Gerry G's TRAIL OF ASHES TOUR Final Chapter -- The Mighty Californian's return

[gerryg123]

Later I hit the ocean for my last spearfishing adventure, and though Vincent and Roger both said they wanted to buy my spear gun -- I had given them one for free the past two visits -- neither could come up with any money. I had treated both of them well, tipped them well, and rode in boats filled with tourists paying 25 dollars each all week long, so I shook my head a little bit.

Was I being taken advantage of? They said others wanted to pay for it, and that they wanted mine for 100 bucks, so I came up with a novel idea: i said, OK, I will take the spear with me, and you guys call me later and work it out with your "friends" who want to buy it, and we will all meet up. At first, they were talking about 100 dollars, but I told 'em they could have it for 50.

The whole thing put me in an interesting position with me the one trying to get money from a local instead of the other way around.

I had been very generous and did not want to get taken advantage of. If I give it as a gift or a tip, that's one thing, but of everyone on the beach, especially Vincent, I knew they had money cause I was among those giving it to them. I had tipped Roger close to 100 this week and paid Vincent more than 200.

I know times are tough but they already had two free spears, so fair is fair. Plus, I had asked them repeatedly all week long to bring the other spears so I could spearfish with a friend, and they always came up with excuses. I have no proof they still have the two prior spears.

So I said F-it, I am the music industry and know how to play hardball if I want to, so I did NOT pay for my snorkeling trip this final time, meaning I owed THEM 20 dollars (they charge me a little less each trip because I'm one of their best customers for years and years), and Roger looked at me with wide and confused eyes when I bolted, but I told Vincent I would leave the 20 dollars with Chris at Seastar Inn if he couldn't work it out by purchasing the gun later.

Well, I did close the deal. Later, miraculously, Roger came up with some money, 50 dollars, and said we had a deal. We met later near Burger King, and I took 30 and gave him the rest, and I thought it was fair. Roger did too, he was happy.

It was the first time in my long Negril history that a local had given me money instead of the other way around.