Haitian Mother
< Previous The damned roosters rouse Kevin and Kat 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 Kat 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 pulling you out here without explaining that first.” Kevin’s face changes as he considers this, his expression of anxiety … Read more
< Previous The next day Somehow amid everything else, Ti Mon climbed up onto the roof the night before, reconnected the hose, and now the water barrel is filled. Everyone gathers around Ti Mon to thank him and his little face breaks out in a huge grin. So now there’s clean water (within reason) for … Read more
< Previous Part 3 (Twazyèm): REBELLION Self-Defense Mirogoane Stronghold They unload the truck and are taking things inside when a loud commotion is heard outside the gate. Kat just finished closing it, so she opens it partway again while Dirk and Jocelyn join her. A crowd of a few dozen neighbors is shouting and shoving … Read more
< Previous As the beach goers start packing up for the afternoon, Kat 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, Kat announces it’s a perfect time to go to the local beach. They load up the Land Cruiser pickup with some bamboo mats, towels, and a cooler full of water jugs. Jocelyn quietly approaches Kat and whispers something to her. Kat replies, “Men, oui!” Jocelyn returns with … Read more
< Previous Dirk 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 (Twazyèm): REBELLION Networks Delmas Highway As Kevin steps up and into the passenger-side door, a young Haitian woman slides across to the middle of the seat. Kat looks out her window and shifts the Land Cruiser into reverse. The young woman is holding a large Algebra textbook in her lap. He … Read more
< Previous Part 1 (Premye): 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 is so dark that he struggles to tell which direction is up, but the sound of the storm that capsized the small fishing … 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