The Way I See It

The way I see it, we need to be more courteous and caring to each other, because we just do not know when and how our lives may cross in the future.
What do I mean by that?
Like all Nevisians, I was really shocked when I heard of the demise of the late Philo Wallace. A mere boy, full of potential, snuffed out in the prime of his youthful life.
Rewind to about eight years ago. Young Philo, then a student at the Charlestown Primary School, could not have been more than nine years old, when our paths crossed for the first time. The memories are not pleasant ones but I will tell the tale anyway.
I had just recently purchased my first Suzuki mini bus, not more than two weeks before that eventful day and I was driving through Ramsbury.
As I passed the Wilkes’ residence and made a right turn onto another road, I saw a group of school boys in the CPS uniform. They seemed to be playing and enjoying themselves. I passed by with a casual glance in their direction and then I heard a sudden thud on the bus.
I stopped quickly but as I exited the bus, I realized that about four or so of the boys were racing away from me. As my grandmother would say, they were ‘tekking head mek foot.’
I quickly checked the left side of the bus and noted an ugly dent and scratch on the brand new white beauty. I suddenly was seized with a sense of rage, as I realized that the bus had been obviously struck by a fairly large stone that lay close by.
Well I newa!
I saw another school boy standing close by, looking on with some curiosity. I immediately adopted the BULLWISS philosophy which in that setting meant: All school boys ah school boys. Some of you are too young to know what I am talking about, especially if you were not affiliated with the Charlestown Secondary School.
I angrily snarled at him: ‘Hey, ah you do this?’
‘No, is Philo dem,’ he responded timidly. I immediately felt a little foolish for my harsh reaction and in more sane tones questioned him as to who this Philo was. My fantastic sleuth work led me to the home of the esteemed former fast bowler for Nevis and the Leewards, Raphael RAFFIE Wallace.
Now RAFFIE and I always got along well, even though it was due to his sarcastic joking that I was forced to learn to swim—but that’s another story.
I did not know how he would react and even after I got there, I almost changed my mind about saying anything.
RAFFIE was in a jovial mood and we greeted each other and I explained to him what had happened. The smiling RAFFIE turned livid and I had to beseech him not to beat the boy but just to talk to him, which he promised me he would do.
The next time I saw Philo and knew that that was the same Philo, was when I was video recording him at the ET Willet Park, totally dominating all of the bowlers that the other Primary Schools had to offer.
Later, as he matured and as I followed his progress throughout the various levels of Cricket, we grew close in a strange way.
He developed a habit of staying close to where I was operating the video cam and on occasions would ask: “You want a commentator?” Sadly, I never took him up on the offer and that’s maybe because I just assumed that he was joking.
I had a personal score to settle with him as well, because during the last tape ball tournament organized by WISE, at Hard Times, I came down the track to one of his off spinners and did not quite get to the pitch and holed out at long on. Philo watched me and laughed and gave me the signal to keep walking.
I was only waiting for the next time, when I could have put him in his place. That time will not be again…
I ask myself now, did I do and say the right things that could have helped Philo to be a better person, when I had the opportunity so to do?
I guess I will be more vigilant now. There are still people out there that God will place in my path who I must find time to show love and guide whenever possible.
That’s the way I see it. How do you see it?