Jamaicarunnings Serial- "the Girl from the Lane"

The Girl from the Lane – Installment # 10

The city of Kingston is the centre of all social, economic and political activities in Jamaica being the island’s capital. With most economic activities originating from that point in the island, it was not surprising that almost all the top secondary schools were in the capital city. Latoya had already made her mother proud by passing the local Common Entrance Examinations for Saint Andrews High School for girls three years earlier and was among the top five students in her class. Newton, had done the same examination earlier that year and was determined that he would pass for the most legendary Boys School in the island, Kingston College. This would not have been among the choice of his mother, and certainly not his father had he been around. However, Newton had a mind of his own and he had expressed a great deal of interest in this school long before he would have been preparing for the exams.
Newton had been compiling comprehensive notes on the school within a year of his Common Entrance. He knew about the school’s Founder, the Late Percival William Gibson. He was aware of the school’s legendary second principal Douglas Forrest. He was quite familiar with the school’s scholastic record and its’ luminous contribution to academia, the island’s Justice System, the numerous Medical stalwarts turned out by the school. More than anything else, he followed every early morning sports report on the radio on his commute to school in order to keep track of the schools’ performance in seasonal sports.
Sheila was very proud of her children and did her best to secure their happiness and comfort. As her son prepared to celebrate his 12th birthday, she had bought him a new set of cricket gears as this had been his latest interest. She reflected on the challenge she had to deal with raising her son. While Latoya too was a challenge, raising a boy child and keeping him focused required significant effort. It would have been so different if he had a father. This thought stayed with her for a while as she realized it was over eight years since she had seen Tony. “A boy should not grow without a father,” she thought aloud. In the recesses of her mind she also thought about having a man in her life. She was mother and father to her children and by her own standards, she was satisfied that she had done her best for them but she had not been particularly successful in the male companionship department.

“Why are you being so aggressive Tony? I have not seen you for over three weeks and as you walk into the house you begin to complain. What is the problem, I really need to know what the problem is?” Sheila had pleaded.
Tony had hissed his teeth before responding. He scoured the small two bedroom house with his eyes as if looking for something. “This place just not encouraging” was his response finally.
“But we have two children. Look at how they have developed. In spite of everything else, they are healthy, they are not hungry. Both of us are going along. It could have been a lot worse!” Sheila pointed. She was really becoming annoyed with what was now becoming an all too familiar behavior of his.
Tony seemed a little fidgety. He shoved his hands into his pockets as he shuffled around the house. It became immediately clear to her that he had no intention of staying, even for the night.
“I am of the impression that you have something that you want to say.” Sheila stated.
“Something like what?” Tony asked.
“Maybe if I knew I wouldn’t be pressing you for whatever it is,“ she said.
“I don’t know where you are going with this argument. All I am saying is that I not encouraged by this place and…”
“You have somewhere else that you would prefer being…” She had not allowed him to finish. “Let me tell you something Tony Campbell. I don’t like this place any more than you do but it is all that I have for me and these two children. Maybe you have something better, wherever you are when you are not here, and that is good for you, but this is what I have… me, and these children. I can’t even remember when we have had a decent moment together without a quarrel. If all you can do when you come here is to pick a quarrel, then don’t come here at all then.”
“What do you mean?” Asked Tony.
“You know damn well what I mean” she responded.
“No I don’t” he had said.
“Let me spell it out for you then” She was now becoming quite enraged. “I don’t need your antagonism. I don’t need your whining. I have had enough of that from you and everybody else. If that is all you have to give, because it certainly isn’t money, affection,
nurturing for these children or anything else, then just don’t come here. As a matter of fact, do not even think about staying. Take your damn complaining self out of here.”
Tony was completely taken by surprise. He had never seen this side of her before. She stormed past him and flung the door open.
“Go!” She said. “Leave now and do us a favour…. don’t ever come back”

That was more than eight years before. Today, for the first time in a while, on the 12th birthday of their son, Sheila wondered where in the world was Tony Campbell.

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