The G and S bar in Spanish Town, St Catherine. - Robert Lalah photo

Evening is fast approaching on the day the world is collectively watching the United State (US) presidential election unfold. In all corners of Jamaica, people are huddled together in front of television sets, debating the fundamental issues as they see them.

In 'G and S Cool Out Pub' in Spanish Town, St Catherine, Buju, a somewhat hot-headed chap of about 30, is adjusting a cable behind a small, dusty television set on a wooden shelf.

"Hold it deh so! No. Yes! It gone again," said Pinchers, a younger fellow who had a constant look of confusion in his eyes. He was sitting on a stool watching the television screen as Buju made adjustments, trying to get the signal perfect.

Cross-eye cousin

"Cho! It nah go get nuh betta dan dat!" said a frustrated Buju. He took up a small, brown bottle that was on the counter and returned to his seat next to Pinchers.

On the television screen, American newscasters were describing the events taking place at a polling station in Florida.

"Wah! Florida! Mi have one bredda a Florida!" shouted a wide-eyed Pinchers, before taking a sip from a cup.

"Lie! Yuh nuh have nuh bredda a foreign," responded Buju, dryly.

"Wah? Mi bredda, Chippie, man! Yeah man, ah Florida him deh, man," Pinchers retorted, taking another sip.

"Den how mi never hear yuh a get nothing from foreign? Di only family yuh gat a yuhc weh deh a Hughenden," said Buju.

Pinchers remained silent and took another sip. I cleared my throat to alert the men of my presence. They seemed surprised as they turned around to look at me. I gave a ner-vous smile and asked the pair who they were supporting in the race.

"Nuh must Arack, man!" exclaimed Pinchers.

"Barack?" I asked.

"Yeah man. Nuh him a di black one?" he asked. I confirmed it and Pinchers nodded.

"Yeah, mi hear him a go do a whole heap a ting fi Jamaica. Everyting sort out, once him win," was Buju's imput.

Record numbers

The newscaster on the television set announced that the black voters in Florida were turning out to vote in record numbers. This, as a picture of the crowds came on the screen.

"Nuh Chippie dat?" shouted Pinchers, his eyes wide. "Ah mi cousin Chippie! Mi tell yuh mi did got a cousin a foreign!"

Buju looked him over accusingly.

"Yuh liad @#!$!!" he shouted. "Yuh tell mi seh Chippie ah yuh bredda, now yuh ah talk bout yuh cousin! Go siddung!" he quipped.

Pinchers didn't respond, but took a bigger sip of his drink.

To break the tension, I asked the men why they were supporting Obama.

"Wah? Mi nah support nuh Obama! Mi ah support Arack! Mi nuh done tell yuh?" said Pinchers, looking annoyed.

"Barack?" I asked. "Nuh dat mi seh, man" he replied.

"Mi hear a man seh him ah go sort out all kind a ting fi black people. Visa ah go easier fi get and dem ting deh," Pinchers explained.

This seemed to stimulate Buju's interest quite a lot.

"Fi real?" he asked, looking in the distance. "Bwoy, mi woulda love get one a dem visa business deh, yuh know. Ah wonder how long dat woulda tek." Buju looked to me for an answer. To avoid a long debate, I simply told him I had no clue.

Pinchers spoke up again.

"Dat's why mi ah tell yuh seh a black man time now. Dat way mi coulda go look fi mi bredda, Chippie," he said.

Buju gave him a cross look, but didn't say anything.

At this point, a chubby, dark-skinned woman appeared from a back room. She was wearing a low cut blouse and jiggled as she walked.

"Hey man! Look how long mi tell unnu fi lock off di tv! Unnu can pay mi light bill?" she shouted before walking over to the television set and turning it off.

"If unnu waan watch tv den go home!" she yelled.

Pinchers made a hissing sound with his mouth and the pair got up and walked out.

The last I heard from them, they were debating where to go next to see the rest of the race between 'Arack and McCains.'

robert.lalah@gleanerjm.com.

The Roving with Lalah book is coming! To find out more and to pre order a copy, visit www.ianrandlepublishers.com.