Manmay LaKay Magazine Issue 2 April 2018 | Page 94

For some reason we agreed to dine
at a Carrabas restaurant closest to the
highway. With a welcoming smile and a
friendly disposition the hostess
(Caucasian/white) escorted us
(black/colored as my dad, a product of
the '60s would say) to a table.
“Can I get you guys anything to drink?”
she asked.
“Water, please,” James responded. She
continued around the table taking our
orders.
“Ready to order?” she later asked.
“I’ll have the salmon and mashed
potatoes,” James ordered.
And much like all the other patrons – a
diverse group might I add – James sat
to partake of his meal until he was
done (and… yes they accepted our
money.
I didn’t ask him how that felt. In fact, I
didn’t have to. The look on his face
conveyed content, happiness and
gratitude. We and [he] will forever be
grateful that he made that trip.
Witnessing our dad get excited about
the place he once labored long before
any of us were born was simply
sublime.
Although we had hoped that he would
spend at least 6 months with us, two
months into his vacation he was ready
to go back to St. Lucia. There is no
doubt that he loves us dearly and if he
could be in two places at once he
would. But, he is an islander, an older