Belizean Queen

Description

Nine o’clock doesn’t mean much to folks along the Cayo road unless of course you happen to be Miss Gracie who likes to see the children arrive at school on time. Everyone else is content to wait until things happen as they well happen, and in good time.

Old Grandma Garbutt strokes her cat and waits for Elvira to come by with the latest gossip. Linny Banner was waiting for Ashworth Gillett to bring by a load of lumber so he could get started on his chicken coop but he said he would be here at 7:00 and it is already 9:00 and” ‘e no con yet.” He was rewarded for his wait however with a chance to watch Maria Gentle buy a watermelon, and what a melon, sweet, juicy and full of flavor.

Peter Shirk is waiting for his melons to sell. He left Barton Creek at 3:00 AM and wouldn’t mind getting back early to see that new colt that was born last night and treat the big milk cow for mastitis. In the mean time, however, watching Maria buy a melon wasn’t such a bad way to spend the time.

And everyone else is waiting for the Queen. She will be along soon, not a beautiful queen with flowing hair and a crown but a big, bulky noisy one, with a wide seat that accommodates three thin people and a narrow seat that accommodates one fat person. Woe unto the thin person that has to sit between two fat ones in the wide seat because there WILL be three in a seat. It would be better to stand in the crowded isle and hang on for dear life when the Queen rounds a curve. It is a good ride though with the breeze blowing in your face and the whiff of the ladies perfume mixing with the strong male scent of after shave cologne and cigarettes.

School children, commuters to the capital and house wives going up the road to visit friends all depend on the Queen. You can ride all the way from Tea Kettle to Belmopan for a shilling and all the way to Belize City for 75 cents. Well……..make that “could”. Those days are gone and the Queen is gone too.

It’s nine and change and yes, here she comes, belching smoke and grinding gears. There will be a stop about every half mile or nearly anywhere someone stands along the road and flags their arm up and down signaling the need for a ride.