—Oh shrimps, woman. Drive if you driving.
What to do? I jumped in the back seat.
—Morning, Mrs. Ramdin. Thanks for stopping.
—Morning. I’m surprised to see you here, Mr. Chetan.
She elbowed the boy sitting in front.
—Say good morning, Solo. Anybody would think I never teach you manners.
The boy mumbled something. I don’t mind. He looked about ten—the age when they start to feel they big.
—First time I’m seeing you and I pass here nearly every day God spare life.
—My car’s by the mechanic and to tell you the truth this is late for me, Mrs. Ramdin. All now so I would be at school already.
—Call me Betty.
—Yes, Miss Betty. If I’m taking transport I would normally come out a good half hour earlier.
—Ain’t I just say call me Betty? None of this Mrs. Ramdin like we don’t know one another.
—I can’t do that. I have too much respect.
—Oh gosh. Don’t be so.
We edged forward a little then stopped. Trinidad roads aren’t made for the amount of cars we have. Move. Stop. Move. Stop. She clearly didn’t like silence.
—I can’t take this traffic every day so.
I nodded although she couldn’t see me while driving.
—Mr. Chetan, sorry, I should have asked how you’re feeling. Ain’t you took sick leave the other day? You’re good now?
—Yes, Mrs. Ramdin. I mean Miss Betty. Everything’s good, thanks. Wasn’t anything serious.
I took out my Express and held it high in front my face. If I take a couple days off, why is it anybody’s concern? Christ. You can’t sneeze without people telling you to take two Tylenol.
—The new headmaster treating you good?
Now look at my crosses. I don’t know this woman enough to speak my mind. Suppose she tells the boss I said so-and-so? Next thing I land up in trouble. I answered from behind the newspaper.
—He seems like a decent man. We haven’t had too many dealings yet.
Suddenly we picked up a little speed. Whatever was holding up the traffic had cleared away. Miss Betty was concentrating on the road but that didn’t stop her from prattling on.
—I’m not sure. You notice the label still sew on his jacket sleeve? Oh gosh, man. Pull off the label, nah. Money can’t buy breeding. Anyhow, I suppose we should give him a chance. God is love.
I pulled the newspaper so it almost brushed my nose. She took the hint. For the rest of the car ride she and the boy talked until we reached the gates of Saint Barnabas College.
—Mr. Chetan, I want to ask you something if you don’t mind.
—No problem, Mrs. Ramdin. Sorry, Miss Betty.
In the fifteen minutes between dropping the boy to his school and reaching ours, Miss Betty chatted nonstop. The husband had died so it was only she and the boy. Well I knew that already. Things were tight. The house was old but big. She inherited it from her grandmother and it’s paid for but she doesn’t have much cash. A lodger would be income and company. If I knew anybody suitable I should let her know. A mature, single woman would be ideal. I said I would keep my ears open.
* * *
On the Wednesday, I found her in the staff room taking a break. Normally I eat lunch at my desk but today I eased up beside her at the long dining table.
—Miss Betty.
She looked up from the chow mein noodles she was eating.
—Miss Betty, we could talk for a minute? When you’re finished your lunch.
She shifted her chair to face me.
—You eat already?
I nodded and sat down. Sadly, my story wasn’t that unusual in a country clocking forty murders a month. Henry’s Pharmacy on Cipero Street is my landlord’s business. Bandits came in broad daylight. They knocked him down, buss his head with a gun, and tied him up. It was he and his wife there. I never asked but I pray the men them didn’t interfere with her. That happened Easter time and made the papers. Not front-page news because nobody died but it was still in the first section. They took it hard and now they’re selling up. Everything’s going—the pharmacy, the house, two cars, furniture—the whole jahaji bundle. Fort Lauderdale is already home to their grown children and that will be where they settle. I’ve been renting the little apartment downstairs their house for the last four years. Now I’ve got to move. Everything I see that I like, I can’t afford. What I can afford, I don’t like. Maybe Miss Betty’s place could be a temporary thing until I find what I want.
—I know you prefer a lady and that makes sense. So, if you say no I will understand. But I promise you will hardly know I’m there. You can ask my landlord. All the years I was there we lived easy easy. Not a single quarrel passed between us.
—Well look at that. When I said that word to you the other day I didn’t know nothing nothing about you looking for a place. It’s true I would prefer a woman but you wouldn’t be a bother. Nobody in this office has a bad word to say about you. Not one body. Anyhow, pass later nah and we go talk.
—Thanks, Miss Betty. I appreciate that.
—Mr. Chetan, I know you’re teaching math but you don’t have to be so serious all the time. You and me are roughly the same age. Neither of us reach forty yet. Calling me Miss Betty makes me sound like an old lady.
—I don’t mean you’re old, Miss Betty. It’s a respect thing. Leave me nah.
—Well I only hear people calling you Mr. Chetan so I suppose that is what you want me to keep calling you?
I gave her my sweetest smile. In this situation it was best to stay quiet. Let her figure it out.
—God is love, yes. I didn’t have time to say crick crack, monkey break he back for a piece of pomerac, and boom, the room gone.
Crick crack, look at that. By that evening everything was settled. Moving is next Saturday.
* * *
Two trips and we moved everything into Miss Betty’s house. Her car trunk was chinky for so. One big suitcase and it was nearly full. Lucky thing I wasn’t bringing any of the two-three pieces of old furniture I had. Massy had a Rainy Season Blowout. I said to myself, Chetan, when last you buy something for yourself? I went to town. New bed and an armchair were the main items. Wherever I move to after this, I will need my things. While waiting to pay, I saw a cute desk so that passed in the rush too. Normally Massy takes a week to deliver. Don’t ask me why but they catch a vaps and dropped off everything the same day. When I told Miss Betty new furniture was coming she wanted to help me choose. No disrespect but when you’ve lived alone it’s hard to take people interfering and this woman looks like she could well interfere. I am going to have to keep my distance or next thing you know she’s running my life. If it was woman I wanted, I would’ve got myself a wife long time. And, of the things I want in life, a wife does not even make the list.