The Non-Silence of the Lamb

by Luke Brown

  Essie loved every minute of her life in Montego Bay. As each day passed, she learned more about the big city. Although she was a city girl at heart, she loved nature, and Montego Bay had lots of it to replenish her soul. After all, she was on an island where the change in seasons was marked only by newly flowering plants, blossoming trees, and the proud peacocks strutting around freely.

  She liked to visit Rocklands Bird Sanctuary, a bird lover’s paradise. It was nestled in the hills of Anchovy, just outside of Montego Bay, within the borders of the parish of Saint James. She was dazzled by the Jamaican national hummingbird, with its stunning emerald-green chest and ruby-red beak. She gazed at the one perched on her finger and listened to the soothing hum of the other birds all around her. She could easily stay here for hours, but instead, she chose to continue her stroll off the beaten path of Saint James.

  On another nature stroll, Essie observed the beautiful Montego Bay gardens, complete with turquoise water ponds and spectacular cascading waterfalls. She pitched small gravel stones into a pond with broad green leaves floating around its edges. She watched as each stone plunged into the pond and the water rippled outward. She smiled at the beauty of nature and frowned at the little crooked sign posted at the top of a two-by-two stick, about two and a half feet tall, planted into the ground. It read, Please do not throw anything into the pond, and do not feed the ducks.

  The tropical garden overflowed with crotons, bamboos, ferns, cocoa plants, indigo, and the forget-me-not wild maca plant.

  Essie was now deep in the forest of Montego Bay, with its scenic backdrop of rocks and woodland. She observed the unspoiled nature of God as she traveled along the undeveloped dirt road. She listened to the waterfalls and the gurgle of nearby creeks, and to the water trickling down the bushy hillside and over shady branches. She made her way through the old riverbed and tropical foliage enveloped by towering green trees.

  Although she loved every minute of Montego Bay, she sometimes got homesick as she thought of her nature getaway in the countryside of Cascade. She remembered those occasions when she would journey deep into the countryside through shadowed corridors and beneath tall, swaying trees. Hidden in the woodlands was the great Rocky Point River that plunged down a narrow gorge, with its blue-green waters splashing along the smooth black-and-gray rocks of the irrigating riverbanks. Being in the forest never failed to give Essie a serene feeling of oneness with nature.

  Living in Montego Bay, Essie never took anything for granted. She went to the beautiful white-sand beaches every Sunday she could while the Fergusons were at church.

  She also liked to take leisurely walks along the city streets. Montego Bay was divided into three distinct parts: the city with its crowded streets, the Hip Strip, and the outlying hotels and villas on the beaches and hillsides.

  While strolling through the busy tourist paradise known as the Hip Strip, one of the first things that caught her attention was the iconic aquatic playground of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, where tourists and locals alike rode down an enormous water slide and participated enthusiastically in other extreme water sports.

  Essie observed a bunch of people dancing to the loud reggae sounds of Bob Marley and stopped to read a sign that said, Come to Margaritaville where there is a thin line between Saturday and Sunday morning. She smiled because she understood that it was true. Sunbathers partied during the weekdays and partied twice as much on weekends. On the weekends, they partied all night, up to the breaking of dawn.

  Essie continued along the one-and-a-half-mile stretch of vintage hotels, some remodeled to look modern, as she observed the island lovers sunbathing and partying along the narrow road.

  Essie often volunteered to do the grocery shopping for the family and any other errands that needed to be done. She did this so that she could learn more about the fascinating city of Montego Bay, second only in size to Kingston.

  On her walks, she observed the crowded, colorful, and lively setting of the central-city streets—an indication of how vital, noisy, and lively this Jamaica city was. Although Montego Bay was famous for its beaches, beach bars, gourmet restaurants, and nightlife, it also had its industrious side. Cars packed the streets, trying to get through.

