I do not know how many people, have a random day in their life, they can point to, and honestly declare: that day, was the best day of my entire life. A day that lovingly left an indelible scar on their memory, which causes them to look back on that particular day, with a sense of longing. A day that brings a proud nostalgic smile to their faces, and an overwhelming desire, to go back in time, and relive those activities that holds a prominent place in the archive of their memory; but I do.
Janet Reno was just 13 years old, and I was 14 years old; we were still children; just third form student of the Intermediate High School. A School that is affectionately, called "Timmy School" after the long standing principal Bertram Timmy Richards. This school is uniquely located in the Capital Kingstown; in the beautiful, multi-island, tropical Caribbean paradise of St. Vincent and the Grenadine.
Just a few months earlier, my friend Sean Dopwell, was going out of his way, to draw my attention to what Sean said was: "the most beautiful girl you have ever seen in your entire life, you are going to love her" he assured me. I never felt the need to go out of my way to see the most beautiful girl according to Sean. I believed Sean was exaggerating; in doubt I asked myself the rhetorical question: how beautiful could this girl be? However, when I saw her, I was forced to admit, she was very beautiful indeed, but at that point in time, I had no relationship interest in the beautiful young girl.
Now, five months since I first saw Janet, we were in the same class, taking the same subjects; and like a miracle; Janet became the axes on which my world span. When Janet was not around, she was the center of my alone thoughts. I wondered what was she doing, I thought of what I wanted to say to her, I thought of many things and at night; I dreamed of her.
Once I thought about taking Janet to the movies, however, my father only give me enough money for my entrance into the movie and on a good day, he gave me enough money to get a bag of popcorn also. However, I was not sure, how my father would reacted to me asking him for money to take my girlfriend to the movies, so I did not asked. This was my date, not my father's date; this was my girl not my dad's girl; taking Janet to the movies was my responsibility not my father's.
The big question was: how was I going to pull this off? Then, I came up with an idea, of how I could get both of us into the movie for the price of one; it would take a little doing, but it can be done and I was the perfect man to do it. I could take her to the movies, purchase her ticket, a bag of popped corn and a soda make an excuse to have her enter the movies, while I remain outside; this was a customary occurrence and request she hold a seat for me. Then, I will hang around at the entrance of the Cinema, until I find a way to slip, into the movies, unknowing to the door man, as we (the children of Bottom Town) often did.
When we were at school, I spent most of the day with Janet; we talked about many things, I could remember once, in our childhood innocence; we vowed to each other, that we will not get married to anyone but the other. At the time of making that vow, I meant every word, I just could not see myself ever being with anyone but her. I had other female friends but they were just one of the guys. The only thing that mattered was: my princess was happy; I was not going to do anything that will trigger her hurt, or sadness.
I have learnt, sometimes, God put people in our life just for a season, to make us better people and to lend beauty to our lives. It may not be that person destiny to become a permanent fixture in our life. To go against the Creator's will is to destroy those bridges, which were built together, undo the healing that were gain, and to pollute the beautiful experience and memories that were created together. Experience and memories that were meant to give us something to always be proud of.
Janet entrance into my life, was indeed a gift from God, she brought healing to a lost, little boy, who needed help that was not fore coming. A few years earlier, I lost my mother; when my mother die, my whole world was shattered; it was the unconditional and sacrificial love of my father: Hamilton Palmer that was the glue that kept my world from crumbling into an irreparable pile of dust. In Janet's case; her father had died a few years earlier also; it was Janet's mother: Grace that kept her grounded.
Janet's presence in my life and the love I felt, was very instrumental in shaking me out of a seven years’ daze, I had unconsciously slipped into, after Mother's death. A daze that affected all area of my life, my security was shook, my confidence was threatened, my academics fell into the pits, my concentration, etc. were all affected. Not even my father's unconditional love, was able to help my condition, my sibling’s efforts could not help either. But God used a thirteen years old girl to make the difference in my life.
