As written by Reginald (Marcel) Henry, USA
SCREEN II
At Bun Hill the graves and tombs of Simeon and Antoinette, as well as of other relatives, occupied the nicely shaded central spot between one big mango tree to their west, and, to the east-south-east, two cashew trees and a cluster of smaller mango trees. The western mango tree was the only one of the type known anywhere. It was named after its location, “gravie mango”! The mango trees to the east-south-east were uncommon, too. Only the few trees on the property and two trees on neighbor Levi Madden’s (Paggy’s) property below were known to exist anywhere. The flavor of their fruit was rare—a delicate, teasing and uncommon taste and aroma. And the name of the variety is as anyone would guess, “stay home”! Want another compass point and another mango tree? To the south-west of the tombs and graves and a step down from their level, was this large mango tree, a not so good variety of the fleshy mango common in the district and known as “beefie”. Between the homes of the dead and this mango trees, on the level of the mango trees, was a circular flat area occupied by the cane mill and its companion sugar boiling house. Compass point east, set the viewer by a gourd tree near the edge of the property.
Like most every other property in the community, Pappa’s had a few coconut trees. They rose in the air from thirty to sixty feet. The boys, and sometimes a girl, climbed a tree to get dry coconuts to cook with, or jelly coconut for refreshment. How delicious the coconut water and the flesh of the coconut, dry or jelly! It was quite an added adventure to climb a tree, taking up a machete, sit among the palm boughs, and pick and chop open a jelly coconut and sit back and enjoy it right up there! Even adding to the thrill, the secret of leaving the husks up there among the boughs! But Pappa and Mamma knew when a coconut was missing, even if there were no husk to tell.
The only other plants on the property matching the majestic height of the coconut trees were the bamboo reeds. They were in one cluster and had a story of their own. When the family house was burnt almost to the ground, the weepy and hollering Mamma and Pappa got the bamboo cluster’s story. It was the hiding place of their five year old trembling, but safe, fire-setting son, Reggy.
Yes, Pappa and Mamma and the first eight of The Henry 12 experienced the Bun Hill home. But shortly after a wild hurricane and the fire disaster, the family moved to the small Wilson Field house, a short distance away. From that time the Bun Hill home started to be called “Old Yard”. Renting the family this little Wilson Field house, Cousin Emma (Emma Moodie) added a different saving touch to the life of the Henrys. Cousin Emma was the district “midwife” and her main saving touch was the delivery of at least the first ten of The Henry 12! Most of her midwife calls were late in the night and required that she walked miles over steep, rugged, and dark foot paths. Selflessness and a guinea (21 shillings) per call gave her the spirit for the task.