Haitian Woman – Student
< Previous Henri sees this happening but is having trouble of his own. Somewhere along the line, a nail cut through his right tricep and that arm doesn’t work anymore. He’s got the water jug rope wrapped around his lame arm so tightly he can’t feel it. Another cross-current wobbles them, tangling Henri, Jocylyn, and … Read more
< Previous Part Nine (Nevyèm): EXIT Survive/Die? Port-de-PaixChristmas Eve, 1991 Late that night, Jè arrives at the Port-au-Paix cathedral and is surprised to find its doors unlocked. He can hear piano music but doesn’t hear voices. He pushes a door open and steps inside. Jè has never been in a Catholic cathedral before, just the … Read more
< Previous Mother Mary’s They arrive at Mother Mary’s with Ti Mon, Jocelyn and her baby just in time for dinner. The nuns quickly swarm around them. They guide everyone but Matt into a nearby women’s dorm and close the door. Matt’s not sure what to do with himself until an older priest approaches him. … Read more
< Previous Part 8: DEFEND Extract Montana Hotel Ashley and Matt are driving their Land Cruiser from their guest house to the Montana Hotel. It’s Sunday, so Jocelyn should be at church services this morning. They’re dressed in their best “missionary garb”; Matt in white shirt with clip-on tie and Ashley in her most formal … Read more
< Previous Kevin looks lost in thought and Father Vitor waits for him to continue, “I wasn’t going to mention this today, but my NGO told me that my last chance airline ticket will be at the Pan Am counter on New Years Day.” Father Vitor nods his head, “That’s the signal. You’ve become a … Read more
< Previous Part 8: DEFEND Organize Mother Mary’s The thrice-damned roosters announce the morning as Kevin arrives at Mother Mary’s. The guardian looks carefully in Kevin’s SUV before waving him through the gate. Kevin grins at him and says, “No contraband this time. But thanks for double-checking!” The guard knows enough English to crack a … Read more
< Previous Petionville, Palace Pizzaria It’s late one night, after the blackouts are over for Petionville. Kevin is catching up with Ashley at the Palace Pizzaria, a dive bar that never really closes. What’s left of civil and social life is fragmented between rumors of violence, blackouts, and violence. So many friends and trusted colleagues … Read more
< Previous Part 6: BETRAYAL Observers Port-au-Prince The new arrangement between Kevin’s NGO and the station’s board has changed his day-to-day activities. His new mission is to be tour guide, interpreter, and “our man in Haiti” for recent blan arrivals. The Aristide government is a focus of interest for the usual suspects, for reasons not … Read more
< Previous The damned roosters rouse Kevin and Ashley from their bamboo mat on the roof. They found a mosquito net at some point and arranged it in a tent/lean-to against the water barrel. They don’t hear any gunfire and the smoke has cleared. They make their way downstairs where Jocelyn has set up breakfast … Read more
< Previous Ashley chuckles ruefully before continuing, “But really, if we’ve been successful these past years the community will protect us as they will their own. We’re here without a safety net and I’m sorry for bringing you out here without explaining that first.” After considering this, Kevin shrugs and then grins, “I wouldn’t have … Read more
< Previous The next day Somehow amid everything else the night before, Ti Mon climbed up onto the roof and reconnected the fill line. Now the water barrel is filled. Everyone gathers around Ti Mon to thank him and his little face breaks out in a huge grin. Now there’s water for bathing, toilet flushing, … Read more
< Previous Part 3: REBELLION Self-Defense Mirogoane Stronghold They get back to the house and are unloading the truck when there’s a loud commotion outside their gate. A few dozen neighbors are shouting and shoving Ti Mon around. He slipped away after they’d arrived at the house and now the crowd has him. He’s surrounded … Read more
< Previous As the beach goers start packing up for the afternoon, Ashley suggests that they watch a soccer match at the municipal stadium. Kevin asks if they can still get tickets and she replies, “For a few dollars, we can get all the seats we want. Although since everything is general admission, we’ll probably … Read more
< Previous Miragoane Beach and Stadium At that, Ashley announces it’s a perfect time to go to the local beach. They load up their truck with some bamboo mats, towels, and a cooler full of water jugs. Jocelyn approaches Ashley and whispers something to her. Ashley replies, “Men, oui!” Jocelyn returns with a small boy … Read more
< Previous Matt is Australian. He’s in his late twenties and is big. Not fat, just a large man with light brown hair pulled back into a shaggy combination of samurai bun and Cheech & Chong pony tail. He has a loud voice with a very obvious Aussie accent and is impossible to ignore. With … Read more
< Previous Part 3: REBELLION Networks Delmas Highway Kevin opens the camper shell and heaves his footlocker up into the truck’s bed. He walks to the passenger side with his backpack and climbs in. A young Haitian woman slides across to the middle of the bench seat to make room. She’s holding a notebook and … Read more
< Previous Part 1: ESCAPE / ARRIVAL Escape Caribbean SeaNorthwest of Port-de-Paix, HaitiDecember, 1991 Henri sinks into the sea, his lungs burning as he fights his way toward the surface. It’s so dark that he struggles to tell which direction is up, but the sound of the storm that capsized the small fishing boat is … Read more
< Previous As the sun disappears over the western horizon, the wind behind them picks up strength. At first, everyone smiles and laughs as the tiny boat begins to pick up speed and the temperature cools. But as twilight turns to night, the captain begins to look nervously over his shoulder. One by one, each … Read more