By Abdool A. Aziz

HE WAS a ‘star’ of the creole sugar estate. Born mixed race, his name was Theophilus Hinckson and they called him ‘Caffy’. He was tall, strapping, handsome and wore a copper-tone complexion- a ‘dougla’. He didn’t have much schooling but had a great deal of common-sense and humour. But one weakness lay in his lust for the fairer sex. And many women loved to flirt with him as he was popular and held a lofty job on the plantation; field supervisor. He was a bachelor and known as the ‘stud’ and ‘sweet-man’. Caffy ruled the roost. But, as every rope has an end, his reign came to an end in the prime of his life. He would commit suicide rather than face shame and die in his lover’s arms, all because he messed with Reds.

`Caffy’ didn’t care about the love and many ladies fell victim to his charms. But one dougla girl named Avril pulled at his heart-strings. He fell for her. Big mistake! This fair damsel was the lover of Reds and she would not lose her coveted paramour.

He messed with the wrong woman. Reds was born and raised at Isanno in the Mazaruni. Spent a few years in Bartica. Reds was in love with Avril and decided to end the ‘sweet man’s’ career for good. Reds travelled to Isanno to ancestors and brought back a ‘Devil’s poison. One night as the ‘sweet boy’ romanced Avril, Reds poured this concoction into his ‘drink. The ‘stud’ emptied his glass and left, well spent.

A few days later, he felt weak. His nerves got agitated. He went to the estate, Diagnosis? Nervous Breakdown. He was told to get lots of rest and diazepam. Caffy grew weaker and weaker. The handsome ‘star’ stopped blinking. His body felt numb.
The evil potion did him in, he spent his fortune to get medical help, to no avail. His manhood was lost forever. Just as the departed bee sting kills the bee, impotence ‘murdered’ Caffy. He locked himself away. The rooster stopped crowing. The ladies knocked on his door but he gave no answer. His world is one of shame. He couldn’t live with that. He took one last rendezvous with the lady of his heart, Avril and in her arms he expired, from rat poison. The macho-man committed suicide.

He was a kind man in many ways. Always laughing with his mouth full of gold. He loved children. I was his favourite. I still miss uncle Caffy. Yes, there were more ladies than men at his funeral and lots of tears. But, Reds and Avril were not there while he was laid to rest.
His epigraph reads: Caffy – the loverboy’s memories preserved. Poor Caffy chose death over shame, what an ego! While I visit his grave from time to time, I hold him dear in my heart as he was a dear friend.