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The Woman with the Diamond Heart — Judy Powell
SILVER MEDAL - JCDC CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION
Discover the side of Jamaica you've never seen before...
The son of a white plantation owner befriends a slave girl, an ex-slave struggles with the challenges of emancipation, a poor girl from the country has to fight off the sexual advances of her employer, a retiring woman finds the strength to face an abusive husband...
These are snippets from the lives of fictional Jamaicans from different generations in the country's history, each telling a different story but together providing a rich melange of cultures, people and history. This is the fascinating story of the woman with the diamond heart - Jamaica, land of love.
EXCERPT:
“Where you been? I been out there twen'y minutes knocking. Where the hell you been?” His voice was slurred and spittle flew from his mouth as he spoke.
“Raphael…I was asleep.”
“Asleep? You expect me to believe that? You knew I was out there. You think I'm a fool?”
“But I came as soon as I heard the knocking.”
“Shut up, you lying…I bet you wanted to teach me a lesson, eh?”
“No, Raphael…”
“I said shut up! I don't want another word coming out of your lying mouth. Getting all high and mighty, eh? Think you're too good for me now, eh?” With every word he took a step closer and Leonie backed away. She could see Lionel standing at the door, wide eyed and trembling.
“Raphael, stop this. Please!” Leonie pulled the robe tightly around her and walked quickly back to the bedroom. She tried to push the door shut behind her but he was right on her heels. He stuck his foot in the door and shoved with such force that he slammed her back against the wall.
“Where you think you're going? I'm talking to you.”
“Raphael,” Leonie pleaded, but he was beyond reasoning.
“Where is the respect?” His voice was slurred but his anger was palpable. “You know what they've been saying on the streets? That ‘him woman haffi mind him'. You been spreading all kind of scandal about me.”
“Raphael, what are you talking about?”
“You know what I am talking about. Ever since I lost my job at the ministry I know you've been lauding it over me and telling people how you have to cover the expenses. You think I don't know?”
“I have never discussed our finances with anybody. What do you think I am?”
“You're a liar…” he swayed then grabbed the door jamb for support, “…a liar and a slut, that's what you are.”
Leonie gasped as if she had been punched in the stomach. She stared at her husband and whispered, “How could you? I've been faithful to you from the day we met and you dare say something as cruel as that?”
“You're jus' like any other woman. As soon as a man is down you…you take full
advantage. So is who now, eh? That teacher guy who dropped Lionel home last week? Or that insurance agent I walked in on two days ago?”
“I don't have to listen to this. You've gone mad!” And with that, Leonie pushed as if to go past him. And that was when it happened.
“Don't walk away when I'm talking to you!” He grabbed her arm and dragged her backwards. She struggled against him and tried to push forward. With a growl of anger he pushed her backwards then raised his hand and slapped her full on the jaw. As Leonie fell she heard Lionel's scream ringing in her ears.
Six weeks later Leonie sat staring in shock at Doctor Robinson's face. “What do you mean, pregnant?”
Discover the side of Jamaica you've never seen before...
The son of a white plantation owner befriends a slave girl, an ex-slave struggles with the challenges of emancipation, a poor girl from the country has to fight off the sexual advances of her employer, a retiring woman finds the strength to face an abusive husband...
These are snippets from the lives of fictional Jamaicans from different generations in the country's history, each telling a different story but together providing a rich melange of cultures, people and history. This is the fascinating story of the woman with the diamond heart - Jamaica, land of love.
EXCERPT:
“Where you been? I been out there twen'y minutes knocking. Where the hell you been?” His voice was slurred and spittle flew from his mouth as he spoke.
“Raphael…I was asleep.”
“Asleep? You expect me to believe that? You knew I was out there. You think I'm a fool?”
“But I came as soon as I heard the knocking.”
“Shut up, you lying…I bet you wanted to teach me a lesson, eh?”
“No, Raphael…”
“I said shut up! I don't want another word coming out of your lying mouth. Getting all high and mighty, eh? Think you're too good for me now, eh?” With every word he took a step closer and Leonie backed away. She could see Lionel standing at the door, wide eyed and trembling.
“Raphael, stop this. Please!” Leonie pulled the robe tightly around her and walked quickly back to the bedroom. She tried to push the door shut behind her but he was right on her heels. He stuck his foot in the door and shoved with such force that he slammed her back against the wall.
“Where you think you're going? I'm talking to you.”
“Raphael,” Leonie pleaded, but he was beyond reasoning.
“Where is the respect?” His voice was slurred but his anger was palpable. “You know what they've been saying on the streets? That ‘him woman haffi mind him'. You been spreading all kind of scandal about me.”
“Raphael, what are you talking about?”
“You know what I am talking about. Ever since I lost my job at the ministry I know you've been lauding it over me and telling people how you have to cover the expenses. You think I don't know?”
“I have never discussed our finances with anybody. What do you think I am?”
“You're a liar…” he swayed then grabbed the door jamb for support, “…a liar and a slut, that's what you are.”
Leonie gasped as if she had been punched in the stomach. She stared at her husband and whispered, “How could you? I've been faithful to you from the day we met and you dare say something as cruel as that?”
“You're jus' like any other woman. As soon as a man is down you…you take full
advantage. So is who now, eh? That teacher guy who dropped Lionel home last week? Or that insurance agent I walked in on two days ago?”
“I don't have to listen to this. You've gone mad!” And with that, Leonie pushed as if to go past him. And that was when it happened.
“Don't walk away when I'm talking to you!” He grabbed her arm and dragged her backwards. She struggled against him and tried to push forward. With a growl of anger he pushed her backwards then raised his hand and slapped her full on the jaw. As Leonie fell she heard Lionel's scream ringing in her ears.
Six weeks later Leonie sat staring in shock at Doctor Robinson's face. “What do you mean, pregnant?”
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