Nevispages weekly feature by Curtis Morton Sr.
The way I see it, a mother’s love is a unique and treasured gift.
Everybody would say that their mother is the BEST in the world, so I will allow you that, dear reader.
So, that leaves me no other choice but to make the official announcement that my mother WAS, the BESEST mother in the world. Sadly, the emphasis here, is on WAS. Yes, sadly, my mother passed on to the great beyond, several years ago.
However, her memory will forever live on in my heart. Yes, she nurtured all eight of us, but for me, she was extra special.
She was one of the finest Teachers that the world has ever known. She started her prolific career at the tender age of 15 and never looked back. In those days, the bright students would end up teaching much older boys and girls than themselves, in the seventh standard and despite her small stature, she demanded and received the respect of her students. She was a natural teacher and apart from ensuring that we grew up with a basic knowledge and understanding of the bible and God’s will for our lives, she was a whiz at all subjects, but an extra special genius when it came to English and Mathematics.
Oh, how I remember those days of family time, watching television together in the living room and one night, some big-time politician or other appeared on the TV and stated something about ‘DIFFERENT TO..’. Well, my mother went off into a tirade. She corrected the man, even though he could not hear her. ‘It’s DIFFERENT FROM-NOT DIFFERENT TO!’
Trust me, if she could have gotten close to that man, he would have received one of those famous rap on the knuckles.
Well I newa!
Another night, while we were watching television, I remembered daddy making reference to another politician as a BIGMITARY. Oh, she slam-dunked him. ‘It’s DIGNITARY,’ she stated. To be honest, I sided with my father because I thought that the English writers had gotten that one wrong. After all, what else should you call a BIG SHOT, but a BIGMITARY?
She also had a keen sense of humour. She was a dictionary when it came to famous quotations; old-time sayings and superstitions.
She was also a strict disciplinarian. A no-nonsense kind of person, when you got on her wrong side and stubborn with it, especially when she ‘knew’ that she was right.
I think I was in Standard four at the New River Primary School and my mom was teaching the class immediately behind it, on that day. Now in those days, the classrooms were separated by some big, old blackboards. I was seated in a desk at the back and I could hear my mother’s voice quite clearly and as she taught the class. I could also hear the occasional tapping of the chalk on the blackboard.
While the teacher was trying his utmost to present his lesson, one of my classmates struck up a conversation with me. He was talking about a wonderful event that ‘occurred’ the afternoon prior, while he was looking hog meat, with a girl called Mary. Honestly, I did not say too much but I was a keen, an interested listener.
So fascinated was I with the story, that I never realized that the chalk had stopped tapping on the chalkboard behind me.
That diminutive, precious woman, suddenly appeared with one of those huge, old time belts and I got a few good ones, right in front of my laughing classmates I remember when she was hitting me, she kept repeating something like: ‘That’s what I bring you to school for?’
Later on in life, I was to see that feisty side of her again.
I was the accused at the Charlestown Magistrate’s court. Yes me! Wrongfully accused, I may add but t that’s a whole other story, for another time. I was called to court on several occasions, but for varying reasons, the case was never called.
So scared was I about this courtroom thing, that I had gone all the way to St. Kitts, to acquire the services of the late, Sir Llewellyn Moore. After all, they said he was the best lawyer in the federation, at the time. Well, he told me that as a matter of principle, he was not travelling on the Caribe Queen, so every time he had to come to Nevis, I had to pay his plane fare.
Boy, that case cost me some serious money and stress!
Well, eventually the case was heard and the lawyer for my accuser indicated that they were withdrawing the charges, because the accuser had only mentioned my name because, he wanted to get at my mother and father, over a land dispute matter.
I was so glad to get out of that courtroom that I literally bolted towards the door. My mother stood up in that courtroom and shouted: ‘So, who is going to compensate Curtis, for all the money he has wasted?’ Boy, my heart flipped. I seriously thought that the Magistrate was going to order that she be locked up!
‘Ma, let’s go,’ I urged, all the time, trying to get her out of the courthouse. She literally, pushed me away: ‘No, Curtis. This is unfair. Somebody has to pay!’
Well I newa!
I literally held my breath, waiting to hear the Magistrate say: ‘Take her away!’ To my shock and obvious relief, he said: ‘She is right. Somebody ought to compensate Mr. Morton!’
The Lawyer for my accuser immediately acknowledged that she would get the compensation monies to me and then and only then, my mom acceded to going outside. You guessed right. I never received the money!
So, yes, that was my mom for you.
Now, at this time of year, many persons focus specifically on their moms.
“Mother’s Day is a holiday honouring motherhood that is observed in different forms throughout the world. In the United States, Mother’s Day 2020 occurs on Sunday, May 10.
The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. Jarvis would later denounce the holiday’s commercialization and spent the latter part of her life trying to remove it from the calendar. While dates and celebrations vary, Mother’s Day traditionally occurs on the second Sunday in May of each year and involves presenting moms with flowers, cards and other gifts.”
By the way, it is said that more phone calls are made on Mother’s day than at any other time in the year. Holiday chats often cause phone traffic to spike by as much as 37%.
So, at this time, I take time out to wish all mothers, every good wish, as they are honoured this coming Sunday. May God continue to richly bless your efforts.
A special mention must be made of those mothers on the front line, as we continue this fight against the coronavirus.
Before I leave, a little admonition to those of you who still have your mothers with you:
TREASURE YOUR MOMS. TREAT THEM WELL AND LET THEM KNOW HOW SPECIAL THEY ARE! Not only for the one day in the year but all year round!
That’s the way I see it. How do you see it?