Juxinseason
(The Trilogy)
Respect
The Jux Prt.1, The Craft Prt.2, The Order Of Thieves Prt.3
Published by:
Raymond
O.G.YELLO James
at
SMASHWORDS
Copyright © 2004 Raymond A.James/O.G.YELLO
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JOOK/S: To poke or stick (A Jamaican term).
JUX: To commit a carefully planned robbery by way of a gun being the principle tool.
“They
say life is a gift and you will have to answer, one day,
to what
use you made of i.”
O.G. YELLO
Respect The Jux Prt.1
CHAPTER ONE
“Bang!” The third gunshot sound rang out into the quiet and sunny mid-day.
“Take that back to yu fucking Don.” Said Wayne after squeezing the trigger and watching the body fall to the ground.
James eyes opened as his mind snapped awake after lucidly dreaming up memories of that day. He did not see Wayne fire the shot but he did hear it loud and clear. His eyes darted around the cell while his mind refocused on the reality at hand. He could still remember the handcuffs being tightened around his wrist. The clicking sound they made as they tightened felt as though it was still beating against his eardrums. He remembered closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. ‘This is it’, he thought to himself of the moment. It’s not as though he’s never been in handcuffs before. So what made this time different?
He was staring at his son who was only thirteen months old. His son was oblivious to what was happening at the time with his father. James stared at him as memories of having to grow up without a father flashed across his mind. There were many times he sat as a boy wishing his father was still alive. He doesn’t know how much different life would have turned out but just knowing his father was there, he felt, he might have done things differently. Now looking at his son he knew, just like him, his son might be forced to grow up similarly, without a father to call upon. He also might not be able to fulfill the promist he made to himself many years ago; to find and kill the man who killed his father. James did find him but had not gotten around to killing him yet.and now no matter how much denieal he was in he knew the different in the back of his mind.
At the precinct the interrogation was relentless. Though tired and beaten the detectives were wasting their time. James’ tongue had lead chains tied to it that kept it anchored down in his mouth. His son was with him in the car when the police stopped and arrested him however he was in good hands now so James could close his eyes for this moment and be in some semblance of peace. He needed it right about now. He was tired and hungry. The only thing he’s eaten since being arrested is the cold and stale sandwiches served to
the prisoners. James passed up on the first three meals but by the time the third meal came around he decided to put a little something in his stomach to quiet the hunger pains a bit. Although eating things like lobster tails and steak were common to him, James was something of an “all-terrain nigga. The type of guy who could go anywhere and survive. Oddly he didn't look like it at most times. People could be easily fooled by his outward appearance. His demeanor
reflected his state of mind. So if you knew him you would know exactly where his mind is most of the time. On the short end of it, James wasn’t above eating a bullpen sandwich, as it is called, if he needed to.
After covering the mattress in the cell with the dingy white sheets given to him by the prison guard, James kicked off his brand new leather buckled Laban and sat down on the bed. He then folded the pillow, or what was left of it from excessive use, for the support of his head. He then lifted his feet from the ground and lay back on the bed. He pulled the light summer blanket over the bottom half of his body; it was also given to him by prison guards to help fight against the night's coldness of the cell in the dead of winter. The prison was poorly heated so such a blanket was an insult. Luckily he had on his sheepskin coat when he was arrested. It was the 8th of January and the howling cold wind beating against the facade of the building was relentless. Already two days had past since the police put those handcuffs on him and arrested him. The two days were spent going through the ringer after being booked then grilled with questions at the notorious 73rd precinct in Brooklyn. This type of treatment is referred to as “Bull Pen Therapy”. It’s a tactic used by those in law enforcement to soften up a prisoner in hopes of getting him to cooperate. A prisoner would be placed in a crammed cell with other prisoners. Over time there would hardly be any room to move around. Normally one would find a spot in that cell and would stay there for as long as they could before having to move to stretch. In the winter the cells are too cold and in the summer they are too hot. There is never a comfortable moment other than when a prisoner’s body just decides that it’s going to try and get some sleep, like it or not.
The frigid January wind howled through the cracks of the windows on the prison. From the front of the cell the windows to the outside world is about fifteen feet in distance. The sounds of the hustle and bustle of the live downtown Brooklyn streets could be heard even from eight stories up in the building that was once known as Brooklyn House (a detention center). A city fortress designed to lock-up and hold some of the city’s worst criminals while they awaited their fate of the courts. It was a violent place. Only Rikers Island (The city’s lock-up) surpassed it in violence. It is known simply as “The Island”. The cells are approximately eight feet wide by twelve feet long. Three walls of solid steel form the back and two sides of the cell. The front had bars that are about five inches apart. These bars also made up the door that opened to the cell. It is a sliding action to open and close. James was placed in the fourth cell on the gallery. There are a total of 24 cells stretching down the length of the gallery on one side and the same on the other side. Both sides are separated by a gate for greater control. During the day it is a gallery of noise. At nights it becomes a gallery of faint prayers. The gallery itself is about eight feet wide from the front of the cell to the bars that enclose it. On the other side of those bars is the cat walk. The cat walk is used by the guards to make their hourly security checks. This keeps them and the prisoners separated until it is absolutely necessary for them to move beyond those bars. This happens only during count time or during a fight. The back of the building’s facade encircle the rest of it thus making it into a prison fortress. On the building walls are huge windows that remind each prisoner where freedom is and that they are not free if they are sitting in one of those cells.
