Let them eat cake

TIMES INT'L

Satiricus was all confused. He and the fellas had visited some friends on Boxing Day at the sugar estate where Bungi and Cappo had worked before it was shut down. Even though Satiricus had read about what was going on with fired sugar workers, he wasn’t prepared for what he actually saw. They were conducting their post-mortem – and post-mortem IT WAS, concluded Satiricus – at the Back Street Bar.
“I thought now your friends didn’t have to work, they’d be enjoying themselves for the holidays,” said Satiricus in a puzzled tone.
“Which worl’ yuh live in Sato?” asked Cappo. “Wha’ dem guh enjai demself wid?”
“Well, they did get their severance, didn’t they?” said Satiricus.
“No, they didn’t get their severance, Sato,” said Hari. “And even if they did, you think they’ll ‘sport” it out?”
“Ah da how yuh t’ink about abee cane-cuttah people?” enquired Bungi sourly.
“Even if they didn’t get their severance,” replied Satiricus. “At least they could’ve killed a duck and bunjal it for us – like they did last year!”
“Dis year na las’ year, Sato,” said Cappo patiently. “W’en wan man na know whe’ de next payday a come, a hard guava season, Budday!”
“But the Government just trained some of them to find new jobs,” protested Satiricus. “Surely that would give them hope!”
Bungi looked at Satiricus and shook his head, “5000 people get fyaah and dem train 30 people fuh bake cake,” he said sadly. “An’ dem cane-cuttah mus’ feel good?”
“It’s a start, you know,” said Satiricus. “Maybe the fired cane-cutter families could eat the cake.”
“Suh how come Nagga Man an’ Rum Jhaat na guh an’ tell dem cane-cutta who get fyaah, fuh guh bake cake?” asked Cappo.
“He woulda get a good cut-rass!” chuckled Hari. “Where would the 5000 cane cutters get the materials to bake cake!?”
“Da wha’ mek ‘e guh walk about a Bourda Market in tung,” said Bungi. “Lucky nobady na pelt wan baigan pan am!”

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