Cricket in the Road (That Time in Bogles - A Carriacou Tale)

Daniel tried mixing up his deliveries, but the right-handed Bamboo covered his wicket well, driving the ball along the ground back to the bowler, or lobbing it into Cou’n Margaret’s yard at Long On. Some spectators cheered at the sight of Bogles’ best batsman roughing up a Grenadian bowler.

“You taking advantage on the little boy, man,” a lady yelled at Bamboo.

Daniel bent over with his hands on his knees, breathing heavily. He couldn’t believe he was getting embarrassed in Carriacou. He stared at some ants on the hard bare ground. He felt arms around his shoulders. Elijah’s voice whispered in his ear. Daniel opened his eyes wide and smiled faintly.

 Feeling energised, Daniel sent a shorter and slower delivery toward Bamboo. Taken by surprise, the tall thin man jumped back and instinctively raised his bat high, angling its open face slightly upward to defend his wicket. The high-arching ball landed on the broadest part of the flat paddle, popping up high for the nearest fielder to take an easy catch. Elijah took one step forward and snared the tennis ball with both hands. Loud cheers and applause erupted. Boys surrounded Daniel, giving him high-fives and slapping him on the back.