Once more James played the events over in his mind (The events leading up to his arrest). He then closed his eyes and began to reflect in retrospect. The outcome of his future seemed too certain. A certainty he did not want to deal with right now. In attempts to escape the reality he went back; back in time, back to Kingston Jamaica, back to his childhood memories, back to when he had no care in the world in spite of all that was going on around him. Back then he knew nothing but love coming from his loved ones. It was a third world country at the time but he knew nothing of the difference between third and first world if it was to be measured by his standards of living.
James was three years of age. He lived with his grand aunt. She was called auntie Dadda. Also living in the house was his cousin Carol who was twelve at the time, Carol’s mother, and a male cousin name Wayne. Wayne was nineteen years old. They lived in the Magreger Gully section. Though James was born in Tivoli Garden his mother left him with his aunt while she went off to prepare a better life in the states for them. Magreger Gully was and still is one of the worst parts of Jamaica in terms of violence and living conditions. The roads at the time were not paved and Zinc fences (The staple sign of poverty) separated one tenement from the next. Those who could afford it would have a poorly skilled brick layer lay some bricks around their property or what they claimed as their property. The work usually looked as poor as the skill of the brick layer. Some yards were tenement yards. These are property owned by the government that people take up residence on. Many of the tenements did their best to make the place look like a home however there’s but so much that could be done considering everything. The criminal element usually strives in these types of areas now called “Garrisons”.
Omits all the violence there was still a community type of living. In spite of all the trappings of the ghetto as such, life was pretty easy for young James. He can not remember a day ever being hungry. The political party in power at the time implemented things like food programs and those communities that were strong party supporters received higher benefits. James came to know his Jamaican people as hard workers even though he can’t remember anyone in the house where he lived ever going to work. James remembers a boy named Danny who lived right across the street. Danny was always getting beatings from his father for one thing or the next. At the time they looked like the worst beatings any kid could get. But today Danny is a successful business man and he sits on three executive boards of three of Jamaica’s top companies. James was the only kid in the neighborhood at the time that could leave his yard without an adult though he didn’t go far. No body in his house really paid much attention to beating him for anything he did.
A dread named Nevel lived down one of the lanes not far from his yard. James would visit Nevel’s house often. The dread didn’t mind having little James around even though most Jamaicans liked to do without visitors. Nevel (The Dread) was thought to be cool by James. He didn’t have most of the fears most kids his age would have around adults who are not family members. Maybe it was the food why James likes to be around the dread’s place so much. There was always a pot of food cooking on an open fire at Nevel’s place. Nevel also had a chalice he lit ever so often during the day.
This time period in Jamaica was especially violent. The governing party was the People National Party (PNP). The opposition party was the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP). Michael Manley was the leader of the PNP and the prime minister. Edward Seaga (nick named, Blinds for his excessive blinking), was the leader for the JLP. Manley was a hard nose socialist and he believed in the ideals of socialism. He believed Jamaicans should reap the benefits of Jamaica and he was not at all a friend of the USA. In fact one of his only friends in the western hemisphere at the time was Cuba. However he did not stop American companies from doing business in his country. Other countries like Canada, England, and Germany also did big business on the island. These countries were instrumental in building up the info structure and economy of Jamaica. Jamaica gained its independence from England in 1963. Manley Sr. knew he would need help from foreign countries to build up the info structure so they were let in under heavy regulations. He wanted to keep as much of the profits from these business in the country for the people of Jamaica. The USA was putting a lot of pressure on him for his closeness to Cuba and to allow them to do more in Jamaica. Manley would not bend and the pressure kept coming until he became tired of it.
In the seventies the Rockefeller family expanded their family business into Jamaica. They brought in the big city buses for public transportation in Jamaica. This posed a problem for those who operated mini-vans, as public transport, for a living. The buses were a lot safer and they could transport more people. Manley decided this could not be. The everyday people were suffering because of big business and those with money muscles. Manley took away the control of those buses from the Rockefeller family and gave it to the Jamaican people. Unfortunately it was poorly managed and so the mini-vans and taxis live on to rules the public transportation business. Manley did not stop there. He went ahead and did the same to more foreign companies. At the time Jamaica was the largest producers of Bauxite- the main component in the making of aluminum. He allowed foreign factories and sites and train the workers in their operations and teach them the skills of mining then he took the businesses away from them and gave it to the Jamaican people. This did not go over well with these countries and Jamaica started to be black listed.
