Thursday, September 9, 2021

The Bahamian Boys



Three preteen boys,


black Bahamian boys


at the Port of Nassau


approached me as I


exited the cruise ship


on a warm and sunny


Caribbean day, politely


asking for a handout


from me, a newly


arrived tourist to their


shores. I am sure


doing what they do


at the docking of


cruise ships every day.


It is what they have


been assigned to do.


What better way to


earn their pay in a


country where tourism


is a cash cow passing


through their largely


impoverished yet


beautiful island


country day after


day. And gladly


I gave them a fiver


to split between


themselves.


But there was a


stipulation I made,


their picture I wanted


to take in exchange.


And they were more


than pleased to accom-


odate. And thirty-five


years later that delightful


photo I hold in my hand


turns out to be one of the 


best lifetime investments


I could have made—


the veautiful vision


of three Bahamian


boys forever.



          -30-


Chris Hanch 9-9-2021 

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