Deedee stood up and stretched her back. I looked at her face.
—You don’t believe me?
—It’s not that I don’t believe you.
She sighed.
—How he went from Rose Man to what I remember? It wasn’t two times I went hospital to find you mash-up mash-up. It not good to bad talk the dead but more than once I wanted to kill him myself.
—It was the rum. When he wasn’t drinking he could be sweet sweet.
—Yes, but what about the time he knife you in your leg? Why you didn’t call police for him I will never understand.
—Deedee, we’re by the man resting place. Leave it alone. Where I was going to go? Who else would want me and my small child? My own mother said licks showed Sunil loved me. To besides, you can’t play sailor mas and ’fraid powder.
She didn’t say a word but moved around to tackle a next set of bush. Most of the weeds had been cleared and already the whole plot was looking respectable. Come Tuesday night Solo and I will light candles. My red ginger lilies are big enough for me to cut a few for decoration. And I mustn’t forget to bring two pack of candles, a box of matches, and a container for the flowers. Deedee’s voice interrupted the list I was busy making in my head.
—I only have one more question and then I will stop asking.
I buss a smile and shook my head.
—You never have only one more question. But it’s all right. You is like my sister. Ask what you want.
—Why you always putting yourself down?
I stopped and folded my arms.
—I have more than one mirror in the house.
—Well you should look properly. And stop wearing all them tents. I would kill for your figure even though you make baby. What is my excuse for this roll of fat?
I took a deep breath.
—Sunil had a way he used to watch me cut eye and say the two of we were like beauty and the beast, only he was the beauty and I was the beast.
—He never dared come with that talk in front of me because he knew I would’ve put him in his place.
She shook her head.
—Ah Lord. Beauty and the beast? That making me so vex I don’t want to clean his plot at all at all.
—You’re not doing it for him. You doing it so nobody can point their finger and say all kind of thing about me.
—Let we hurry up and done. After all this hard labor, I deserve a lie-down in your hammock.
I don’t know what the plan is because this Dev that Mammy’s taken up with is a married man. The absolute worst part is that his two sons go to my school. At least we’re not in the same class. The older one has the most massive round head you will ever see in your entire life. I mean, it’s like he dropped down from Mars. They does call him Brains because that big head he have real empty. And his boys know about me too. They made sure I found out Dev took them to Disney at Christmas and that they’re going to Toronto for all of July with their mom. I know the gang that they lime with are always laughing at me. One time Brains pointed me out to a woman. From the way she looked at me that had to be his mother. Face twist up like she stepped in dog shit. I wanted to ask the bitch if I do she something. It’s not me she husband busy checking.
Today was the last day of term. At the exact moment me and Mammy were driving out the school gates, guess who was coming through? Yup. His wife. With the traffic preventing us from bolting I was sure war would break out. Would she cuss Mammy? Would Mammy cuss back? Anything was possible. Since Dev came on the scene Mammy’s changed up. Six months ago I wouldn’t have imagined that my sweet mammy was capable of cussing in public. Now I’m worried she will be the one to start the cussing. My hands were gripping the edges of the car seat tight tight and my chest hurt. If these two start carrying on I will transfer to another school. Simple as that. But all those Sundays in church paid off. The Lord took pity and the woman didn’t clock us until we had almost gone past each other. Now that was luck. In Mammy’s words, God is love. As my breathing returned to normal Mammy decided to rev it up. She poked my leg.
—You realize that was Dev’s family we just passed?
—Yeah.
—That woman ever tell you anything?
—No.
—She children does bother you?
—No.
—I don’t know what she’s vexed for. Driving a brand-new car. I have the same old car for donkey years now. You hear me complaining? I never asked anybody for anything.
I looked out the window. This was nothing to do with me. So the man bought his wife a new BMW 3 Series, in metallic silver, with the upgraded rims. Sweet. Mammy nudged me.
—Solo, you know she living in one big house in Bel Air with swimming pool and jacuzzi. What more she want?
I don’t know why but I found myself yelling at her. I wanted her to please, please, please, shut the fuck up. Please.
—He’s not your blasted husband!
—What you just said? Eh? And shouting at me? Don’t say “blasted.” Have some respect. Since when you feel you could talk to me like that? You’re still a child, Solo, and I am still your mother.
—Dev’s so dotish. Dumb and dotish.
—You’re not too big for me to wash out your mouth with blue soap. He’s very nice to us.
—Nice to you.
—What you mean by that exactly? Look, child, this rudeness better stop now for now.
I don’t know what to think. Most of the time I don’t mind him. Monday evening we played football together in the backyard. June public holiday he took us to Blanchisseuse Beach. Yeah, Dev can be fun. I don’t mean to be nasty about him. It comes out of nowhere and I can’t control it. Take last week. He and I went to collect pizza because both Mammy and Mr. Chetan were too tired to cook. I felt totally angry with him even though he was doing something nice. He can’t keep coming by us and then leaving for his real home late in the night. Either stay or go back home and remain in your own house. Stop hanging around and being nice. I don’t want to have fun with him if it’s not for keeps. Maybe Mammy was reading my thoughts.
—It’s time Dev made a decision. If he doesn’t love the woman then he should leave. For everybody’s sake.
—Stop talking to me about him.
I have thought about what it would be like for us all to be a family—Brains and his brother included. Could we live happy together in the house with the swimming pool and jacuzzi? I can’t see it working. I hate them and they hate me right back. They think I’m a nobody and I think they’re losers. But what if Dev and Mammy got married? We wouldn’t have a choice. Of course Mr. Chetan will move with us. I would tell them point blank. I’m not going anywhere without Mr. Chetan. What would happen to Dev’s wife? Maybe he would build another house for her or maybe he would leave her there and build a bigger house for us.