Reports has it that under the guise of the C.I.A. America backed the opposition party. They began funneling guns to them along with large cash of weapons to be issued to the rebel arm of the party. The 1982 election was one of the most bloodiest and violent elections, period. The JLP and PNP literally at war in the streets over votes. The period leading up to the election saw some of the most uncivilized acts in Jamaica since it gained its independence. James could still remember the daily sounds of gun fire in the neighborhood. There were days he could not go out on the streets due to the dangers. This period also saw the rise of many un-ruling rebels. These are men who were affiliated with both parties but didn’t necessarily follow the orders of the party leaders. Once a gun was placed in their hands they basically did as they pleased until they were stopped usually by a bullet. These are the same conditions that brought about the area Dons. They were like the mayors of their areas. The difference is they did not have an official government title. However government themselves did business with these men due to the influence they have in their respected areas. They are the ones the politicians go to when the time comes to bring in the votes. These men were given cash and guns to control their areas. They often times operated without impunity. For the most part many of them were merely criminal who were given a blind eye and a nod by the leaders of the party they supported.
Little James had no idea of the complexity and hardship of life around him. His auntie and cousin kept him happy with lots of love and toys. At the time he did not know where these toys came from. All he knew was none of the other kids were getting toys like he was. His clothes were of the best as far as kids clothes went. The only trouble he remembers is when his auntie would chase him to beat him whenever he did something wrong. But whenever she caught him he would always do something to make her laugh and forget why she was chasing him. The only thing he could remember fearing at the time was the police from all the stories he heard about them from the people around him. The adults would tell him that the police like to kill little kids and he believed it.
One day while he was lying down in the bed he shared with Carol he heard a loud thump coming from the front of the house. Carol jumped up from the bed and said,
“Police.”
She had a frightened look on her face as she ran off to find her mother and auntie Dadda. It was the first time James remembered feeling fear. It was brought on by the shout of the word “POLICE” and the look on Carol’s face as she ran off. It reminded him of times running from his beating that he would get out of anyway. However he knew this was not the same. James quickly jumped from the bed and ran under the sowing machine in the corner. The whole house suddenly went quiet. It was eerie. Then he heard the sound of boot heals heading towards the room he was in. He held on tightly to the leg of the sowing machine in fear as the sound got closer. The machine was close to the door and the small room had no blind spot for him to further hide. James hoped the police would just look in and not see him then turn away and not kill him, as he was taught. What James saw next almost made him wet his pants. The boot sound stopped at the door and the nozzle of the M16 rifle broke the door way first. It was pointed downward. He knew this was a gun but not like his toy guns. This was the real deal. Little James must have died a thousand times in that moment. The police man spotted him under the machine. He tapped the nozzle of the gun on the side of the machine and said,
“Come out.”
James immediately came out. He did not bother to look up at the officer out of fear. He told James to go into the next room while he looked around. James walked pass him still holding his head down. He did not say a word or make a sound. In the next room was the rest of his family bunched up together laying face down on the large king size bed. There were three other police men in the room with M16s. They searched the whole house before leaving. James didn’t know why they were there and he still didn’t know. The only thing he could think of over the years was they were there for Wayne because he was the only one not present at the time and he never saw or heard about him again. It was many years later that his mother told him that Wayne was Carol’s father. James had no idea.
Wayne was a part of the rebel arm for the PNP. He was also order less. After he was given his gun by the area leader he decided his days of taking orders were over. He figured with his new gun he could feed himself now and not depend on scares hand-outs from the don or doing someone else’s bidding in order to eat. James remembered seeing Wayne with one of his friends at the back of the house. They were smoking weed and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Sitting down smoking some weed with your friends over a pot of cooking food was a normal thing in Jamaica. What was unusual about this time is: James saw Wayne with a gun in his hand. It was a black 38 revolver. They did not notice James standing there in the door way looking at them. James thought the gun was no different from one of his toy guns until Wayne turned and saw him standing there watching them. Wayne called him over.
“Come here boy”. Said Wayne.
James walked over to him. Wayne positioned James between his legs and asked him,
“Yu know a wah dis?” (Do you know what this is?) Wayne was referring to the gun.
“Yes a gun.” James replied.
Wayne smile and looked at his friend who was also smiling. They knew James didn’t have a clue about the gun and the real dangers of it.
“Yu right but dis is not like yu play gun. Dis a di real ting.” Said Wayne.
James didn’t quite get it until the day the police came into their house. Though the police had no need to use it James figured it out that day why he was so afraid of a police and his gun. Wayne did take the bullet from the gun before putting it in James’ hands. James thought the bullets were batteries at the time. He didn’t know why Wayne was taking the batteries out. It was a little heavy for James so he held it with both hands. With a smile he pointed it at Wayne’s friend.
“Bang!” James made the sound with his mouth.
James began to laugh when Wayne’s friend grabbed his chest and pretended to be shot. On that day under the sowing machine James put it together that a real gun makes you dead for real. In those days a gun gave a person tremendous powers. Because of the high price and the difficulties in getting and owning one, a person owning one would immediately become a threat to anyone with any semblance of authority. This also means that person is a target now. A threat to the area Don and the police, who both shoot first then ask questions later. If a gun was in the area and the area Don didn’t have control over it, he would send one of his soldiers for it. Whoever had the gun would have to turn it over to the soldier. If the order was not followed then your death for that gun was sanctioned then carried out. There are times when those orders are not followed and the messenger would end up getting killed to send a clear message to the Don that this particular person does not take orders from any Don. Men who were not willing to relinquish their guns and power to the Don and authorities became notorious in Jamaica. Hunted by the don’s men and the police, these men would be looked up on with reverence. Super hero like stories would be told about them.
