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Beryl Clarke, Contributor

What a dream Beka had before she began to have the wake for Toycie! Why do you think the writer creates such an incident? In the dream, some may call it a 'nightmare', Beka wants to reach somewhere but is trapped, much to the amusement of the onlookers. Finally, she is thrown into the filthy waters of Haulover Creek. Consider the possible significance of this. Is it suggesting the fears that Beka has? Is it because she had seen Miss Eila taking her slop bucket to the creek earlier that night? Could it possibly have anything to do with the difficulties she faces at school?

Beka awakens to the tapping sounds of her father's adding machine. Here, for the first time, we meet Mr Bill Lamb and at once we learn that he is hard-working and committed to his job, for he is busy doing company business after nine p.m., and at home! A mild argument develops between father and daughter about the politics of their country. Here, Beka demonstrates an interest in what is happening in Belize. I want to point out now that Beka's life is intertwined with changes and development in her country.

The wake begins after she goes to her room - the one she shares with her grandmother. It takes a little time for her to start. In fact, several paragraphs are told before any mention is made of Toycie. At the end of one, when, as she watches nurse Palacio struggle by on her bicycle, Beka recalls that 'She, too, had tried to save Toycie.' Through this brief sentence we are thrown into...the recollections.

Even though the two girls were three years apart in age, they had a good friendship. Perhaps circumstances threw them together. After all, Beka's parents and grandmother had a solid relationship with Toycie's 'mother', Aunt Eila. In a society where social and racial positions separated people, it is worthy of note that the Lambs did not behave as if they were better than Miss Eila and her niece, despite the economic difference between the two families. They attended the same school and would take Chuku and Zandy, Beka's brothers for walks on Sunday evenings. Soon, we hear that Toycie preferred them to go walking in a particular direction because she had a boyfriend, Emilio Villanueva, who had a part time job as a waiter at a hotel. Did any particular thoughts enter your heads when you read this? Come now, you must have wondered at least whether their liaison had anything to do with her death or who was this fellow, Villanueva! If you know about the

racial components of Belize, that name should have alerted you to the possibility that this young man was of Spanish descent.

Whether they strolled along Fort George, where the expatriates lived, or through Southside, they had fun.

There was one area, the Northside, however, that they avoided. The writer prepares us for future developments when she tells us about the 'crazy house' in that area and of the behaviour of those who lived there. Why does she introduce these things to us at this moment? It must have some future significance. I want you to pay special attention to the following. It was always a bit of an anticlimax for the girls when they were returning home for tea before the street lights came on.

Please write an essay on the topic. Discuss three reasons why Beka and Toycie considered it disappointing to return home after their Sunday evening strolls.

Before the chapter ends, another aspect of Belizean life is revealed through Beka's remembering a conversation with her Gran. Her Gran had informed her that in their country, 'Tings bruk down.' So Dr Lyban goes 'home' to England even though he is Belizean, and the polar bear dies because the ice factory broke down. Such occurrences could have contributed to Miss Ivy's political zeal and aroused Beka's interest in the issues in Belize. The rain which came as she waited for her grandmother's return was not only cooling, did not only break the drought, but also brought her some refreshment, some ease from the pain she experienced at the loss of her friend.

When we continue this 'class', we will focus on Toycie and the impact of her life on Beka. Have a wonderful week and God bless!