Mass Jimmy was as mad as shad. Mama said that his head would go and come, and Papa said that the man lost a screw. However, none of these comments seemed to daunt Jimmy these days. He was a happy man, and the source of his happiness was Miss Melda.

Mass Jimmy lived in a little room. He slept and ate there. He cooked outside, then sat on the bed and ate the food. He did not have any visitors until Miss Melda started her regular visits. She tidied his room and cooked for him. When I asked Mass Jimmy if he could afford to pay her, he just laughed. I did not get the joke, so I did not ask again.

After a time, Miss Melda moved into the little room with Jimmy. When I asked Jimmy where she slept, he just laughed, so I did not ask again. Miss Melda did not go out to work. She just stayed home and washed and cooked outside. When Mass Jimmy was not at home, she walked about and gossiped with anyone who would listen to her.

She demanded money from Mass Jimmy, so he had to work hard to support her. He often went deep into the woods to cut trees which he sold as lumber to support himself and Miss Melda. I don't think he gave Miss Melda all the money, though. He kept enough to buy cigarettes and rum. People used to laugh and say, "Every hoe have them stick a bush."

Miss Melda was a good match for Mass Jimmy. I knew Mass Jimmy loved her to his heart and soul, but I often wondered if she cared one hoot about him. She would often tell people how stupid he was, and they gave jokes about him and laughed behind his back.

Now Mass Jimmy would often go deep into the woods and remain there for up to three days in a row. He would cut a lot of lumber, and a man in a truck would come and pick them up and pay him for them.

On these occasions Mass Dan-Dan would stay with Melda. When I asked Miss Melda where Mass Dan-Dan slept, she said, "Little pickney, yu ask too much question!" But I knew the answer already. Whatever I cannot figure out on my own, I hear from other people in the village.

One night, Mass Jimmy came home unexpectedly. Miss Melda did not know what to do, as she was expecting Mass Dan-Dan that very night. Although Miss Melda worked Mass Jimmy hard, she could not always fool with him. She feared that he might use his machete to chop her in his anger. People had been teasing Mass Jimmy about his rival, but Mass Jimmy just laughed and said, "After she couldn't be so mad!"

Miss Melva did not want Mass Jimmy to put two and two together and get four, so to speak.

Miss Melda heard Mass Dan-Dan coming up the hill, whistling. If Mass Dan-Dan came and knocked on the door, dog would surely eat her supper. Miss Melda's mind worked fast.

Miss Melda went to the window and said to Mass Jimmy, "Darling the night dark eh?"

Mass Jimmy moved towards her. Miss Melda lovingly grabbed him, pushed her head through the window and shouted, "Darling it really dark. It dark like galang back tun back! Him deh ya tonight!"

Then in a softer and more seductive voice: "Oh Jimmy it really dark."

"Yes," said Mass Jimmy, extricating himself from her tight embrace. "It really dark tonight."

"Yes." Thought Mass Dan-Dan as he headed down the hill. "Is a smart way she use to warn mi."