I was happy once again, the joy I experienced as a child left when Mother die. For the first time in many years I felt special, my smile returned and slowly those aspects of my life that suffered began to regulate and I began to experience some type of normalcy. I felt like nothing could ever go wrong, and even if everything did, it didn't matter, as long as I had Janet I was ok.
One morning, during school assembly, the principal of the school Bertram "Timmy" Richards, introduced a beautiful, almost flawless young Bangladeshi lady, who was on assignment from the United Nations to the school. Her name was Ms. Narine. Ms Narine was my new Lit teacher, who was later given charge over our form. Although I could recognize the exceptional beauty of Ms. Narine, Janet's beauty and the way she made me feel eclipsed all else.
The school term (semester) was coming to a close, as a result, Ms. Narine organized a fieldtrip to Georgetown. This trip was scheduled as an opportunity, to relax after exams, while we awaited our final report card. Each person was required to provide their bus fare and meals, our contact point was Ferdie's Footsteps in Georgetown. The proprietor allowed us to use his business place to relax, eat our meals, and use the washroom when needed.
I encountered a brick wall, I had no money for fare, or meal, I needed to be on this trip, it will be the first time I am going to get the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time with Janet outside of the walls of the school; and without the threat of Janet's mother Grace looming over my head.
Prior to the trip, my good friend now nemesis Arnim Bascombe, who was also in love with Janet, planned to rented a car and haired a drive to attend the picnic. With no money, I was assured and looked forward to a ride in the car. However, when Arnhim, named the people who would be traveling to the picnic, first class in the car. Janet's name was first on the list, and my name was not on the list. Arnhim Bascombe, Glenror Robertson, Sean Dopwell, Keron Graves and I were always to together, we were an inseperable squad, going to the beach after school, practicing skills on Arnhim's BMX bikes, going to play Table Tennis at Lion's bar in the Paul's Avenue (slum), etc.
But now, I was excommunicated from the group by Arnhim; whose Grandfather's money supported the after school activities of the group. I was momentarily throw out of the group, because Janet gave her attention and her affection to me. I liked the guys very much and I enjoyed, the times we spent together, however, I was not letting go of my relationship with Janet for no one, or nothing, even if I was unable to attend the picnic, after the picnic; I still had Janet.
The car was another of Arnhem's opportunity to impress Janet and finally win her heart from me.
Janet Reno was just 13 years old, and I was 14 years old; we were still children; just third form student of the Intermediate High School. A School that is affectionately, called "Timmy School" after the long standing principal Bertram Timmy Richards. This school is uniquely located in the Capital Kingstown; in the beautiful, multi-island, tropical Caribbean paradise of St. Vincent and the Grenadine.
Just a few months earlier, my friend Sean Dopwell, was going out of his way, to draw my attention to what Sean said was: "the most beautiful girl you have ever seen in your entire life, you are going to love her" he assured me. I never felt the need to go out of my way to see the most beautiful girl according to Sean. I believed Sean was exaggerating; in doubt I asked myself the rhetorical question: how beautiful could this girl be? However, when I saw her, I was forced to admit, she was very beautiful indeed, but at that point in time, I had no relationship interest in the beautiful young girl.
Now, five months since I first saw Janet, we were in the same class, taking the same subjects; and like a miracle; Janet became the axes on which my world span. When Janet was not around, she was the center of my alone thoughts. I wondered what was she doing, I thought of what I wanted to say to her, I thought of many things and at night; I dreamed of her.
Once I thought about taking Janet to the movies, however, my father only give me enough money for my entrance into the movie and on a good day, he gave me enough money to get a bag of popcorn also. However, I was not sure, how my father would reacted to me asking him for money to take my girlfriend to the movies, so I did not asked. This was my date, not my father's date; this was my girl not my dad's girl; taking Janet to the movies was my responsibility not my father's.
The big question was: how was I going to pull this off? Then, I came up with an idea, of how I could get both of us into the movie for the price of one; it would take a little doing, but it can be done and I was the perfect man to do it. I could take her to the movies, purchase her ticket, a bag of popped corn and a soda make an excuse to have her enter the movies, while I remain outside; this was a customary occurrence and request she hold a seat for me. Then, I will hang around at the entrance of the Cinema, until I find a way to slip, into the movies, unknowing to the door man, as we (the children of Bottom Town) often did.
