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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Leniency (04/18/24)
In the tenement setting of Orange Hill, all the occupants knew each other, so it was not strange when an incident took place the news would naturally spread like lightning, and of course, all would become the jurors and judges. But this seemingly exploitative case was suddenly dismissed by the victim, herself like “hot potatoes' '.

“Rape, rape, rape” disrupted my sweet sleep; and it seemed to revibrate, immediately, I leaped to the bedroom window. Peering through, and seeing from the beam of the streetlight, I saw tenants barefooted in their pajamas, some scantily dressed or with towels draped around them at their gates. The streetlight was like a blessing as I could see everything below my balcony. Rosie, a mother, and her son, Sonny stood motionless together. No one spoke. The silence was deafening.

Within the green area of the houses stood Pam, a well-known young woman of eighteen years old. Afterwards, she fled back to the house.

Then her big sister and her boyfriend came.

“A whe de boy deh” (patois Language) was the first loud sentence that broke the silence.

Both moved swiftly to the house. Afterwards, a Police van came with two officers.

Rosie alighted from the house with a large towel wrapped around her body with her sister at her side. While her sister's boyfriend stood a little distance from them. Pam spoke discreetly to the officers who took a few jottings. During the discourse she blurted.

“A him that”. Then Pam, pointed to the villain.

One of the officers went to Sonny and spoke briefly to him, then escorted him to the back of the Police vehicle. Pam then went into the backseat of the van then it sped off while her sister and her boyfriend followed in their transport.

Rosie left the scene.

Whisperings followed as to what took place. Everyone was left in a quandary. Elaine, known as the “village lawyer” spoke.

“Yu mean seh we neighbor, Sonny who grow and live wit we do that nastiness”.

Another chimed in “Prison can’t miss him, and me no business if him mada non talk to me again.”

Eventually, all left to their houses, some shaking heads another uttered “Mum” is the word.

Later that Sunday morning we learned that Rosie was taken to the hospital and statements were given by both parties to the case.

When it was the court date all ears were open as to how justice would be served. But a grand change took place, which surprised everyone.

Sonny’s mother went to Pam and pleaded with her to have mercy on her son. This was done behind closed doors. This was gleaned from the different sources.
She knew that she might be haunted by her decision, but she said as a person who was taught about God’s forgiving power, she forgave him. She also said she has four brothers and hoped that she had planted a seed of change for his young man’s life.

As a result, she dismissed the case. After two weeks she went to the
United States to live a “new “life.





This is a true story, but names have been changed.
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This article has been read 293 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Marlene Custer 
04/26/24
A thought provoking story.
Lois Eaton 
04/28/24
Just one comment: As an Australian I found some of the patois difficult to understand. Maybe you could have included a direct translation.