Autobiography
Who KilledMiss Che Che?
An Autobiography
Episode11: The Girl I Loved
Philip and Heatherwatching the sunset at Northwest Point, West Bay.
One day Mike, Tom and his girlfriend Heathercame by my home to see me. Things were tense between Mike andI. We didn't talk much. At one point I decided to ask him aboutJeff. He said Jeff had left and returned to the United Stateslate December 1982. No wonder I never saw nor heard from him.He couldn't face me so he had left. He had done his damage andfled.
I mostly ignored Mike and spoke with Tomand Heather. Tom asked me at one point, "Shalimar, you didthat," meaning the murder.
"No, I know nothing." The same reply I gave anyone whoasked. I got very upset when people asked me about the murderbut never showed it or became bitter. I contained my feelings.
'Shalimar' was one of my aliases, givento me because I had so many tapes by that particular group. Ihad about five other aliases: 'Disco' was another because of mymusic; 'Abna' because at one stage in history a guy came to Caymanwith a music group named 'Philabna and Band', and people calledme Abna for short.
I noticed Heather staring at me but I knewthat she was Tom's girl. They sat close together but she was staringme down. I would not call myself handsome or good-looking thoughmany girls have often given me the compliment. Heather continuedto stare.
Then Tom asked me for a smoke. I had one,always did. I had started to sell weed about two months afterI had been released and discharged. I never stole anymore andwanted to stop. I had not done anything since I had gotten outand wanted it to stay that way but I sold weed. And because Isold, I always had money and good clothes to wear. Tidy, clean,groomed, that's how I was.
Weed is not like cocaine. It gives you a hell of an appetite.It makes you sleep good and leaves you humble. But still, it isnot good for you.
I did not know that Heather smoked untilshe shared Tom's; I thought back and remembered who she was. Iremembered her from Church and High School. On Sundays Mommy wouldtake us to Church. We would all stay home and she would cook Sundaydinner for us. I remembered the Bible School our Church used tohave where we made little graft works. I still have a butterflyhome that I made out of oil seeds pasted to panelin then varnished.At church and Bible School was where I had met Heather.
Now, as Heather shared his, I said, "Sorry,I didn't know that you smoked or I would have given you one foryourself."
"That's okay. This is enough for bothof us," she said.
"You have a pretty voice," I toldher. "Sweet." She smiled. That too was very pretty withdimples crinkling on both cheeks.
Tom looked at me. "Easy buddy, justa compliment," I said.
We continued talking and listening to funkmusic. I was ignoring Mike and he could tell how I felt so heleft. I felt sorry for him and Jeff because I knew they blamedme in a way for everything that had gone wrong but they were notmy responsibility.
Tom and Heather left shortly after Mikedid.
The next time I saw Heather was an eveningabout two weeks later. By then I was also selling cocaine butonly as a small petty pusher. It meant more money but bigger riskbecause to get any sold I had to drive around the island. Notmany people used it and the few who did could be counted on twohands.
A guy named Simon Foster, the same Simonwith whom I used to go shooting in the bush and whom I had toldabout the events when Miss Che Che died, was doing business fortwo white guys. Simon had met them on the beach and had introducedthem to me. We started a coke conspiracy. They would smuggle,we would sell, and that is what was going on the second time thatI saw Heather.
That night I was going into a 7-11 on NorthwestPoint Road. On my way to Conue Disco I had stopped to buy somedrinks and gum.
Heather was coming out of the store.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi."
When I came out of the store she was standingoutside waiting for me. "Where are you going, so dressedup," she asked.
"Conue Disco," I said.
"You have a smoke?"
"Yes, of course, but not with me. Ifyou would wait I will be right back." She nodded.
I left, returned and she was still there.It was getting dark, about 6:30 pm.
"You wanna smoke now?"
"Yes," she said.
"Where are you going?"
"To look for Tom," she said. Shewanted to break up with him because of his moods. She also toldme that he used to hit her. I did not like that.
We went on the iron shore behind the storeand sat down on some mat rocks and paper bags. While we talked,I never made a pass at her.
The atmosphere was beautiful. The sun wassetting and the lights were on in the condos along the beach.We watched the almost calm sea, watched the tiny waves reflectingthe orange of the sunset. A soft wind was blowing and we sat theresmoking and watching the sun fall.
Next: Philip hopes for a new beginning.
*All Names have been changed to protectthe rights of individuals.
Illustrationsby Phillip Glennan Ebanks
Disclaimer: The preceedingexcerpt from the Autobiography of Philip Glennan Ebanks is copyrightedby Philip Glennan Ebanks and does not necessarily reflect theviews of Cayman Net News, CNN employees or its affiliates. CaymanNet News does not accept responsibility for opinions expressedin this series.©