My Final Re-Write on Wide Sargasson Sea (Christophine's point of view)

I was brought to Jamaica when I was still young; a white man called Mr. Cosway brought me from my family, me had not choice, my family not like me, think me evil or something. I was a wedding present for Mr. Cosway’s wife, another white person. I didn’t want to live with these white people; they did not understand me and what I stood for in life. They were just rich white people who brought me to do what they didn’t want to do. Annette was Mr. Cosway’s wife, from when me first laid eyes on her I knew she wasn’t good, no heart in her just pure greed. They two had children one of each. Pierre was not all there like his mother me must say. But then there was that girl Antoinette she stole me heart so innocent and helpless with no love from that women to be her mother.

This family they hid up in the far Jungle in Coulibri, at first me couldn’t understand why but that white women Annette she was not liked by the women in Jamaica, they did not approve of her, too up herself they told me once. Annette knew this to she was not dumb, me tried to help her when me could but she to defensive always pushing everyone away. Me got used to my life in Coulibri, time went fast, me cooked and cleaned for the family, mainly the children Antoinette that girl was good she not bad to me, made me smile at times.

Spent many days telling the girl past stories of my life before I came here. Few years had passed by before Mr. Cosway died suddenly from drinking way too much me think. Me heard lots of talk from people blaming his white wife Annette for his death, saying she made him drink and me had to agree with them, she was a wicked lady, only cared for her and Pierre not her girl. Things got bad Annette had no money, me watched as the house started going to the ruins, tried to keep it good but no use. The other servants who me talked to started leaving they not needed. Me could have left that place, thought about it, me did cause me was not fond of that Annette “she only pretty like pretty self” me told Antoinette one day. But me thought and thought and stayed in that place me decided, why? Cause of Antoinette, me would do anything for that girl.
Me had to protect her from the native black people cause they hated Annette and wanted to harm her, me knew they did and would, me could sense it they called them “white cockroaches”.

One day when me was cleaning me found Antoinette at the end of the wall in the garden. She was not happy me could tell and asked her what wrong? She said “a black girl followed her singing Go away white cockroach, go away, go away”. Antoinette cried, me felt angry that someone do this to her and needed to help cause her mother not even care, me know she ashamed of Antoinette she told me long time ago, me wanted to slap her, poor child not deserve that. That girl she tried hard to get her mother to love her, but that women she dismissed her every time me watched it.

Me had one other friend I talk and she listen and she had a girl too called Tia. Her name was Mailotte, me invited them for supper so Antoinette could have friend and me was right they spent many days together at the bathing pool, me wouldn’t see Antoinette all day sometimes she was too busy with her new friend and me was happy that she was happy. But then one day it happened again, like me had thought Tia told Antoinette that “her family were poor beggar, that they ate salt fish because they had no money for fresh fish”. Tia was mean to Antoinette cause like the rest of black people they hate them and me try to help but no use. Tia also stole Antoinette’s pennies me gave her and the dress me freshly ironed for her.

Not long after some new white people moved in to that Nelson’s Rest, they called the Luttrells and they lent Annette a horse so now every day she gone early and wouldn’t come back till late or not at all. Me look after the two children cause no one else to, they sad those children when she go, they know she leaving them. Annette went away so often, people started talking bout where she might be or who with. Then she finally told, she met a man called Mr. Mason and that she guna marry him.

They married in Spanish town, me went helped with Antoinette’s hair, was a nice time but again many people talked and me heard, me listened and like me suspected they said Mr. Mason was making a big mistake and he guna regret it. Me thought this too, me knew the family well know an that white women Annette she had problems and marrying another white man not going to solve her. Poor children got sent to their Aunt’s so Annette and Mr. Mason could go holidaying in Trinidad. Me stayed in Coulibri to help with the repairs that Mr. Mason was paying for. Me had mixed feelings about what guna happen when Annette and Mr. Mason return back to Coulibri cause me know that Annette not wana be here no more, she want to leave and start again but picked wrong one with Mr. Mason cause he want to stay in Coulibri, me could tell.

Mr. Mason hired more servants when they came back and many of them didn’t like me, me heard them say I am evil and a witch who can do spells. This not bother me though, cause me only worry about Miss Antoinette and what she need.

