Windy Valley Secondary – Trials of the Young and Restless

22.AUG.08

by Shaney Connell Edited by Shamal Connell

After a failed attempt at committing suicide, Miriam finally told Ras her terrible secret. And Ras has developed a plan to help her.

“Ras, ah wey she dey? Where is Miriam?” {{more}}

“I told you Susan, I don’t know where she is,” insisted Ras.

“I hear that she is Sharpie’s new girl. Did you know about this?”

“All I can tell you is that she is not with Sharpie anymore.”

“Anymore? So she was with him before?”

Ras felt that he was getting Miriam into more trouble.

“Wherever she run way to, yo better mek sure that her parents find her before me. When I see her I am going to smash her face…”

Ras gently replaced the handset back onto the receiver. Ras was familiar with Susan’s temper and when she started cussing she couldn’t stop. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then turned and thanked the neighbour for the use of their phone and returned home.

Home was a wooden shack built on four wooden slits, with concrete steps leading to the crooked entrance. Outside was neat and tidy, thanks to the constant sweeping of his sisters. A few potted plants dotted the yard. The bright vibrant familiar red, yellow and green gave the yard the much needed colour lacking throughout the house.

Ras observed Miriam crouched under the water pipe; she was studying the palm of her hands that had turned deep crimson. She picked up the knife and clumsily tried to peel the sweet potatoes. As she peeled, the knife slipped and sliced her hand. Ras rushed to her aid, “Miriam,” he said, concerned. “Let me have a look”.

Miriam clenched her hand and turned away from Ras. “It’s only a small cut,” she said, ashamed. Living with Ras was a new experience. She never experienced hunger pains before, never had to take her showers outside under a three foot tap, and she certainly never had to peel sweet potatoes.

“What’s dis?” sneered Sel as he looked at the bowl of sweet potatoes. It was Ras’ younger brother.

“Sel”, Ras tried to cut Sel off.

“She can’t even peel potato!”

“Sel, shut up” Ras said in a stern tone.

“She’s useless, a waste of space, just another mouth to feed”.

For Miriam, Sel’s words felt more painful than the knife wound in her hand.

“When you going to leave?” asked Sel, demanding an answer from Miriam.

Miriam bowed her head, so her chin touched her chest. She couldn’t answer Sel. He was right. She felt that she was a burden on the family.

“Miriam, please go inside. I need to talk to my brother.” Miriam obeyed Ras. As Miriam left, she could hear Sel questioning Ras.

“Wey she do? Wey she doing here?”

“I can’t say”.

“Keeping secrets now Ras”.

“If I could tell you, I would, if you just listen”.

“No, you listen Ras, get rid of her”.

“Or what?” replied Ras.

The brothers stood staring at each other in silence. Sel was at least a foot taller, broader and heavier. Ras knew that if it came to it, it would be a tough fight. I beat him before and I will beat him again, thought Ras.

“Or what Sel?” Ras asked the second time.

“Or I call the police”.

Ras looked at Sel puzzled. “The police?”

“Haven’t you seen the papers? Miriam’s in it”.

“Can’t be” gasped Ras.

“They reported her kidnapped”.

“Kidnapped? We wrote a note explaining why she was running away!”

“Ras, it won’t be long before they find her. Do you want them to find Miriam here?”

Ras thought hard. Sel was right. It wouldn’t be long before Miriam’s father found her here. And her father would want to blame someone for Miriam’s disappearance. His family would be in trouble. Question is, should he help her and let her stay?

The Windy Valley Secondary series is fictional. Any resemblance to real events, places or persons living or dead, is purely coincidental.