chapter 2
As Toney and his son walked along the dirt road leading away from their house, they got a better view of the cedar, yellow maple and teak trees that surrounded the landscape.
That moment was quite enlightening for Toney. It gave him a special view of where things were. He visited the area a few times before, to meet with the gentle man who sold him the house, but never then were able to have a good look at the landscape. It seemed that each time they met were at evenings, leading into the night. As the two continued walking, the ambiance was as new to Jason as it was to Toney.
About ten minutes into their calm stride, the dirt road tapered off. Forming beneath their feet were stones neatly crafted and laid puzzle like to each other, forming the main road. Donkey carts and a few horses exploded onto the street. There were probably two or three cars parked lower down the street. People hurried passing each other, some with friendly greetings others just went along.
In the distance the sound of children could be heard laughing and a distinct one screaming the words, “Nah, nah you out, mom, he not playing fair!”
As Toney and his son approached the first shop, he saw and old man selling ground provisions.
“I could get you a nice price for a few pounds on the yams or cassava, stranger.” The old man spoke up, while he rose to his feet.
With that, Toney turned and caste his eyes along the street, and noted dozens of vendors on either side of the road way. He then gave a chuckle, rocking his head back and fought a bit.
Jason looked at his father, squinted his eyes but said nothing. He had seen this look on his father’s face many times before. It was the look that came with some type of realization.
Toney was so busy for the entire week getting all things ready for his family to leave Dow island, that he did not realized it was Saturday. Had he remembered that, he will have suggested to Merry that she come out and get some dry goods for the family. She was the one that was better at this. Toney then looked back at the track and wondered whether he should send Jason back to call her. But then again, a quick thought filled his mind. Merry is never the one to forget things like this and most have known the day, but opted not to remind him. In that way, she can get both men out the house to do her decorating.
The streets converted into the market place and people were up and about trading or just meeting each other. Others used the time to bring their children out to relax and play with their little friends in the streets.
Toney and Jason left the old man and proceeded west. As they made their way along the hectic street, persons called to their attention, the prices of tomatoes, onions, water melons and other items.
On the main street, to the left hand side, about fifty meters inside, a dead end road appeared. Closer to where the two stood, a small sign hung sideways against a bamboo pole—‘Help Wanted—Tool Sharpener’.
The two approached the main entrance at the front of the structure, which was partly constructed of wood from the ground to about two feet up. The remaining portion was partitioned with wire, giving it an appearance of that of honey combs. As Toney and his son entered the structure from the front entrance, a tall pale coloured looking man worked at the back.
The two moved closer to the gentle man. At first, he appeared not to recognize someone standing at his side. He simply remained staring at an ax in his hand.
The man took a deep breath, and then cleared his throat a couple of times. Holding the ax firmly in his hands, he rotated his shoulders, as if in his mind he struck the blade at the truck of a three. Methodically, he did the motion about two or three times, and then froze. Jason moved a bit closer to his father, arching his body as if to use his father as a shield, should the man turned crazy. The man raised the ax slowly, high above his head. He then brought it down, almost in a straight line, unhurriedly, to about three inches from the table top.
The stranger remained holding the ax firmly in the same position. Toney remained quiet as well, observing a moment of silence with this stranger. It seemed that for a few moments not even the noise from the streets could be heard. The man then drew in a long breath and paused. Gently nodding his head slowly, and then removing one hand from the ax, he made a thumps up sign.
“Okay…okay.”
Toney rubbed his palms together, and stepped back about an inch, figuratively giving the stranger some room to breathe.
Between Toney and the man there was a communication. Jason was unaware of what just happen but knew that something had just taken place between the man, the ax and his father; something sacred.
“Jameson is the name.” He said softly.
Then like a new born baby, rested the ax on a cleared space on the table.
“Haven’t seen your face around here before stranger.” Jameson now turned to Toney and his son, his hands stretched out to greet Toney.
“Toney, the name is Toney, and, this is my son.” Toney motioned with his left thumb while moving out the way to expose his son to the view of Jameson.
“Go on boy, tell the man your name.” Toney grunted.
“That’s alright Toney, the young man and I will have enough time to catch up.”
Toney looked at his fingernails. “How do you know it is not I who wants the job?”
Jameson turned his head away from the two and straight in front of him. “At my age, you get to be able to read people, and besides your hands are not for grinding, maybe farming.”
Jameson pulled the rubber band off his ponytail, exposing the strikes of grays in his unruly blond hair.
“Carpentry, Mr. Jameson, carpentry.”
“Well Toney, son, you learn every day.” He replied while once again picking up the ax to examine its blade.
“Dad, you’re going to leave me here?” Jason’s voice cracked.
Toney tapped his son on his shoulders a couple times. “He is a good man son, I trust him.”
“Okay, so you trust him.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Great, that’s just great!” Jason raised his hands and dropped it at his side.
Jameson seemed undeterred. At one time, he was you too.
As Toney made his way out of the shop leaving Jason behind, Jameson called out to him.
“Two dollars an hour, the pay is two dollars an hour. Work starts at eight and ends at four o’ clock, you will see him then.”
Toney did not look back, but raised his hand and waved.