Prologue

This story was set in the mid 1950’s in the Island of Jamaica at that time a colony of Great Britain {AKA} the Great British Empire. The Island enjoyed colonial status for over 300 years and this conferred on us the inhabitants the rights and privileges of British citizenship.

Our civil and criminal laws were made in England and enforced through the judicial system by Judges and Policemen appointed by a colonial Governor

Likewise our educational system was a by-product of the British standard with minor changes designed to benefit a distinct cultural differences of an indigenous people.

The Text books, Curriculum, & Strategies were not only produced in England, but they provided the Education director and the teachers to come and manage the few facilities that were available to practice in.

No one can quarrel with the system handed down to us. it worked well and compared favorably and on par with similar systems with our North American neighbors and allowed us fair competition. The only problem was that there were not enough facilities, schools, colleges and scholarships to take care of an ever growing population of smart, talented students who had no access to a higher education through lack of space funds and connections.

So many of these promising kids sprang up and before they blossomed they were choked in the bud, some as young as 14-15 years of age with no place to go, wondered off, some to low-wage labor, others to crime and waste.

Our hero Toby looked and saw that fate in the horizon, and at the tender age of 12 years decided that he was not going to let this happen to him and fortified by a dream he had and an unshakeable faith in his God decided to grab the bull by the horn (metaphorically speaking) and as it were wrestle with destiny.

He believed that {HOPE IS TANGIBLE} En-route he picked up a passenger/co-driver on his Bus who eventually would become his mate for life. Follow along as their story developed into one that many of you can relate to. I promise, you will not be disappointed. This young man is anxious to tell us his story, so why stand in his way?

GO AHEAD TOBY

Chapter 1

One Saturday morning during the summer holidays I accompanied my mother as I usually do to the Farmers market in our little town of Lucia. This was a routine chore, to follow her around with the basket, help her select her purchases, now and again adding my own choices, we would then have lunch together while she would try to catch up with my school work for the week, and I would take the opportunity to impress her of my self imposed mastery of the subjects she would pick to question me about. Have you ever failed in anything yet? She asked me one day, not as far as I can remember Mom

Then she pulled from her hand bag and showed me a failed paper one of my teachers had sent her to review with the warning that another failed paper like that would not be tolerated, and with the request that one of my parents would speak to me to bring about a change in my attitude leading to improvement in my class work. Mom that was a long time ago, I found the paper in your father’s bible and I never looked on the date, Glad to know that this is behind us son, because I do notice your improvement, keep up the good work Thanks mom.. This Saturday morning was different, As soon as we got to the market I asked Mom’s permission to run a personal errand, I had a brown paper bag in my hand containing a special fruit (a gift). The bag in my hand combined with my request made her a little curious, but by the time she turned to question me, I was almost out of her reach and sight. Don’t worry mom, I’ll be back shortly.

With a paper bag in hand and a prayer in my heart, I headed on foot in hasty steps to the home of the principal of the only High school in the Parish. As I was about to knock on the gate leading to the house a plump lady in her mid 50’s came up behind me.

Are you looking for someone son she asked, before I could answer, she opened the gate, and I followed her in. What do you want son?, I need to see the principal miss"

Do you have an appointment? again before I could find an answer the principal appeared on the porch dressed in his pajamas and from all appearance was in a very angry mood. You are late Mavis, Sorry sir, there’s a misunderstanding, I forgot that your wife had asked me to cancel my day off since she would be out of town this weekend, I overslept Sir"

I am very hungry, please hurry up and fix me some breakfast, Yes Sir, As she moved towards the kitchen, he asked and who is this young man?, I don’t know him Sir, he followed me in and said he wanted to see you And who are you son?

Good morning Sir, my name is Toby Allan Miller, my fathers ‘name is John and Laura is my mothers’. We live in the Mid Hill district, and I attend the school that bears it name. And what can I do for you son? I explained my scholastic achievement as one of the top student now awaiting the results of my final examination at that grade school and since I am only 12 years old and do not want to waste my time, I would appreciate your allowing—me to attend your school of higher learning where I will be able to expand my horizon and ultimately my education Sir. Wait a minute son, you say you are only 12 years old and have already sat the Third Jamaica Local?.Yes Sir. And what is your Headmaster doing about it? I don’t know Sir" but I can’t afford to sit around and wait for another 5 yrs. when I’ll be eligible to go on to College.

