Mark Titus, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Edith 'Sweetie' Brissett, a Gleaner vendor, showcases a copy of The Sunday Gleaner as she woos passing motorists to purchase the popular weekly newspaper. - Mark Titus Photo

WESTERN BUREAU:

The shouts of "Gleaner! Gleaner!" could be heard distinctly as 'Sweetie' stood in the midst of bumper-to-bumper traffic at the intersection of Alice Eldemire Drive and Howard Cooke Boulevard in Montego Bay, St. James.

With a seemingly contagious smile that captivates those around her, she skilfully moves from vehicle to vehicle, greeting everyone in sight, a ritual she did non-stop for about 45 minutes.

"My job definitely keeps me fit. I have to keep running and running, but I definitely enjoy it," she said.

"My customers are very responsive and sale is generally good, especially when the headline is interesting."

'Sweetie', who was born Edith Brissett, hails from the district of Cascade in Hanover and is a graduate of Rusea's High School.

However, she relocated to St. James in 1988 after her home was destroyed by Hurricane Gilbert, and now lives in Norwood.

Serendipity

The 42-year-old mother of two worked as a security officer for more than five years. Her relationship with The Gleaner Company began on January 1, an encounter that Sweetie said came by accident.

"I was not working at the time, and the message came for a lady that I was familiar with. She decided not to go, so I decided to give it a try. It worked out that I was the only successful app-licant at the interview," Sweetie beamed.

For one of her many customers, Samuel McGibbon, an insurance salesman, 'Sweetie' is a blessing for peak-hour travellers.

Sweet satisfaction

"She is a dream. Most vendors show a level of hostility when you don't purchase their wares. But Sweetie is such a sweetheart. I learned her name from my children, who constantly wave to her when I am passing each morning," said McGibbon.

Another satisfied customer, Joy Phillips of Montego Bay, took time out to write a letter to the editor about her interaction with Sweetie:

"I just want to let you know, that you really have some very special and caring people selling your newspapers! Here is my story.

"For quite some time now, on my way to work in the mornings, I have been buying The Gleaner from a very pleasant young lady who sells at the Alice Eldemire/ Howard Cooke traffic light in Montego Bay.

"When I'm on the red light, we have a little chat sometimes, but then there are some mornings when the green light is on, and it is a real fast exchange of Gleaner and coins! So I started doing a quick 'beep, beep', 'beep, beep' when approaching the traffic light in the mornings, to alert her that I was coming.

"This worked fine, and she was always ready looking out for me. I remember one morning the light was green and as I approached her, she tossed The Gleaner through the car window, and seeing me frantically trying to give her the coins, she shouted "Drop it, drop it!" So onto the road the coins went, for her to retrieve later when the traffic eased.

"I remember another morning the traffic was awful, and I was running real late. When she saw me approaching she came running, and said: "Yu late this morning! I was worried about you, because I hear two bad accidents up there! A glad yu all right!"

"A couple weeks ago I told herthat I would be away for a few months, so she would not be seeing me for a while. She said she was glad that I had told her, because she would be worried if she didn't see me, and asked when I was going. I told her when my last day would be.

"On approaching the green traffic light on my last morning, doing my usual "beep, beep" routine, there she was, ready with Gleaner in hand! She quickly passed me a small bag through the window, along with The Gleaner - "This is for you" she said.

"When I got to work and parked my car, I opened the bag. It was a Thank You card, in which she had written:

'I'll always remember your smile. I'll always remember your tooting of horns. I'll always remember you as a Mother, Auntie, and a friend. I'll always love you; you are more than a mother to me. I'll miss you. Thanks Sweetie'.

"It's people like this, who in their own special way, give us all hope for a better Jamaica in the years to come!"