Dickmatized Dainty

3• Kai_à Dainty Damsel

I wish I could stay in bed a couple more hours, but with people depending on me, I couldn't.

I got up before the sun was up, checking to make sure the alarms of tasks were set on Kyng's Samsung tablet to do his morning routine for the week and the volume was at it's highest if I had to call him from the shop.

I put out his uniform, checked his book bag, placed his shoes by the door and went to get myself ready.

I left his keys hanging on the wall and took mine, locking up behind me.

Though mih bathe last night, it's just sum'n bout a morning shower weh regenerate mih body. Fih wash weh the laziest because if mih follow mih mind mih procrastinate as I would do when aunty is here.

Mih mada cuss mih left, right and center bout mih laziness but mih know there's a root to it. The lack of money mek mih cyaw find out what.

Nyomi's Hot Pot, is the main food spot in Testament and that's because we have things that other cook shops lack.

Our menu changes monthly. The cleansiness is another as we don't have pest issues.

The shop is posted at the center of the square next to Onique's bar.

It's been in our family for sometime until Aunty came and tore down the wooden structure to rebuild it bigger in concrete. It's the first handout I gave her when we moved here four and a half years ago.

Getting pregnant at sixteen, I moved to live with my son's father for three years since he was more than able to take on the responsibilities as I dropped out of school. I didn't get to complete grade eleven until I got in contact with Aunty Nyomi who lived in Anchovy with her family.

She helped me with Kyng and to complete my schooling with her only child Làzuri Scott whom I'm older than by one year.

My presence had caused problems in Aunty's relationship as her husband's family saw me and thought I was abandoned as she cheated. It's stupid at first but the longer I stayed the more lies and gossip they spew. Having a son and attending school made it worst and it made them hate my aunty and cousin more.

Wih couldn't mek Zuri know.

Drawing out my savings as a way of repaying Aunty Nyomi has gave us all a start after we left.

That's when my depression got worst and I'm slowly recovering.

I went in and began cleaning up before I started cooking. Only to open up the doors when greedy Lovey came knocking.

"Yuh naw learn enuh lady." She hissed just when people starts pouring in.

"Mih mind nuh deh ya suh and yuh know a your job fih open up." I reminded, going back to the kitchen so she can collect the orders.

"Taj nuh wake yet suh yuh know yuh affi go serve." She shouts and I hissed louder.

Dih ole gyal probably up a chat tu har man whole night and forgot her job with aunty or a tru shi nuh deh yah dem feel seh a vacation time.

Dem same one nuh affi buy food cause aunty supply the wul a wih who work fih har.

Lovely been doing night shifts at the call center up close to Hopewell.

Tarajie's job is being a server at a hotel further down south of Negril. To how she changes jobs, I stopped keeping up with the location.

For the next hour I'm serving and checking the pots in the kitchen and I'm watching the clock so I can call Kyng to make sure he's up and getting ready for school.