AncilKate and I both nodded but I was 100% sure that she was just as confused as I was. I heard a couple more lefts and rights but ultimately I was lost. They left and without hesitation, Kate just made her way over to a bus stop seat and sat down. The bus stop was decorated with a fancy advertisement of a man holding a phone in his hand with the caption “We know value.”
Kate showed absolutely no eagerness to try and find the hotel and it kind of rubbed off on me as I also sat down beside her (so much for our happily ever after). We were having one of those moments where we both just sat and stared into space without saying a word to each other but I think that we were both thinking the same thing. A host of people scurried across the road like ants in formation as soon as the light turned red. There weren’t many people where Kate and I were; just a handful of people selling stuff like DVDs and fruit juices at the side on the pavement. I wanted to buy something just to support their “hustle” but frankly, Kate and I were more broke than they were, if they were even broke at all. The vendors actually looked pretty well off with their expensive Jordans and gold jewelry. Their hustle was definitely paying off.
While I was observing the street vendors, I felt a tap on my shoulder which surprised me a bit. I thought it was Kate at first but then the shadow of a tall figure appeared in front of me. My heart skipped a beat for like two seconds before actually recognizing the tall figure as the man we met at the beach.
“How come allyuh foreigners looking out of it so?”
“Out of it?” Kate said, raising her head.
“Down and out,” he said.
“Someone stole her bag along with all her stuff. Right now we’re basically stranded.”
“Eyyy, Don’t hurt up allyuh heads. Allyuh could stay up by me for the while. I sure my moms will be happy to help allyuh out.”
“Why do you Trinidadian people talk so weird?” Kate asked.
I wanted to punch her on her shoulder for her comment to the man who was literally giving us a lifeline but punching a lady was never the right thing to do especially one who had a lot of experience with being hit.
“That’s a long story but I’m afraid you won’t understand. Since I does talk weird you know,” the man said with a smile. “By the way, my name is Kyle.”
“I’m Ronald and this Kate.”
After the introductions, we followed Kyle to a taxi stand where we all got a car that dropped us all out in front of Kyle’s house at a place called Laventille. The house wasn’t very big nor very small but in comparison to all the other houses around it was pretty big. The wall was unpainted and the rusty gate looked like it would have disintegrated into nothingness with just one touch. Luckily, it remained intact as Kyle opened it leading us into a wide open area under a galvanized roof in front of the house which was filled with activity and lit up with long white fluorescent light bulbs. There were a bunch of chairs and each and everyone was occupied with young children and teens playing games and talking to each other almost too loudly.
“Mammy!” Kyle shouted over the noise.
I didn’t think that his mother would have heard him since the place was so loud and all but after a split second I heard a woman shout, “Yeah!” She then came walking out the front door towards us with a dirty apron on. While taking off the apron her attention was instantly fixed on us. I don’t know but something about her look was just extremely comforting. Have you ever met someone who just makes you feel right at home at first glance? I can’t really explain it but it definitely felt good and I was sure that Kate felt the same way because she actually smiled; something I hadn’t seen her do since she lost her backpack.
