Students rush to get a seat on Ecstacy last week in downtown Kingston. - Ian Allen'Ave a new style weh them call it full hundred
Weh mi seh di style name again, full hundred. Everything wi do, gi them full hundred. Gi them full hundred, gi them full hundred'.
THE MACHINE stops before it reaches the bus park. There are around ten other buses, with hoarse conductors, waiting to be filled. But the students mill about restlessly.
Then Ecstasy. The 'ducta leans back, takes a deep breath and yells, "see the bashment bus ya!" Stampede.
Dozens of students rush almost toppling over each other to get on the 40-seat coaster. They pay the $30 with ease, one teenaged girl is not reluctant to sit on the gearbox while she sucks away at a bag juice.
"It full now," the ducta tells a crestfallen student, "awright if you can squeeze down the back."
She smiles and promptly squats in a schoolmate's lap.
A modelling, wi a gi them full hundred, pretty car wi a gi them full hundred. Fi di whole two thousand wi a gi them full hundred gi them full hundred, gi them full hundred."
Perfect end to a hectic school day.
The experience
"Turn down the music," the old lady asks gently.
"Driver yuh mad, run the music," a youth yells, "mi pay fi dis."
"If you don't waan hear no music tek another bus!", the ducta responds while the other passengers - high school students look at the woman, annoyed at the interruption.
This is no decent air-conditioned coaster. It's a renovated tin can with a built-in sound system and an extra $5 added to the fare.
No one seems to mind.
"Gal bruk out, cause a your name a call..., gal bruk out"
A high schooler bends over and starts to wine, while a man gets behind her apparently to guide her hips. Her blouse is opened, it has been for a while and now exposes the merino that she wears underneath. Another young lady is sitting on her boyfriend's lap, bouncing up and down. He is not a schooler because apparently school girls don't date school boys.
Others 'rail up' for their favourite rhythm and as the bus swings precariously to the side as it turns on Dunrobin Avenue the scene can be easily mistaken for a streetside dance save for the school uniforms.
The name brand buses are as much a part of the school culture as the Tommy Hillfiger and Mudd clothes are - a requirement. Students will wait for up to two hours for one. And don't make the mistake of asking them why they take it. Unless you want an heated argument. Unless you want to be looked upon as the worst nerd there is. Because, believe it or not, these musically-furnished buses provide the exciting entertainment just before and immediately after school. It's understandable though that young people undoubtedly live for entertainment, being a youth myself. But adrenaline has obviously gotten the best of some, who take to hitting the sides of the bus to show that they enjoy the tunes.
After missing my stop because the driver obviously couldn't hear my call for bus stop above the din, I've sworn never to do it again.
-A. Andrew Foster