The sounds of gunshots during these times were not unusual through out the day. Day and night James would hear them and not know the seriousness of them. And so it was three nights after James saw Wayne with the gun. Wayne was sending his message to the don of the area that he was no
longer under his rule. It turns out that the dread (Nevel) who lived down the lane was the one chosen by the don to deliver the order to Wayne to turn in his gun. Now Wayne was given the gun by the don to carry out robberies with his friends. Wayne was to bring the money from his robberies in to the don and the don would take his cut and give Wayne what he thought he deserved. Wayne wasn’t with any of that from day one because often times what the Don gave wasn’t worth the work that was put in to get it. But most couldn’t
complain. Wayne decided that is not how it was going down with him. He decided he was going to take his cut from the top and then give the don what he thought he deserved. That happened once and then Nevel was sent with the don’s message. Nevel approached Wayne one night after he came in from a Jux and gave him the words of the don. Wayne did not hesitate. He pulled his gun from his waist and put it right between Nevel’s eyes and pulled the trigger.
“Take that back to yu fucking Don.” Wayne said then put his gun back into his waist.
Young James did hear the gunshot from auntie Dadda’s veranda but it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary to him so he paid it no mind. Wayne did not bother to go back to auntie Dadda’s house because he knew the don would be sending more men with more messages and he did not want his actions to get any of his family members killed so that was the last anyone heard of Wayne. Life went on pretty much the same for little James even without being able to visit Nevel anymore. Then one day a man showed up at the house in a VW. He was to be James’ father. Up until this point James never really took much thought of his mother or father. His father was a tall fare skin brother who sported an afro and always well dressed. James remembered being at the back of the house playing with his toys when his older cousin Carol called out to him. The tone of her voice told him he was to come to her now so he dropped his toys and ran off to her. He ran into the living room and there sat his father, all smiles, looking at him. Carol was standing in front of the TV. It was an old floor models that James doesn’t ever remember working. Carol asked James,
“Yu know who dis?”
She gestured towards his father. James and his father stared each other down.
“No.” James replied.
James did not know how to say who he thought it was so he said,
“No.”
But he could feel it. He and his father connected right there but the word father was not a part of his vocabulary as yet.
“He is your father.” Carol said.
“Hi.” James said still feeling a little shy.
Stanly had that proud father look in his eyes as he looked at James. He stretched his arms out to see if James would come to him.
“Come here James.” Stanly said.
James looked at Carol as if he needed her approval first. She nod her head and James began to walk over to his father.
“Give me a hug mi boy.” Stanly happily said.
After they embraced he looked at James and asked him,
“Yu know who I am?” Stanly asked his son.
“Yes mi fada.” James replied.
“That is right mi boy. Do you know mi name?” Stanly replied and asked.
“No.” James answered.
“It’s Daddy.” Stanly proudly said.
James repeated it. Stanly has been waiting a long time to hear his son call him Daddy.
“James you’re going to come and live with me. Do you want that?” Stanly asked him.
James said yes but he didn’t really know what he was saying yes to. The next thing James knew is he was taking a bath and putting on some clean clothes while Carol packed the rest of his clothes and toys. The only person that had a joyous look on their face was his father. James could sense that there was something wrong but he had no clue as to what it was. Carol was not talking much and her mother was even quieter. Auntie Daddy was hiding her tears from James and trying to keep her composure. After he was packed and ready the three ladies he had known all his life surrounded him. They each took their turn hugging and kissing him. After the hugs and kiss Stanly said a few words to the ladies and thanked them for all they have done in the welfare of his son. He then went about putting James things in the car. After, he picked James up into his arms and minutes later James was in the passenger seat waving to the three ladies. This was James first time in a real car. He has only known them through his toys. As the car drove off James had no idea it was not intended for him to return.
James was more impressed with his father’s car than anything else. Outside of his tow cars and what he saw on the TV James had never seen or ridden in a car before. No one in the area he lived owned a car. The dirt road on which he lived was not by any main street crossing so no cars passed through there. The only mode of transportation that came through was bicycles and Honda 50 motor bikes. As his father started the car James tentatively watched everything his father did to get the car going. It was the sound of his auntie Dadda’s voice that broke his attention on what his father was doing to see Carol, and her mother were waving good by to him. He waved back at them not knowing this was it. However James was looking forward to venturing out beyond the few blocks that he has been confined to for his short life. He could not wait to see what was beyond these dirt roads. The car came to a stop at the cross of the main street. James eyes were wide open looking at the many different cars and motor bikes, and busses zooming by. There were people everywhere. There were stores, fruit stands, and people pushing carts with things they were selling. Everything was fast moving. James got on his knees in the car seat so he could get a better look out the window. His young mind was soaking it all up like a dry sponge.
