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Cover story - Say your prayers
A customer examines the wares.
A FUZZY, CORN-ROWED halo hugs his narrow skull. He says his prayers every morning and heads for the heart of the City. This is a fruit seller in South Parade. "Christian" as we will call him, is dressed for the hot sun in downtown Kingston in yellow, sleeveless sport shirt and three-quarter jeans. His knife glints, clean and ready in a tray that also holds his New Testament Bible ready for business. He does all things through Christ. He tells us. "To pack a cart it nuh easy." This is no complaint about the hardness of life, but a simple statement about the skill that goes into fruit vending. Long before the first rays of the sun turn the cool wood of his cart warm, it is a task that must be done, and skilfully. He arrives at Coronation Market with the birds. There he shops for melons, pineapples, apples, bananas, and frosty grapes. The cart must be packed attractively, fruits cut, sectioned and bagged with good hygiene in mind. The popular pineapple must be deftly peeled, with minimum waste and maximum carving skills. The one pound, two pound and half pound samples of the rose-red melon are also on display. This morning he bought three cases of apples, and enough melons and grapes for one-day traffic of thirsty passers-by. "You have to make your own customer," he advises. "You have to deal with the ugly and the good. They will ask for a pound of melon, and then tell you that they don't want that. You just have to use a little generosity on them. "Generosity" is the word that occurs in every fourth sentences uttered by Christian. "People do support you, but you have to share your love with the people." Why does he sell fruits? "Anything the Father inspire for you, a it dat. From Father inspire you in a thing, no one can change it from you." He got into the business through a friend. "I watch him peel the pine." The friends worked in North Parade together, and when this young man migrated, he left the cart with his baby mother and got one of his own. He moved to South Parade. Seven years of wisdom is behind each knife thrust, each sale completed. "Is not everybody sell fruits it 'gree with them. Fruit is a very generous thing. When one's mind is not at ease, you can't prosper." Thursdays, even though (and maybe because) it is market days, are best. But, he says, "I trust Christ every day. When I live to see another sunlight, I just have to give Him thanks. From you trust in the Father you can't suffer." He is planning on creating a sign for his cart. This cart will be called "Through Christ".
LOW MARGINS and high volume is the rule of thumb in street selling. Another rule is that one must love one's neighbour as oneself, or at least pretend that you do. Street sellers interested in doing the same business as their neighbours and friends ask permission. Then they find a different location. If encouragement comes, this is the green light they need, and so they go ahead. Marva Brown, who has been selling on the streets for 10 years, and who now has a stall in Parade, switched form lingerie to slippers, with the permission of her friend. It was her business first. It was a good decision. What she earns from selling slippers for women and children is enough to pay her son's school fee, pay the light, cable bill and throw her 'pardner'. "Just slippers," is how she describes her trade. "When is back-to-school time I sell a little shoes, ribbon and souls too," she said. Slow times are frequent, but she will not change from selling slippers. For every stupid and mean customer, there is another who will buy. "Some of them come and pull up the stall and don't buy anything. It makes me miserable. I say, 'What size you need?' I know what I pack, I know the different sizes." But, she says, "I have something for everyone. I make sure to buy the cheap and the dear. Most people only want a slippers for $100. Others will say that they want something that last long and pay for something dearer." The best times are during the holidays, especially Christmas. She also expects to benefit from the back-to-school business. "From Monday coming I will be buying shoes Marva sits quietly waiting for her clients. But she will get on her feet when things are too slow to bear. "I talk to them nice. According to how I am courteous to her (the buyer), she will buy." She fears thieves, violence and MPM (Metropolitan Parks and Markets). But, she has managed to survive for 10 years. She sits and hopes for one more day.
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