Then that horrible night came, me did have feelings something bad would come cause the people wanted the family gone. Many many black people come and lit the house on fire. Pierre was being watched by a servant called Myra in his room but when the fire came to them she and ran and left him alone to die. Annette got Pierre in time but he badly burnt and not well at all. Me took Antoinette and got her out of house but the black people outside were blocking us from leaving. Annette was screaming, me looked at her and saw the fear in her eyes, me knew this is what she had feared, that why she wanted to leave but now too late. All the people were yelling out calling the family “white niggers”. Me wanted to do something to protect Antoinette and Pierre and keep them safe but these people saw me as one of them now, they not scared of me, me could do nothing but hold Antoinette. Me believe that Annette’s parrot knew he need to save the family, as he tried to escape the flames from the house caught him a light and we all watched as he burnt into nothing. The black people, like me know it is bad luck to kill a parrot, they backed away and ran from the house. But dat not da worst, Antoinette saw Tia and her mother standing, watching us and she ran away from me to them. Me knew this was bad, Tia hated Antoinette for now she had money again and was worse than before. Me saw Tia pick up a stone and throw it directly at Antoinette’s head as she was running. Me only had to protect Antoinette and me didn’t, me watched as Antoinette hit the ground and me saw blood coming down her little face. Me was to blame, I caused this to happen.

The Luttrells helped us out of Coulibri, but Pierre didn’t make it, he was to sick. Annette went crazy on the way into town, me could see that she was losing her mind, me knew she could never deal with any of it, too weak. Mr. Mason tried helping her but no use, she blamed him for the fire and Pierre dying, so he put her in a facility place to help her with da problems, me knew though this would not help, make her worse. Antoinette was taken to her Aunt Cora’s to recover from her injury.

Me went and stayed with me son, who moved to Jamaica when he was old enough, left his home to see me. Me had him before I was brought from Mr. Cosway, my family took him from me cause I was too young and sold me off, me not like them, they bad people. Me spent time cooking and telling stories with my son bout the white family, mainly Antoinette.

Me hadn’t seen or heard from the girl in bout six weeks when her Aunt called. She wanted to go see her mother in that crazy place and asked for me to go with her; she told me Antoinette trusted me. Me knew this was right, me treated Antoinette like my own cause her mother never did. Annette was huddled in a corner, never moved or spoke to neither of us just glared into nothing. Me took Antoinette from there, didn’t want her to see that. Not long later Annette died from what, me not know but she was not well, gone insane me think.

Mr. Mason paid for Antoinette to go to nice school, me was happy she got normal life. Me stayed with my son and had good time. Me was happy too.

Me had been with my son many years now, he had children of his and me look after them while he work. Me got ring from Antoinette one day to say Mr. Mason had died, very old he was. He given Antoinette many money and she excited, very excited. She left her nice school and her Aunt said she needed husband but me told Antoinette not rush, do what she want. Me knew Antoinette to young and naive to marry, me knew she not ready too. But her Aunt and some white man found her a white husband and he come to Jamaica to marry her. Me told her no she not love him, not even know him but her Aunt got in her head, told her stories and before me knew she married and it too late.

Antoinette came see me at my son’s she told me she going back to Coulibri and want me go too. Me knew me owed it to Antoinette to go help her, cause what happen to her after the fire, me was still to blame for what happened dat night. So me left my son, move back to Coulibri, help Antoinette with her new marriage.

When me first met Mr. Rochester me not like him straight away, got a cold feeling like he got a hidden agenda with Miss Antoinette, that why me must stay, watch him, see what he like. Things seem ok at first, they in honeymoon mode, very touchy and happy me watched make sure Antoinette safe. Me noticed servants got very rude seen me last was here, especially dat Ameile, me had to watch her, she not be trusted, me got feeling she bad girl, no good. Me only cooked for the girl that Mr. Rochester not trust me neither so the rest cook for him, me not care though.

Me left Coulibri every now an then go see me son, Antoinette seem fine. Me been gone bout a week, came back an Antoinette had been drinking all night, she been crying lots and all hysterical. Me tried to go in and see her but that Mr. Rochester he stopped me, he said she fine need sleep. Me knew something was wrong cause Miss Antoinette tell me everything, she trust me and confide in me bout things, he done something to her while me gone. Me finally got past him and went into room to find Ameile in there, singing some little chant in Antoinette’s face.

“The white cockroach she marry.

The white cockroach she marry.

The white cockroach she buy young man.

The white cockroach she marry”.

“What you doing in here girl, what you singing and smiling about ay”? I yelled at Ameile when I heard her.

