JPG Story
Old lady Looks back at her life©
She stops
and looks back
at the landscape
from which she
just left. It
was colorful,
tidy, and
beautiful but
boy these sure
were a lot of
steps she
thought.
Unfortunately,
she didn’t take
the time to
count them as
she headed up
Government hill.
All she could
think about was
getting out of
the heat,
Although
the trade winds
made it a little
more bearable.
She wore a wide
Brimmed hat to
keep the sun out
of her eyes and
had a large
straw basket in
which she
carried all the
things she had
bought that day.
Being Saturday
She had spent
her day shopping
at the market
place and had
her pate’s,
maube, Meat
pies, and tarts.
This was
her favorite day
of the week as
it gave her time
to chat with
friends. She
wore sandals
that were worn
down from her
many trips but
kept her feet
cool. She wore
her age well as
she was in her
70’s. She
remembered her
childhood and
growing up with
very little. Her
room was shared
with 8 other
brothers and
sisters and was
measured 8 x 10.
It was also the
meeting room,
play room and
sanctuary. She
never went to
school since it
was too far and
the Cost of
$5.00 per child
per month was
more than her
parents could
afford. Never
the less she
learned to read
and write on her
own. She was an
inquisitive
person who
needed to know
why, what, where
and how for
everything she
encountered.
Her name
was Missy Smith,
but her friends
of which there
were many just
called her Mis.
Her childhood
years were the
best time she
ever had. Having
nothing meant
the whole world
was open to you
but you just had
to work harder.
At the age of 7
she took odd
jobs cleaning
houses, or
working in the
fields. She did
everything she
could and saved
up every dime
that she didn’t
share with her
parents.
As the
years went by
she grew smarter
and more
beautiful. At 14
she was very
developed and
attracted the
eyes of older
men. Of course,
her mother kept
he in line and
out of trouble.
She continued to
work any job she
could and took
on a job for a
white couple
doing their
ironing, and
cooking, and
watching their
elderly mother.
The man was in
his 40’s and his
wife was very
pretty. They
both liked Mis
and often
treated her to
gifts for doing
a good job. She
liked them too
and couldn’t
wait to get to
her job at their
house.
As the
years went by,
she was now 18
and very
beautiful and
well endowed.
The thought of
seeing the world
or at least part
of it began to
creep into her
mind. One day
she told Her
parents she
wanted to leave
and see what it
was like
somewhere else.
She chose
to go to the
Island of St.
Thomas. It was
not going to be
easy as her
parents did not
want her to
leave, but after
much thought
they decided it
may be best for
her since she
was grown and
really needed a
life of her own.
With the money
she saved
working for the
couple she was
able to secure a
ticket on a boat
going to St.
Thomas. She was
as excited as
anyone could be.
Her island
was small and
not much
excitement. St.
Thomas, she
thought would be
different.
Packing her
meager
belongings, she
said goodbye to
her family and
promised to
write gave them
all hugs and
walked down the
dirt road to the
harbor to get
the boat and
begin her
adventure.
She
arrived in St.
Thomas a few
days later and
was very
surprised at
what she saw.
Life was not
easy in the
early days as
Mis tried to
secure some type
of work. She
had landed on
the waterfront
and did not know
where to go.
A stranger
passing by saw
her looking
confused and
asked if she
could help. Mis
was so glad that
she could talk
to someone. She
told the
stranger whose
name was
Lorraine about
her being new to
the island and
had no Idea
where to secure
work or spend
the night.
Lorraine
had lived on St.
Thomas for well
over 40 years
and seen here
share of changes
and new comers.
She invited Mis
to spend the
night with her
in her modest
home. It was
located in
French Town
which was just a
short walk from
where Mis’s boat
had pulled in.
They talked
about their
lives and Mis
spoke of things
she would like
to do.