I remember I have a friend and neighbor. Jenkins Cummings is his name. He lives in the US, as I opine. He and I had just come home from a football rehearsal. And each time we came home from ball rehearsals, we always made plans for the night to go hang out at the Psychedelic Inn.
Well, if you were around up to the year (1980) I graduated high school and left Harper, then you would know much about Psychedelic Inn. It was owned by Mr. John Hilary Tubman. This night Club was up-to-standard, based on our own assessment in our day. The location was great. It was in the Roxy Cinema building, right on Maryland Avenue and Michelin Streets intersection. There’s where all the “Bigger” boys and “Bigger” girls used to hang out.
Jenkins and I lived in the same hood. Our hood was just a stone-throw away from the Psychedelic Inn. In fact, there used to be times when the music in the Psychedelic Inn disturbed our sleep. That’s how closed the Inn was to our hood.
Since weren’t far from each other, Jenkins and I could easily plan our “to-do” list for each night after ball rehearsal. And we always did. But this unforgettable thing happened. And that thing had too much to do with Moses Weeks. Here’s how it happened:
A party was planned. And it was set to take place in the home of Harold Frederick. And that was just right on the Avenue (the main street). Mind you, Harold and Moses were very close friends. And because Harold’s residence was next door to the Psychedelic Inn, it was the ideal spot for the party. At least, everybody knew where to go. And after the party, after hours would be at the Psychedelic Inn. And so the location was the best for everyone. The news was around town that this would be the “Mother” of parties. And if you are a party “animal,” then you know what that means. Everyone wanted to be there. Jenkins and I were bound to be there. Because we never missed anything good of that sort. But then something “strange’ happened that Jenkins and any other young person in our day would never forget - deaths hit the party and gnashing of teeth fill the City.
Jenkins and I did not show up at the party. And this is how it happened: For some unknown reasons, Jenkins and I never woke up from our sleep until the party was all done and over. When we got back from ball rehearsal, Jenkins and I decided to take a brief rest in our different homes. By the time we got up, we would be “fresh’ and ready for the party. More so, the party would be kicking at that time. Because everyone would be there and kicking up proverbial dust. But our plan failed. It failed because we didn’t wake up on time. We woke up when the party was over. It was broad daylight outside when we woke up.
See, Jenkins and I agreed to wake up each other. But nothing like that happened. And so we did not attend the party.
Mind you, Harold was not our age group. But Harper evolved socially in a special way - the younger folks, like us, were allowed to hang with the “Bigger” boys by their permission. And this party was one of those events when we got permission to attend from the “Bigger“ boys. But we never made it to the party. Because we fell asleep.
I woke up the next morning. I ran to Jenkins‘ residence thinking I was the first to wake up. I was thinking Jenkins was late. But I was wrong. Jenkins was already up when I got to his residence. But all the same, he too woke up late that morning and did not attend the party like myself. Then I heard Jenkins say something that is indelibly printed on my mind. He said, “TB, (that’s how he calls me) Harold Frederick is dead and Alfred Dupley is also dead.” I asked him why and how. Then he said, “Someone poisoned their drinks at the party last night.” After he revealed what had happened, my eyes popped open as if I were still asleep. Then people came around one-by-one until the area became jam-packed. People were everywhere like sea-gulf. Some began to explain what most likely went wrong at the party. They made claims. And all the claims pointed to Moses Weeks. They said he was the one who poisoned Harold Frederick and Moses Dupley in their drinks. Accusation of this nature went on and on.
Another revelation came in. According to the news reaching us at the time from those who attended the party, those who drank the poisonous drinks were out in the open puking their intestines out. I did not see any of this. But I heard all about it that day. It was scary to go and watch. So I didn’t go to see what was unfolding. I was told, the only person who survived the poisonous drink is A. Baltimore Thompson, Jnr., commonly known as “AB.”
To date “AB” is still alive. I see him in Harper every other day. Had God not spare him, he would have been dead by now.
Another revelation came out that Moses Weeks was linked to other deaths including Yamtoto Dennis (a girl once living with Teacher Janet Cooper) and one Mr. Friday Bryant (security officer at Port Authority in Harper). Whether or not these claims are true, becomes another question. I learned later on in the US that Moses Weeks was involved in the untimely deaths of other citizens. Because of that, he was incarcerated for a protracted period of time. While in prison, I also learned Moses Weeks had died from guilt, frustration and despair. I heard this long ago. So,my mind was, Moses Weeks is dead. And by this time, his remains would have decayed tremendously. But I realized the news of his death is wrong. Moses is still alive! How do I know?
I saw Moses Weeks in Harper recently. And I continue to see him. He goes by my residence every other day.
At first, the person who pointed to him when he was passing by my place almost got a slap (metaphorically speaking) from me when he said the guy that was walking hundred feet away from us is Moses Week. I knew Moses Weeks had died. And he was buried and gone. To say he was the one passing by us, was further from the truth. This is what I thought! I strongly felt Moses Weeks is dead! The fella and myself argued for a long time as I watched the person he called Moses Weeks disappeared in the thin distance. Just where we stood when she pointed to Moses Weeks is where I was three days later when the same person came by. I tried to checked the person out. I saw a bend left foot. Moses Weeks has one of those bent left leg. I saw the open-teeth in the front. And Moses Weeks has those sort of teeth. But he had a hat on. So I couldn’t catch a glimpse of his face. But I caught the sense that he is the real Moses Week. Yet and still, doubts still roll around my brains. And so I began to watch out for him again. Soon, one day later, the same guy came by. I had to run into the street to see him at a close look. I did not call his name neither did I do anything for him to recognize me. Because I am sure he knows me very well. He and I met at Yamtoto Dennis‘ place. And each time he met me under Teacher Janet Cooper’s residence talking with Yamtoto, he would certainly kick me out. Well, I was too young. And he was older. In Cape, we had a great amount of respect for our seniors. But anyway, I did not give him the chance to recognize me.
But I recognized him. Since that time, Moses Weeks continues to go by my way. All I do is, look at him and think way back the “evil” he is being accused of. At one point when he went by my place, I was just stepping out. So I allowed him to stretch out a bit further ahead of me before I hopped on the street. As I walked behind him, I saw him go through the short-cut leading to Teacher Viola Campbell’s home. For a minute, I thought this is where he should be living. Because there’s where he used to live in the early days of his life. But Moses continued on his path. He passed Teacher Viola Campbell’s home. As soon as I saw him passing on, I too continued my walk. In essence, Moses Weeks is in Harper. But I don’t know where he resides. And I don’t know where he goes each time he goes by my residence. I hope someday I’ll find out.
One day I saw AB Thompson. He is the only survival from the party that I know. I told him about Moses Weeks. He stared at me as if I did not know what happened to him (AB) regarding Moses Weeks’ approval to kill him. When I told him what I know about the party, he only nodded his head and he walked away. This man has not made a single comment about what I told him with reference to Moses Weeks. I have seen AB more than ten times. He never mentioned anything to me about Moses Weeks. I’m sure he doesn’t want to talk about it. Because it could bring back undesirable memories. So I decided to leave AB alone on the Moses Weeks matter.
Why do I tell this story? I am doing so for others abroad to know Moses Weeks is still here. Any other questions?
I am Thomas G. Bedell working and speaking on the ground in Liberia.
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