I GOT INVITED to a retreat months in advance, however, at the last minute, I decided not to go.
Jeffsaid I was selfish and furthermore, he had paid for the trip. Here begins my date to hell.
He lives in May Pen and I live in Kingston so he decided that he would pick me up at 3:00 a.m. in Kingston to take me to Mandeville from where the bus for the retreat would be leaving. We reached Mandville at about 5:30 a.m. and we got out of the car. He then told me that he had to return to May Pen, to which I replied, "I do not want to stay here by myself." He nevertheless jumped in the car and left. At 6:00 a.m. the bus came. I knew no one on this trip and even when the bus was ready to leave, Jeff was nowhere to be found. He was picked up on
the way.
We didn't sit together
Unbelievably, he did not sit next to me on the bus since he was the only person I knew, so for three hours I just stared out the window, thinking: 'What the hell I have got myself into?'
We arrived at the destination and all he said was, "Are you OK?" I said "Fine" then I left to use the restroom.
When I returned, everyone was gone. I had to go back to the receptionist to find out their location only to be told they were in the dining room. So as not to be too obvious, I took my time at the buffet table trying to pick him out of the crowd but no luck, so I sat at a table by myself and ate. That's pretty much how the day went. He never spoke to me and vice versa. I did have to speak to some of the people on this trip and made a few 'friends'.
At 5:30 p.m., the bus was ready and we boarded the bus in silence and headed back to Mandeville. On our arrival, we stood in silence until someone asked him if he had a ride to which he replied, "No", so the person offered to give us a lift to the nearest point since he lived in May Pen. Once there, he proceeded home. Now I had no intention of staying and I had made it clear that it was one of the reasons I went on this trip to be back in Kingston early. We ended up at his home and he unplugged the phone, locked the door I could open it from inside and went up stairs.
How would
I get home?
I am downstairs waiting for this jerk to tell me how the hell I am getting home. Hours passed and I am still waiting. I decided to call my brother. My phone had no credit so I called the operator and begged her to call my brother and have him call me. My brother called and an arrangement was made for a cousin to pick me up. I told my brother that I would wait at the patty store which was close, and the only landmark I had seen.
I left the house and headed for the patty store but to my dismay, the road was as dark as midnight and worse, the patty store was closed.
I said 'No, this is not happening' and furthermore, it was about to rain. Suddenly, a van pulled up and the driver beckoned to me. I turned, said a quick prayer and proceeded to the van. I asked the driver to call my cousin. He did and I was able to get some directions for the driver. Based on the location of my cousin, the driver decided it was better for him to take me to the nearest point since they were travelling in opposite direction. The driver was heading to Montego Bay and my cousin who was heading into Kingston from Negril was at Holland Bambo when the driver called.
So I hopped into a van of a total stranger at midnight. My heart pounded. I was tired and needed to use the rest-room.
But the driver turned out to be a real gentleman. We had a good conversation and I felt at ease. We stopped at a point and waited for my cousin to arrive and when he did, I was never more happy to see a family member in all my life. It was another long trip in the opposite direction to get home which I did safely at 4:30 a.m .
Few choice words
Jeff called me two days later and I told him a few choice words and I have not seen him since and that was May 18, 2005.
One less jerk to deal with.
The driver and I exchanged numbers and he called me Saturday to see if I was OK. In my cellphone I saved his name under godsend.
Not his real name
Pamela Pitta, ttripple_p@ yahoo.com