After a few twist and turns his father pulled the car over and stopped. He put it into park then asked James if he was hungry. James said yes. His father opened the door and told him to slide over... James made sure to put his hand on the steering wheel as he slid on over to his father. In his baby mind and language he was like, I gotta get me one of these. They exit the car and walked into a bakery. The smell of freshly baked bread, pudding, and cakes was in the air. They all lit up James taste buds. There were three ladies in the store. From their looks it was clear they were related with their bright smiles and cocoa skin shade.
“Hello Stanley.
” The oldest of the three ladies (Ms. Bev) said.
“Afternoon Ms. Bev. How are you and your girls?” Stanley asked.
“Just fine and so are the girls.” Ms. Bev. Replied before her daughters spoke.
“Hello Stanley.” The daughters said.
“Hi Matti and hello Gretta.” Stanley greeted them.
“And who is the handsome little fella?” Ms. Bev asked.
“Dis is mi son. I’m name James.” Stanley looked at James and proudly said.
“Yu son? But Stanley all dis time and mi never know seh yu have pickni (Kids). Who is his mother? How comes I never saw no woman around here with no belly for you? Hey Stanley, you sure yu didn’t take away somebody’s pickni? You sure somebody aint looking for this boy right now?” Ms. Bev chided him while the girls giggled over it.
“No mam. I couldn’t afford to take nobody’s kid that’s not mine.” Stanley replied and they all laughed. “He’s been living with his mother’s folks. She went to the USA.” Stanley continued.
One of the daughters seemed to be a bit disappointed that she won’t be the one who gave Stanley his first child.
‘What a boy, looks just like you though.” Ms Bev said.
“Believe it or not, he looks more like his mother.’ Stanley replied.
The beef Pattie, coco bread, and cola Champaign became an instant favorite of James. After lunch James and his dad headed home. The scenes became less busy as they were approaching the more residential area. It was nothing like James have known for most of his life. These houses were well built with bricks and they looked the part, expensive and all fenced in. The fences were professionally built and the yards were big with lush grass. The streets and side walks were clean. There was not even a gum wrapper on the ground. Just about every driveway had a car parked in it. It wasn’t long before they pulled up in front of what was to be James’ home from now on. His father pressed on the horn. The front door opened up and a lady in a flowered dress came running out towards the gate to open it. The car drove in to the driveway.James and his father got out of the car.
“So this is James? How are you doing?” the lady asked.
“Fine” He answered.
“He is so cute”.
Another lady came walking out of the house. She walked over to them. His father introduced them to him. The two ladies were all over him hugging and kissing him and pinching his cheeks playfully. They took him and began to show him around the house. The house was huge. The first thing James noted was the ceiling fans. They took James into a bedroom after showing him the rest of the house.
“This is your room”. Julian (One of the ladies) said.
The room looked more like a master bedroom. From there they walked through a door that connected that room to his father’s room. They walked into his father’s room then to another door on the other side of the room. The door was open so James looked in and saw his father standing inside the room the door lead to. James was pretty quiet taking in everything.
“So how do you like the place mi boy?” Stanley asked his son.
James wasn’t sure what to say. He just stood there looking at his father with one of his fingers in his mouth. He started to think of Auntie Dadda.
“Where is Dadda?” He asked his father.
“What do you mean I’m right here.” Stanly answered.
“Dadda” James simply said.
Stanly then realized what his son was referring to.
“You mean your Aunty Dada?” His father asked.
James nods his head, yes.
“Well this is where you’ll be living from now on James. So you won’t see her anymore.”
James just stood there motionless steering into his father’s eyes as though he was looking for something. He was trying to piece together all the information he'd heard about a father and mother. Then suddenly it came together. This is the man who made him with his mother. He realized he was the smaller version of him. Now if he could only find out who is his mother? He looked at the two ladies back and forth. But he didn’t think any of them was his mother because he wasn’t getting that same feeling he got when he looked at his father. There wasn’t that connection.
CHAPTER TWO
James went on getting attached to his father more and more each day. Life was really good for James now. The two ladies were his father’s maids. Well they were a little more than his maids actually. James was very well taken care of. He watched a lot of TV and when his father came home from work the two of them would spend a lot of time together. Its as if his father was trying to make up for lost time Whenever James would ask, when will he see Carol and auntie Dadda his father would simply say soon until he no longer asked about them? His father owned a taxi company. He was also involved in the politics of the country. He was on the side of the PNP. He was one of the up and coming leaders in the party. With the money he had he was able to make his way up the ladder faster than most. He had his eyes set on the prime minister spot. Stanly would take his son to many places like the zoo and the movies. Life couldn’t have gotten any better for a four year old. Then one day disaster struck. Politics was a very dangerous game in Jamaica at the time. Members of his party were all busy back stabbing each other to solidify better positions within the party ranks. Stanly did not have any trust worthy friends within the party. Plus his money and education made him a feared man. However the hard working citizens of the country believed in him and his ideals. Those in his party saw his influence and they didn’t like it. Stanly had plans of dismantling the gorilla arm of the party once he got into the right position to do so. However he knew to do so he would have to get the opposition party (JLP) to do the same. He knew the gorillas-in some areas- had gained even more power than the parties they worked for and he wanted to put a stop to it. It was even hard for the police sometimes to go into some of these areas which were strong holds for the gorilla’s fractions. They did as they pleased and committed crimes without any recourse. They robbed, murdered and raped. Women had no say so in anything. Stanley wanted to bring an end to that. He wanted the country to be a true democracy. He wanted ordinary people to stop living in fear of these gorillas and politicians who were just out to line their pockets.
