I GINE OUT ‘PON A PLANE
Marjorie was a cute, light skinned girl with tight short hair. Her cheerful disposition and smile could disarm most people. But she was also a troubled child who was somewhat introverted. She lived with her grandmother, Anna, and three other cousins in a 2 by 4 tiny chattel house. Marjorie worked in the house, but she also had to work the ground and fetch water from the standpipe because there was no running water in the house. Since Anna did not believe in children mekkin’ mock sport, Marjorie did not play outside of the house much and, when she did it was only with her cousins.
Anna, had her hands full raising the four grandchildren. The tiny chattel house had a couple of makeshift bedrooms, a small living room, and a tight dining area adjoining the kitchen, which was nothing more than some galvanized paling knock up over some boards with a dirt floor. Anna was raising these kids alone because her husband died many years ago from alcoholism. The parents of these children had long since emigrated to England when the children were just babies, leaving a tired, bitter grandmother to raise them. But in spite of her parenting skills, cramped arrangements, and isolation, she did the best she could to raise the children in the absence of their parents.
The day finally came when Marjorie’s mother who was living in England felt settled enough to send for her. Anna knew the other three children, two brothers and a sister would be jealous and feel abandoned by their parents. Knowing this, Anna kept the plans to herself until the last moment. She started preparations with not too much discussion.
“Come Marjorie, get de basin and water and let me wash ya face n hans,” she instructed in a more solemn tone than usual.
Though Anna was a hard woman, she had a soft spot for Marjorie because she was her favorite. Marjorie did as she was told. She got the old white enameled basin with plenty of black spots where the enamel was chipped. In a brief moment of reflection, Anna stared into the water and a tear fell from her eye.
Without holding her head up to look at Marjorie she said in a quiet melancholy voice, “when I look at all de spots ‘pon dis basin, I tink bout all me children I use to bade in dis pan. Now, looka, I gine give you ya last bath in it, too.”
Marjorie had never seen Gran looking so pitiful and she became concerned that Gran was going to die or something. In concern for her Gran, Marjorie reached a hand on her shoulder and curiously asked, “you gine be ahrigh Gran?”
Anna looked up at Marjorie with a rare smile and said, “yes chil’, I is ok, ya gine ‘pon a plane today to England to be wid ya mudda, n I jus tink as how I gine miss ya.”The words had not quite left Anna’s mouth before Marjorie bolted out the door to find the other children.
“I gine out pon a plane today! I gine out pon a plane today!” She kept shouting in excitement.
But, the other children were not happy because they had eavesdropped from behind the bush and overheard the entire conversation. Anna sensed there was trouble in the camp and called the children together.
“Looka heh, wunna parents gone overseas to mek a betta life fuh wunna. Da is how we does do it in Barbados. Tings does be hard heh and lots of parents does haffa go to England or “Merica an scrub de white people floors so wunna can’ have a betta life.”
Anna tried to further comfort the children. “Gud dear, today is Marjorie turn to be wid she mudda. I know dat soon ya parents gine send fuh the rest of wunna, too. Ya jes’ gotta be patient.” Knowing food always made things seem better, she guided them to the kitchen, and said, “Come, le’ we eat sumting before Marjorie fly out. I mek some cou-cou wid red herring sauce, fried up some plantain, and mek pickled avocado. Lemme mek wunna an island – an’ pass de hotsuce.”