‘You chains been broken,’ another say. ‘Mus’ feel good.’

‘No more will you suffer. Praise the Lord,’ the next one say.

‘You gone to a better place,’ Sydney say. ‘Mind you, any place better than dis.’

‘You lucky devil. You is free. Free at last,’ Stella sing out.

‘Praise be,’ Calla say.

‘Praise be,’ the mourners say.

Round and round them go, singing out, clapping and clanging before Calla finally shout, ‘Praise to the Ancestors! What is done is done!’

And bang, she clang her stick against the hoop one last time.

After so much noise and carry-on the silence come down on us heavy like a sheet. It take us all a little while to get used to it. Finally everybody head outside the hut.

Now I understand why Massa so put out when him hear Jonnie dead. This funeral business is a big thing. Him not going get much work out of any of us. And as the day pass, I come to see how even though old cripple Jonnie not much loved on the plantation, him going get sent cross to the Ancestors with dignity.

While me taking a long cool drink from the water barrel, I see Sammy and Melon coming along the path up through the dogwood trees, carrying a big yabba. Melon going use it to cook food over a fire. As usual, Sammy try ignore me. But since me the one helping Calla, him have to pay attention to me.

We clear the ground by the bamboo grove. Cover it with a cloth Stella pick out special. Then we work together to lay out the extra food visitors bring. Them that travel from far and wide to attend the funeral. Make me feel proud as we help Melon to serve the food. Make sure everybody get fed, nobody take more than them share. Is the first time in a long time me and Sammy work together, without fighting, calling each other names. Seem like old cripple Jonnie spirit draw us together, for a little while anyway.

For that short afternoon, slaves come and go as we like and everywhere you look, all you see is black and brown faces. No backra to disturb us. Is almost like a little freedom. And I never have such a good feed in a long time. Plantain, corn and yams thrown in the fire. Saltfish, Massa send up special. Melon make her ginger beer and mix it up with plenty rum. Is one happy time, till suddenly Massa show up.