These views made him public enemy number one. Only the plot of is demise was not public. Members of his party began to plot on how to get him out of the way. It began with a meeting at Donald Grady’s place of business. With him, were Junior Lynch and Simpson Brown. The three men sat and contemplated how to get rid of Stanley. They knew it could not be done by the opposition party or even made to look like it. Because that would start an all out war that would claim too many lives and take a very long time to cool down. So how could they bring him down? After all, the three men were well educated, prominent suit wearing professionals. Junior called up on his brother-in-law who was a military officer. A party loyalist and a shady character. The four men decided to meet in the country side of Negril. Simpson had a house there where they met up. The brother-in-law was the man to arrive in a military jeep. He came once his shift at work was over. Though he was a Kingstonian he was stationed in Nigril so the meeting was not a hassle for him. Junior greeted his in-law as Mugs. The four men sat and discussed the business at hand. Mugs assured them that he could take care of their problem without anything leading back to them. They wanted to know how but he told them the lease they knew the better it was for everyone. Payment was agreed upon and Mugs told them that he would be back to collect once the job was done. That was the last time they saw him until the job was done.
James would accompany his father to work often. He would run around the office while his father took care of his business. Some times he would take him to the capital building whenever he had official business with his party. James was full of energy. Too much sometimes for his father. He would often imitate the kung-fu fighters from the movies his father would take him to see. He loved them. On this day after lunch his father decided they would take the day off. It felt like a good day to go to the beach so he wrapped things up early at the office left for the day. Stanly and his son headed home to get their beach gear. It was about 1:30 when they got home. The maids were out shopping for some things for the house. Stanly got their things together and was getting ready to head on out to the car. He stopped about ten feet from the front door and turned and looked back at the table.
“Hey James go get the visors from the table.” He told his son.
James turned and looked at them then he walked off.The door bell rang.Stanly thought it might be the ladies coming back from shopping.Then he thought why are they ringing the door bell? They should have their keys.Their hands must be full.He had the cooler with the sandwiches and drinks in one hand.James climbed upon the chair and picked up the two visors.He then got down just as his father’s hand wrapped around the door knob and opened the door.Stanly looked to see the two men dressed in military out-fits.This was strange, he thought.
“Can I help you gentlemen?” He asked then looked down to see the man in front of him holding his side arm in his hand.
James was walking slow trying to put on one of the visors.He was looking down so he did not see the men in front of his father.
“Stanly Anthony?” The man asked.
“Yes.” James Father answered.
“I got it dad” said James then,
“Bang”! A shot rang out.
James was frightened out of his wits as he jumped at the familiar sound he was used to when he lived with Aunty Dadda.He looked up just in time to see his father’s body falling backwards to the ground.Without looking at James the man stepped in and pointed the gun down at his father and fired another round into his face.James jumped as he saw his father’s head bounce up from the floor and brain marrow and fragments went flying.Right there it all added up to him.He used to hear the sound of gunshots but never really knew how a gun made those sounds.He knew that real guns made you dead for real but he didn’t know how.Now he saw it all happened to his father.
With his eyes open wide clutching the visor in his hand he steered at his father’s lifeless body.He knew he was dead for real watching the blood leak from his head.He was motionless but his young mind was racing a hundred miles a minute trying to make sense of what was going on.All he knew was, this was not good and he had a good reason to be very afraid.These men must be the police who killed kids.He looked into the face of the man who just killed his father.His mind was now blank not knowing what was going to happened next.He was sure the man was going to do to him as he did to his dad.James did not make a sound.He stood quiet and still as if nothing had happened.Mugs walked towards him stepping around the blood of his victim.He stopped in front of James looking down at him.He pointed his gun at James’ head.It was a Colt 45.James steered into his eyes.Then in a sudden gesture he raised his hand with the visor in it as if he was giving it to Mugs.Mugs’ facial expression quickly turned to bewilderment.He began to smile then he laughed.He stopped laughing still pointing the gun at James’ head.He then lowered the gun and said,
“Yu have heart yute” (You have heart kid).
After Mugs lowered the gun James steered hard into Mugs’ face as if he was studying it.He had realized Mugs changed his mind about killing him too.Mugs then turned away and he and his partner began to make an exit.James watched them and already his young mind was crafting the idea of one day killing mugs.Mugs’ gun was the last thing he looked at before Mugs went through the door.I’m going to kill him with one of those, James thought.He walked to the front door to see them getting into the jeep and drive off.He then turned and looked at his father’s lifeless body on the floor.He didn’t know what to think or do.All he knew was his father wasn’t going to get up.He was dead for real.He walked back to the table and pulled one of chairs closer to his father’s body.He then got up on it and sat down holding the visor in his hand.With the front door open he sat there looking down the driveway
to the gate.Every now and then he would look down at his father’s lifeless body hoping he would get up or just move.About 40 minutes later the two
helpers pulled up in his father’s second car.He got up only after the car drove into the driveway.The two ladies got out of the car and began to take the groceries out.James walked towards them still holding the visor.One of the ladies turned to see him coming to them.
