Slippers Says – Episode 7: Scene 2 All Aboard Di Country Bus

Narrated by Slippers

After the Sunday dinner disaster mash up Lady Dee spirit, it was time fi leave Kingston behind.

We were heading to St Elizabeth — back to her madda yard — fi find peace, breeze, and maybe a bush tea fi calm di madness.

She pack up fast. No time fi chat.

One suitcase, some overnight food weh did left inna di pot, and four living creatures… including a goat wid attitude.

The morning was already warm — breeze light, but stress heavy.

Lady Dee deh outside, straining with a heavy bag pon one shoulder, muttering about how she mash up that same shoulder back in her DJ days from yanking up vinyl like she was working construction site.

Mi leash on… or so mi thought.

Turns out she attach mi leash to Trevor by mistake.

Mi look up just in time to see Trevor chewing through it proudly, like he think is festival.

HOOOOOOONNNNK!

Mi jump clean out mi paws.

A big, classic Jello bus wobble round the corner, paint faded, one mirror hanging by shoelace, horn louder than prayer meeting.

These old-time country buses used to be the heart of rural Jamaica — full of character, chaos, and cargo ranging from yam to three generations of family.

And pon the windscreen?

“FAITH MOVES”

Painted below that in red:

“Next Stop: Saint Confusion.”

The conductor hop off before the bus fully stop —

clipboard in hand, rag over shoulder, ready like him on a mission from God.

“Mornin’! Anybody fi St. Elizabeth?”

Lady Dee push forward, Trevor in tow, face stiff, eyes serious.

“Yuh carrying all dem?” conductor ask, eyeing Socks and Shoes in their cage, me in my harness, Bubbles wrapped in towel, and Trevor with confidence.

“Di goat haffi go pon top!” him announce.

Mi gasp. Trevor blink.

Lady Dee stop in her tracks and set down the bag hard.

“Mi bring four lives. Nobody nah get roofed. Goat or no goat — we riding together!”

One church lady in the front row bawl out,

“Even Noah carry dem two-two — goat get seat too!”

The conductor pause, scratch him head, then wave his hand like surrender.

“Fine. Put him in the middle. But if him chew up di seat foam — a nuh my business.”

We board.

Inside already crammed tight:

• A baby bawling like him writing a rhythm
• Two higgler woman selling coconut drops and shouting over each other
• A youth in the back singing out Yellowman lyrics like him deh pon stage show
• And one man gripping a massive bundle of broomstick dem fi sell, proudly telling every stop:

“Two fi $10! Guaranteed to sweep out duppy and dust!”

Mi wedge in by the window.

Trevor get his seat like him vote inna election.

Bubbles quiet in Lady Dee lap, strapped like delicate cargo.

Socks and Shoes locked in dem carrier, already chirping war song.

Driver slam di door and yell:

“ROLL OUT!”

We move outta Kingston through Mandela Highway, breeze just start kiss di window.

Mi ears perk up, tail wag small.

Maybe this a real vacation?

We pass:

• Old Harbour, where one woman nearly miss the bus buying roast corn
• Porus, where potholes get so deep Bubbles do a backflip inna him bowl
• Mandeville, sweet hills and chilly air
  Then we start head down Spur Tree Hill — the kind of road that test brake, steering, and your faith in life.

Trevor start hum.

Socks scream like rollercoaster.

Shoes chirp “Mi want mi cage!”

Mi just hold on and pray.

A voice behind mi seh:

“Yuh ever see a goat, fish, bird and dog pon one seat?”

Mi seh:

“Watch di broomstick man. Him next fi talk to dem.”

By the time we reach Annotto Bay, mi tail stop twitch.

Trevor fall asleep wid him foot stretch out like human.

Bubbles floating calm like a sea monk.

Socks and Shoes quiet… for now.

And Lady Dee?

She look through the window, face soft for the first time in days.

She press her head to the glass and whisper quiet:

“Country, mi reachin’.”

Coming Up Next:

Episode 7 – Scene 3: Country Arrival – Fresh Yard, Same Shoes

New yard.

Different breeze.

And Lady Dee finally step through di gate ready fi peace…

Or so she thought.