GWEH (Go Away)

13. Black eye

"I don't have anything to say. Mi can go finish weh mi did a do?"

"My girl do weh you want do enuh! See Hannah deh, she and her people open up a hairdresser salon and a wholesale downtown. How you think them people deh move up from them once destitute life? Mmm? Jermaine upgraded them. Him sex har once, gyal breed and them nuh deh again and she still set. Even if you nuh want him, breed fi him then."

"Mommy, you too, red eye."

A who tell me fi say that? Before mi blink good a one fist that connect with my left eye.

"Because man a look yuh, yuh think mi and you a size!" Mommty shouted while I cower aware covering my eyes and crying.

"You nuh get nothing yet fi bawl fah. Get up out of my sight and go finish way you did a do. Mi a give you good advice and you nuh want it. I wished my mother did sit and guide me because if she did me won't get pregnant at the tender age of sixteen with you!" She shouted while I rushed off to the kitchen area.

She was still cussing while I washed my hands and resumed making the tossed salad. I was rigid and on guard the whole time because I knew she wanted to throw hands at me some more. By the time I finished, the salad was filled with tears. The timer went off on the oven, and I took it out and left it on the stovetop to cool with the file paper top partially off.

I went and washed my face and saw in the bathroom mirror that the skin around my eyes was all black and blue. Just because I told her the truth that she red-eyed the people, Mommy gave me a black eye.

I entered the room and go in the corner next to my bed, even though I wanted to go lay down and sleep. But I knew if I did that she going to cuss that sun out and I was sleeping.

"Tamara, try get up from deh so and go wash out the panties deh and put them pon the line," Mommy said throwing the bags of lingerie at me.

I don't want them, but I knew if I voiced this, she would start with me again. So instead, I said, "Mi wash already today, and the line is full."

"Mmm. What time did you wash? Me know you wash early so them deh muss dry by now inna the sun hot.  I don't want no bag a duty draws inna me house."

"Them new and mi nuh want them."

"Young lady wash the draws them and nuh make me and you have nothing. I won't tell you again, because it look like you a try earn yourself a matching black eye."

***

"How you one can wash suh?" Neiko said while I was hanging out the new laundty on the line. I had alread taken the stuff from earlier and folded them up into two baskets.

Neiko had come with a big spliff in and a lighter as soon as he saw me earlier. He had been trying to make conversation but all now mi nuh look at him. I thought he would have avoided me, especially after spreading lies bout he slept with me, done me out, and all these things.

"You know a washy lily them call yuh?" He asked and once again i ignored him.

I first hang the shirt and shorts I had on earlier with my wash rag and bath towel that I used today. Then I nervously start putting up the lacy undergarments.

"Bomboclaat!" Neiko said blowing out a puff of smoke.

I hissed my teeth. Why did he come here so with ganja smoke next to the wet clothes?

"A me you buy them deh fah or a next man you find pon mi?"

I rolled my eyes and start move faster getting these stuff on the line.