“The Lucky Bastard”-Book-1-excerpts- 1 of 1

Lenny was born May 4^th, 1945 to an unwed mother and married father, whose wife despised mother and child, as expected. Grandma was a Higgler in city markets, where she kept her infant grandchild whilst his mother worked as live-in housemaid. Roving Bands-of-mercy women and market police, threatened evicting both from the market and Lenny was twice inmated at Maxfield Park Children’s Home. Aliased “The little Bastard” he read fluently at age three, but was denied entry to elementary schools as dictated by social mores of that era. Challenged to read at bars, cookshops or wayside, he was often rewarded with a bulla, fry dumpling, fried sprat or shaved ice with syrup in a ball. Before his fourth birthday, head laundress at Alpha Boy’s School who was neighbour at 118 Lane, Mountain View Avenue got him admitted to Alpha Infant School, South Camp Road. He got his first job that Christmas holiday as a Page at the practice of his father’s lawyer, T Newton Willoughby. Job entailed fetching books and tomes from floor to ceiling shelves by way of a ladder, top hooked om a lateral iron rod.. Hurricane Charlie upset grandma’s house and life. After months in Excelsior High School, which could not re-open for regular classes. Family were relocated to “Backbush” in tents supplied by British soldiers. Lenny was a biter and accurate stone thrower, which, after inflicting hurt on a stepfather who threatened to kill him, he became a street urchin. Began stealing by tar on stick on coins from the Chinese grocer, who kicked him senseless when caught. Mother moved in with a man who didn’t want Lenny or grandma at his house. Both became happy wanderers, kotching here and there, until he stumbled upon a cache of over twenty pounds at an aunt’s house and made hay with it, for which she never forgave him. Sent to foster parents and moved to August Town. Between schooling, was trained at UCHWI as phlebotomist to family member. Ran errands, bought weed at Goldsmith Villas for doctors and other expatriates. Sold bottles at dispensary, cleaned houses, washed baby clothes for working mothers and at age eleven, was seduced by a woman more than twice his age. At thirteen he ran away, after getting a girl pregnant and her stepfather came looking for him with the mule’s whip.Was allowed to join his mother and her Beau at Rockfort. An older Lass across the street, usually indulged him for six to eight shillings a session. She also entertained her big sister’s husband and offered Lenny free rides which he gladly took. When she got pregnant, the family came down on him and he sang how he hid under the bed whilst she and “Uncle” palavered. Mother had migrated to England, which gave the lad free rein. Had a mullatto girlfriend at Springfield-on-Sea, whose father surprised them “In flagrante delecto” Lenny was hung by hands in a noose from high ceiling, whilst the patriarch roared and stomped. Endowed with entrepreneurial psyche, at age fifteen began buying and selling phonograph records on order to school teachers at first, later to wider clientele including teen throng at JBC’s “Teenager’s Dance Party” and RJR’s “Ten Thirty Show” Urged to become a lawyer by his father, a teacher in high school gave encouragement. Successful in eight “O” level subjects and elated, deputy headmaster told Lenny. “You just barely scraped through. Your eight don’t even make a good one.” He decided to pursue studies for Cambridge and London certificates with Bennett College of England. Day of the Latin Bileterati exam. Invigilator from England brought a pretty English maiden assistant, with whom Lenny was smitten. He passed her a note seeking romantic favours, and was expelled from class for “conduct unbecoming.” Apex of his teen years can be summed up in three events. He had a weekend job, house cleaning for an English couple. Escorted the lady to markets and comforted her at home. At their going away shindig he was put in charge of the bar and found himself entranced being face to face with “The tall triangular bottle” as extolled on Rediffusion. Took a healthy swig and puked into Sunday. Record sales boomed as collections withered. He closed his recordshop in less than a month after opening. Day one in business, opened a savings and chequing account at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Got a bound book of 100 leaves and wrote first one for three pence to JOS. The bus fare to Rockfort from downtown Kingston. Driver evicted him and he walked home. Handed out cheques to anyone who would take them, then went to have one cashed at said bank. Was detained until a detective of police came and arrested him. Judge gave eighteen month’s probation and life goes on…….