Excerpt from Jack's Hill Road...

"You think is only black man capture land, Denton?"  Percy quipped.

"Of course, is only black man I know steal land!"

Heh heh," Percy chuckled, "I was about ten when Busha Morgan ride into Bluefield's in his Land Rover. You know the old time Land Rover that rattle like tin can? He pull up to the shop where my father and Uncle Freddy was playing dominoes and said  he needed some chaps to do some work. Well, the sea was rough so Papa and Uncle Freddy never had much to do, so them jump into the back of the Land Rover and ride off with Busha. Two days later Busha drop them back at the shop. Papa said that they measure out and peg over five hundred acre of land and that Busha was coming back in two days to start fence it. Uncle Freddy never want any part of Busha and his fence work, but Papa said the money was good so he would work with him for a while. Papa said the fish would still be in the sea when he got back. Well, Papa never get back to the sea, cause Busha fence up the land, plant sugar cane, graze over two hundred head of cattle and had a pig pen with over three hundred pigs. About five years pass and one day Busha brush down his blonde hair put on his Busha hat and ride into Sav-la-mar tax office.”

He say, "I've come to pay my taxes." to the clerk in the office.

The poor girl reply, "But Sir, I have no property tax notices for you."

"In those days," continued Percy, “You don’t question white man.  When a white man tell you to do something, you do it.”

"There must be some mistake, call your supervisor,” Busha told the girl.

“Well Denton, to cut a long story short, Busha leave Sav-la-mar with five year's notices and five year's receipts. Some more years pass and one day Busha dress up himself again. This time he had a brand new Land Rover and no hair on his head. So, he brush down the little fringe of puss hair left on his head back, put on his Busha hat and ride off into Kingston. Well you must know what happen now?”  Percy asked.

"No." said Denton who was sitting up in his chair and enjoying the story. The gunshots outside forgotten, “come on man, tell me the rest!" urged Denton.

"Busha went all the way to Constant Spring Tax Office, open  up him two blue eye at the tax man up there and tell him, "I come for me Title!"

"NO!"  Denton was incredulous.

"Yes!" laughed Percy, "As easy as that, Busha tief nearly five hundred acre of Crown Land!”

"So what else happen?" asked Denton.

"This time Busha had to pay some money and it took three days, but he came back to Bluefield's with his title. At that time we never know what was going on. Papa continue to work for Busha until he got sick bad, and when Papa got sick, all Busha had for him were three small words....Sorry to hear!!!.”

“If it was not for Uncle Freddy, we starve to death. That is why even though I hate the sea so much and nearly vomit out me tripe a dozen times, I always had to help out Uncle Freddy. Because of the way Busha treat Papa I never put my foot back on Busha farm, so when I got the telegram to say that Busha dead and leave me ten acres of it I nearly wee wee up miself."

"Ten acre, rass Percy, is a whole heap of land that!  But I still don’t think is enough to help out Mr. Dan.”

 “Percy, look, Louise fall asleep."

“Can see that you love her, don't it Denton?”

Denton replied, "Yes Percy, where I come from woman rule, man come like ghost and shadow. I grow with some strong woman, only woman like them could protect a beeps man in Tivoli.”

"We never had any children after Mass Ossie beat out the one we got.  We never got any more again. I know she love you like those two children up at Jacks Hill.”

"So you have a title for the land Percy?  Denton wondered.

"Yes. Busha fix up a nice title for me with my name Percival Jonathan Grant." Percy beamed.

“I think you should keep your land. I want to see Miss Louise get to dip her guineps and hairy mango in the sea water. Percy, she is always talking about that you know, does it really make the fruit taste better?”

"It look so, Denton. One day when she was young I got her a big Jack Fruit and she and the Jack Fruit stay in the sea the whole day."

"Anyway Percy, I have a plan, but is a dangerous plan and it could backfire if we not careful. This is why I come here tonight.  I want to talk to you about it.  I need you to listen carefully and trouble-shoot it if you can.”

"Troubleshoot!! Rathid, Denton you not easy.  Louise know about it Denton?"

"Not all the details, she would try and talk me out of it if I told her everything. Just listen Percy, Louise ever tell you about a man name Kevin Metcalf?"


CHAPTER 6


"SHIT!" screamed Carmen - shit was her favorite word these days. Denton was on his way upstairs to help Louise give Doris her bath and had peeped on Carmen who had just finished on the telephone. C&L had disconnected their land line.  The Pottinger's were down to two cell phones.

"What happen Miss Carmen?" asked Denton.

"Call Louise and the both of you come here," said Carmen, "and look in the study, see if Mr. Dan left any cigarettes in there,” instructed Carmen.

I am not having a bath now. I just had a bath, my pussy is not dirty!" screamed Doris from upstairs. "But you not smelling so good Miss Doris.” Louise was tired from chasing Doris around the bed. "Just a quick little wash Miss Doris, Elizabeth going to vex with me if I do not bathe you today."

I don't care who vex with you. I am not going into the bath today. I never slept with no man last night so I do not need to wash anything."

“Leave her Louise," said Denton from the door way "Miss Carmen want to see us now on the porch.”

Turning to Doris, Denton patted her on her head and said,

"Never mind you hear Miss Doris, when I am done with Miss Carmen I am going to come for you and we will go outside and play with the garden hose.”


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