A Story By Vanessa
Going to the bathroom on Bequia was sometimes interesting. I much preferred the bush over a public bathroom or outhouse any day. The outhouse down by Uncle Nolly’s stone cottage was terrifying, and one had to be desperate to use it. This meant you had to go so badly that you couldn’t run home, and most likely was not number one! It was dark and had no light, of course, and smelled terrible. Sounds like all other outhouses, you say? It also had a Jack Spaniard nest. Inside the toilet. This meant you had to be in and out quickly with as little disturbance to the nest as possible, or else your bum was getting stung! Literally scared the shit out of you!
The other outhouse I had the pleasure of using was the one at the Bequia Anglican Primary School. This one was more spacious, with a few stalls, and I don’t remember it being dark. However there were no doors for privacy on these stalls, and the boys would drill holes to peek in from their side. So using the first stall was to be avoided because everyone walked by you, and the last one was also shunned because of the spy holes. Toilet paper was fiercely guarded by the teachers, so you had to plan your visits ahead – never during recess or after school when the boys were out. Otherwise you used half your toilet paper allowance on plugging those holes! There were a few times I barely made it home in time, having held myself together all day.
Using bathrooms at various bars and restaurants was not ideal either. There was often just one, over worked toilet, and a wait if it was a happening day. My preference was for going in the sea, in the bush or on the beach. Better view for sure!
On boats, heads were to be avoided at all costs, especially the ferry. I don’t know why people went there when seasick when the side of the boat will do, but they did. If you weren’t seasick before visiting the head then you would be after. Every day we made that trip twice across the channel for almost five years. And we held it.