Final Notice

This serves to notify Mr. Daniel Bailey that only thirty days remain in which to pay all fees owing to the university. Failure to meet this deadline will result in enrolment being terminated.

Daniel stared broodingly at the notice from the Dean of Admissions and then back at the negative balance in his account. This is the last time, he thought as he picked up his phone and dialled the familiar number whilst reflecting on events of the last few months.

"Dan Man!"

Daniel turned at the sound of one of the many names by which he was called.

"Who dat? Rambo?" he questioned, "Wah gwaan yute?

"Mi deh yah enuh boss," Rambo answered, "Weh yah deal wid?"

"Yuh know seh a class me a fawud from doh," Daniel said sitting down next to Rambo his former schoolmate, "Wah gwaan wid yuh and school?"

Laughing Rambo placed his hands behind his head, "Deh C.A.S.E ting deh?"

He ran his hand down his face as I nodded, "Dat neva work out enuh, suh yuh dun know man a gwaan hustle a likkle food."

"Hustling?" Daniel questioned.

"Yea, mi a sell some herbs yuh dun know," he stated.

"Herbs?" Daniel asked once more.

"Yea dah kush ting deh. mi can buss yuh inna di business if yuh waan."

"Oh no, that's okay I'm good but I have to run now," said Daniel hurriedly.

"Ahh mi boss, yuh have mi numba doh? Hail up yuh mada zeen?" Rambo replied unaffected.

Daniel nodded in reply to both statements. He started home to the upper middle class community of Thousand Acres, which was just a stone's throw away from Rambo's home in Hundred Gardens.

Stepping through the threshold he shouted, "I'm home."

His heart leapt with joy as his mother replied, "I'm in here son."

Following her voice, he found her leaning heavily against the kitchen counter.

"Mom, what are you doing?" he yelled, "You should be resting."

"Don't be silly I feel a lot better," she said, "Anita gave me something to help with the nausea, I swear that's the worst part of chemo."

Daniel gritted his teeth at her weak attempt at humour.

"Go up to your room mom, Anita and I will finish this."

As he spoke Anita, the middle-aged domestic helper came back in the room.

"Good Evelin' Daniel."

Responding as his mother was leaving the room he asked, "Anita what did you give her? I haven't seen her this strong in a while."

"Is juss a likkle bush tea."

"Bush? Which bush dat?"

"A some ganja weh mi ben get wen mi guh 'ome weh day, yaah guh fyah mi fi it?"

"No Anita, is there any mail?"

She pointed to the small pile on the counter. They were from the usual utility companies but one was from the bank. The curiosity that coursed through his veins as he opened the letter was promptly doused as he say the heading, NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE.

He heaved a sigh. The pot of ganja brewing on the stove caught his attention and he suddenly remembered his conversation with Rambo. Reaching for his phone, he dialled the number.

... An automated voice came on telling him that he had reached Rambo's voicemail. This had been happening for the past few days but he persisted. Swearing loudly, he redialled the number and continued his reflection.

...18, 19, 20. Daniel counted the thousand dollar bills and placed an elastic band over them. It had been a couple months since he accepted Rambo's business proposition and since then all had been going well. They were selling ganja to almost everyone. Whether for recreational or medical purposes, anyone who wanted good quality weed came to them.

All the outstanding bills were paid, his mother had her medicine and was no wiser about their prior struggle. He could do nothing about the foreclosure but he found a small apartment for rent that would be suitable and was rather affordable. Anita had also stayed on free of cost out of loyalty to his mother for the past couple of months.

He had brought next to nothing to the business and was grateful that Rambo had given him this opportunity but now he owed him money and Daniel felt it time to collect.

The call went to voicemail again.

"Mi a guh dung a Unjid," he told Anita.

"Alright, but Daniel mi haffi tell yuh, mi get a work up di road suh hafta nex week mi cyaan come back," she said.

Daniel smiled sadly, "That's okay Anita, thanks for all you've done."

In Hundred Gardens, Daniel hurriedly made his way to Rambo's house. As he approached the door, his phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Daniel a yuh mada..." Anita's tearfully voice said, "She nah breathe, mi juss call di hospital, come quick!"

He needed to leave but he also needed to collect his money from Rambo, he might need it for a funeral...

Frowning, he knocked on the door. It swung open to the mouth of a gun and an authoritative voice yelled, "Police! Face pon di grung bwoy, a yasso it done!"