DA’ IS WUH GOT MUH!
PURPOSE: To show how superstition and speculation might lead to bad decisions
Ms. Collins was a very hard-working woman who knew how to plant and harvest provisions. She had a beautiful piece of land overlooking the quarry in Chimborazo. From her house to the quarry, the view of lush green fields of sugar cane, native bushes, and coconut trees abruptly terminated at the steep limestone cliffs of Chimborazo Mountain. Ms. Collins was of average height and build, but she was strong and determined. Many days, when there was no water running to the houses, Ms. Collins was seen fetching water from the standpipe, balancing a large bucketful on her head to carry home for her garden. But Ms. Collins had an adversary in the village.
Ms. Collins did not care for Ms. Sanders, who lived next door to the standpipe, and they never greeted each other, which is very unusual in Barbados, especially in the village. For the most part, Bajans are very polite and routinely say good morning, good day, or goodnight without prompting. It is just good manners. And in the village, this is more than just custom or manners. Chimborazo is a small village and everyone knows each other and is related in some way, so greeting each other comes naturally. But these women didn’t care about good manners when they met up.
Ms. Sanders was a thick woman with slightly bandy legs, a big smile and many of the neighborhood children hung out at her house to play or to raid her fruit trees. She did not work much in the field because her spouse did most of that work, but she would take the provisions to Bridgetown to sell in the Fairchild Street Market. Ms. Collins and Ms. Sanders both recognized their dislike for each other and did everything they could to avoid each other. However, to fetch water, Ms. Collins had to pass Ms. Sanders’ house, so she was always careful to walk on the other side of the street away from Ms. Sanders’ house. But on this particular morning, Ms. Collins could not avoid walking close to her house. There was a lorry in the street loading sugar cane so she had to walk around the truck to get to the standpipe.
Without warning, Ms. Sanders ran out of her house, pulled up Ms. Collins skirt and petticoat and started grabbing at a little bag of something tied around her waist under her dress. All of Ms. Collins’ underclothes were showing, even her long-legged three band drawers. Villagers gathered, laughing at the two women and the commotion captured the attention of the people in the street loading the sugar cane on the truck.
Ms. Sanders was trying to pull off the bag all the while yelling at Ms. Collins, “Da’ is wuh got muh! Da’ is wuh got muh!”
Meanwhile, Ms. Collins started pounding her in the head with her fist and started yelling back at her, “Da’ is wuh got ya? Well, I gine show ya wuh got ya now.” She dropped the bucket of water on the ground and both of them fell in the gutter scuffling.
Several of the sugar cane workers quickly separated the women, but that did not stop the two from exchanging words.
“I know wuh you got in da’ bag! You went down to Grazettes and saw the Obeah man and he gi’ you da’ bag to control me!” Ms. Sanders was yelling.
“I en’ saying nothin’ and wher’ I went en’ nun you business, cause he tell me he gi’ you a bag wi’ the same stuff in it fuh you to control me, too!” Ms. Collins retorted.
Suddenly, they both stopped arguing as they looked at each other in disbelief. Together, they realized the Obeah man was making money from both of them, and he was keeping the feud going so he could get rich.
Ms. Sanders felt badly about the whole incident and addressed Ms. Collins. “Good dear, I din’ know he was mekkin a fool outa we, en look, we cudda been friends all along. I feel real,real bad fuh wuh I do to you Ms. Coward.”
LESSON LEARNED: Sometimes it is easier to believe a lie, especially from someone you trust or who influences you, and buying into that lie might cause you to alienate others in your life who might add tremendous value to you.
Bajan Hotsauce: Story by Stan, edited by Jeanne