When I first arrived in St. Vincent it was not yet an independent country, it was an English colony. On the 27th of October 1979, following a referendum under Premier Milton Cato, St. Vincent became the last of the Windward Islands to gain Independence. The multi-Island country was re-named St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Shortly afterwards I was on the mainland doing some shopping, which included a purchase at Corea’s hardware store. As I paid the cashier she handed me a small box and said, “Happy Independence!”. The store was giving a dyed baby chick to customers, and I was given a choice of green or blue, the colors in the country’s new flag. I had chosen blue, and my little blue chick was SO sweet! Not sure of the bird’s sex I named it Henrietta.
I carried my little pet home to Bequia and became very attached to it. The chick followed me wherever I went and it was easy to care for. When Henrietta started to grow and the feathers came in white I dipped her in blue Easter egg dye to keep her color even!
Henrietta grew quickly, TOO quickly, and wasn’t so cute anymore. I had run out of blue dye and now had a large white bird following me everywhere. It pooped a lot and I was getting tired of cleaning up after it. I couldn’t let the chicken wander outside, I was afraid the neighborhood dogs would kill it. Henrietta was a broiler, not a hardy yard fowl, and I figured she didn’t have the survival instincts of a local chicken!
Mac suggested I give Henrietta to his mother. It would be safe there, and as I ate lunch by Momma Simmons pretty well every day I would be able to visit my pet. I agreed, and the next day dropped the chicken at Momma’s house on my way to school.
Henrietta was happy living with Mac’s mother. It could roam outside (where a chicken belongs!) safely and I was glad Momma had taken her. Henrietta didn’t seem to get along with Momma’s yard fowls but she certainly got along with Momma, following her everywhere as she had once followed me. When Momma went to tend her corn and peas Henrietta was right behind her, when Momma was busy in the kitchen Henrietta was right outside the door. When you saw Momma you knew the big white chicken was close by.
Once day I arrived for lunch, and after chatting with Momma for a while I realized that Henrietta was no-where in sight. I said, “Hey Momma, where’s Henrietta?”. With a sheepish smile Momma nodded towards her stove and said, “In de pot”.
I went back to school with an empty belly and a heavy heart.
