Author Archives: C. Vieira

My Mom Did Not Want Me To Have A Pet

Whenever I asked my mom for a dog, I wasn’t at all surprised when she replied with a resounding, “NO!” We played that game for three years until I finally stopped asking. Her mind was made up and there was nothing I could do about it. Then, two years ago in October, there was a knock on my bedroom door before my brother poked his head in and asked me to follow him into the living room. Next to the sofa, shaking with fright, was the tiniest silkie I had ever seen. I dropped to my knees and gently picked him up before my brother told me that “Johnny Boy” didn’t belong to me. He’d bought it for his girlfriend.

Johnny Boy Lounging In His Bed. Photo: Candia Vieira.

Luckily for me, his girlfriend’s parents were against having a pet in their home and didn’t even budge an inch when they saw Johnny’s cute little face and tail wagging back and forth. They just wouldn’t give the little silkie a chance. Thanks to her parents, Johnny Boy finally found a home. With me! I guess I sound a tad bit mean, but I was the best thing that ever happened to that dog. The vet reminds me of that every year, when he marvels at Johnny’s strong legs and muscles.

Until She Met Johnny Boy And Fell In Love

I’m rushing ahead of myself here. Let’s rewind to my mom’s first meeting with Johnny. And oh what a first meeting it was! I’d assumed that she would allow me to keep him because he was just too cute to resist. However, I was wrong. When she saw him, her cheeks turned a dangerous shade of red and she promptly told me I had to get rid of him. I cried and begged her to let me keep him at least for a few weeks until I could find him a home. She agreed, but only on one condition. He was to stay in my room and out of sight.

The Author's Mother And Johnny Playing Around. Photo: Candia Vieira.

Surprisingly, she grew fond of Johnny rather quickly. I forgot to mention that she has a soft heart for someone who kept denying me a pet for three years. By the end of the first week, she was allowing Johnny to leave my room and roam around the house and when the “few weeks” were up, she was reluctant to let me find him that home I had promised her. The inevitable had finally happened. She’d fallen in love with a dog.

The Face He Showed To The World

Our Savior Jamaica in February 2012. Photo: Candia Vieira

It had been a beautiful, unseasonably warm day. Not necessarily unusual for the first day of February but mind boggling when one takes into account how cold the past few days prior were. What wasn’t out of place on a day such as that was the Rev. Robert “Bob” Fritch standing on the steps outside of the church, greeting the few who were entering it and the dozens of passersby hurrying home from work. The smile on his face betrayed the deep sorrow inside of him. The twinkle in his eyes hid the turmoil of the past week. At exactly 8 p.m. he smoothed down the front of the beige robe he wore and entered the church with an even brighter smile.

The Rev. Robert Fritch Preaching On Easter Sunday, 2011. Photo: Taken From The Church's Website, www.oursavorjamaica.org. All Photos Are Contributed.

The Face He Couldn’t Hide

Inside, he sat still as he waited for the moment he had been dreading to arrive. When it did, he rose and sighed. It had indeed been a tough week. He spoke of a conversation he had with one of the members on December 17, 2011. He’d told her how relieved he was that there had been no deaths that Christmas season in his church. As he wiped the sweat from his forehead, he looked at the congregation, the twinkle in his eyes gone. Apparently, there had been nine deaths since that day in December. As he spoke of each death and what it meant to him, his voice grew more solemn and tinged with regret.
Finally, he pointed towards a giant projection screen that had been stationed in front of the pulpit and told us that we would be listening to a sermon about death by Pastor Harry Schenkel, who was well known by the congregation. When the Reverand took a seat and lifted his head to the screen there was a slight sheen in his eyes. Moments later, there was hardly a dry eye in the room.