You-all going to a party or
what, asked Zipper as the well dressed group of mostly young people came onto
the truck by climbing onto the steps to the trucks cabin then into the
vehicle.
Party with bible and thing in
we hand? said a well dressed young man in a broad chequered tie.
I hope you not drunk tonight
you know Zipper, said a hefty girl with her pressed hair combed back. These
roads aint the kind to drive drunk on.
I was driving these roads
before you was in pampers girl, said Zipper.
Why you come up the road so
late though? asked a tall girl with thick glasses. We were waiting for you since nine O
clock.
I had a little set-back with some engine
problem, Zipper lied, for he well knew that the last thing a passenger wanted
to hear was anything related to brake problems; not on the steep winding roads
of Dominica.
If we know you were coming
late we could have carried on the prayer meeting longer, said Chequered Tie.
Lets go Zipper, Hicks
shouted from the back of the truck.
There
were no more seats available and the people who came on had to stand. The young church folks remained standing just
behind and beside the driver. There was
a loud grating sound as Zipper threw the truck in gear then he revved the
diesel engine and slowly drove off.
There were no lights on the road. To his left towered the hills and to
the right the land dropped off as it plunged down toward the beach which
bordered the sea.
You-all had crusade or what,
Zipper continued addressing the church
folks.
We just start tonight, said Hefty.
You can bring the wife and children you know.
Wife? I done with that long time man, said Zipper
with a broad gummy smile.
That is part of what we have
the crusade about, said Chequered Tie.
Too many people making a joke out of this marriage thing.
But you aint know the
circumstances of the situation and you passing judgement on me, Zipper said as
he grappled with the staring wheel and negotiated a tight corner and a steep
downward slope of the narrow road.
I aint judging you, said
Chequered Tie. That is for God to
do. I sure when you married her you
promise to keep her for better or for worse...
She had a man with you or
what, asked a fair chap with a budding moustache.
But hear what this lil boy
asking a big man like me, Zipper said and laughed.