  Essie observed the authentic city charm and adored it in all its glory. It was exhilarating to see exquisite Jamaican/Spanish architecture in the central parade. She enjoyed Sam Sharpe Square, a friendly cobblestoned hub of activity, the meeting place of all the townspeople and taxicabs. It showcased a cage that was formerly a jail for runaway slaves and the ruins of the courthouse, built in 1804 and destroyed by fire a few decades earlier, but now rebuilt to restore its charming beauty.

  As she ambled down the busy streets, Essie noticed the architecture on both sides. Interspersed with modern buildings were the previous century’s wooden gingerbread houses.

  Country folks often flocked to the city to visit the markets, shops, and banks. These were some of the same country folks from Cascade who traveled on old, overcrowded, dilapidated buses. In addition, the busy streets hosted guests from hotels and cruise ships as they made their way to shops and craft markets. They hosted housewives and office girls, as well as street hagglers.

  In the crowded marketplace, country folks sold their natural produce from homemade vending stalls. The vendors, who filled an area three or four blocks long, squatted on the ground or on very low stools with their baskets full of produce between their open legs. They beckoned Essie to patronize their small entrepreneurial businesses. The pungent, sometimes rotten, scent of overripe mangoes and bananas hung heavily in the air. The local market was full of customers busy testing and tasting guineps and sweet and sour saps, as well as nesberries, before they bought.

  Essie enjoyed the fun of haggling over the price before she bought her yellow yams, cassavas, and sweet potatoes. She enjoyed a good deal at the overcrowded produce marketplace. She enjoyed the tropical island uniqueness in all its glory.

  In the big city, trusted friends didn’t come easy. However, Essie made a few along the way. One of them was Stedman, a handsome Indian-Jamaican boy, brown skinned and about four years older than Essie. He was a kindhearted person with a great sense of humor. Another was Cherry. Cherry was Essie’s age, dark skinned and average looking, but a truly supportive and attentive friend.

  Essie looked forward to meeting her friends every Sunday. She would make plans with Stedman or Cherry on the previous Sunday for things they would do or places they would go the following Sunday.

  They made an effort to visit a different beach each week. Sometimes they would go to the park to watch a soccer game or enjoy whatever entertainment was being held there. Essie developed a love for the beautiful white-sand beaches, as well as the exciting game of soccer. She never understood the rules very well, but she loved all the quick action, and it was obvious whenever someone made a goal. She couldn’t explain much more than that, but she enjoyed it very much.

  One Sunday, the three arranged to meet at Doctor’s Cave Beach. Stedman, the first to arrive, hurried to the water’s edge and waded in, frolicking in the gloriously soothing sea. He floated on a large inner tube pulled from an old truck tire, his arms on either side of it and his head bobbing in the center. He stayed fairly close to the shore, the tips of his toes barely touching the sand, and paddled around in circles, swooping down the faces of the little waves.

  He was having a great time when he saw Essie arrive. By this time, she had evolved into a beautiful girl, tall and shapely. She had the perfect beach body—the figure of movie star Raquel Welch. She wore a one-piece, tight-fitting black bathing suit, with a white towel draped over her shoulders.

  “Hey, big-hip girl. I’m over here.” Stedman waved to Essie.

  “I saw you, Steddy. I saw you as soon as I came through the gate. I saw your little head in the middle of your big black tube. You look like a black-eyed pea in a large pot.” Essie dropped her towel on the sand and ran across the white beach toward him. She stopped abrupt
ly at the water’s edge and looked down as if seeing something strange.

  “What is it, Essie?”

  “Oh, it’s a little bitsy sea crab crawling on the sand. It’s so cute.”

  “Leave the poor crab alone. Why don’t you come into the water? It’s warm and enjoyable.”

  “No, it’s not. It’s cold. You’re lying, Steddy.” Essie tested the water with her foot.

  “Essie, it’s warm where I am. Remember, you have to dip your whole body into the water for the first time, and then you’ll see that it’s really warm.”

  “You know, a friend of mine used to say, ‘Never test the water with both feet.’”

  “Or else what?”

  “Or else you’ll get burned or drown, or whatever. It’s just a saying. Don’t get technical with me, Steddy.”

