The women’s Bajan chatter floated through the veranda on the evening wind like music. That was how you knew night was coming, and Mum and her friends were settling in for food, warm drinks, and the kind of weekend gossip that could last for hours.

“Clarice, the sweet bread finished yet? The rest of we out here on the veranda waiting to taste some fish cakes and sweet bread with a hot cup of Ovaltine milk. Don’t keep us waiting too long!”

“Girl, I coming! Let me wash off this kitchen scent, put on my evening clothes, and come sit with you all.”

The women laughed and kept chatting as they waited for Clarice to join them. Their faces glowed in the evening sun, and their expressions carried a deep look of relief: the housework was done, and the night was officially theirs.

“What a blessing to be able to sit out on the veranda on weekends all year round, sipping Ovaltine and enjoying some delicious food!” Tammie said. “My sister in New York had a snowstorm yesterday, and she must be missing our beautiful weather right now.”

The women chuckled as Clarice finally came outside, and everyone immediately started digging into the goodies.

“Clarice, you outdid yourself with these sweet breads,” Mum teased.

“Thank you, girl. I put in some sweetness, but I can’t tell you what. I don’t want you copying my recipe. Just enjoy it and leave the recipe.”

The women burst out laughing and kept eating because they knew Clarice guarded her recipes like they were gold.

“Clarice, did you watch Peyton Place last week?” Mum asked.

“You must be joking! When 8 o’clock come, I drop everything and park myself in front of the television to watch Peyton Place on CBC TV. Color television or no color television, nobody disturbing me when my show starts.”

This excerpt is just a glimpse into a simpler, richer way of life. In the full book, Blink Once, Blink Twice, Silence, you’ll journey deeper into the timeless customs, that keep these village traditions alive.