the usual ting

Earlier this year, in February, I went to the island of Jamaica with a friend who had lived there for many years. While my friend stayed with her longtime Jamaican woman friend, I stayed at an inexpensive motel across the street. This motel was owned by a French woman married to a Jamaican man. The place was clean, but had nothing much by the way of luxuries. I didn't mind, though. Most of the other guests were elderly Americans or Europeans who knew the owners - it was kind of a family place. I called it the geriatrics lounge. The most exciting thing was hanging out at the motel's outdoor roundbar where the drinks were served by the pint. Periodically, I would shout to my friend from across the highway to come over for breakfast, lunch, dinner, a snack or a drink. Unlike most of the sodden guests, neither one of us drank alcoholic beverages, so we would just drink fruit juice. When the talk at the bar got particularly raunchy, we would go to my room. And since the majority of the conversation consisted of talk of Viagra and sex, that was pretty frequently. Frankly, it was rather boring to hear these older guys wax on.

One morning, my friend and I decided to go into the neighboring parish just to walk around. We were actually hoping not to run into any men that she knew because she didn't want to be harassed. After the long ride and a long hike, we decided to go to the beach there. No sooner had we gotten to the beach than we heard a man's voice calling her "Patti, Patti!" And so we joined him. He was a graceful Rastafarian man who grew up in the area and knitted "tams" - the Rastafarian hats - for a living. So we talked, took pictures, and I told him that I had recently fractured my shoulder and that it was still sore. He then massaged my shoulder with such skill that it almost immediately felt much better. By that point, it became clear to me that he and I were sexually attracted to each other. In fact, we agreed to meet up at a dance the following night. Coincidentally, earlier that day, I had wished for someone to have a little fling with. I had actually prayed for a little adventure. Having just broken up with my male friend , I had wanted a little fling while in Jamaica.

That night, my friend and I hung out at the round bar drinking the usual Ting -- a very delicious natural Jamaican grapefruit juice drink. Afterwards, I went to my room and fell asleep. I slept for about three hours. But an unusual dip in temperature woke me up. I was really uncomfortable. I had no blankets and I was cursing myself for not getting any. Just then, there was a tap at my window. I was startled and a little apprehensive. So I raised my voice - with force - and said, "Who is it?" And he responded, "It's me, Peter." I gladly opened the door and let him in. When he asked why I was awake, I told him that I was cold and he responded ,"Well, I'm here to warm you up!" He later explained that the reason he came in late was because he knew the owners were peculiar and would not have wanted a nonpaying overnight guest at the motel. Particularly a Rastafarian guy. And so for the rest of my vacation, he snuck in late every night and snuck out early every morning....and it was...great...

-Delilah Rivera of New York, NY