I would consider myself one of the luckiest boy to be able to sit under your teaching sir, and my only hope of doing so is to be awarded a scholarship as my parents would not be able to send me here as a paying student.

Hold on son, I am only one member of a committee that decide who is awarded a scholarship to attend this school. I know that sir, that’s why I am here making my supplication to the one man who can influence that decision. He started asking me questions relating to my achievement in school, a few Mats calculations, English grammar, current events etc. all of which I answered without difficulty, then he proceeded to my background, which church I attended, are my parents regular church goers, their occupation and finally the number of siblings in my household. Many of the questions he asked me were on the application form as I found out later, but I supposed this short Bio was necessary to help him make his decision. At this point the maid had hustled some breakfast for him and brought it on a tray and put before him on the desk where we both were sitting in his study, he was still in his pajamas." Have you already eaten son? I hesitated not sure of my status, he instructed the maid to bring me something, she obliged with two slices of buttered toast, a serving of fruits and a glass of orange juice which I graciously accepted and began to eat voraciously not forgetting my table manners.

Halfway through the meal, he stopped eating, looked me in the eye and said, Son, I don’t know why I am doing this, but I am going to give you a scholarship application form, fill it out completely, get your parents to sign, your Headmaster must sign also and return it to me early next week. The committee will be meeting in a few days I will present your application and see what they decide. He got up from his chair and went to a metal filing cabinet in the far corner of his study. By the time his hands touched it, out of no where (by inspiration I guess) I said Sir would you please give me a second form for a friend of mine? What did you say? You realize that what I am doing is very un-usual and out of character, and you are asking me to extend it to your friend also?"

Sir you don’t understand she is one of the nicest and brightest girl in my class, same age, my competitor and like me is awaiting the same examination results, like me her parents cannot afford to send her here without the help of a full scholarship. It would break my heart to leave her behind you have to help her Sir.

My God son, you come to my house un-invited, you laid out a case for yourself seeking a scholarship to attend my school, I am bending over backwards to help you, then you throw a monkey wrench into the works (you know what that expression means)? I am not sure sir, one day you will learn, that is why we want to come here sir, to learn.

You said it was a girl,? yes sir, and what’s her name,? ( Cecelia ) Sir Cecelia Brooks, Oh I think I heard that name before Is that the girl that won the regional Spelling Bee contest a few weeks ago? Same one Sir" Well tell me more about her I repeated and added we have been beating up on each other since the 3rd. grade every term test we wrestle each other (academically)for first place position I am leading her by one victory we will bring that friendly rivalry to your school Sir, He looked beaten, he was being pushed to the limit he opened the cabinet drawer pulled out a folder, he took out one application form examined it to make sure it was current, and handed it to me. He was about to put the folder back in the drawer, his eyes caught my expectant gaze, he relented handed me another form closed the drawer and dismissed me from his presence. I have already told you what to do, the same applies to her. Thank you very, very, very much Sir, I am eternally grateful, Good bye Sir, good bye Toby, and I left his house clutching the forms in the envelope he provided and rushed to the market to join Mom.

Did I tell you that while I was with the principal I was supposed to have been with Mama at the market assisting her with the shopping as I have always done every week?

When I got there, I found Mom in a very perplexed mood, Boy where have you been all morning? I was worried about you, I asked two of your school friends if they had seen you, they went down to the jetty searching for you with no luck, I was just about to call the police.

Sorry mom, I should have told you before, but I went to see the High school principal about becoming one of his students, And what did he say? I will tell you about it later mom, Are we ready to go home? Yes, Are you hungry son? No, Yes mom

What do you mean by (No,-Yes) well the principal offered me refreshment mom, she then handed me a few coins which she found deep down in her purse, which signals that she had spent all, (save) the bus fare, I ran to the shop across the street and bought myself a sugar bun which I ate while walking to the bus stop.

On the bus home, I told Mom all that took place earlier and showed her the forms that would require hers’ and Dad’s signatures after they were filled out, And why didn’t you tell me before you went on this crazy adventure? Well mom, I felt you might have said no, and I would have missed the opportunity that only good timing would allow. But you never told your father either", I never even told God, fearing He might have said no also.

Mom, I am now convinced that my timing was right, when I got to his gate I froze, not knowing what I would say when I got in, I was about to cancel my plans and leave just then, a lady who turned out be his maid came up behind me and asked what I wanted

To see the principal I answered," she opened the gate and I followed her in. Mom I took the liberty of including Cecilia in my adventure without her knowledge or permission I got an application form for her also, so I will get off the bus at her house to leave it for her, and I will join you later, you can give Dad the news.