When we were at school, I spent most of the day with Janet; we talked about many things, I could remember once, in our childhood innocence; we vowed to each other, that we will not get married to anyone but the other. At the time of making that vow, I meant every word, I just could not see myself ever being with anyone but her. I had other female friends but they were just one of the guys. The only thing that mattered was: my princess was happy; I was not going to do anything that will trigger her hurt, or sadness.
I have learnt, sometimes, God put people in our life just for a season, to make us better people and to lend beauty to our lives. It may not be that person destiny to become a permanent fixture in our life. To go against the Creator's will is to destroy those bridges, which were built together, undo the healing that were gain, and to pollute the beautiful experience and memories that were created together. Experience and memories that were meant to give us something to always be proud of.
Janet entrance into my life, was indeed a gift from God, she brought healing to a lost, little boy, who needed help that was not fore coming. A few years earlier, I lost my mother; when my mother die, my whole world was shattered; it was the unconditional and sacrificial love of my father: Hamilton Palmer that was the glue that kept my world from crumbling into an irreparable pile of dust. In Janet's case; her father had died a few years earlier also; it was Janet's mother: Grace that kept her grounded.
Janet's presence in my life and the love I felt, was very instrumental in shaking me out of a seven years’ daze, I had unconsciously slipped into, after Mother's death. A daze that affected all area of my life, my security was shook, my confidence was threatened, my academics fell into the pits, my concentration, etc. were all affected. Not even my father's unconditional love, was able to help my condition, my sibling’s efforts could not help either. But God used a thirteen years old girl to make the difference in my life.
I was happy once again, the joy I experienced as a child left when Mother die. For the first time in many years I felt special, my smile returned and slowly those aspects of my life that suffered began to regulate and I began to experience some type of normalcy. I felt like nothing could ever go wrong, and even if everything did, it didn't matter, as long as I had Janet I was ok.
One morning, during school assembly, the principal of the school Bertram "Timmy" Richards, introduced a beautiful, almost flawless young Bangladeshi lady, who was on assignment from the United Nations to the school. Her name was Ms. Narine. Ms Narine was my new Lit teacher, who was later given charge over our form. Although I could recognize the exceptional beauty of Ms. Narine, Janet's beauty and the way she made me feel eclipsed all else.
The school term (semester) was coming to a close, as a result, Ms. Narine organized a fieldtrip to Georgetown. This trip was scheduled as an opportunity, to relax after exams, while we awaited our final report card. Each person was required to provide their bus fare and meals, our contact point was Ferdie's Footsteps in Georgetown. The proprietor allowed us to use his business place to relax, eat our meals, and use the washroom when needed.
I encountered a brick wall, I had no money for fare, or meal, I needed to be on this trip, it will be the first time I am going to get the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time with Janet outside of the walls of the school; and without the threat of Janet's mother Grace looming over my head.
Prior to the trip, my good friend now nemesis Arnim Bascombe, who was also in love with Janet, planned to rented a car and haired a drive to attend the picnic. With no money, I was assured and looked forward to a ride in the car. However, when Arnhim, named the people who would be traveling to the picnic, first class in the car. Janet's name was first on the list, and my name was not on the list. Arnhim Bascombe, Glenror Robertson, Sean Dopwell, Keron Graves and I were always to together, we were an inseperable squad, going to the beach after school, practicing skills on Arnhim's BMX bikes, going to play Table Tennis at Lion's bar in the Paul's Avenue (slum), etc.
But now, I was excommunicated from the group by Arnhim; whose Grandfather's money supported the after school activities of the group. I was momentarily throw out of the group, because Janet gave her attention and her affection to me. I liked the guys very much and I enjoyed, the times we spent together, however, I was not letting go of my relationship with Janet for no one, or nothing, even if I was unable to attend the picnic, after the picnic; I still had Janet.
The car was another of Arnhem's opportunity to impress Janet and finally win her heart from me.
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