THE JAMAICAN ARTISE PA

JADA POV:

" so you are Andre's sister? Sorry if I looked shocked earlier but, to tell you the truth I am, because Andre stated that him don't have nuh family which, I took to mean that him have aunties ,uncles , cousins but, he just doesn't have a good relationship with them but, a sister? him neva mentioned not being an only child "

We were currently inside Juici patties since Denise decided we needed to talk and me after hearing that she a Andre sista fully agreed. 

" same mother different fathers. I am not surprised that him neva speak about his family or mention me in anyway . I was taken by my father when I was 5 years old and raised by him overseas in America until I turned 19 and was able to travel back to Jamaica whenever i wanted. I don't remember much of our mom but, one thing I know for certain is that,  that family is toxic so am not surprised Andre wanted to escape"

" to tell the truth am glad he managed to separate himself from our family and create a name for himself , wish we had a sibling relationship but, am satisfied seeing him doing what he loves to do without being apart of his life "  she smile as she finished,

" and am glad he has you, I am not really a social media person but, from the likkle I saw of your relationship you make him happy and that's all I need" .

It did clear from har explanation that she neva really know anything about what Andre had to guh through and endure while living wid him parents and a neva my place fi tell har but, at the same time mi did want she and Andre fi meet up and talk , not just fi dem create the bond between bredda and sista but, also mi want wi baby fi be able fi have if a even one person pon dem fada side fi call aunty , a relative not just my family alone .

" are you currently living in Jamaica right now ?"

She shook her head " no hun, just here for the Christmas season but, am going back to California after New year's eve ".

" my family is having Christmas dinner , you are welcome to join . I would really love to have you and Andre together just suh unu can talk and rebuild the relationship . A mean afta so many years, I am sure there is a lot that both of you need to discuss with each other"

  " yuh know what? I would love to come. Here take my number , call me and let me know the day . Long time I haven't had some real nice jamaican christmas cooking and I really want to see my brother ".

Mi tek har number and then wi guh wi separate ways. Mi did almost reach up when mi phone ring and mi ansa when mi si mi landlord name as the caller ID.

" Mr Duncan?"

" Miss Campbell, did figet fi mention earlier when mi si yuh but, just wah yuh fi know seh the house covered wid insurance suh doh worry yuh head bout any form a payment for damages. Even without insurance yuh still not at fault fah anything because anuh you start the fiya ".

Well, thank god ! even though Andre did already prepare fi tek care a it , mi just glad seh him nuh affi worry do anything because mi just nuh like it when people have to solve my problem dem, it just mek mi feel like mi owe dem sumuh aftawards.

" ok Mr Duncan,  thank you fah letting mi know "

" of course , you know a ready seh you are one of my best tenants and mi glad seh yuh mek it out and nothing worse neva happen to you . The police a investigate the matta though right?"

" yes , dem a look into it . Only thing a can do right now is just wait "

" hope dem doh tek too long but, then again a Jamaica we deh , wi have a long wait a wait but, inna eh meantime tek care of yuhself miss Campbell and wi will talk soon alight?"

" alright Mr Duncan, enjoy the rest a yuh evening " and him end the call. When mi reach up , mi did surprised fi find Andre a wait on the veranda.

" wi cah talk ?" Him stand up and mi figa seh wi might as well because mi need him fi tell mi if him remember him sista or not and why him neva mention har .

" Come " and wi guh round to the back yaad and sidung  on the bench underneath the breadfruit tree.

" yah tek yuh meds?" him ask and mi almost laugh because mi know him neva come all eh way up yahsuh fi ask mi bout nuh medication but, mi ansa anyway.

" yes I am . Andre , mi know yuh tell mi seh yuh doh have nuh family and I interpreted that to mean that them exists but, yuh just choose nuh fi have a relationship wid dem but, out a all a dem yuh nuh have not even one family member weh yuh woulda wah talk to ?"

Him look pon hard and then him exhale calmly " no , why mi woulda wah have wah relationship wid people weh know weh mi did a guh through and deveen open dem mouth fi seh nuhun ? Eh whole a dem dead to mi as far as mi see it . Why wi a talk bout mi family right now? "

" because mi know yuh nah tell mi eh full story Andre . Yuh keep on a talk bout trust and yet still yuh a hold back things from mi . How wi suppose to trust each other if yuh cah be honest wid mi ?"

" wah yah talk bout b? If yuh have sumuh fi seh to mi , just seh it "

" Denise,  yuh have wah sista name Denise White, right?"

Him stare pon mi ,surprise and then him ask " how yuh even ...."

Mi explain to him how mi meet him sista and then weh wi talk bout and then mi tell him seh mi invite har a mi family Christmas dinna suh dem cah meet up and talk like mature adults.

" yuh doh miss har Andre ? A mean afta suh much years , yuh nuh feel like unu need fi talk to each other? mi know mi neva inna yuh situation but, base on the conversation that we had mi nuh si nuh reason fi you fi doh want a relationship wid yuh sista ".

" anuh seh mi doh wah have wah relationship wid har but, afta everything weh mi did affi guh through mi nuh wah have nuh form a connection to nubody from dah family deh b. To how mi hate dem bredda , if mi coulda change mi bloodline mi dweet long time ".

" and I understand that but, anuh just you alone this aguh affect nuh more . Mi doh want wi future son or daughter fi grow up without even one relative from har fada side suh please,  just talk to har when she come a the dinna and if yuh still don't feel up to it then we will find a way fi work around it but, mi want har inna wi baby life ".

" ah " and afta some seconds a silence mi ask him what him really come here for .

" just did need fi si yuh . Eh just nuh feel right when mi guh dung a eh office and your office door lock or when mi done work and a fawod back a mi yaad and yuh nuh deh beside mi inna eh car or deh home a wait pon mi . As much as mi know wi neva live together,  eh time dem weh yuh spend wid mi a mi place just mek eh place feel like wah actual home and now eh just gone back to just wah house " him look inna mi eyes as him talk and mi feel like mi did wah cry but, mi just nuh ready fi guh back deh suh wid him yet and wah even worse mi might nuh guh back at all.

" Andre..."

" eh good man, mi will deal wid it . Mi nah force yuh fi come back or feel nuh way, just a mek yuh know how me feel. Mi a lef yah now , just memeba seh if yuh need nuhun just text or call an mek mi know " and him get up and walk off while mi remain pon the bench, a think bout everything . Right now mi just feel confused and tired , one part a mi just wah give in and guh back to how wi use to be before all a this but, wah next part just wah re start, rebuild everything fresh and move on but, mi know mi cah lef Andre , because mi need him probably even more than how him need me .