Amnesia

Amoy Ky'la Ottoman | Amii'

Adelphi, St. James

7:30 pm

On my way to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, huddled behind the steering wheel, I reflect on how much I hate driving at nights, especially now that it's raining. It doesn't make sense I'm driving in fear.

Two days of doing this and I'm already tired.

I'm taking back my passenger princess role, no later than tomorrow.

I grip the steering, the slithering of the wheel sways my father's Corolla in an oscillating motion. Violent raindrops slapping the roof, as if they're my combatants.

Yuh know say a weather like this people crash inna doh?

That thought doesn't sit well with my little heart. God please, don't make me be an example.

Driving all the way from Adelphi to Regional, nah go work out enuh. I'm getting an apartment in the inner city.

Do you have money Amoy?

Not even the first dolla'.

I hope my first Registered Nurse salary hits like a motha'—you know what.

Teacher always a strike, nurse too?

No?

Yuh face fava, there's this annoying voice in my head. You hear it too? Or is it just me?

Teachers and nurses do strike for real. I feel a slight prick in my heart. No worries, I get dramatic sometimes.

"Father tek the pillow!" I blurt out, upon realizing what I said, I let out a laugh."No, a mean tek the case."

In the near distance, a man cladded in a black puffer jacket, stands behind his black Axio, his face hidden. The four way flasher on. His hand waving.

Not a backside.

Kinda' caylisness dis inna the night yah?

Who him a stop?

Me, Amoy Ottoman the biggest coward God plant inna earth?

Make the I' kindly wul my head straight yaw man.

Cause a' wah fi at least get a 50 years outta da degree yah.

And make me old people dem know say life out deh fi live. If him wah rob me, him affi go check me back in 3 years.

Rob me now? Only the likkle Shein clothes dem me have inna mi name and me nuh think him want that.

I race pass him, but something about the way he looked downhearted makes me pull over.

Yaw fool?

How you dunce so? Mi wah fi know if Bathi drop yuh.

Ignoring that thought I press on the break. The car halts.

Amoy, mi say any how yuh make we dead me cut yuh throat! my subby atrociously warns me.

He jogs in the rain towards my car. I nervously stare at the mirror, I lock my doors and crack the window.

"Good night beautiful..." his deep voice greets.

"Good night, something is wrong with your car?" I ask him.

"Cya' gimme a jump start?"he notices the crazy look I'm giving him and looks down before giving me a dashing smile when we lock eyes again.

Him smile pretty eeeh?

Gosh.

“Please miss?" he tries.

"I'm a woman me cyaa just trust yuh," I say the sad truth.

"But yuh stop...so you're a nice person, mi wrong?"

My heart always put me inna shit and I feel like this is no different.

I sigh again, skeptic about this.

"Mi have work," I whine.

"Mi promise mi nah hold up your time," his voice sweet with a raspiness to it, he looks back when a car pass.

His eyebrows quirked up when they splashed him but he remains calm because of my presence.

"Me nuh know a thing bout car eno, mi just sit down and drive go bout mi business."

"Mi battery run down," he tells me.

"So buy one?" I cock an eyebrow.

He lets out a small chuckle, avoiding my stare.

"Tomorrow," he promises me.

"You sure a me yuh fi a tell that?" I ask him, he's just looking in at me, impressed.

"So me cya' borrow yours and start it? Or you can just turn your car and mi use the jumper cables?"

As he looks in, I'm only seeing his eyes, they're dark brown, pulling me in.

Jesus.

The rain trickling down his handsome face. I watch as it drips over his bottom lip. He tucks it in.

I look away.

Lawd Jesus...

"Really appreciate say yuh stop enuh Miss," he keeps calling me that.

Boy please, we're the same age group.

"That's fine."

"Your safety comes first still so mi nah ask yuh to come out," he then runs across the road to his car, pulling off his jacket.

He uses it to pull something on his battery.

I turn my car, now facing his. He turns on time and our eyes connects. It shivers my timbers. Tense under our staring match, his body drenched.

As he stood in front his car, the effect of the headlight, emphasizes every single ounce of muscles in that marina he's wearing.

"Fly the bonnet," he instructs.

I lean down and for a second I forget how to do that. When it clicks, I let out a sigh and he gets to work.

He's so handy..

Mhmhmm..

Muscles flexing...

I tap my nails on the steering wheel dying to leave.

*****

Kwes Na'jour Boaz | Kwes

Adelphi, St. James

7:36 pm

Finally smaddy stop dawg!

World cold eno.

Jah know.

Man dem dead if dem would a stop fi help out man.

Running towards the Corolla, I adjust myself when I see her.

Jah knowww star!

Mi never ready fi deh one ya.

Just the way she rocks her natural 4c hair in a puff, with a fresh face and her button nose framing those heart shaped plumped lips, lined precisely, my lips curves upwards.

You a smile??

My eyebrows lifts, only God alone know wah mi would a do with dem.

A who fa ooman this?

The way she pretty man just a smile like rookie.

So yuh nuh plan fi say nutt'n?

"Good night beautiful.." I greet.

"Good night, something is wrong with your car?"

I admire her teeth, especially the two front ones big and square-shaped, standing out charmingly against the smaller ones beside them.

"Cya' gimme a jump start?" I smile.

She stares blankly, I peep her attitude. Mi like that.

Even when she a be rude.

"Please miss?" I try.

After reassuring her of her safety and my reason for needing her help, she gives in. I cross back to my car in the rain.

Each time I attempt to start my car, I steal a glance from her. She's just staring blankly.

Rate how she nuh friendly still.

When the car starts, I let it run to allow the alternator to charge the battery. I rev the engine.

I don't want to hold her up too long. Smiling, I roll up the wires, still admiring her cute face.

"That's it?" Comes her soft voice.

Weaving the cables, I tilt my head back staring deep in her eyes. "Big up yuhself enuh.

She nods.

"Drive safe," I smirk. I don't get a response from her.

She reverses, turns the car and drive away.

I get in my car, grab my phone and send her license plate number to myself.

Must see yuh back...

Want return dah favor deh.