Growing Up

CHAPTER 1

                    Abby Jay was born in the year nineteenth sixty two ,two months before Jamaica become independent. She was born into a very respectable family. One that was set apart from the rest.Abby Jay and her  cousenss were bought up in a strict manner and we're not allowed to go to the neighbors house's. They had all the company they need There was enough of us to play cricket, football or even marble ,which we do in the backyard which was very big. We had a lot of fun.among ourself. They were adequently provided for and did not lack much Abby and her  cousens attend the basic school that was in the neighbouring community..When the sun was hot the teachers  would take the classes outside under the shade of the logwood trees.There was also a community center near by and a grocery shop.         
                   Abby' and her cousenss  got three pence for lunch ,which the school teacher took and gave them bread and lemonade with ice.There were days when the children had to run inside because some cows were let loose and they were afraid. There was also a library and so they had the opportunity to borrow book so that they could improved our reading skill.At the age of seven Abby was graduated​  from the basic  school and was now to be registered in the Perfect All Age School. It was September nine, nineteen seventy nine the morning air  felt sharp as the sun rises with​ a vengeance of humidity as it climb the horizon in the east.It's a new day and Abby Jay would have to be early.
                It was her first day in school.After travelling on foot for three miles in the burning sun grandma finally got her there. She was feeling scared of the big boys and girls that keeps​ moving up and down the school yard as if there was nothing else to do Abby wanted to ask Grandma to please take her back home but was also scared grandma would beat her badly before everyone. We had just met Mrs Billings who has taken care of registration and Abby was about to meet her new teacher Mrs Walnut She was so nice Grandma adores her. We were told to sit quietly while she catches up on the school gossip from , another teacher..A little boy laugh as the other teacher said something funny under his breath. That is he speak between his teeth.She quietly turn around and said "what in hell you laughing about,who give you joke". Nobody miss.she said to him "boy don't let me have to put me foot down you throats".

                The class burst into a frenzy, Abby Jay had never laugh like this before,she held her side as she laughed herself into a hiccup.the teacher shouted ," little girl shut up,you no fraud u maw drop out" She laugh even harder until the urine started running down her feet.The children start to shout, teacher she piss on her foot.Now Abby start feeling embarrassed ,it was her first day and she has made the wrong impression.The teacher took her to the bathroom and had her clean up. She told her it was okay she should not cry.As she entered the class she felt like a bug eating to be shattered by it's pretty.she which she could find a hole to stuck her head in until she dies.The students started to make some funny sound but the teacher told them that if anybody say anything about what has taken place they would be punished during lunch break and she wanted them to know that lunch will be chicken &chips. No one wanted to miss lunch and so I was safe for a time.
                  We spent the first day getting to know each other and socializing. My new friend name was Eddie ,she was shy but beautiful her hair was golden brown. Our uniform was blue plaid blouse and dark blue tunic and this was complete with properly wash feet with clean toenails. Oh,! I forget to tell u that it was the days when the hot asphalt burns the sole of your feet untill it hurts,and most parent were unable to provide shoes for their kids.For Abby Jay whose
Mom works at a shoe store in Kingston making shoe there was no need to attend School barefooted.She also had an auntie that was partner in the same store an aunt in England and two uncle who always see to  the affairs of the family.Abby uniform was complete with blue socks and black shoes..
School was fun she like the writing and the reading since she was a good reader from Basic school.
                    Teacher likes Abby and told her that she did well. Abby was happy. Abby did well in school and was allowed to move one class up . The principal told her she hat a bright future ahead of her. Abby went home excited knowing that she was about to have a wonderful time at her new school.She was on cloud nine as she excitedly​ told Grandma about her first day.Abby went to bed in a daze as she relived her first day, she knew what she had to do to make friends and she was willing to go to any length to have friends.In every school there are always different kind of children, the most fortunate the middle class and the dirt poor ones.Let me tell you a little about the "dirt poor ones"
There was a group of kids that were always look hungry, their faces were dirty and their clothes were crushed and dirty ,their feet wet hard and crack with the red dirt as if they only had a bath once p week. Of course this was not strange since water was scared and children had to travel Manny miles to get the good commodity
                  .Abby and her siblings got a cook meal every day to bring to school.This could be rice and chicken or beef.The most favorite meal was moulding hammy and  ackee and cod fish.Of course this has to be had with lots of water which we catches​ at the school tank. Well this meal wasn't eaten in public but across from the school was a cow pasture, where lots of Kidd's hang out for lunch so you would not know what they were eating. One day I gave my best friend a hammy with ackee,she was so happy because she was hungry.She ate so fast she started to choke we were so frightened we gave her some water but it got worst. We start to scream,a big girl came by and hit her in the back a whole half of hammy fly out of her mouth and she was okay. I told her she had to be careful with the bammy because this is what our  ancestors used to get rid of their wicked slave master. Grandma was  from the tribe of  marroons.

                    There were also the people in the community to contend with, since they hardly likes other people children and would do anything to get them spanked. While Abby was coming home from school for the first day a woman told Grandma that Abby was so disrespectful she pass her and didn't has good evening.She got so upset and gave me a fine spanking. There were times when they would also catches you and spank you but we could no go home and complain because they believe no one would beat you without a reason.In our community we were not even liked much by most of the children because we were a little better off.There were times when they would plan with other children to fit with my siblings.