  “Okay, Miss Pretty,” Stedman said with a grin, “I’ll leave you and your country phrases alone. Very soon you’ll be telling me that one hand of a banana is better than two bunches.”

  “Are you teasing me, Steddy? You know I don’t like to be called country. I’m a bigcity girl like everybody now.” Essie protested against Stedman’s unwelcome humor.

  “Okay, Miss Big-hips, Bigcity Girl.”

  “Where is Cherry?” Essie asked, finally realizing that Stedman was playing alone in the beautiful sky-blue waters of Doctor’s Cave Beach.

  “I don’t know. She’s not here yet.”

  “I hope she comes. I could kill her if she doesn’t show up like last Sunday.”

  “Talking about the devil, there she comes through the gate,” Stedman said as he spotted Cherry in a sexy pink two-piece bathing suit, with a white towel around her waist.

  “Oh great, here she comes.”

  “Yes, Miss Miserable is here.”

  “No, she’s not,” Essie said. “Just leave my friend alone.”

  “Hey, bad-minded people,” Cherry called out to her friends as she approached them, “I can hear you. You’re talking bad things about me. You all can’t stand to see a girl make a grand entrance.”

  “Oh no, Cherry, not me. Steddy is calling you miserable.”

  “Stedman? Let him gwane. Let him go on. You don’t see he’s a big troublemaker, that one? He needs a big lick inna him head.” Cherry joined them in the water, and she and Essie mischievously held on to one side of Stedman’s floating tube as they tried to hoist him out of it. They spent the rest of their time playing and catching up on the past week’s events.

  “Cherry, what happened to you last week?” Essie asked.

  “Nothing. Just some schoolwork that I needed to catch up on.”

  “Mo Bay High School is getting tougher these days,” Stedman said.

  “Yes, sir. I can’t wait to finish that school. They give too much extra schoolwork on weekends. They’re trying to kill me, marsa.”

  “I need to go back to school one of these days so I can get some subjects and go on to college,” said Essie, confessing her dreams to her friends.

  “That’s a good idea,” Cherry said.

  “You know, I went to a cricket match the other day, and it was very good.” Stedman tried to steer the conversation in a different direction. He never was much of a school type and had started working in the hotel industry at seventeen.

  “Wow. I wish I’d known about it.” Essie’s voice was low with regret.

  “Okay, next time I’ll tell you about it in advance. Oh, and by the way, there’s a big soccer match next week at Jarrett Park. We could go there next Sunday.”

  “Okay, I’m in,” said Essie.

  “Who’s playing?” Cherry asked, wanting to make sure it was worth her time.

  “Some team from Kingston’s supposed to play Montego Bay Soccer Club.”

  Cherry smiled. “Oh, that should be good. I’m in, too. Where do you want to get together?”

  “How about at the front gate? A good friend will be working there, so we won’t have to pay anything to get inside.”

  They continued to have a wonderful beach day, and as it drew to a close, they turned their thoughts to meeting the following Sunday.

  At eighteen, Essie enjoyed her life. For the first time, she felt it was worth living, and she embraced it to its fullest. She felt confident, and it showed. Her one regret was not completing her schooling before she had run away from Cascade. If she’d done so, she could take advantage of the many opportunities the big city offered. She could have continued her studies in Montego Bay and moved on to college to start a professional career.

  Her eyes had opened to the ways of the world, and she wanted more, including bigger and better dreams. She was well aware of her beauty, but she knew her looks could only get her so far. On the other hand, if she had a good education, she could definitely secure a bright future for herself. Thus, she started planning to return to school as soon as possible.

  As time progressed, Stedman and Essie got closer and closer. One Sunday, while at the beach, they even confronted each other about the direction of their casual relationship. It was at a secluded spot facing the golden sunset, where they sat on the sand laughing and having fun. Eventually, Stedman started telling her how he truly felt and that he’d love for her to be his girlfriend.

