I MUST SAY dat I really enjoyed the Agrofest in Queen’s Park a couple of weekends ago.
I gine tell you the truth: if it was possible, I would have gone the entire weekend. Instead, I only got tuh go Sunday evening after church and the li’l time went long suh fast dat before ya could get cross there by the animals, it was getting dark a’ready.
But you see me, if the Lord spares my life next year, I am going tuh make an outing out of it and be there both Saturday and Sunday. Dat way I would be in a better position tuh see and enjoy all the things I didn’t get the chance tuh this year.
Now all along I was hearing dem announcing dat it was going tuh be bigger and better than in previous years, but I was in a fuh a big surprise when I was driving along Halls Road and notice dat the tents was all the way over there by Weymouth pasture.
And talk ’bout people? Look, duh had so many people outside by the ticket booths, line up over there by the hospital pasture tuh purchase duh tickets dat, lemme tell ya, we had tuh off load some o’ the passengers in the car so dat dem coulda go and get in one o’ the ticket lines while we find a parking spot – and dah was far from easy.
The line tuh get in tuh the park was another story. Again, people gran’murr and tantuh children of all heights and ages in a constant flow, and not in single file either, coming cross the road and leading into the park. By the time ya get in the gate after the lotta jostling outside, ya does breathe a big-able sigh ’cause ya dizzy as France – tuh much people boh!
Viewing the animals
Anyway, we kinda get we bearings and head cross there by the animals, trying tuh see as much as possible before it get too late. Next thing somebody say duh want tuh go cross by the Weymouth side, so off we went butting ’bout in the crowd, cross a li’l path like a bridge tuh get cross there, all the time trying tuh keep evahbody together, especially the children who like duh want tuh pelt and guh long ’bout duh business and get lost.
Children ain’t got nuh kinda fear at all – well, till duh get lost. All evening ya was hearing Brudda Daddy voice pon the microphone, calling out the names o’ children who missing duh aunt or duh mother.
Well, we got the chance tuh watch li’l bit o’ the dog show, see and touch some o’ the animals and, of course, stop evah five minutes fuh somebody in our group tuh hug and talk tuh somebody duh ain’t see in ages – more time taken up. Well, now we cahn spend the amount o’ time enjoying the animals as we would like ’cause we want tuh see the birds and other things up ovah there by the clock side, so off we go but dat too is murduh.
Look, finding ya way cross there through dat crowd, dat wall o’ people, wasn’t nuh easy task neither, hear? Talk ’bout people!
Look, duh had people walking back down the hill, people walking up the hill, young people standing up in the middle o’ the very road, talking tuh duh friends and blocking up the road and people sitting down ’longside the road pon the sidewalk just breezing and watching the sea o’ people bobbing and weaving, struggling tuh get by, both up and down the hill.
Some did eating, some did drinking and some was just chilling there and hailing up people duh recognized.
Called it a night
Lemme tell ya, when we get as far as the clock, I was fuzz out and ready tuh sit down and call it a night, so we did just dat. We turn around, sit down fuh a few minutes pon a sidewalk, catch we breath and head back down the hill where we found a li’l space pon the sidewalk in front o’ the stage and where we eventually ended up waiting tuh see and enjoy the gospel production.
So dat is how I spent my evening at Agrofest. I ain’t even get the chance tuh check out the house plants or collect the vegetable seedlings as I normally do and wanted tuh do. The only thing I manage tuh pick up was a few vegetables as we were leaving.
I ain’t get the chance tuh sit in pon none o’ the lectures, watch none o’ the cooking demonstrations, sample nutten nor buy my plants. Dat is why I say dat if the Lord should spare my life next year, this baby will be at Agrofest both the Saturday and the Sunday.
• Mavis Beckles was born and raised in The Orleans. She has an opinion on everything.