Chapter 2

MY MEETING WITH CECILE

I knocked on Cecile’s door with a sustained smile on my face. It was not the first time I had been to her house, but somehow this time was special, She wanted to know why I looked so pleased. I went right to the point I told her all that had taken place up to the present even the verbatim exchanges between the principal and me. I handed one set of the forms {4 copies) and instructed her to sit down and start filling it out just as I would be doing and as soon as we are done, we will go find our Headmaster to get his signature so that on Monday morning we can deliver them to the principal down town, I concluded. This was in the middle of the summer holidays and there was no guarantee that our headmaster would be at home. Cecile took the document from me with a hazy, cynical and defiant look on her face. You are amazing, she said, how dare you to act and speak for me and my family on this and any other matter? who gave you the right to include me in your scheme?, who told you I wanted to go to that High school anyway?"

There is no other for you to go to, I said Who are you, young fellow to dictate to me what I am supposed to do, are you my Boss?" No I said, and I could sit here all day and wait for you to get started, but I have to go to get my parents ‘signatures and when I return you better be ready for us to go find our headmaster and with that note of authority I left her fuming.

Just then her mother came in and saw the look on her face, and asked her what was going on, she must have overheard her throwing her tantrums, and wondered what I had said to upset her that much., I did not wait to hear her reply, nor did I offer any explanation to her mother.

On my way home, I asked myself what had I done wrong, I was expecting a show of gratitude and appreciation on her part for what I had done for her, I felt a little let down I didn’t expect her reaction, anyway I refused to let her tantrums bother me. Here coming out of a grocery store near my home was my Dad who greeted me with a broad smile on his face, I heard some great news about you today son, "How did you manage to pull that one off? While we walk, tell me about {IT}

I repeated the story I told Mom and he just listened without interrupting by the time I was finished, we were home. Mom had a steaming bowl of soup upon the table waiting for me, I sat down and started to eat, Dad then said we will make it work out well for you son, you can depend on us, and Mom concurred with a big Amen.

I finished the meal Mom made for me, completed the application form, did a recheck to make sure nothing was amiss, I got Mom & Dad to sign, their signatures were witnessed by our neighbors. I carefully tucked them in the envelope, and hit the road to the home of my friend to see what’s up.

I didn’t know what to expect, but I wasn’t going to allow tantrums or silliness prevent me from making it to the finishing line. As soon as I knocked on her door, it was opened, and standing there was a smiling and neatly dressed 12 year old girl with the completed and signed forms in her hand,{all ready to go. } I was pleasantly surprised all I could say with tongue-in-cheek, Are we ready?. OK, she said, Let’s go We walked the half a mile distance to our Headmaster’s cottage, and found out to our dismay that he was not at home. He left for down town an hour or so ago, he should be back, {oh well.} You too care to wait or come back later? Cecile volunteered "we will wait, in answer to the house keeper’s suggestion.

We were seated together on the verandah, and I now used this down time to tell her my life’s story all 12 years of it, even when I lost my baby teeth. She listened intently as I told her of my future aspirations, that I want to be a medical doctor a {GP} to serve the community, heal all the sick people that I see ever so often when I visit the hospitals and the under staffed clinics around us. I told her of the DREAM I had a few months back, how a man fully dressed in white clothing appeared to me in a dream and asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, without hesitation I told him that I wanted to be a medical doctor. He asked me why, and I told him what I just told you, only that I added, it will also afford me a good living. He smiled and said Ok you will have what you asked for son, but you will have to help me make it happen. And how can I help,?" I asked, Study hard, and read every thing you can find, that is relevant, I promised him I would.

I woke up just in time to see the man with his back turned to me, as he walked through the shrubbery I wished I could have seen his face. I had this dream while I fell asleep on a little bamboo bench that I built around the trunk of a mango tree, where I go regularly to study and pray,{ it was my private shrine} I promised to show her around one day.

Just then our headmaster {Mr. Samuel Sharpe drove up and parked his car at the entrance to the garage He opened the trunk of the car and took out a few bags of groceries to the steps of the house, and shouted to the house keeper who was busy working inside the house to come and help retrieve more items from the car. He spotted us sitting side by side on his veranda Before he could say a