“… and that’s why they call it the ‘Moonlight Ghost River’ finished Miss Bella as she sat back in her creaky rocking chair, crossed her arms and smiled her crooked smile at us. She does that every time she finished a story – crossed her arms and smile.
Miss Bella is the village’s storyteller. Every Sunday evening all the kids would gather on Miss Bella’s little old porch. Tonight, there were 15 of us squeezed together, but we didn’t mind the squeeze. Miss Bella is the best storyteller in Antigua !
Her stories were always amusing. Sometimes they were scary, sometimes funny, even crazy, but always good. Tonight’s was a scary one, but I wasn’t scared, mind you! I looked around at the other kids and I can see that they are all trying to look brave. All except Kiesha’s kid brother, Keith, who is always scared.
“Now y’all get on up out of here and go on home to your mamas. You have school tomorrow. Get on. GO!” said Miss Bella in her usual rough manner. We all got up, said goodnight, and started off down the road chatting all at the same time about the story.
Miss Bella thought she had us all fooled into believing her story; but I ain’t no fool! Whoever heard of the ghost of Papa Bird moving across the river when the light of the full moon glitters on the waters, huh? As a matter of fact, what river? Antigua ain’t got no river!!! Miss Bella thinks she has us all fooled, but not me! And I ain’t scared either!
“Everybady look dey,” shouted Carl pointing to the sky, “da moon big big big. Run go home!!!”
We all took off as fast as our feet could carry us down the road making a heap of noise that only scared kids, and half scared kids, mind you, can!
Nekisha CD Lewis
