Everyone calls him Papers. No one remembers his real name, Theobald Atinus Peters or Teo. It seems that Teo disappeared and created Papers, an entirely new personality. But just how did this change occurred?
According to the people in Prospect it all started when Janice went to the United States promising Teo that she would get him up soon as possible. Janice had visited the U.S. a number of times before "looking at things" and trying to see if they could settle there. Through an older brother, who had "filed" for her, she had obtained her permanent visa, so she had no problem. For the past five years she had been travelling at least twice a year. It was easy for her to leave the hairdressing salon in the capable hands of her cousin, while she went to "hustle" and to shop.
Janice was a hard worker and a shrewd businesswoman and it was skillful management of finances that had allowed her and Teo to own a big house and a new car. Her husband was therefore content to allow her to have complete control of all the family finances. He had no complaint. He got his meals on time, he had a good wardrobe, thanks to his wife, and he had a good job. Even if she didn't allow him much freedom to "hangout" with the boys, nor much spending money, he did not mind, a man could not have everything, Teo reasoned.
Teo was a very pleasant and charming person. He was popular with both adults and youths. As an Extension Officer with the Ministry of Agriculture, many farmers were indebted to him of his advice and assistance with their crops and livestock. He had a good educational background- from primary to secondary school, to university. He held a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agronomy, he was a keen sportsman, even though he never excelled in any. He belonged to a number of organizations and participated actively in community activities, unlike his wife. Teo was always busy.
Janice often quarreled with him because she felt he was giving too much of his time for other people and not enough for himself. She said that he should be more concerned with making money from his garden, rather than helping ungrateful people. This last statement often hurt Teo, because he was making as much money as he could from his plot. But he never responded to Janice's nagging. He knew she had a nasty temper and a dirty tongue, so he avoided any confrontation with her.
Teo's argument with Janice began only when she decided to close up the salon and go to live in the United States. He had made two trips to that place before, and he didn't fancy living there. He often wondered how some people could give up everything in Grenada and go to join in the "rat race", especially in New York. But if Janice decided that that was how it was going to be, then he had no choice but to go along, too.
When Janice had said one night that she was closing down the salon and selling out, that had started a row. It was the first time that Teo had stood up to his wife. She called him all kinds of dirty names and she even said he was unambitious. She called him a pig because only by messing in the mud could he get satisfaction. This last statement hurt Teo badly, though he finally gave in to her, promising to join her as soon as she got his papers "fixed".
Janice left soon afterwards. She took the two children with her, even though they were reluctant to leave their father behind. But they were assured that Daddy would join them soon and everything would be fine.
Janice's going changed Teo. He was working harder and longer hours than ever, but he took little care of himself. His eating habits became very erratic and he began to look shabby and unkempt. Worst of all, he started taking a "few drinks". Janice was kept well informed of Teo's condition and she continued to plead with him to take a vacation and come up, but to no avail.
One night Janice called to say that she was sending some papers for Teo to sign, and that he would affix his signature on the lines indicated with an "X". Janice knew that Teo was one of those people who never examined a document before signing. She had tried to show him the danger of his stupid action, but he ignored her. She knew that he had not changed, and was correct in her judgement.
When Janice spoke to Teo the next time, it was to tell him thanks for everything and that she would soon be married. Teo was stunned but recovered quickly to ask how could she be getting married when she was still his wife? She replied laughingly, "The papers you signed were the divorce papers".
Teo could only stammer, "The papers, the papers!". Nowadays Teo is always muttering something about "the papers". So, people just started calling him Papers. The children out of respect call him Mr Papers, but he doesn't care, he answers just the same.
Roy Benjamin
August 1992
According to the people in Prospect it all started when Janice went to the United States promising Teo that she would get him up soon as possible. Janice had visited the U.S. a number of times before "looking at things" and trying to see if they could settle there. Through an older brother, who had "filed" for her, she had obtained her permanent visa, so she had no problem. For the past five years she had been travelling at least twice a year. It was easy for her to leave the hairdressing salon in the capable hands of her cousin, while she went to "hustle" and to shop.
Janice was a hard worker and a shrewd businesswoman and it was skillful management of finances that had allowed her and Teo to own a big house and a new car. Her husband was therefore content to allow her to have complete control of all the family finances. He had no complaint. He got his meals on time, he had a good wardrobe, thanks to his wife, and he had a good job. Even if she didn't allow him much freedom to "hangout" with the boys, nor much spending money, he did not mind, a man could not have everything, Teo reasoned.
Teo was a very pleasant and charming person. He was popular with both adults and youths. As an Extension Officer with the Ministry of Agriculture, many farmers were indebted to him of his advice and assistance with their crops and livestock. He had a good educational background- from primary to secondary school, to university. He held a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agronomy, he was a keen sportsman, even though he never excelled in any. He belonged to a number of organizations and participated actively in community activities, unlike his wife. Teo was always busy.
Janice often quarreled with him because she felt he was giving too much of his time for other people and not enough for himself. She said that he should be more concerned with making money from his garden, rather than helping ungrateful people. This last statement often hurt Teo, because he was making as much money as he could from his plot. But he never responded to Janice's nagging. He knew she had a nasty temper and a dirty tongue, so he avoided any confrontation with her.
Teo's argument with Janice began only when she decided to close up the salon and go to live in the United States. He had made two trips to that place before, and he didn't fancy living there. He often wondered how some people could give up everything in Grenada and go to join in the "rat race", especially in New York. But if Janice decided that that was how it was going to be, then he had no choice but to go along, too.
When Janice had said one night that she was closing down the salon and selling out, that had started a row. It was the first time that Teo had stood up to his wife. She called him all kinds of dirty names and she even said he was unambitious. She called him a pig because only by messing in the mud could he get satisfaction. This last statement hurt Teo badly, though he finally gave in to her, promising to join her as soon as she got his papers "fixed".
Janice left soon afterwards. She took the two children with her, even though they were reluctant to leave their father behind. But they were assured that Daddy would join them soon and everything would be fine.
Janice's going changed Teo. He was working harder and longer hours than ever, but he took little care of himself. His eating habits became very erratic and he began to look shabby and unkempt. Worst of all, he started taking a "few drinks". Janice was kept well informed of Teo's condition and she continued to plead with him to take a vacation and come up, but to no avail.
One night Janice called to say that she was sending some papers for Teo to sign, and that he would affix his signature on the lines indicated with an "X". Janice knew that Teo was one of those people who never examined a document before signing. She had tried to show him the danger of his stupid action, but he ignored her. She knew that he had not changed, and was correct in her judgement.
When Janice spoke to Teo the next time, it was to tell him thanks for everything and that she would soon be married. Teo was stunned but recovered quickly to ask how could she be getting married when she was still his wife? She replied laughingly, "The papers you signed were the divorce papers".
Teo could only stammer, "The papers, the papers!". Nowadays Teo is always muttering something about "the papers". So, people just started calling him Papers. The children out of respect call him Mr Papers, but he doesn't care, he answers just the same.
Roy Benjamin
August 1992
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