Whittle

When I stand on the veranda I see the little house perched on the hill. It looks near, but if I want to reach it I have to walk along the road, and after I bend the corner I go down a little hill, then climb a big hill before I reach. Maas Bertram, Miss Kizzy and Suzie live there.

Maas Bertram and Miss Kizzy have a meeting house. It is a crude structure. Some posts are jammed into the ground and boards are nailed haphazardly on top of the posts. Coconut branches are laid on top to form the roof. The house is square in shape with red dirt for flooring, and seats are slabs placed on cement blocks.

This is where fasting is kept every first Wednesday in each month. The meeting house is at the bottom of the hill.

Today Mama takes me with her to fasting. In the middle of the room is a table spread with a white tablecloth, and on the table is a lot of food covered under a white mesh to keep flies away. I see a big round bread, corn pone, potato pudding, aerated water and a big pot of coffee.

The people here are from the district. They don't dress up and wear hats like the people in the regular church, but the women tie their heads. I take a seat beside Mama and watch and listen.

The leader is Brother Bertram. He is dressed in a red gown and his head is wrapped in white and red cloth. A pencil is sticking out of the head tie and a big Bible is in his hand.

"Brothers and sisters, we are gathered here again to fast and pray!"

"Fast and pray!" comes the response.

"Today wi gwine step pon Satan and trample him! Wi gwine show him who have the power!"

"The power of God stand any test!" the people shout.

"Open yuh Bible to Psalm 100 and Sister Manda you read!" Brother Bertram commands as he hands the big Bible to the reader.

Miss Manda reads, but at the end of each verse Brother Bertram stops her, and in a loud voice and with a lot of dancing about and moving of the hands he comments on each verse.

It is fun to watch him and listen to him.

Each time he says something, some of the people shout "Amen!" Others shout "Hallelujah!"

When Miss Manda is finished reading, Brother Bertram takes the Bible from her and shouts, "Raise a chorus, sister!"

Everybody looks at Miss Sally, the silly-looking woman with the strong soprano voice.

"Come along an meck wi roll the chariot away

An if di devil in di way wi roll it over him

An never look behind."

They all sing and clap and dance. I sit there and picture the ugly old Devil dressed in black, and the chariot coming fast and knocking down the scamp. Then they start to sing about the key man who locked the door of the ark.

"Key man, key man, key man, key man

Key man lock the door an gawn

A pair of every animal was saved in the ark

Key man lock di door an gawn."

Then I start wondering how so many animals could hold inside the ark. Two of everyone! Who stopped the dog from chasing the cat, and who stopped the cat from eating the rat, and the lizard, for that matter? Who stopped the lion and the tiger and those dangerous animals from eating the sheep and goats and other tame animals?

"If I had the wings of a dove

I would fly, fly away and be at rest."

I remember how I was flying in my dream last night, and how I saw the scarecrow, and I wasn't afraid of him at all.

Then Miss Mag starts jumping and screaming, before she throws herself on the ground. The rest of the people form a circle around her and chant, "Uma a um, uma a um, uma a um!"

Miss Kizzy grabs a bottle of water and wets up everybody, while she shouts, "Cut and clear! Cut and clear! Cut and clear!"

Mass Jacob grabs Mama and spins her around. "Tun yuh roll!" he shouts. "Tun yu roll!"

By now, I am getting hot and I am very hungry. I keep eyeing the potato pudding on the table. The smell is driving me crazy and making me hungrier and hungrier. I like potato pudding. This one smells just like how it looks. Nice! I try to watch the people dancing and chanting and carrying on, but my mind can deal with nothing else now.

Brother Bertram starts to preach. "Today God lay it pon mi heart to preach to yu all about pride!" he announces.

I am hungry. The last thing I want to hear is long talking, but Brother Bertram continues preaching and the people are jumping and shouting and saying "Amen!"

"Pride goeth before a fall! Shouts Brother Bertram!"

"Tell them brother! Tell them!" his followers shout.

"Mama mi want piece a pudding!

"Shh!"

'Humble yuself and the Lord will draw near!"

"Humble yuself mi brother!" comes the response

"Mama please fi a piece a pudding!" I shout.

"Behave yuself!" Mama whispers.

As Christians unnu mustn't look down pon nobaddy!"

"Please for pudding!"

"In the name of Jesus, give the child a piece a pudding!" bellows Brother Bertram.

"Hallelujah!" comes the response.

Brother Bertram stops preaching.

Now the place is quiet. Miss Kizzy has just realised what the preacher says, and she cuts a hunk of the pudding and gives it to me.

Mama looks like the earth should take her in, but I just take the pudding and go and sit on a tree stump outside to eat it.

"Hallelujah!" I shout in my mind. "Pudding never taste sweeter to me yet!"

Well, to cut a long story short, I stay outside until the fasting is finished. While the preaching continues, I search for Suzie and we find a little spot and play some jacks.

Later, I walk home with Mama and Miss Hermin. Mama talks all the way home with Miss Hermin and she hasn't mentioned the pudding, so I know everything is all right. Moreover, Mama hardly beats us. That's why I love her so much.

We reach home and Miss Hermin is gone. Still holding my hand, Mama opens the door and we go in.

"Mama, what a way the people dem dance an sing today!" I wait for the reply.

It comes instantly. Mama picks up the hairbrush with the handle.

Slap! The first one lands on my arm, and I cry out, shocked and hurt.

"A gwine show yu dance an sing! Why yu gwan so fi pudding at the fasting today?

Slap!

"Nuh!"

Slap!

"Nuh!"

Slap!

"Nuh ever dweet again!"

Slap! Slap!

"Is the last time yuh coming to fasting wid mi!"