I am writing a book, screenplay.. not really sure yet. I dont really have an order and I have about 90 or so pages written. I will post them as the moods strike me.
His grandfather Petronious tall and squinty has a raspy voice and a easy smile. He smells of surf and sweat and good food. Of coconut water, and ackee and salfish, breadfruit. Sea puss’ with bammy. he is long limbed, with grey hair in his locks. Slightly balding at the top and long flowing locks he keeps wrapped up in his turban. He only takes out the locks when he goes swimming, racing to the water to the beach he goes because it is not perfectly combed for tourists. His hands are strong and gnarled with no adornment with callouses but they seem to always tender to animals and children. His grandfather loves that beach, the way the families come there even from Kingston. Sam remembers him with the love of a little child and the remembrance of an adult. One of the things he remembers the most is the times talking with his grandfather, sitting at on the veranda drinking june plum juice. It seems his entire childhood could be about what fruit grew in what season.
Petronious came to him one day when they were sitting down to look at the street and see who was passing by his yard. He looked at Samuel and held up a book. This is the kebra nagast the book in which I live my life. I know your parents are moving to babylon in the next month and I wanted to give you this. You will be tempted by babylon. Sam looked at his grandfather with curiosity, he remembered all the times men would talk about babylon with quiet whispers or strong shouts as if to drive it away.
Babylon is not a place but a spirit of despair and longing it is an empty place that cannot be filled. It doesn’t matter where you are from, who you are, babylon is gluttony. This will protect you. He hands the book to Sam and says a few words that Sam cannot hear.
What is this he says what is the meaning of the kebra nagast. why was it written… Sam looked up from the book and said I don’t know granddad? People think it was only the history of Queen Sheba meeting king Solomon but there is so much more than that it contains the Stories of God. God brought his knowledge to every race in the way that they can understand. No religion is better than the other because how can you say which message is bette it all come from god. This book is our book. It is not really understood it is not well know but it is a direct message. Ever living, ever powerful Jah. Another name for god. the Kebra nagast is our belief and compact with god wrapped up in a package.
Why do you think I am giving it to you, because you need it plain and simple, Babylon will tempt you, not just with too much pleasure. but with lack of will. First pleasure is a gift from good good friends, good sex, the love of your woman, children comfort all these things are fine and are part of the bargain we made for living here on this earth. Babylon will take the joy from you it will make you an addict to joy, make you believe that it is a right to have joy not a reward. so that is what I tell you earn your right.
Samson looks at the book and feels the words in his hands the textures and he feels something behind him. A force of joy and he is calm he feels his skin tighten taut and he breathes clearer. His grandfather looks at him and repeats praise jah, praise the works of jah the ever living, ever powerful. That is the power of jah
Petronius is looking at Sam strangely and he looks at his Grandson and says to him close your eyes, tell me what you see. I see a clear day and a coconut branch in the water. he tells Petronius. a barracuda is swimming near it hovering like a little tiny silver plane. Just still and not moving. The coconut branch is drifting and the barracuda is following it. effortlessly and still.
Leave it alone Petronius says he holds his hands on his grandsons head and. I think it is time for me to lock your hair. Go bring me some oil. Sam is excited because he know his parents wont like it, but when it comes to certain things they do what Petronius says, it is just the way things are. He gets the coconut oil. His grandfather rubs some in his hands and holds on to his grandsons hair slowly rubbing it in this child’s scalp. He is very methodical and he is thrilled. Here is his grandson the son of his son. Petronius remembers his son, he loves him with a deep, Mariana’s trench deep love powerful heavy and still. It is a force of nature that is in him and now he sees he loves his grandson the same way. It is always a shock to him to see how powerful his love is for his children. It’s almost as if it is a separate thing that in this he is its servant. He starts the braids in his grandson hair locking the strands with the twists and knots that has been the way in the family since queen Sheba and king Solomon. Each an incantation a warding from harm. Sam seems carried away by the strong loving hands of his grandfather gently taking just the right group of hair and twisting it into the strand and lays them back. The methodical twisting and tying weave an incantation passing spiritual knowledge awareness and Other from grandfather to to grandson. Fighters of babylon just in the simple pleasures of family. Samson feels the presence again the comforting wall behind his back, the tautness in his skin the mental clarity that seems help