“Hey sweetie.” She said.
James did not reply.She looked at him and noticed a look on his face that she had never seen before.
“What’s the matter?” She asked.
James suddenly dropped the visor and took a hold of her hand and began to pull her to the front door.
The headlines read, “Prominent PNP party leader and Prime Minister Hopeful was murdered during a botched robbery.” No investigation followed and no one paid any attention to what little James said when asked what happened.James was taken back to his Auntie Dadda and Carol who were sad of the news but glad to see him again.James was also happy to see his family.However it was clear to his family that he was not the same little child he was on the day he left with his father.He had changed a lot during that short time.He no longer had that happy streak about him.Now he hardly spoke and he hardly played with his toys anymore.He neglected even the new ones when he got them.He would just sit around in the walkway looking out onto the dirt road as if he was waiting for his father to once again pull up.Or maybe even his mother this time.When the sun was too hot he would sit on the veranda in the rocking chair.He always seemed to be in deep thought for his age.No one knew what was really going on deep inside of him.Auntie Dadda would watch him from a far feeling helpless.She did not know what to say or do to bring back that bright little boy she knew and raised.James went on like this for a long whiled before starting to open up a bit again.However he was never the same.Some times he would walk out onto the dirt road and look in the direction his father drove.He seemed to be seriously contemplating going for a walk in that direction and never come back.Some times he would walk down the lane to Nevel’s place only to have to walk right back.Some other people lived there now.Every now and then one of the girls who lived across the street would come over to his gate and try to make friends.The conversations were usually in kid language and short lived though she was fond of him.Often times he would give her one of his toys to play with.She never seemed to return them when he loaned them to her and he didn’t notice because he didn’t play with them much anymore.
One day a young lady named Pat showed up at the house.It turns out she was a cousin of his.The next thing James knew is he was bathing and his things were being packed again.This time he had less things packed and a smaller bag.Next it was good-bys and kisses and hugs again before he was off with Pat.There wouldn’t be a car ride on his trip.He would walk it with Pat up to the main road to catch a bus.The hustle and bustle was the same as when he and his father past by.He and Pat waited for the bus and when it came they boarded it.He remembers seeing these things (buses) a lot when he lived with his father but they never got on one.He was taking in the experience.About 45 minutes later they exited the bus and walked a few blocks through the busy streets of Kingston.They came to a small supermarket and went inside.As they walked through the supermarket Pat said hello to a few people working inside.James was checking out all the food stacked up high and low on the shelves.They walked to the back of the supermarket and out the back door.There was a house built on the back side of the supermarket with a shed extending on the side of it.As they walked under the shed James heard a strange sound.He looked to see a parrot in a cage.It was a big beautiful bird, he thought.Never seen one that big and that pretty before.He could not take his eyes off it as they walked by.His jaw dropped when he heard the bird say,
“Hello, my name is Pretty.What’s yours?”
He did not know birds could talk.They entered the house and James saw a man sitting on a couch watching TV.The man looked nothing like the other people he had seen in his life to this point, especially his eyes.Pat introduced them,
“James this is uncle Loyd.”
It turns out that Loyd was his grand uncle and the owner of the house and supermarket.He and James hit it off from the start.Loyd was of Chinese descent.His mother was Chinese and his father was black.Pat and Loyd were all his relatives on his mother’s side.Two weeks later James found himself on a plane heading for the USA.He was told by Pat that he was going to the USA to be with his mother.His face lit up when he heard that.He didn’t know what his mother looked like so he could only imagine.He was only one year old when his mother left him in Jamaica for the states.From the moment he got onto the plane he was looking for his mother.He looked into the face of every woman he passed to see if any of them might be his mother.He was smart enough to know that she must have some resemblance of him.He got off the plane and went through immigration with no problems.The flight attendant sat with him in the waiting area holding his travel document.They waited for his mother.
The moment James had been waiting for suddenly arrived.His mother pushed the door open and he knew immediately she was his mother when he saw her.She had a big smile on her face as she walked to him.Her cheeks were rosy from the cold weather during this time of year.She had a silk scarf wrapped around her hair.His mother was dressed in tinted shades, powder blue shirt, and jeans.His face instantly came to life in ways it hadn’t before.His smile widened cheek to cheek.His eyes also lit up like stadium bulbs.His face turn red from the blood going to his head due to the excitement he was feeling.James got up quickly from the chair and ran towards her as if he was so certain this woman coming towards him was his mother having never met her before.He leaped into her arms sure she would catch him.And she did clutching him inside of her arms and spinning him around.The flight attendant looked on at them.After they calmed down she said,
“Well I guess that eliminates the problem as to weather you are Marcia or not?”
