Diary of Latoya Hunter by Latoya Hunter

special. If there’s any guy I should be kissing, it’s him. He’ll always be sort of like a first love. Why am I talking about Derek when I’m on a gorgeous island? I don’t know. It’s one of those things that I can’t understand.

April 24, 1991
    Dear Janice
,
    T oday I spent settling into my home for the next fourteen days. Rondah went out with friends and I had to baby-sit. My aunt was kind enough to allow my cousin Oudia to stay home with me. I was so bored! I was hot, drowsy, and cranky. I couldn’t really go out or even take a walk because Devoy would be too much trouble. It was an all in all terrible day. Tomorrow however, will be better. Rondah and I are going to stay up in St. Ann until Saturday.As you know that’s where I was born and raised. I can’t believe I’ll actually be going back there. I can’t wait to get there and visit my old teachers and all my friends. And of course Janice, Janice. I’m going to see the person I named you after.

April 25, 1991
    Dear Janice
,
    T oday was mostly filled with disappointment. I don’t know where to begin. I’m not writing to you from my old home in St. Ann, but instead my Aunt’s house in St. Catherine. The three day trip to St. Ann where I would see everyone again turned out to be a tour trip where I would only see one cousin, one friend, and a couple old ladies I hardly remember.
    First of all, we couldn’t get any transportation to where we wanted to go. It seemed like hours waiting at that bus stop. Since there were a lot of buses going to where another aunt lived in St. Ann, Rondah decided to go and get a ride from there. We spent at least two hours at her house before she got a friend that drove a taxi to take us.
    Then Rondah broke the news to me. We weren’t going to stay very long—we would just say hi and go back with the taxi. Can you believe it? However, we would go straight to a hotel in Ocho Rios where we would stay until the next dayand then go to a nearby beach. Anyway, when we got there, memories started rushing back to me. At every house I passed there lingered some memory of something.
    We stopped at my old friend Linworth’s house. His mother kept saying I’ve grown a lot. So did Linworth. But he’d grown too. He changed almost completely. His voice changed and he sounds like a man. He asked for my address. I guess we’ll keep in touch.
    We then went to see my cousin Nicey. She couldn’t believe it was me. She told me one of the most disappointing parts of my day—that Janice had moved. I guess I won’t be seeing her. Also my old teachers weren’t teaching anymore. We didn’t even have time to stop at our old house. We only saw it from a hilltop. I really wanted to stay. I still want to go back. The taxi took us to Ocho Rios. At least I had the beach to look forward to. Then what do you know? Devoy gets sick and we have to check out of the hotel after only one hour.
    So here I am, back in St. Catherine. I guess this is where I’ll be for the whole vacation.

April 26, 1991
    Dear Janice
,
    Y ou wouldn’t believe how far you have to go to make a phone call in this country. Rondah and I were going to call back home to let everyone know how we are. We had to take a bus just to get to a phone. It’s unbelievable. Anyhow, Rondah called. She was on the phone for almost a half hour and no one even asked about me. It was just Devoy, Devoy. I’m not jealous but they could have at least asked how I was doing. It’s like they don’t care.
    My mother wanted us, or at least Rondah and Devoy, to go back at an earlier date when she found out Devoy was sick. By the way, it’s just a cold.
    We went to the movies with some of Rondah’s friends. The movie theaters here are gorgeous and they are huge! At least the one I went to was.
    Tomorrow we’re going to see a play called 50/50. Everybody is talking about it so I figure it’s good. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

April 27, 1991
    Dear Janice
,
    W e couldn’t get into the play because