“This is the second day I coming here. Yesterday when I come I didn’t even had nothing to eat because I say I would come and get through fast. But…is whole day I had to stay and this morning I had to borrow money from me mother to come here because I didn’t have,” she told me.
We were both in a long line of people hoping to get the boxes and barrels that our relatives sent in time for the holidays. There was not seating room and COVID-19 guidelines were certainly not in effect. While everyone had masks, most people had theirs under their chins. It was difficult to keep them on as it was humid and stifling, especially for the older folks, one woman was even using a walker.
It was our second attempt and we appeared to be among the lucky few who got access to their items as many of the others, mostly women, could be seen and heard arguing with officials from the shipping company. The sister came over to me and struck up a conversation. She mostly spoke and I listened as it appeared she just wanted to be heard.
“Look, let me tell you something, since March I not working. The place I used to work send me home and is like I can’t catch me self,” she told me.
“I looking for work but nothing ain’t coming me way. I kind of just happy to come out the house even though I don’t have no money. Is not like I want spend whole day here, but it feel good that you know I have to get up and go out somewhere.
“But is hard when you don’t have money. Like yesterday when I come is just me bare passage. I didn’t even know how I did getting to the park to get a bus to go home. I didn’t even have extra money to buy a drink much less. You see me… stand up there you wouldn’t believe how hungry I was, and I still had go home without anything,” she continued.
By now we were sitting waiting for our documentation to be checked by the customs officials and for some reason this sister continued to converse with me, there was no escaping her chatter. “You know it is not much I come to collect. Is a flat screen TV me sister send, and it is not a new one, it is a Samsung and she put two piece a clothes in it and is that they have me coming back and forth for. I would just go in a bus and go home with it because I living on de East Coast but is how I getting to de park because them taxi man would want more than $500 and that is all I get right now,” she continued.
“But I still grateful, you know, because is not much a Christmas I can look forward to. No money girl. But I have to thank God for life and that I still have somewhere to rest me head when the night come. At least I don’t have children because I don’t know what I woulda do. I just hope that come next year things would get better.
“This COVID thing really make life miserable for people. Sometimes I tell you I does feel like I going out of me mind because nowhere to go, no money, no work, is like what I suppose to do. And when everybody does have to be home, is like you getting on other people nerves. Let me tell you it ain’t easy,” she added.
I told her that she has to remain positive that indeed 2021 would be a better year for her. I reminded her that once there is life there is hope and that it was good that she was looking at all the positives instead of just focusing on the negatives.
“Is true. I just have to keep trying, I know but sometimes it does be hard. I wouldn’t tell you no lie. You know what it is to wake up and not know where you next meal coming from? Is only lef sometimes for me to go and beg. But them people would look at me and say big strong me begging when I could go and look a work.
“I not lazy, you know, I always does want work for me money. In me area people don’t really give you domestic work and even if they give you them don’t want pay. They have you work like a dog and then barely give you anything. One woman was trying to give me clothes, like I tell she I need clothes. I had to quarrel to get me money. I don’t want to try doing guard work because I frighten them nighttime work because where I living no bus does work in de night, so I just frighten.
“I believe in God and I does pray, and I know next year will have to be better. I just have to start earning because I can’t just depend on whatever little family give me and on me mother lil pension for food. Things just have to better,” she said.
Our conversation ended abruptly when my name was called. Even though I wanted to continue giving her the listening ear I really wanted to get away from an area that was crammed with so many people.
I told her I had to go, and she appeared sad. She asked me where I lived and whether I could assist her to at least get to the bus park to get a bus. I readily agreed to assist her because by then I felt really sorry for the sister even though I knew her story was similar to so many others. I am well aware that so many people, men and women, have suffered tremendously financially and otherwise since the COVID pandemic hit the world. We have all suffered, our children have suffered as well, but some have suffered more than others.
I am hoping that in this new year that we can all adopt the new norm of helping each other. I don’t mean just family, relatives and friends but anyone who needs assistance. Once we can give, we should not hesitate.
This is not about survival of the fittest, so if you are among the fittest then help those who cannot help themselves. We are living in strange times and it would take our humanness to survive and help other to survive. While I know some of us are not making resolutions this year, let us resolve in our minds to lend a helping hand, a listening ear or even just a smile where it is needed in 2021.
