Charmaine was 15 years old, or there about, she had a mind that was far advance to that of her peers. She had an understanding of how things ought to be; and that could not be beaten out of her. It took reasoning, evidence and rational to change Charmaine's mind once she had made up her mind on some principles.
But now, she was enjoying, the new responsibility, Mother had laid upon her. It was a sign that Charmaine was coming into her own. She was allowed to take her little brother places, although she was in her mid teens it made her feel like an adult, and it made her feel important. Charmaine was the only one whom mother allowed to take me places. Our mother was a wise woman, and everything she did, had some greater importance, which was light years ahead of our ability to understand. Mother impressed upon Charmaine how big a responsibility it was to take care of another human life. Mother also impressed upon Charmaine how much she is depending on her to do what was right.
As a result, Charmaine was super careful, she did not let her temper or pride get into the way of her responsibilities to keep her little brother safe, and her obligation to her mother; whom she have convinced, she was responsible enough, to be entrusted with her little brother. The devil's came around in many forms and he tempted Charmaine, on many occasions. There were many times, she was almost sucked in, forget her responsibility to her little brother and her obligation to her Mother. But she grind her teeth, sucked up her pride and she held her peace.
One day, Charmaine declared Mother, I am going to take Pearson to netball. Charmaine got her little brother ready, she got ready and off they went to netball. All was going well. She was enjoying the game; however, suddenly, Charmaine said Pearson let's go. There were four girls walking down Cemetery Hill Road in front of the Richardson home. Charmaine was in a hurry to leave. Charmaine put her baby brother to stand in front of the cemetery gate, and her instructions was clear, "Pearson stand right here, don't move;" was my sister's instructions.
Charmaine run ahead and tackled the four girls. What would motivated anyone, to start a fight, with four girls of equal age equal hight but with larger body frames than her. I still cannot answer that question. You must consider Charmaine was a skinny teenager. When the fight started, the sound of a few voices echoed: "Yea! yea!" the Vincentian signal that a fight was in progress, the sound permeated the evening air; Nutricia: the Net Ball Center at Cemetery Road in Kingstown, suddenly became empty. Everyone came out of the paid sporting event to see who was fighting. Running to spectate a public fight was normal in St. Vincent and the Grenadies in those days.
In a matter of seconds, I was encircled with people who want to get a glimpse of the fight; which was outside the scope of their vision. What was a safe place away from the fight when the fight began, quickly became crowded with on lookers. I was pushed back and forth by the curious crowd of people whose only interest was to see the fight. I fell on my butt and each time I made an effort to get up, I was pushed down again.
Annette Defretus a friend of our family, had just left her mother's home and was on her way to her home; when she saw the melee. Annette ran to the scene like all the curious on lookers, who had assembled in front of the Richardson family home to look at the fight: Charmaine Palmer against four girls. A fight that would have been unevenly match for another person; not for Hamilton Palmer's daughter.
When Annette realized Charmaine was in the middle of the fray, her first instinct was to ensure I was safe. Annette, saw me sitting on the ground, she took me up and she waited for the fight to end. Then Annette said to my sister: "Charmaine, how could you do such a thing, do you know the crowd almost trampled Pearson? He was on the ground, it's a good thing I came when I did, or who knew what would have happened to him.
Charmaine heart sank, when she realized her actions put me in danger. It was the last thing she wanted to do; which was to put me in any type of danger. She could not foreseen the people leaving the Netball game to watch a fight on the street; but that was exactly what happened. I am going to tell Mother what happened Annette said. Charmaine did not have any excuse for her actions or what had happened. She was caught between a rock and a hard place. Charmaine expected to get licks and a band for some indefinite period. However, without declaring it, mother had already decided, Charmaine was to big for licks. She will now have to appeal to her daughter's intellect.
As Annette declared so she did. Annette walked home with us and she told mother the short version of the story. Mother was very disappointed and she expressed her disappointment in Charmaine's irresponsibility, to Charmaine. Not in a manner that would have belittled Charmaine, but she give her a synapses of her over all performance.
Mother said to Charmaine, in a reasoning tone. Charmaine you give me your words that you are a responsible person, I believe you would be responsible, and you were doing so well. Charmaine tried to explained her actions. Mother said Charmaine that is not good enough. You give me your words and you did not keep your words. You put your little brother's life
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