There was no doubting the fact that I was a good free diver, even at fourteen years old. I could stay submerged under water for a very long time, without air and without the aid of any form of breathing apparatus. Hence the reason, when I tried out to be a part of the Bermuda Police Service Diving Search and Rescue team, I pass the exams in water that was subzero temperature, with little ease.
However; I could not remain submerged under water without air for as long as people such as Kelvin Defreitas, AKA Sheriff; who was the best freestyle under water diver there was. Once Sheriff was being chased by the police, on the docks, he jumped overboard, and dived from Geest wharf to the area of the old Fish Market.
The police declared him dead half way in his dive. Because no one was able to remain submerged under water for that long. Sheriff was a human fish. I could not match the length of time submerged of Pricks who was freestyle diver for a living, and a few others but I could have held my own in the water.
I put Jah-I's counsel to the back of my head, and was adamant to get a USA dollar coin. One day while I was diving tourist boat; Bread Head and I were working off of the roof that covers the bridge that led to the Geest Shed. All the sharks were out and they were eager, to make money. A dollar coin was tossed into the pond, the area of the Geest warehouse, by a tourist.
Pricks the lead diver in his boat and Goma the lead diver in his boat were in the pond that is the area between the reclaimed area the Harbor and the main strip of the dock at the Main Harbor. At this point of St. Vincent and the Grenadines History there was no Cruise Ship Terminal.
I saw Pricks and Goma went into the water at the US dollar coin, I dived, head first off of the roof of Geest Shed bridge. I was late, there was no way I was going to get that coin before the two sharks did. When I got to the fracas under water. I notice Goma and Pricks were swiping away with their hands at the US dollar coin, each man trying to snatched the elusive coin before the other did. By this time, both men and the coin was almost to the bottom near to the ocean floor.
The aggressive snatching of the hand created underwater turbulence, which move the coin away from their hands. They were also blocking each other’s hand in an effort prevent the other from getting the coin. It was friendly rivalry, and at time the rivalry could get friendly nasty. When that happened expect the favor in return.
I joined the underwater fracas over the US dollar coin, I was desperate, this was a serious matter. I had time on my side. Pricks and Gomer had been fighting under water for quite a while for the coin before I join them. Now their lungs were almost out of breath to sustain the underwater brawl for much longer. I came into the brawl late and therefore I was fresh.
I was hoping that both men ran out or breath and have to return to the surface, before either of them get the coin so that way I can clean up without much work. Unfortunately, Gomer managed to make a swipe that caused him to collect the coin. However, he was out of breath and so was Pricks. I proceeded to hold Gomer in a neck lock whilst he was still submerged, preventing him from getting to the surface. He was clearly out of breath and could not sustained a fight. This was a common thing to get your opponent to relinquished their new aquired bounty.
Even though Gomer was bigger, stronger and older than I was. At this particular point in Gomer’s dive, he was all out of breath and could not sustain a fight under water not even with a person of my size and strength. And because he was totally out of breath he releases the dollar coin. After which I release my hold on Gomer, then I proceeded to dive to the bottom, of the harbor, without refreshing myself, where I retrieved the USA one-dollar coin from off of the sea floor.
When I resurface, Pricks was dying with laughter because of the scene he had just bore witness to. Gomer on the other hand, was cursing at me not in anger, but issuing a warning. He said, “Oh so you bad dive me, I hope when I bad dive yo expletive, expletive, you could take it. The long and the short of the matter was; Gomer was not going to get the opportunity to bad dive me, because I had gotten what I want and what I came for. I quickly converted all the coins I had collect for the day into US paper dollars, then I went home.
On Christmas Eve morning, my father gives me $30.00 for my Christmas. I went into Paul's Lot, to pay for and collect my ring. I did not know what to expect; how nice will this ring be? After all, it was being made by a little ghetto youth-man, in his mother's kitchen, using crude homemade tools, a homemade furnace, etc. I just hope it looked good enough to be passable. Passable in the nice Jewel box, I had already kidnapped from my sister would be very good.
I handed over $15.00 to Tony the Jeweler, and the Tony handed a ring to me, rapped in soft white paper. I honestly did not know what to expect, however, I careful and fearfully unwrapped the paper, afraid of the disappointment that may be hiding within the paper.
I took one look at the product, I was just a bout to give a disappeared O LAWD! But when I took a good look at the ring, I could not believe what my eyes beheld, I looked at Tony the Jeweler, I looked at the ring I looked at the Jeweler again. The Tony the Jeweler looked at me for a sign, any sign of what I thought of his work.
I could not say anything, all I could have done, was to burst out in a loud, mocking laugh. Not mocking the Jeweler, but myself for doubting the simple man ability. It was an excellent, piece of glittering workmanship. I was impressed, I thank the Jeweler, then I hurried home, got me some Christmas paper, scotch tape and I went to work rapping that tiny bad girl up with gift paper. I even put pleats on the package. Every end on that package were neatly tucked away, after many attempts and about 3 hours of effort, the gift was perfectly rapped.
Immediately, all fears of being out gifted disappeared. Later that day, I handed Janet a tint neatly rapped gift, we chatted for a while, then I return home. I wanted to spend Christmas with Janet, but that was impossible. Thoughts of Janet dominated my mind. It was torture, for two days I did not see the love of my life. I wanted to see the love of my life but I could not.
On Christmas morning Janet call me bursting with excited, she sounded even more excited than my sister Andrea was. She said Allan this is the best gift I have ever received, thank you so much. I love it! I have it on right now, I promise you, I will never lose this ring. Janet apologize for not getting me anything because she did not have any money to.
I did not want any gift from my princess. All I want was her to be happy and from the sounds of it she was. Janet had given me the gift that keeps on giving: the gift of love. Today when I think of this phase of my life, I get light-headed, and a warm fussy feeling inside all over again. The gift of true love is the most awesomely-terrific thing one can ever experience.
Later, Kathy told me, Arnhim got Janet a gift but Janet told him she was sorry, but she could not accept a gift from him. I was happy that Janet made that decision and took that action. That told me everything I need to know about this beautiful teen, the quality of the woman I had fallen head over heels in love with.
Janet not taking the gift from Arnhim made me feel special, made me feel exclusive, because she made that sacrifice for me. Most women today do not understand the importance of making the man in their life feel exclusive. Janet did and for that I will always love and respect her.
Thanks you all for reading my stories and for Joining me in a walk down memory lane. Merry Christmas to you and your family, and a prosperous new year. I love each of you.
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