A few months ago, Ray and I were at his uncle’s house watching (me) and helping (Ray) make a drum. I was perched on the edge of another future drum. Ray’s dad Mario was also there. Everyone was taking a few minutes rest from the hot Belizean sun. A little boy came running into the yard, and then stopped in his tracks when he saw me. He looked at me suspiciously, then hovered in the corner for a minute or two. He then plucked up some courage, and said
“Uncle, I wahn ask you somting”.
Ray responded “Well ask me den”.
“It’s a secret”.
“Well come tell me in my ear den”. The little boy whispered in Ray’s ear.
Ray roared out “Who dat white gyal? She da me wife, she yo auntie, hear?!”.
The little boy looked mortified at having his secret question blurted out, but recovered, and then looked confused while he continued to look sidelong at me: “She cahn be my auntie”.
Ray: “Oh really? Why cahn she be yo auntie?”.
“Cos she white”
At which point, Ray’s dad jumped in and said,
“Boy! Even if she green, she still yo auntie, hear!”