Tommy was a stocky man of mixed ethnicity. He was about five feet four inches, had heavy black straight hair, thick and cropped at his neck. Tommy was a Downes Syndrome man with unusual features, heavy tongued speech mannerisms, and very friendly behaviors to everyone.
One of Tommy’s noted behaviors was driving his imaginary car. Everyone in the village knew Tommy and he could be seen steering, shifting, stopping, parking, and caring for his car. As Tommy walked or jogged while driving his imaginary car, he imitated all the normal sounds one might hear from a normal car.
Tommy loved to drive through Chimborazo and stop at the Branch house. Mr. Branch, the owner of the house, was always amused by Tommy’s driving and caring for his car. Mr. Branch would make mock sport with Tommy, but he never said or did anything demeaning to Tommy. They had a great relationship and enjoyed conversations about each other’s vehicles. Tommy always got a meal when he dropped in at the Branch house.
Mr. Branch also had a son, Lil’ Boy, around 11 years old who often made fun imitating Tommy. Lil’ Boy and one of his pals, Joel, decided they would play a trick on Tommy and mess with his car.
It was a hot rainy day in Chimborazo. Most everyone was sheltering from the rain except Tommy. He was driving really fast to get to the Branch house to park and get out of the rain. Here comes Tommy! Shouted Lil’ Boy to Joel. Tommy could be heard, downshifting, hitting the brakes, then opening and slamming the door as he exited the vehicle.
Lil’ Boy and Joel saw their opportunity to mess with Tommy’s car. “Come Joel”, Lil’ Boy urged Joel. “Leh we go ‘n’ tek off he wheels before he come out”. Joel was having none of it. “Lil’ Boy, you know you faddah is a mean man and he gine tear up we tails if he catch we”. But Lil’ Boy was quite persuasive and convinced Joel to sabotage Tommy’s imaginary car.
Tommy always parked his car in the same spot. So, everyone knew if that spot was occupied, it was Tommy’s car. Lil’ Boy and Joel sneaked out of the house, jacked up Tommy’s car, placed it on blocks and removed the wheels. Then the two boys went into hiding to see how Tommy was going to handle the situation.
The rain slowed, so Tommy was ready to go. He headed to his car, but to his surprise, his car was on blocks and the wheels were missing. Tommy ran back in the house visibly upset and started complaining to Mr Branch. “Mr. Branch, Mr. Branch!” he shouted. “Tommy loss he wheels! Mr. Branch busted out laughing deep inside but he would never let on to Tommy. So, with a straight face he asked Tommy, “wha happen?”. All flustered and terribly upset, Tommy said, “Mr. Branch I went outside to lef in me car and all I cud see was de car pon blocks”. Mr. Branch was dying inside, but couldn’t show it to Tommy. He knew exactly where to find the trouble makers.
In his gruff loud voice, he called out for Lil’ Boy. “Lil’ Boy! Lil’ Boy, get in heh”, Mr Branch shouted. Lil’ Boy and his sidekick Joel showed up. The two boys were holding their heads down acting innocent while trying to stifle back their smirks. “Yes daddy “, Lil’ Boy answered shyly. Mr. Branch started scolding the two boys. “Wha you too hard ears boys gone en do to Tommy’s car? Mr Branch asked. “Nuttin Daddy” Lil Boy responded.
Mr. Branch knew this was a boy’s prank, but a mean thing to do to Tommy’s imaginary car. To right the situation, Mr Branch instructed Lil’ Boy and Joel to replace the wheels, then once they were finished, they had to wash and wax the car in the rain too. Lil’ Boy and Joel spent more than an hour taking care of Tommy’s car.
Mr. Branch apologized to Tommy and asked his wife Udora to fix Tommy one of his favorite meals, sardines, soda biscuits, and some swank. Tommy was delighted, he started to malsprig the food, and with a mouthful of food and his lisp, he said, “path de hotsauce “.