‘CAST-NET’?  Black sage? Ryan knows only about the Internet, Networking and a Holy Sage. To him, his uncle was in a time-warp.
Sensing his bewilderment, ‘Uncle Benji’ responded: “Yuh ain’t know ‘bout dem things, eh? Ah gat plenty fuh tell yuh, then. Imagine, me leff ‘Merica fuh come ah Guyana after a lang time, and meh feel meh still in ‘Merica. Anyway, wah yuh cook?” Ryan replied: “I didn’t. I often don’t. I am taking you out for dinner.”

A disappointed ‘Uncle Benji’ shrugged. He was looking forward to the good old ‘sada roti’ with ‘baigan choka’ and maybe hot catfish curry. Not being able to conceal his disappointment, he said: “Just like ‘Merica, eh. Al’yuh eating out now. Alright, on de way, stop by de phone place let me book one call to yuh mooma. By time we done eat, de call might ready.”

Ryan burst into laughter. “Booking call? What are you talking about?” A baffled ‘Uncle Benji’ asked: “Yuh mean yuh nah know ‘bout that too. Ah wah yuh really know, boy. With all de education yuh gat, yuh nah know nothing.”

Ryan, sensing the challenges ahead, tried to subtly assert himself. “Uncle, I didn’t grow up in the times when Guyana was bankrupt and lacked basic facilities. My school days and working life so far have been in a modernised Guyana. So, forgive me, if you can, for not being aware of the things you talk about. Look! You can talk to mom on my cell-phone.”

He dialled the number, and gave the phone to his uncle. ‘Uncle Benji’ froze. An overseas call on a cell-phone in Guyana! No more booking! No more waiting! What happened?

He sat trying to compose himself. After some apprehension, and a few ‘hellos’, since he couldn’t immediately place the earpiece directly over the entrance of his inner ear, a lengthy conversation ensued. It centred on his many shocks so far, and the numerous images he has seen that were once unimaginable. A few times he had to remove the phone from his ear, due to the continuous high-decibel boasting of Ryan’s mom about her son’s and Guyana’s achievements. She last visited two years ago.

While ‘Uncle Benji’ continued to be in awe of Ryan’s achievements, the clarity and ease of making an overseas call from the comfort of home added to his pleasant state of bewilderment. The term ‘dis-accustom-cy’ entered his mind. Indeed, the ‘symptoms’ permeated his body. His old Guyana is no more. This he has to get accustomed to; quickly. He handed Ryan the phone and said: “Yuh all really gat it easy, meh nephew. If yuh know wha we had to go through just fuh mek one call when we was to go ‘Merica.”

Said Ryan: “I think I can understand, uncle. Now, relax and let’s go and have dinner at a modern restaurant, which I am sure will blow you away.” ‘Uncle Benji’ still found it difficult to believe that his born-and-bred Guyanese nephew was totally oblivious to life in the past. At least, he should know something, or maybe he is too preoccupied with modern stuff, ‘Uncle Benji’ thought. “OK, leh we go and eat. Yuh-all young people ain’t never know nothing.” They left for the short drive to an exquisite city restaurant.

Ryan began to feel a sense of disconnection to the seemingly dark and uncomfortable past his uncle would have experienced. He couldn’t comprehend how someone, a native, and more-so, a close relative, could be as surprised as ‘Uncle Benji’ by the many modern amenities that permeate Guyana’s landscape. He took leave to spend time with his uncle, whom he had visited on various trips to New York. They gradually developed a bond. He wasn’t going to allow his feeling of disconnection to ruin the time they will now spend together.

He sensed an opportunity to fill the void he now felt about life in Guyana decades ago. Maybe his uncle’s stories will make him appreciate more the gains and comforts he currently enjoys. Now, enthusiastically curious, Ryan couldn’t help asking about the call-booking his uncle mentioned. A smile broadened ‘Uncle Benji’s face as he willingly related the trials and tribulations people back then endured to make an overseas telephone call.

He explained that you first had to travel to the places in Georgetown that facilitated the making of such calls. Getting there had its own challenges, given the inadequate transportation system. You had to pay in advance for the amount of minutes you wanted to talk, then wait for hours for your name to be called, telling you which booth to enter. After the operator connected you, you talked, trying to avoid others from hearing your conversations. He remembered hearing people asking their loved ones overseas to send basic food items. If anyone was fortunate then to have a phone, it was rotary operated.

Ryan smiled. He had seen pictures of rotary phones, and always wondered how people managed with them. He turned to his uncle and said: “Uncle, those days are over. Making an overseas call is just a click of a button. As a matter of fact, Guyana has more than one cell-phone provider. Almost every person has a cell-phone now, with access to the Internet. I can’t imagine life being any different, and so does everyone else.”

A much more relaxed ‘Uncle Benji’ looked at him and said: “Now, all-yuh really gat life in London.” Ryan smiled. He has learnt a new terminology; he couldn’t wait to use it on his girlfriend.
To be continued on Wednesday…