  Essie had been attracted to him all along, but was afraid to let him know. Hearing him say how much he loved and desired her was like sweet music to her ears. She leaned over and softly kissed his lips. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I already felt a special desire for you.” A shy but somewhat seductive smile played on her lips as she glanced at him, then quickly looked away.

  “So why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Well …” She started to explain, but then stopped. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and her body became frigidly awkward. She tried to find a position that would ease the tension she felt. She was about to embark on a topic she had never quite touched on before.

  “Well what?” Stedman asked eagerly.

  “Well, I wasn’t sure.” She hesitated, then corrected herself. “Honestly, I was afraid that you didn’t feel the same about me.”

  Stedman knew her words were true and came deep from her heart, because her voice had changed. She started panting heavily. She tried hiding it, but her heavy breathing was too obvious to ignore.

  “Believe it or not,” he said, “I was attracted to you from the first day that I laid eyes on you at Sunset Beach Place, but I didn’t have the guts to tell you until now. Essie, I loved you then. I’ve loved you all along. I love you now, and I’ll love you forever.”

  “Wow!” Essie exclaimed with a confident, flirtatious smile. “Four years is a long time.” It sure felt good to be loved. It gave her chills to hear those words from Stedman.

  They held each other close and kissed passionately. Stedman rested his hand on Essie’s leg and caressed her knee while still deeply engaged in their passionate kisses. Essie had her beach towel wrapped around her waist like a skirt. With one hand, he slowly but skillfully raised the towel to unveil Essie’s long, sexy legs. He had dreamed of doing this many times before. Now that he had her in his arms, it felt a million times better. His heart raced with excitement, and his manhood awoke. He wanted Essie’s body right then. His body ached to explore her inner soul.

  He then slowly and ever so softly, ran his fingers up along the inside of her legs. He felt Essie’s pulse hammered under his fingers. She needed him also. Her body ached with the pain of urgent desire. Stedman moved his fingers ever so slowly along her inner thighs. Her private parts were surely just a touch away. She sighed deeply with each soft sensuous touch. His trembling fingers touched the exquisite softness of her innermost thigh again where her shimmering legs met just inches away from her sensuously radiant kitty cat. Essie drew a deep breath then gave a big sigh as Stedman touched her pulsating body once more. Essie quivered in response to each tender touch. Stedman placed a finger in one side of Essie’s tight fitting bathing suit right around h
er pubic area. He slowly worked his finger down lower and began to explore her inner soul.

  It was warm to the touch of Stedman’s finger. It felt oh so good. He continued kissing her as he forcefully plunged his index finger deeper and deeper. Essie moaned and groaned with utmost excitement. Her body had never felt such pleasurable thrills before.

  Essie hastily ripped off her bathing suit to fully expose her heavenly body to Stedman as she vowed to share her love with him. Her skin was spotless and smooth. Her rather large natural breast was perky and stiff as they protruded outward from her chest. She had very large buttons, almost an inch long when erect, a unique feature she got directly from her mother. Stedman wasted no time reaching for them with his mouth. He was overwhelmed with the exuberating excitement of Essie’s beautiful body as he switched from one breast to the other. He was lost in Essie’s beauty. For all he knew, he had died and had gone to heaven, Essie’s heaven.

  Essie hastily reached for his bathing trunk and yanked it down to his knees. She could not wait to jump on him. She was a jockey and she was now ready to ride. She momentarily went crazy with excitement. She aggressively pushed him to the ground. She hurriedly climbed over him and quickly squat down on his groin. She spread her legs wide apart and got busy, very busy. She screamed and moaned as she rode Stedman’s like a jockey vigorously riding a horse at the race track. To say they had sex would be a true understatement.

  Yes, they made mad passionate love to each other that day on the white sand of Doctor’s Cave Beach, a day she would never soon forget. The sea washed over their bodies, matching the intense motion of their rhythm, rising higher and harder until they reached the final, climactic moment, spasms rippling through them. The sun disappeared into the sea, leaving pink and gold sunset skies