As we all pile onto the deck Bentley is quite happy, he has quickly arranged the available table and chairs into a banquet setup, extremely fitting. As everyone is saying hello and finding their seats Bentley works his animated way down the line until he sees Sweetie Pie. When I had come up to see if he could cook for us I’d received that wink of recognition from Bentley, but you can never be absolutely sure of these things with a Jamaican business person you’ve only met once before. They know it’s in their best interest to REMEMBER youIt’s funny because sometimes you can catch them actually remembering you a little bit later. This had happened with Earl Lockes on Sunday. With Bentley there was no question he remembered Sweetie Pie, after all, she was a “Movie Star”. Bentley is a man who smiles and emotes vociferously for a living, so when I say he was excited this is above and beyond his normally gregarious personality. His arms fling open and she is enveloped in a big hug. Bentley steps back with his arms on her shoulders, “It’s so good to see you again! I’m so glad you came back! Come sit down! This is wonderful!”
Yes, Bentley remembered Sweetie Pie!
And he is right, this is wonderful. We’re on the deck at Bentley’s with GerryG. That makes me smile. I don’t know the whole history of Bentleys but I know that Gerry has been a huge supporter. I know that I took Sweetie Pie to Bentley’s in February because of the stories Gerry and Rum-pole-phoreskin told about it. I know Rum went because of what Gerry told him about it. I know that Gerry loves Bentley and not only wishes him success but actively tries to help him. I know that Gerry is very happy tonight to share “his” place with us. Bentley is very happy to have Gerry there with SuzieQ!! We had experienced in February how those who are close to Bentley become enlisted in the operation, tonight SuzieQ takes the role of ScubaPro. Whenever Bentley is short a pair of hands he calls for Suzie. Eventually he doesn’t even begin with, “Suzie,…” He just says what he needs and Suzie does it. She is incredibly good natured about it, such a lovely lady.
Bentley enlists SuzieQ for assistance
So everybody is down for crabcakes. It’s the right thing to do. Everybody except Ninja who just can’t do crab. He gets the crabcake dinner, except no crab cakes. This ends up being perfect. Bentley could not have actually made him a complete crabcake dinner as he had only one crabcake left at the end of the night. On the way to Bentley’s I had thought how I would have liked for a few more of our cohort to be there. As it turned out we had exactly the right number for the time and place. Gerry is in his element, Bentley’s benefactor is the deity of the deck tonight. The interplay between him and Bentley is fun and funny. Early on, as we’re trying to get drinks in order, hoping for a couple of those refreshing Red Stripe Lights – “You can drink lots of them!” – Bentley is talking up the amazing fruit juice he has made. “It’s fruity and delicious! It’s good for you! You gonna love it!” he says before he asks who wants one. “It’s also the only thing he has,” says Gerry with mischievous little laugh. We all get the fruit juice. It IS fruity and delicious and we do love it. Apparently Markus gets a batch that was allowed to ferment because it’s rocking him…
Markus was very animated!!
