Speaking of Misplaced Priorities..
So one evening a few weeks ago I was sweeping my front yard and this man who lives around the corner came by and asked me to borrow $10 so that his wife could have passage to go to work.
“Boy she only harrassing meh. And ah just want to gi she de money so she go leave meh alone. Ah go bring it back to yuh on Saturday please God.”
Now I don’t really know the man all that well. I know his dad and his brother. He lived in Guyana for a few years before returning to Trinidad and I only just met him this year. The week before he asked me for the loan, I had asked him about his brother who had fallen and hurt his back. So I guess that’s what made him so comfortable in asking a virtual stranger for a $10 loan.
So I said ok and went to get it. So when I came back he said, “Well if not Saturday, then Sunday ok?”
Uh, wait….I’m thinking, “I thought not five minutes ago you said Saturday.”
Anyway, I said ok and handed it to him. So Saturday come and gone, no $10. Sunday come and gone, no $10. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday….in fact the whole week done and it have time come round again to Sunday. So Sunday I outside again sweeping my yard and I see him and he see me same time…and the nastiness smile. Well form the time I see that I know he coming with some cock and bull story he invent when he saw me outside.
He say, “Boy, ah was calling last Sunday and nobody came outside.”
“What time so?”
“All 6 so.”
“But I was home.”
(no reply)
“Well bang on the gate next time.”
“OK.”
So Friday of that same week reach now and he see each other again.
“Yeah boy sorry about that I get tie up dey. But bang on the gate right?”
“Yes…the gate…..bang on it” I didn’t say this through clenched teeth, although it may seem like it.
So as soon as I saw him the next time (which was the next week) I knew he was coming with some story again.
“Yeah boss, sorry about that, but if yuh have any work to give meh to do I could do it for yuh.”
Wait, wait, wait, hold on. I’m thinking, how did “please lend me $10″ turn into, “please pay me $10 for a job that we have yet to decide on and which I am yet to do”? How dat reach dey? I was like, “Nah I realy doh have no work for yuh to do yuh know.”
“(he thought about this for a moment) Oh ok. So bang on the gate right?”
“Yes….the gate….bang on it.”
People, you know the very next day I see this man walking the road with a Carib? So I thinking again, “What if I liked Carib too? I can’t even afford Carib if I wanted one. I does drink the short Busta when I thirsty. I doh even buy water, because water is $4.”
Well I decide I not lending money ever again. I doh care what sad story yuh come with.
16 Responses to “Speaking of Misplaced Priorities..”
By Hottie Hottie on Nov 15, 2006 | Reply
But look how Alexia just JUMBIEING MY SCENE DRY SO, DRY SO!!!!! What card you have to send Mani?! Look, keep yuh US eh! My currency heavier dan yours.
mumbles under breath… First she start calling him Mani, now she want to send him money… ASKING fuh de man address… Whay trouble is dis… And de wretch eh go say nuttin.
By Hottie Hottie on Nov 15, 2006 | Reply
Ah just joking eh love! Yuh know how dese days evrybody testy.
By saucydiva on Nov 15, 2006 | Reply
Never lend what you cannot afford to loose cause yuh know the posibility is yuh might not get it back!
I only lend money to my mother and husband (and he does have to pay back with interest) that is it!
By Hottie Hottie on Nov 15, 2006 | Reply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC-D4lpVt_o&mode=related&search=
The original Mani.
By Alexia on Nov 15, 2006 | Reply
Yes girl your $$ heavier than mine, thats one good thing bout england you could save and go back home to live comfortably after a couple of years….
Doh worry ah not jumbieing yuh scene…LOL
Ah sending a christmas card for you to
By Hottie Hottie on Nov 15, 2006 | Reply
Lol! Who tell you that rumour girl? Time yuh finish pay them bills so yuh lucky if yuh get to save anything at all! And ah looking out for the card
By Bagogyul on Nov 16, 2006 | Reply
bwahhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaa dat is funny as hell Mani. lol
I don’t lend money at all, that’s just my rule.
#1 I don’t have it!
#2. I will give it to you when i do.
By law on Nov 17, 2006 | Reply
Mani boy, just chalk dat up as a loss. Yuh $10 wiser. Next time yuh see mister, just tell him forget de $10. Thank God is only $10. At least yuh not like me who had to learn de hard way and was out $3,000.
People, you know the very next day I see this man walking the road with a Carib? So I thinking again, “I like Carib too yuh know. But I can’t afford Carib. I does drink the short Busta when I thirsty. I doh even buy water, because water is $4.” LOL!!!!!!
By Hottie Hottie on Nov 17, 2006 | Reply
Mani, swe’ drink not good fuh yuh.
By a chic fro on Nov 17, 2006 | Reply
Mani…lend meh a lil $100 nah…ah go give yuh back week after next week Tuesday when ah get pay.
Thanks in advance.
By Hottie Hottie on Nov 17, 2006 | Reply
Lol. Just knock on de gate when yuh ready to pay…
By kevian on Nov 17, 2006 | Reply
ahaha, this post real funny! Mani boi I want a lil 20 dies all I asking for and plus i doh drink carib either yuh dohhave nuthing to worry about.
By Hottie Hottie on Nov 17, 2006 | Reply
But whey Mani is boy?
By Lime on Nov 22, 2006 | Reply
my personal favorite was when someon would walk the half mile down the road to our house (cuz the taxis doh drop inside of where we lived) in the heat of the day so they coudl show us some official looking document stating they were physically incapacitated and unable to work and could i please give them some money to help out.
By Crankyputz on Nov 22, 2006 | Reply
That’s funny….it was sort of sweet the way you hung on to hope that you would get your money back.
Reminds of when we went to Montego, walked up to the market, with 2 Americans we met from the resort, met some fellow along the way who claimed to be from our resort, and was pleasant enough. So whatevea he walked us there, and the dumbo Americano’s ended up giving him $50 to buy coffee for them, and give it to them at the resort. And lo and behold he never came back….we did warn them.
sorry this was a long first comment.
By Mani on Nov 29, 2006 | Reply
Sorry for being such a bastard. I completely neglected this thread. I don’t know if anyone’s going to ever come back to it but I’m going to respond anyway.
Alexia, no gyul, I still flying solo.
But no sorry, I don’t have an alternate address. Thanks for the sentiment though….I appreciate that very much.
Saucy, I done give up on that yes. I done say no lending for me ever again.
Bagogyul, thanks. Well I am joining your club…except I will be very selective who I lend money to.
Hottie, yeah gyul, but sometimes I does real like meh little swe drink.
A chic fro…sorry de shop close.
Kevian, thanks, but sorry no more lending.
Lime, gyul, that has happened to me too.
Crankyputz, lol. Thanks for that, but no worries about the length of the comment. I’m just happy to see you here.
Law, yeah, I done scratch that off already. You out $3000> But who you lend so? well yes…