The village of Sand Height lay along the sea coast. It was a remote community that depended on two things for economic survival; fishing and farming. Everyone got along well with each other.When someone did not have enough, he only had to ask his friends and neighbours and they would willingly help. Sand Height had one major problem; the people were superstitious, down to the last resident.
Everything was going okay until the Jumbie Birds started to arrive. No one knows why they came. One by one, yard by yard, they began visiting, hopping and cawing. The people began to panic. Then old Ms. Lord died. That confirmed it. They were now sure that the Jumbie Birds had caused her death. People spent plenty of time shooing them away from their property. They were afraid of the consequences.
Then a series of accidents began to occur. Vibert was drunk and heading home one night when he stump he toe fell down in a concrete gutter and break he foot.
Thelma bruk she hand trying to control the crazy bull cow she got. It pull she and slam she hand into a tree and it bruk.
Colin buss he head playing pelties with brick. The child got cock eye plus he hand so lap that he try to pelt up in a tree to kill a bird. Somehow he managed to pelt straight up. De brick end up bussing he head.
Danny complained that he clothes missing from the line but if you see Danny clothes you would realise that is either a junkie or a madman thief them. De clothes old like Moses.
Narine say he go home and find he house tumble up. Ever since he wife dead de man didn’t sweep or clean up the house. I don’t know how he recognise dat the house tumble up. Under normal circumstance you can’t tell the difference.
Then people start complaining that they see spirit. A small girl say she see a bright light shining in de sky an was spirit. An old man complain dat shadows does be moving around and carrying on conversation.
It was hard to rely on his testimony because he was half blind and deaf in one ear. Another woman say she see three naked black men. Everybody suck dey teeth because she had a serious problem when it comes to men.
Somebody send for de Obeah Man. When he arrived he go from house to house checking. He see de Jumbie Birds and he hear all de stories. It tek him a week before he give de verdict.
“Dis village build on a Dutch burial ground and somebody disturb the spirits.”
They immediately stopped some workers from digging up a plot of land behind the houses. The man was paid handsomely and he departed.
Things seemed to be returning to normal. The Jumbie Birds visited less and less and very soon they disappeared. Just as they thought all was well, another problem began. Jumbie Birds clear out but Crapo and Snakes invade. Everybody say that de Jumbie Birds send they friends.
By Neil Primus