Ma Chapelle is one of those villages where something is always happening. Life is never dull. The magistrate, lawyers and policemen all earn their fees from the inhabitants of Ma Chapelle. But to get back to the subject of Nanton's ear.
It all started the night when Nanton went to see Elsie, his present ex-girlfriend. This sounds confusing but remember that this is Ma Chapelle, so things that sound confusing or strange to outsiders are the normal, ordinary way of life in the village.
Nanton was a mason by trade. He was a good mason too, and a nice quiet fellow by even the village's standard. Old Dorcas, the village 'tabay man' often said "You see that Nanton, he is a gentleman. He too good for Elsie. She go leave him anytime he marry she. She want a criminal to beat she up regular."
Elsie didn't wait for the wedding before she left Nanton for Boyo. This Boyo was a taxi-driver and one of those big, tough, 'loudmouth beating woman' men. He was typical product of the village. He had appeared many times in court for beating with intent and for child maintenance.
Soon after he took away Elsie from Nanton, he had her move out her few pieces of clothes into his 'camp' as he called the dwelling he occupied. This was left him by his grandfather from whom he had inherited his vices.
Boyo made it clear to Elsie and the whole village that he had nothing against Nanton and that in fact he liked him. And to show his good faith, Nanton could visit Elsie anytime in the day, but never in the night. No one else could visit the camp. Not even Elsie's mother, Ma Tootsie.
Now this arrangement pleased Nanton somewhat. He could still go and see his girl. But the gladness soon went out of Nanton. He realized that it was almost impossible to see Elsie because most of the jobs were out of the village. As a matter of fact, he left home at 6:00 am and didn't return until about 6:30 pm. He thought of ways to solve the problem but he could see none. There were too many mouths to feed at home to feed, he just could not afford to buy even a second hand bicycle.
He talked to his friend Cokey about it. "Cokey boy, this man really do for me." Cokey always clear headed and straight talking answered, "how you mean that man do for you? Who man? Do what?" Nanton answered somewhat lamely, "Boyo nor, So you playing you en know what he say about one going to see Elsie. Nanton you is me best friend." "Ah tell you forget the woman, she go make you get in trouble. She get the right man for she."
"But Cokey ah love she an ah know she love me. Even the man know we love one another that is why he say ah could go and see she. The trouble is ah can't make it in the day and ah can't go in the night." By this time Nanton was almost in tears.
"Ol right, Ol right take it easy You behaving as is that is the only woman on earth. Now listen an go keep watch in the night by the road while you go in the camp. You know me whistle so when you hear it bale out. Ah go bale out too because ah ent want to get involve with that criminal for that Elsie." grumbled Cokey.
The first night everything went according to plan. the only complaint was from Cokey who stated that he was feeling lonely in the dark road, while he imagined Nanton in the house. He decided to invite his girl to stay with him the next time he was on sentry duty.
Nanton decided to pay another visit to Elsie on Saturday night, so that he could give her change from his pay, before one of his brother or sister raided his pocket, So with Cokey and his girl on watch for Boyo, Nanton entered the ranch. Elsie fresh from a wash up looked too much for Nanton. He was licking his lips as he mumbled, "Ah Elsie, Ah can't stand it I want you." And with that he grabbed her. He couldn't tear himself away from Elsie He was not even heeding Elsie's warning. "Nanton go Boyo go meet you here and he go kill us. Please Nanton go now. You go come next..."
At that moment the door flew open and there stood Boyo. Elsie saw him first and felt sick with fear. Boyo left the door and made a grab for him, he dodged but he was not quick enough. Boyo this giant of a man had him around the neck,
"So you break the commandment," eh Boyo growled. Eh eh accompanied with an increase pressure round Nanton's neck. His eyes bulged, "ah go learn you a lesson never disobey me again." and with that Boyo sank those big black tobacco stained teeth on Nanton's ear. Nanton shrieked as Boyo pushed him towards the door and landed a parting kick on his rump.
It all started the night when Nanton went to see Elsie, his present ex-girlfriend. This sounds confusing but remember that this is Ma Chapelle, so things that sound confusing or strange to outsiders are the normal, ordinary way of life in the village.
Nanton was a mason by trade. He was a good mason too, and a nice quiet fellow by even the village's standard. Old Dorcas, the village 'tabay man' often said "You see that Nanton, he is a gentleman. He too good for Elsie. She go leave him anytime he marry she. She want a criminal to beat she up regular."
Elsie didn't wait for the wedding before she left Nanton for Boyo. This Boyo was a taxi-driver and one of those big, tough, 'loudmouth beating woman' men. He was typical product of the village. He had appeared many times in court for beating with intent and for child maintenance.
Soon after he took away Elsie from Nanton, he had her move out her few pieces of clothes into his 'camp' as he called the dwelling he occupied. This was left him by his grandfather from whom he had inherited his vices.
Boyo made it clear to Elsie and the whole village that he had nothing against Nanton and that in fact he liked him. And to show his good faith, Nanton could visit Elsie anytime in the day, but never in the night. No one else could visit the camp. Not even Elsie's mother, Ma Tootsie.
Now this arrangement pleased Nanton somewhat. He could still go and see his girl. But the gladness soon went out of Nanton. He realized that it was almost impossible to see Elsie because most of the jobs were out of the village. As a matter of fact, he left home at 6:00 am and didn't return until about 6:30 pm. He thought of ways to solve the problem but he could see none. There were too many mouths to feed at home to feed, he just could not afford to buy even a second hand bicycle.
He talked to his friend Cokey about it. "Cokey boy, this man really do for me." Cokey always clear headed and straight talking answered, "how you mean that man do for you? Who man? Do what?" Nanton answered somewhat lamely, "Boyo nor, So you playing you en know what he say about one going to see Elsie. Nanton you is me best friend." "Ah tell you forget the woman, she go make you get in trouble. She get the right man for she."
"But Cokey ah love she an ah know she love me. Even the man know we love one another that is why he say ah could go and see she. The trouble is ah can't make it in the day and ah can't go in the night." By this time Nanton was almost in tears.
"Ol right, Ol right take it easy You behaving as is that is the only woman on earth. Now listen an go keep watch in the night by the road while you go in the camp. You know me whistle so when you hear it bale out. Ah go bale out too because ah ent want to get involve with that criminal for that Elsie." grumbled Cokey.
The first night everything went according to plan. the only complaint was from Cokey who stated that he was feeling lonely in the dark road, while he imagined Nanton in the house. He decided to invite his girl to stay with him the next time he was on sentry duty.
Nanton decided to pay another visit to Elsie on Saturday night, so that he could give her change from his pay, before one of his brother or sister raided his pocket, So with Cokey and his girl on watch for Boyo, Nanton entered the ranch. Elsie fresh from a wash up looked too much for Nanton. He was licking his lips as he mumbled, "Ah Elsie, Ah can't stand it I want you." And with that he grabbed her. He couldn't tear himself away from Elsie He was not even heeding Elsie's warning. "Nanton go Boyo go meet you here and he go kill us. Please Nanton go now. You go come next..."
At that moment the door flew open and there stood Boyo. Elsie saw him first and felt sick with fear. Boyo left the door and made a grab for him, he dodged but he was not quick enough. Boyo this giant of a man had him around the neck,
"So you break the commandment," eh Boyo growled. Eh eh accompanied with an increase pressure round Nanton's neck. His eyes bulged, "ah go learn you a lesson never disobey me again." and with that Boyo sank those big black tobacco stained teeth on Nanton's ear. Nanton shrieked as Boyo pushed him towards the door and landed a parting kick on his rump.
Comments
Post a Comment