Not ONE “me beg yu one nanny” “me beg yu one manley” “me beg yu…”

Cleveland had been asking me to go to a club in town with him. What he described sounded like my kind of place…vintage reggae…mature crowd. Unfortunately I had plans the nights it was poppin. He talked me into trying someplace outside of town instead. I knew anywhere we went it would be quiet since it was a Thursday night. Light music, drinks and conversation sounded fine to me.

It was around 9:30 when he headed out. Coming through Port Antonio, he pulls over to the curb and shouts across me for two cigarettes and a bag of the leafy green. I turn to see two homeless men sitting in the darkness. They were dwelling in a small opening between two downtown businesses. The sight of these men, who looked to be in their late 50’s, broke my heart. No matter what happened that resulted in them being in such a depressed condition, all I could feel was pity & sadness with no questions or thoughts of judgment.

“Hurry mon! Hurry with the ting dem! B*BLCT! Hurry! Cha!! Come!!”
“Cleveland…stop yelling at him like that!”

One man is moving quickly to search for the requested items. His partner sat quietly watching me.
“Good evening.”
They both froze, then barely audible bid me the same.

The one found the two cigarettes which he rushed around to Cleveland’s window along with the small plastic bag.
His companion still motionless, still gazing at me. I can tell he is not well.

“Are you hungry??”
“Yes, Miss.” The companion answered.
“What do you have I can buy?”
He moved slowly as he searched the piles of what looked like rubbish then pulled out a little tattered brown bag and delivered it to me. The bag contained 3 tiny limes. Funny, I actually needed limes.

“How much?” I asked with a smile.
“Whatever you want to pay, Miss”
He looked at the bills I gave him as if I made a mistake, but he didn’t want to give them back. It was like he was giving me time to realize I gave him one bill but meant to give him the other.
“Consider the extra a tip. Now, Sir, please you two go get something to eat. Good night gentlemen.”