That is just wrong… nobody should get licks for mango – especially Hog Mango (the other Rose Mango). “That was ah cut arse boi”. Now these were different times and licks was a given for any kind of behavior that was deemed to be inappropriate.It should also be noted that if our neighbors caught us in nonsense they had the right to give us a 'tap" and it we complained then it was more licks at home (because we should know better).
Well as I reflect about that memorable day, It was early one Saturday morning that Cheezy and I decided that we were going to the Bacra Johnny (local whites) Sawmill to get some wood to build a Pigeon Coob (coup). Now Cheezy was my next door neighbor and childhood friend who always seem to get me in trouble - I never learned and feel in with his nonsense every time. We made our way past those pot hounds that continuously made a nuisance of themselves and ended up at the sawmill. I could hear the band saw singing as it ripped apart the logs to create sheets of wood to be sold at the hardware stores. We searched through the discarded pieces of lumber and came up with just the right pieces for our project.
We tied up the wood and were on our way home when the heavens opened and the rain poured to the earth. I remember saying to Cheezy: “I eh going through dat rain, If I get wet meh modder go cut meh arse.” So we decided to shelter from the rain in a yard that had a “Hog mango” tree that was ‘laden’ with ripe mangoes. Well we thought we were lucky because with the wind and rain mango started falling from the tree. Man we had ah time; We ate mangoes like they were 'going outa style oui'.
After the rain eased we headed home and took the wood to Cheezy’s back yard with plans to build the coup. Everything was fine and we went about our business (being lazy and hanging around the house). Later that day while hanging out at the pig pen at Cheezy's home I heard my mother calling me. Boys will be boys so I jumped the chicken wire fence and went to see why my mother was calling. Oh gosh this is hell I remember thinking because right there she was with her hands on her hips looking pretty upset. Yes it was the owner of the mango tree where we sheltered the rain.
When my mother started to talk about the mango I was adamant and did not respond to her questions regarding the 'the mango skins' that littered the yard next to the entrance of the lady's home. Eventually I blurted out,"Me eh thief no mango and iz hog mango too".
Lordy who told me to say that! The licks started right there and I could hear the lady saying 'that is enough, that is enough'. As it turned out the lady was not upset that we ate the mango but we ate so many that we forget to clean up the mess we made in her yard. To be honest we never had any intention to clean up anything and that cut arse was well deserved.
Photo Source:http://www.search.co.tt/trinidad/food/mango.html