By Mel Cooke, Freelance WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
DEAR DIARY,
AND IT came to pass that C had to make a trod to the Eastern Caribbean for nearly two months. Of course, she was all worried about the children, leaving Rinsi and Mansi for so long.
So, being the enterprising fellow that I am, I sucked in my gut, cleared my throat, deepened my voice and croaked: "Lookie here, C, they are pretty smart kids, you know. After all, they do take after their father in so many ways. So, seeing that there is a map of the Caribbean in their room, why don't you just show them where you are going?"
Her face lit up and, having solved another crisis, I strutted proudly away.
Diary, Mansi grasped the concept immediately, and started announcing to all who would listen that her Mommy was going to 'Domammaca'. Rinni couldn't quite get her mouth around the whole word, but she got the 'Domrmka' going.
That would do well enough.
So the day dawned when the trod was to begin and the clan McLean Cooke set out to the airport. C looked happy enough, although I knew that worrywart she is she had to be all roiled up inside. The last hugs and kisses were made and C went inside, with the intention of coming back to say some last goodbyes (darn she just couldn't tear herself away from me. You man you- Go boy.-).
AIRPORT
Of course Diary, you know you can't just jam up at the people's airport, so I set out to make a circle. As I broke a corner, Mani let out "see Jamaica flags there!" And sure enough, when I looked up, the black, green and gold was flying alongside a host of others. Well blow me down! I did not even know she knew the Jamaican flag!
So we started circling, not seeing C. And every time we got to that spot, she yelped, "see Jamaica flags there!" And we went round and round and round - no C. Mani's enthusiasm for 'Jamaica flags' waning perceptibly each time.
Until Mani said in a voice that held all the weariness "Daddy, I tired to see Jamaica flags now".
Alrighty then.
C called and said she could not get back out, so we moseyed on down the highway.
Diary, they kept up well through C's extended absence, though I guess the intermittent phone calls helped immensely. C had a problem telling them apart on the phone at first. It is amazing how a kiddo can develop in a couple weeks and Rinni hit a talking spurt this summer but after a while it was cool.
It was hell to get the cell phone back from Rinni most of the time, though, especially when she lined up very carefully in front of her mouth and proceeded to kiss her 'Momeee'. I fear many a scream and squeal went down the line to the EC.
Diary, never underestimate the capacity of children to grasp things. When we asked Mani where her Mommy was, she promptly said "Domamica". And not only that, if she was at the house she hauled whoever asked to the map and showed them "Domamica". Twas the same thing for Rinsi.
I tell you, they are great. It is just like how I showed them their deltoids and their trapezium muscles and their biceps and triceps. They know them even if that 'trap' word is a bit hard to get the tongue around.
Mani said a heart-breaking thing, though, simply enough, when I sat them down to tell them I was going to leave for a week to go cover Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay.
LEAVING
"You leaving like Mommy?" Mani asked, her arms raised with the palms up, her shoulders hunched and a quizzical expression on her face.
Diary, I naa sey I bawl, but suppen ketch inna me yeye (blink, blink) an wan nadda suppen ketch inna me nose same time (sniff, sniff).
See the continuation of Daddy's Diary in next week's Flair
