GWEH (Go Away)

15. Reference Letter

It was local government election day, and I was in line with Mommy and Gary.

Kingsley Townsend expedited the process, and I now have my identification document. Just a couple of minutes ago, I watched as one Mr. Townsend walked into the voting station with a whole heap of his posse to pass their ballots. Unconsciously rolled my eyes at the sight of him. He's just another man that my spirit just doesn't take. Plus, he looks like he has bones in his closet. The last time I briefly spoke to him at his office, he kept handing out money to dangerous-looking men and calling everyone one of his cousins who visited. Something about his actions looks shaking, and I believe he definitely has something hiding.

Anyway, Mommy, her man, and I almost reached the front of the voting line when Kingsley Townsend finally came out of the voting station smiling as if he had won. I thought it was suspicious that he spent almost ten times the time that it took for other people to cast their votes.

Mommy waved to him, and he smiled and walked over to us.

"Hey, my family," he greeted, knowing full well that we were not related. See the reference letter here. I hope you get the job," he said, giving Mommy a brown envelope. He then winked at me with those sneaky black crow-like eyes then walked off with his crew.

"When you ask him for a job reference?" I question Mommy.

"Shhh, you can chat, eeh gyal," She said to me, then discreetly peeped inside the envelope, and I saw money.

Baxide. The man really bought the vote. I would vote for him since Mommy told me to, but now my mind is turned against him for good. I don't usually follow politics, so I did not have an opinion of my own on this matter until now. Someone as unscrupulous as the one Kingsley Townsend, who is willing to cheat, doesn't deserve my vote. Mommy is the next culpable one. How can you collect money for carrying out your Rights as a citizen?

***

We went in one at a time, and I voted for the opposition. I just hope that the other person is a decent human being, even though the chances of that are slim at best.

***

While on our way back in Gary's probox car, Mommy counted the money. I was busy counting in my mind, too. It was 15000. She hissed her teeth.

"Five thousand dollars he pay for each vote even though I told him it was seven-five each. Him short we big time," Mommy complained. Two things mommy love; money and man so I know this revelation bun har bad. But if she ever know me vote for the other party she won't say so because that a the exact amount. I smiled in the back seat and went on my phone.

"Give me half a that," I heard Gary say to Mommy. "You and Tammy can split the rest."

Gary don't want peace cause a who really tell him fi say that, its like this man does not know my money grabbing mother.

Mommy hissed her teeth. "But you can't be real. Gas done up a yard and no food nuh deh."

I knew for a fact that was a big lie. The two gas cylinders were filled. She always has a backup cylinder to fall back on, and as soon as she holds the money, she refills the empty one. Also, Mommy now has a hot plate courtesy of Jermaine. 

Jermaine! 

I totally forgot about him for a bit, especially since I avoided him as if he had COVID. A week or so ago, Jermaine had sent Eric, my father, to give me a note that had his number and how he missed me, but I dashed away the letter. While my father took the money like a real cruff.  And since then I haven't seen any of the two. They must have gotten the memo that me, Tammy, nuh want a nuh body.

"Then babes food deh by me, take somethings from there and use the gas that I have."

"Mi nah do that. Make the stuff stay for when your kids come over. I am going to use this to get  little food in my house for my pickney."

"Babes then no big rassclot gal that weh can fend for herself. Plus nuh you say she find man wah day why you need to stock house like say a likkle bit a pitney?"

"Yow stop watch me and my own. Tammy coulda have man so til she is still my one pickney. And please fi keep her out of this. Matter a fact pretend like she is not here and refrain from saying har name or look har way. Damn bright!" Mommy almost bite the man head off for me. Mi hide my smile then put away my phone while looking at the whole exchange.  This too exciting to miss.

"Me nah give you half because you just got pay and me not even take a dollar from you since you nuh stop bawl bout the upcoming back to school spending for your two. Take your eyes off my little hustling! What if I never did ask Townsend to pay up? What you would have done?" Mommy's voice was getting higher with each words.

"You know what, Cheryl, do you," Gary said, sounding really angry. The man was all up in his feeling. I saw his hand gripping the steering wheel tight like he did want to strangle it, or maybe he just wanted to choke my mother. The air was so heated and thick with tension that I had to wind the window down even further.

Mommy hissed her teeth and put away the money.

The car was silent for a few minutes until Mommy said, "Gary, drop us off downtown."

"You nuh see the traffic me nah turn back plus me car want gas and you take the whole a the money."

"Big man stop the car and let us off. Me and Tammy will walk the rest of the way. We have foot. I can't packet money you a behave so for. Plus nuh wah day yah Hannah a boast pon mi say you give her sixty grand fi buy Brazellian hair? When me nuh take money outta your pay a so you gwaan like you an idiot and dash money pon your gal them! Mi nah give you none cause me know a one your gal them hand you ago push it inna. And by the way you better make sure say me double that next payday else me take your gun and shot you inna your hood. Try me! One hundred and twenty, I want, not a penny less!" Mommy lit up Gary, knowing full well that the big, strong man could crush Har like ants if he really wanted to. Her fingers were all up in Gary's face like say she mad. I had half expected him to crash the car with all off us in it. I was nervous so til I blacked out as the argued back and fort until mommy turned to me and say mi fi hold her hand bag. She was clearly ready to fight off the man while he was driving.

"Just stop this a blood clot car!" Mommy pushed him on the shoulders and the car sway. Bloodclot mad woman want kill we off and Gary a the next one not even utter a single word but if looks could kill I know mommy dead. He just looked like a bear that have been poke so many time but was waiting on the perfect time to streak.

Lord, why did I come out with these two mad people?

I sent a quick thankful prayer  and sighed when Gary pulled over, still screwing, but he was unusually silent. The atmosphere in the car stayed muted for a good minute or so while I was busy with my eyes wide open, looking between the two.

Since the months of their dating, I have never seen the two argue in person; it was always over the phone. And just like now mommy was always the one doing the most chatting and empty threats.

My heart beat increased as I saw Gary lean toward Mommy, but all he did was smile and whisper in her ears. It was loud enough that I heard.

"Cheryl, come by me later, and I'll have something put down for you," Gary whispered in Mommy's ears, then leaning over further to open her door.

(1423 Words)