Latoya Grindley, Features Writer

Edna Panton in Middle Quarters, St. Elizabeth, says, "People say is time I must stop hustle, but the children not doing it and if I don't, I don't eat anything." - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Over her 75 years in this life, Edna Panton has gone through more than her fair share of challenges, but losing everything she acquired as a result of her hard work has been the hardest thing for her to grapple with.

Driving through the 'shrimp town' of Middle Quarters in St. Elizabeth, scores of shrimp vendors were seen trying to woo customers. An elderly woman was spotted sitting on a bench on the roadside in an isolated spot, with a basin of peppered shrimp, trying to get her own customers away from the competition from the younger folks.

This is Edna, a visibly shaky woman who was obviously not at all ready to give up her livelihood - something she has been doing for more than 40 years - because of age. No one could tell by the smile on her face, with which she greets her customers, that she has been a victim of fire, resulting in homelessness; and that, behind that broad smile, there is hurt. Still shaken and traumatised by the recent incident, Edna gave an account of what took away all her life's earnings in one blow.

She said at the time of the incident, she was recovering from a broken hand.

"I did fall and break my right hand and, while it was healing, the doctor put it in a sling and tell me to rub olive oil on it. So, I go to town to get the oil and, while I was buying it, a neighbour come in and say, Ms. Edna, yuh house burn down.'"

Went into shock

As expected, the elderly woman said she went into shock and even denial. "Mi say to her, 'weh yuh say? Say wah? No sah, not my house, is caan my house.'"

However, her denial was short-lived. Even before seeing the place herself, the destruction was confirmed by a district constable and other neighbours. Feeling overwhelmed, she had to be taken to the doctor. She was ordered not to go to the spot where she had once lived as the doctor believed it would have been too much for her to deal with.

No longer owning a home,Edna lived with one of her grand-daughters for some time, but due to space limitations, she had to move out. She then went to live with one of her sons who owned a small shop. The shop, which was far from being a comfortable dwelling, became her abode and continues to be.

"Somebody make a cot for me and put in there for me to sleep, but then it mash up and so I did start to sleep on the floor on top of clothes. Is jus now I get a likkle bed to sleep on."

Supporting her grandchildren

Being accustomed to having everything she needs, Edna has to now rely on the little people give her.

"Outside people come and give me things like clothes and shoes. Sometimes the shoes dem don't even fit, but I still thankful," she said with a smile.

Even with her troubles, Edna still strives to support her grandchildren with her meagre earnings. Sometimes earning a maximum of $500 some weeks, she still shares it.

"People say is time I must stop hustle, but the children not doing it and if I don't, I don't eat anything. When mi check out mi likkle money, I have to give mi son money for the children."

In an attempt to clear her head at times, this strong woman gets active in the yard when she is not working.

"Sometimes I get up in the night and sweep yard and wipe down the likkle shop dat jus have a few tings. I wash mi clothes and straighten the few tings I have."

The hardest thing that Edna has to contend with is being left with nothing, as she emphasised during the interview, breaking down in tears. "I lose everything, not even a half penny save. I did have all US$800 money. All of dat gone down; all money wat I used to hide in my pillow; mi bed dem, everything. I work hard for them. When I did finally go to the house and see, I just had to cry," she said with tears running down her cheeks.

A widow, after losing her husband this year, Edna says since the fire, she has been promised a house by the government, but to date, she has received only marl. Not looking forward to the normal Christmas celebrations for many reasons, she says this will be the worst Christmas for her.

"Dah Christmas yah boy I tell you ... last year Christmas was better because at least I had my house and my own things, nothing never burn down," she said, tearfully.

latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com