She then handed over James papers to his mother.James and his mother walked out into the lobby where his mother’s sister was waiting on them.There was a little girl standing by her side and Marcia’s sister had a baby boy in her arms.James mother told him they were his sister and brother then she introduced them.
CHAPTER THREE
RANKS, STRIPES, GUNS, & … A CAT
Cat Put together The Order some time in the nineties after he was discharged from the United States Armed Forces.He arrived in the U.S.when he was sixteen years old.His mother moved to the states and left him in Jamaica at a very early age.However she worked tirelessly to save up enough money to bring her two children, Cat and his sister, to the United States.Little did she know by the time she was able to send for him he was already a full-time crook.He was born in Tivoly Gardens and he lived there for most of his childhood years.Cat never knew his father and in order to survive he was forced to grow up quickly.The money his mom sent back home to Jamaica every month was hardly enough to support the family so he started hustling; not just for himself but for the sake of his family.He was a shy boy who never seemed to get angry for any reason.He always spoke in a calm even tone.For his age he always seemed to know what he was talking about when he did talk.His frame was slender with fair skin and green eyes thus his name Cat.He was given the name by a classmate who liked him.Her name was Marcia.She would always tell him how in love she was with his cat eyes until she started to call him by the name.The next thing he knew the rest of the school knew him as Cat.He never complained about it since he liked Marcia.He was just having a hard time letting her know that.His shyness kept him at bay.
By the age of eight Cat was already snatching purses, shoplifting, and climbing through open windows.When he was ten he committed his first robbery with a gun.In those times in Jamaica, having a gun was a sacred thing.Even today it is almost an object of worship for many in the hood or what is called the Garrisons.
A neighborhood general named Stark was keeping a close eye on Cat for quite some time.Stark noticed how crafty and intelligent the young Cat was.He noticed the hunger also and decided to take him under his wings and mold him into his apprentice.It was Stark who put the first gun in Cat’s hands.A thirty-eight special.It was so old and rusted that it couldn’t possibly be operational.The firing pin was worn out and the trigger was seized up.Nevertheless it would make for a good scare.This was the gun all the new recruits started out with.Four recruits had been killed because of the same gun.They ended up trying to rob people who were bearers of licensed firearm.
Recruits would be sent out on a Jux and if they were successful the money would be sent to The Don.The Don gave a kick-back to the generals and the general would give the new recruits whatever they decided.This was their system, and it had existed for as long as any one could remember.You had to work your way from the bottom up to obtain ranks.All the young recruits aspired to be a Don someday.Most of the murders were carried out by teenage boys.After a killing, the killer would be sent into hiding.Once things cooled down, he would emerge with stripes and a better position.This would lead to better food and clothing.
Cat was fifteen when he committed his first murder.The owner of a number spot and a bar was being stubborn.He decided he wasn’t going to pay the local Don any protection fees.He felt quite capable of handling his own security so he obtained a licensed gun that he kept on his waist at all times.Cat had to be given a working gun along with the orders to kill the man, take his weapon, and rob his business.
The afternoon was a bit cloudy on that day.The sky behaved as though it wanted to open up and let down a little rain.Cat walked past the gas pumps and into the store.He was just your average-looking neighborhood kid.He sported a nappy afro top his slender frame.He walked into the place and asked for a pack of cigarettes and a pack of gum.After paying for the items he turned and walked out.That was the test run.Cat was ahead of most kids his age.He wasn’t about to simply follow orders without making viable plans of execution.He made sure to feel out the situation first.Although he was doing what he was doing to make extra ends and to gain ranks he still did not want to mess up his opportunity of one day making it to America.
The following day he returned at a later time in the afternoon.He stood at the counter and asked for a pack of cigarettes and a soda.He paid for the items then took a quick glance around before walking out.From there he took a stroll around Marcia’s block to see if he might catch a glimpse of the girl of his dreams.The decision to take a walk by her block seemed to be one of fate for Cat.There she was standing in white jeans and a pink strapped shoulder fitted blouse at the corner shop.Their eyes met and it was clear she spotted him first.Her stance seemed as if she was waiting on him all along.Cat wasn’t sure what to do being flushed with nervousness and butterflies in his belly.He wanted to break the stare but he was too nervous to do even that.Something in his mind was telling him that Marcia would not like him after today if he did not find it in him to say something.Then suddenly to his disbelief he heard,
“Hello beautiful.” Cat could not believe he said that to her.
Marcia smiled a wide smile and replied,
“Hi.”
She seemed to be shocked her self that he said something.She decided to engage him.
“A little ways from your yard aint you?” she asked him.
Cat stopped to talk with her.Though nervous this was a moment he wanted all along.No time to chicken out.He realized that for the moment he needed to come out of the Rud-boy character he was use to and open up more.To his surprise the two chatted for 25 minutes before saying good by.The both of them were feeling the bliss of young love.
Two days later and Cat was back at the number spot.This time the old man recognized him and before Cat could say anything, the man had already turned to get a pack of cigarettes from the shelf behind him.