On Wednesday morning, I woke up early and was among the first at the breakfast table, where I enjoyed a nice bagel and orange juice before making my way down the hill to the local hardware store to buy a bungee chord.

I find the chord helpful to tote stuff on my scooter. There were four or five patrons milling about in the store, and while I waited, a local lady with a cool old-school fro approached to give me her pitch. She showed me pics of a few slabs that formed the foundation of small building on a vacant field of grass and said she was trying to build a school for the kids somewhere off in the hills.

I was skeptical but awarded her points for originality and slid her a few dollars. Meantime, she had heard me ask two or three times if a bungee chord was available without anyone acknowledging me, and she blurted out, “Hey, I have a bungee chord for you!” She opened her trunk and sure enough she had a couple of them and handed me one. I was impressed! I gave her a few more dollars, though she did not ask. She was a nice lady. I think she is honest and is really building a school.

Just as I turned to my scooter, there was Ann, a long-time vendor on the beach next to Bar B Barn (used to be my regular spot, I know her well.) Ann has been working in Negril for 30 years selling nick nacks and necklaces, and she has a fun spirit about her. I always put on my best smile and ask her out, and she always turns me down. It’s been going on for years!