Sylvester

The gift of life was not highly valued by Keith Jackson. Not until he began to realise that his poor opinion of himself was beginning to be shared by others.

Keith was a 'wash-belly'. Six years after his birth, his mother (rightly concluding that she would have no more children) decided that Keith would forever be her baby. Much of the attention, which was rightly due to his older siblings was diverted to him and he lapped it up like a thirsty puppy.

When his mother died, Keith was in his thirties. His brother, Dennis, and sister, Ruth, had moved out years before to start work and relationships on their own. Much of what they earned contributed to keeping Keith alive since he was too lazy to work. Fortunately, the small house in which he lived had been owned by their long-deceased father.

Keith Jackson was now alone and depressed. Though Ruth and Dennis still continued to care for him financially and otherwise, he felt neglected and began to toy with the idea of killing himself. Anyone who alluded to the fact that he still had his brother and sister would be compelled to listen to a litany of woes which his siblings' neglect had caused upon him. Then he would declare with much resignation that his suffering would not go on for much longer, since he was soon to join his dear departed mother.

At first, no one took the threats seriously. Keith picked up on this and decided to remedy the situation. He wrote a letter telling everyone that since he was so alone in the world, he was forced to put an end to his miserable existence. Then, leaving this missive in a place where his brother was sure to find it, he took off carrying a length of rope.

The letter was discovered about an hour later and the entire community went in search of their errant son. Happily, the effort of climbing the hill to his Golgotha, had made him very tired. He decided to take a quick nap on a pile of banana trash, which lay in the shade of a big mango tree. When he was properly rested, he told himself he would do the dastardly deed. His brother and friends found him asleep with the rope in his hand.

So overcome were Dennis and Ruth with joy and relief, that they showered upon their brother more love and attention than he had ever known. Keith was very happy. Then it dawned on him. This was the way to keep them on their toes! Whenever they fell short, he would threaten to kill himself. And this he did for several years.

Then one evening, Keith came home early. He had been living with his sister and her husband for sometime. As was his habit, he sat on a big stone at the corner of the house to eavesdrop on them.

"Is a pity him can't dead meck wi bury him!"

That was his sister's voice. But who was she talking about? It had to be her husband, Joe. He had been hoping for a long time that something would cause them to break up. Their closeness made him feel left out. Now it seemed something had. He smiled to himself. He was listening to hear who Ruth was complaining to, about her husband, when he heard Joe say:

"Shame on you, Ruth! Your own little brother? You don't mean dat!"

Keith wanted to run, but he only managed to stand.

"Little brother! Little brother! Him don't little again and I can't put up wid him anymore. Him a kill mi, man!"

"But you suppose to use to him by now," Joe said.

"If you did know him as long as me," Ruth said, "You woulda tired a him too."

"What! So is funeral you want now?" Joe asked.

"Betta him dead an go to Mum. Is she one him care bout," was Ruth's conclusion.

Keith could hardly believe his ears. His own sister wanted him dead. What hold did he have over her now? Quietly, he wept in the darkness. Suddenly, being dead became an unattractive prospect.

Silently, he went into the house and to bed. For many hours he lay awake trying his hardest to come up with a plan to get back at his sister and all his enemies who wanted him dead. But how? Shortly before he fell asleep, he came to the conclusion that this idea of suicide had to be put on hold. At least, for the time being.

Joe greeted him the following morning and they sat down to their usual big breakfast. Throughout the meal, Joe stared in wonder at his brother-in-law. For the first time since he had come to live with them, Keith was eating heartily without even criticising the food.

In time he began to put on weight and became stronger. Everybody except himself was pleased. Keith was angry. He decided that since his death would prove convenient for 'some people', he would be a fool to oblige them. He was going to live! He would show them. He would show them that Keith Jackson was nobody's fool! He would show them that he could do just about anything he set his mind to.

And he did.

Keith threw himself into farming. He planted bananas and red peas. He reared goats and chickens. He started a small business. Then he married a lady who had been giving him the eye for sometime. He forgot to pay too much attention to himself and pitched head over heels, deep into love with his new wife.

He became the father of two daughters and a son who became the centre of his life. He worked hard at educating them well and he cuddled their hearts with love.

His daughters are now grown and married and his third grand-child is expected by year-end. Now that he is getting on in years, his son manages the family business.

Keith now spends most of his time at home. His widowed sister Ruth, lives with him too. She is very proud of her 'little brother', but she still teases him from time to time.

"So when you planning to go to Mum?" she asks him.

"Don't rush mi Ma'am, don't rush mi," her brother responds with a roar of laughter.

"Is funeral you want?"

"Is Joe did say dat!" Ruth giggles. "Him was a good man".

"Yes," Keith agrees. "A kind man. Him an' Dennis".

"Dem two woulda teck anybody talkin' bout suicide very serious you know, Keith? If I did know you was listening, I wouldn't did say dem tings dat night at all!"

"But if I did know you was going say dem tings, I wouldn't did a listen!" Keith tells her.

"Me an' you will soon be joining Joe an' Dennis an' Mum now," Ruth continues. "What a way time can fly!"

"Listen Ruth," Keith responds, "Speak for youself! I have no intention of getting myself mixed up wid no dead people right now. I plan to live till everybody begin to wonder if mi going to dead at all!"

His is the peace that comes with fulfilment. Having taken his life into his own hands and used it to the full, Keith Jackson is very grateful for having lived.