all across the school. Acts of violence were reported at schools nationwide. One report told of a girl who assaulted a male student with his pet iguana and the heart-wrenching beating that ended with one dead pet and one hospitalised boy. Due to the increase of violence they had to deal with at work, teachers took the decision to strike the next day. “The matter was getting ridiculous,” reported one teacher. Another irate teacher added: “Yesterday was the last straw –these children are out of control. Something has to be done, or the nation’s education -its future- will be at stake…”

In a prepared statement delivered to the press, the Minister of Education commented that he was not satisfied with the teachers “undisciplined” act. Children grabbed at the opportunity and took it upon themselves to stay at home-Easter vacation came early. Keston and Kayla knew all too well who was behind the confusion that had taken over the nation. They told one of their teachers about the incident that happened the Saturday evening. The woman just laughed. “It don’t have things like that again,” she said, as she smiled amusingly at them. “Who fulling allyuh head with jumbie stories? This thing is totally a social issue, okay. Allyuh don’t have to blame it on jumbies.” Confused by the reception, Keston and Kayla left her office.
“Who go listen to we now, boy? I sure is Redman and them causing this thing, yuh know.”
“That is a good question -who would listen to we in truth?” Keston said, deep in thought as he idly kicked a can down the corridor. “Why not somebody who understands what allyuh talking about-” Both Kayla and Keston whirled around, surprised by the newcomer -it was Rhonda, one of the most feared people in school. The fear that she presented however was not from bullying or being bad really. It was her attitude. The girl was quite tough, but her intellect was one that gave her fellow students a hard time to keep up with. She seldom talked but when she did it was to critcise -and most of the time the criticism came hard. She never had opposition to her views because none was able to meet and argue with her sensibly. She eyed the two, her glance intent.
“Shall we talk?”

Next… The Plan

Creator’s note:With this episode the editor had put in this thing with
a plan. I had no plans for a plan and so for the following week I had
to come up with the next story. But before you read on, allow me a
little more time. The story above was written around the same time that
there was a lot of noise about school violence. I took this opportunity
to bring my idea of the douens to life, giving then a sense of reality
and depth.

Keston was waiting for his friend Kayla on the promenade, deciding that the girl was late, he left to take a walk and cool his head from exam stress. Doing this he met some of the Bad Johns from school and realised that they were more than just bad seeds. Kayla caught up with him just in time to help him escape their clutches. They dashed away from the Bad John crew, and the story continues as they  attempt to make their escape…

“Run Kes!”

Kayla was in front and Keston kept trying to keep pace. Apparently she had more boy days than he did. They dashed across the street, cars screeching and horns blaring in their wake. An irate driver threw curses out his window.

“Them blasted children them!” he shouted as he avoided one of the Duwane twins. The chase continued up St Vincent Street. Keston behind threw a cautious glance backwards. There was no one behind him. Slowing, he turned to look for Kayla who had already cut down a side street. He followed quickly, relieved that they had evaded their pursuers. As he ran past the corner, Redman stood there waiting for him.  “Dread man, what you have to run for? Is not talk we was going an talk?” Redman smirked, not even breathing hard. They had somehow cut them off. Kayla was already caught in Redman’s arm. The Duwane brothers silently stood guard. Keston glanced back down the empty street. A woman scurried past. She didn’t want to get involved. They were alone -screaming for help was pointless.

“Look allyuh cyah just leave we alone? We go pretend we eh see nothing. Just let we go nuh.” Keston was afraid and was trying his best to keep his head straight. Anton’s little incident with the girls a few weeks ago came to mind and he shuddered as he wondered at what he and Kayla were about to face.

Tania took a long pipe out her pocket, lit it and took a long drag. It was obvious from the practised motions that she had done this before. She stepped up to Keston and blew. He squinted in disgust as the cloud of putrid smoke hung about his face. He started to feel different.

“Come on Keston, yuh know yuh like us. You want to be part of the gang!” Tania patted his back playfully. Keston floated light-headed in the smoky haze. He watched Redman and the twins…smiling…happy. He wanted to be happy too.

“Maybe they not so bad,” he thought to himself, “Why I not happy like them?”

It seemed that all he had to live for was his father’s ambitions. Whilst he was out studying, the gang were living.

“Why should I do what my father wants?” Keston pondered as the hazy feeling enveloped him more. “They did not do half the things I did yet they were favourites at school. No one called them names like they sometimes did to him and Kayla…Maybe I should join them.”

He wanted to join them. He looked at Kayla. The twins were making her uncomfortable with their cold stares. “So what we doing to he girlfriend?” Tania said, motioning to Kayla, who threw her the nastiest cut-eye. “Leave she alone nah boy!” he shouted at Redman. He had forgotten everything else. Redman smiled, his mouth the only thing visible under the hat. “What is that you say dey man?” Redman teased, “Yuh like she, eh? Yuh could tell we eh no…”

Keston shifted uncomfortably as the rest of the gang laughed at their leader’s comment. “So what if I like her?” Keston admitted for the first time aloud. Kayla looked at Keston (who tried not to look at her) and smiled. Keston was blushing uncontrollably. She never knew he liked her. “Why didn’t he ever tell me?” Kayla always secretly thought Keston was kind of cute, and her feelings had grown over the years. Redman roughly took hold of Kayla’s arm and broke the moment of reverie. She was not too keen to him touching her. “Look, let me go nah. Let me… AAAWWWWW!” her arm hurt, but Redman cut her screams with a hard stare from his freaky green eyes.

The gesture awoke Keston from his drugged daze. “Let she go nah!” he shouted, surprised by the power in his voice.

“And what you going an do for that, eh?” shouted back Redman, equally loud, amused by his prey’s veracity. He knew that Keston could do nothing.

Seized by the mixture of anger, fear and shame, Keston got the courage to rush at his bigger adversary. Redman spun swiftly and the back of his hand connected against Keston’s chin. The blow sent the skinny teen flying back same speed. Keston folded to a heap against the wall behind him. Grabbing the opportunity, Kayla, let loose her elbow against Redman’s gut. The youth howled and buckled over. Kayla bolted out of the alley, grabbing Keston on her way. They scampered out into the main street. Kayla glanced back and froze. Completely shaken, the blood left her face. Wondering what had stupefied his friend like that, Keston almost ran right into her. “What…? Gyul run nah!” he said, hoping that Kayla would snap out her trance.

“Look….” was all she could muster as her finger pointed behind him. Looking back he saw the most bizarre thing he had ever seen. Redman, Tania, and the Duwane twins were for the most part running forward, but it seemed as though somethihng was pulling the ground underneath them in the opposite direction. It looked as though they were doing some weird moonwalk.

“What the f—?”

Redman’s hollow laughter reverberated in Keston’s chest as the gang rounded the corner and disappeared down the darkening street.

Creator’s note: When later stories were done I tried to get away from
the excessive swearing and cursing and decided to explore these
children as conscious and serious... among other things.