Rocks in the Water, Rocks in the Sun: A Memoir from the Heart of Haiti by Vilmond Joegodson Déralciné & Paul Jackson

Author:Vilmond Joegodson Déralciné & Paul Jackson [Déralciné, Vilmond Joegodson and Jackson, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Athabasca University Press
Published: 2015-06-11T16:00:00+00:00

Monday morning, I started to search through the rubble of the main house in the courtyard where I lived for decent wood, with the idea of transforming it into furniture. Furniture is a necessity to begin a marriage. Without furniture, people don’t view the union as serious.

Jelo was watching me. I had been nervous about addressing the issue with him.

He followed me quizzically, “Ti bòs, what are you doing?” Parts of the big structure were standing tenuously, and I was crawling around under massive sections of the second floor that hadn’t yet collapsed like the rest of the house. These parts were held up by crooked and fissured supports. Without a very good reason, what I was doing was bordering on insanity. I had what I thought was a very good reason.

“I’m thinking of making some furniture with whatever I can salvage from this wreck,” I said.

Jelo lit up, assuming that I would be building some furniture for sale. He was happy to think that some money would be coming into our little household.

He came closer, “Ah Jelo … listen … uh … Annie is pregnant.”

“What?” he exhaled.

I explained the situation. I watched the life drain out of him. I have seen, and felt, that response when people have received news of the unexpected death of a loved one. He remained in that state for a period of time.

I watched this deathly sadness descend upon him. It only grew more agonizing as the day passed. It was as if the moment of our separation had arrived with this news. He said nothing to me for the rest of the day. I knew what he was feeling. It was impossible not to see and feel his sadness. And so I was drawn into it. It was painful. However would he manage to get through the actual wedding?

He walked around the courtyard to avoid being close to me. When I looked at him, I could see his hands trembling. His sadness had taken over his body. He couldn’t have controlled himself if he wanted to. Even while he was avoiding me, I tried to get his attention to talk to him, to engage him in conversation and, hopefully, to make him smile. Not only would it be good for him, but it would free me so that I could continue to find my wood and plan the furniture.

I tried to pose questions that would provoke a conversation. Jelo answered with one or two words. He could not pump enough air out of his lungs to make a sentence. Finally, I decided to leave him to adapt to the new situation in his own time. I had to plan for the wedding so that I could erase the shame that our unplanned pregnancy could cause.

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