THE OLD cemetery was undergoing a much need clean-up. Grass, plants, trees and garbage were being removed. It was very hard work for two reasons. Firstly, the ground had been neglected for years causing the vegetation to assume a jungle-like appearance. Secondly, it was very hot and humid. This combination was the main cause for the difficulty the labourers faced.
When lunch time arrived the men made their exodus en-masse. Only one man remained. Michael decided to work through lunch and leave an hour earlier in that afternoon.
Wack!
Crack!
Bam!
Chip!
He worked energetically, his cutlass flashing in the fierce sunlight. Every now and then he took a drink of El-Dorado and coca-cola. This was a necessary part of his working routine. He continued working, sweat pouring down his entire body.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder.
“Hey buddy, do you mind?”
“What!” he almost jumped out of his skin.
He turned and saw an old man.
“What’s up old boy.”
“You are making enough noise to raise the dead.”
They both burst out laughing at the irony of the joke.
“Could I have a drink?”
“Help yourself uncle.”
Michael continued working, slashing and hacking at the stubborn green wall of vegetation.
“Got a smoke?”
Michael responded by pointing to the cigarettes and matches near to the rum on the tomb.
“Sure there.”
The man sat on a tomb and smoked deeply, his eyes shut as if in ecstacy.
“That felt good”
“Like you didn’t smoke cigarette in a long while.”
“Yo so right.”
“Tek de pack partner”.
“Thanks friend. Remember, ease down on de noise.”
The labourer returned to his job, his cutlass clearing a way forward.
“Why yo talking to yo self?”
His co-workers had returned from lunch break.
“Na, is me an old boy hey.”
He turns around but only his workmates are there.
Puzzled he muttered.
“B….B….but…..”
“Like you seeing Jumbie or what?”
“Since when you does smoke?”
“Not me. Is old boy. A give him your cigarette but he aint take it.”
“Michael stop yo dotishness!”
“Keep it down a trying to rest!”
The voice came from the tomb they were sitting on.
No need to guess what happened next. The entire weeding gang left very early that day.
That night there was a strange gathering in the cemetery.
“Long time me aint see cutlass and hoe.”
“Me too”.
“A wonder why they left all they equipment here?”
And Michael had an even stranger dream. The old man spoke to him.
“Thanks for everything. Check next to de blue tomb where yo working and yo gon find something a left fo you.”
Then he was gone.
Next day an excited Michael went to work an hour early. He headed for the blue tomb and found a small packet. Inside were half a dozen glittering diamonds. He nearly passed out.