I pray the plan going work, but in me heart I know better. And Sam Sharpe must know it too. Must know deep down that backra not going give anything up, unless we fight for it. Take it, grab it, make it our own. Just like them. Backra take and grab and call what they steal them own. Except, we not stealing. We taking back what should never been taken. Freedom to come, to go, to live as we choose.

Christmas Day come round with much dancing and music just like normal. The next day is a rest day and we all act like nothing going happen. Like we going do what we always do. Bow down before backra. I get back to me hut late that night. Sneak back in, so nobody know I been missing. Nobody know I been checking supplies, cleaning guns, piling up bullets. A few more hours before cock crow, must lay down. Catch a little rest. Make ready to face whatever going come.

Is then a duppie come to visit. It come sliding through the unopened door, into me dreamless sleep. At first, all I see is a glowing light, but then the light turn solid, take shape, take form. When I look into that light and form, I come to know is Stella. She reach out, shake me by the shoulders, tell me to wake up. Tell me she want to have a little talk with her son. When a duppie come to visit, as Calla used to say, you must follow the signs, see where it lead. If Stella duppie is anything like she was in the wide-awake world, I know this going be a long talk. Rubbing me eyes, I get up, sit on the side of the bed.

‘What you think you doing, boy?’ is the first thing she say. Hands on her hips looking down on me like me still a child. ‘Why you ride up and down all over the countryside when you have a sister to look out for? What if something happen to you? You going leave her with no protection?’

‘Like you done to me?’ I say, too tired to stop meself.

Stella duppie reach out like she going cuff me bout the ears. ‘Used to like the sermons of Daddy Sharpe. Like dem very much, but the last thing me think him going do is teach me first born how to turn rebel. All this talk bout rising up. Me tell you straight. This rebel business going lead to no good.’

‘Hush up,’ I tell Stella duppie. ‘You come back to haunt me just to tell me how to live me life? What bout your life?’ and me feel the anger start to build up. ‘How you let youself get mixed up with that McKellar Maroon? Bring disgrace down on our family? On me?’