“Mr. Rochester tell me bring her some food” said Ameile.

“You done that, so go girl and don’t ever smile and sing that thing again, me deal with you” I said to her as she left the room.

Antoinette was sobbing on the bed, me asked her “What happened while me gone girl?”

She said that ‘“Mr. Rochester made love to her then said me not love you, just use you an you cant do anything”.

Me hugged Antoinette got her drink to calm her, told her “Girl me told you he only use you, want your money now me sort it, get some sleep me come back soon”.

Me searched whole house for Ameile, she hiding from me, asked around an no-one seen her.

Mr. Rochester gone stay in spare room so me went back and check on Antoinette, stay with her a while then went to bed.

Me got up next morning, went to Antoinette and she still sleeping, me got her food and waited for her to wake.

Antoinette woke and yelled at one of the servants “to bring her more rum”.

Mr. Rochester come in to kitchen, tell me “she drink too much, going crazy not let the servants give her more”.

Me told him “you make her like this, you ruin her, your fault she like this”.

Me left the room and went to Antoinette, she in the room crying and drinking again.

Me told her “you got stop this, he not worth your life”.

“Me heard him last night Christophine, he and Ameile, outside my room, they made love, he hate me” said Antoinette.

“Me told you girl, don’t cry, no use, he not care” I told her.

“You talk to him Christophine, make him not love me and stay here” said Antoinette.

“Me not do that girl, he no listen to me, think I crazy witch, that make him hate you more, you better off let him go” I said.

Antoinette sobbed again.

“Ameile, bring me clean hot water girl” I yelled.

“Now stop that crying girl, me get you water and clean you up” I said to Antoinette.

Ameile walked into the room with the water, smiling and looking at Antoinette.

“What you smiling at girl, what you happy bout, me mash your face up if you smile like that again, you hear me girl?” I said to Ameile.

“Yes Christophine” said Ameile as she left the room, me could sense she still smiling, happy with herself.

Me walked out of Antoinette’s room and followed Ameile.

“Well tell me girl what you so happy bout?” I said to her.

“Me happy cause master not love her, he want me, like real women like me not white cockroach” said Ameile.

“You think so ay girl, you got no brain if you think that, he not want you, he use you like the rest, you nothing to him” I said to Ameile.

“You wrong, he said he take me with him, he leave her and take me” she said.

“Me knew you fall for that white man girl, so naive” I told her and walked away.

Me saw Mr. Rochester on the balcony and walked out towards him.

“Me hope you satisfy with what you done, don’t tell me lie neither, me no you use Antoinette, you not love her, you ruined her now look” I said to Mr. Rochester.

“Me should have known she run off and tell you I been treating her bad” he said.

“Me not need Antoinette tell me anything, me knew since me saw you, you bad man, just after Antoinette money, want it all” I said to him.

‘Me do love my wife, you feed her all the rum, make her a wreck, me don’t even recognise her” he said.

“Quit your lies man, no good here, you got what you want, leave now, she not need you” I said.
“She my wife, I decide what happen with her and she come with me to England, we leave when she better” Mr. Rochester said.

“Ameile go too? She think you want her, take her to England” I said and laughed at him.

“How you know about that, Antoinette tell you that to, she not stop me” he said.

“Me told you before Mr. Rochester me know everything, miss Antoinette not need tell me”.

Me looked at Mr. Rochester, not let him answer and walk away.

Me sat and watched Antoinette sleep make sure she fine.

Ameile come in room, started packing up Antoinette’s things.

“What you doing girl, you not do that,” I said to her.

“Mr. Rochester told me pack up her things, they leaving, go England to live” Ameile said.

I laughed, “me thought you going England Ameile? He love you not her” I said to her.

Ameile not look up, just kept packing.

“Antoinette not going England, me told Mr. Rochester, stop packing girl, she staying with me” I said to her.

Ameile got up and walked out of the room.

Me told the other servants to leave, not needed now.

Me packed some things for Antoinette in bag and hid it under bed. Me couldn’t let Antoinette go with him, me know he not lover her, just hurt her.

Me got Antoinette up in dark of night and told her we go for walk, she still very sick.

We walked to my son house far away, Mr. Rochester not know where, so not find Antoinette.

Me happy, Antoinette safe now, me make her better, she stay with me until she well then she start again, no money but she be happy, be loved, me make sure.

White man Rochester was never seen in Coulibri again.........