Thomas from St. Thomas

During our vacation to the Virgin Islands, we spent a day on St. Thomas. We enjoyed our time wandering in and out of shops and through the throngs of people. At the end of the day, as we searched for refreshment, we came upon a man carving hummingbirds out of coconut husks. We stopped to watch. We asked him his name. "I am Thomas" was his reply. As we talked we learned that Thomas' dream was to come to America and take art classes. He spoke of his two children ages 9 and 13. Bart and Cameron were more interested in finding that refreshment and left us.



Then, speaking with drunken ease, Thomas asked me, "Ah dese all yuh dau-tuhs, mommi?".
"Yes, these are all mine."
He asked my oldest, "You a cook?"

At this time, Thomas' buddy, who had been standing next to me, began speaking directly to me and in his Caribbean accent said, "I like to cook. I cook for myself and it pleases me that I can cook for myself. As a little child I stood by my mommi learning how to cook. So today I can cook for myself. But, when my girlfriend cooks for me I am filled with happiness. It is good when someone fills you with love by cooking for you."

I agreed with him and turned back to the conversation with my girls - which had gone something like this:

Thomas: "Yoo know how to cook?"
Bethany: "Well, not very well, but I'm learning."
Thomas: "What's your code?"
Bethany: "Um, I don't think I have a code."
Thomas: "Yeah? So, what's your code?"
Bethany: "Really, I don't have a code."

As I returned to the conversation at this point, Thomas asked, "Ah yoo havin' eny mo-uh babies, mommi?"

HaHaa! "No! I'm not having any more babies. Shops closed now."
Thomas: "Why yoo not have mo-uh babies?"
Me: "Because if I have more babies, I couldn't come see you."
Thomas: "Oh! You come to see me!"

At this point he nodded his head toward Bethany who he had been trying to get her phone number (code) and said,
"I likah yoo dau-tuh, mommi!"

His buddy nodded in agreement. My daughters and I laughed and I said, "I like my daughter, too! 'Bye Thomas!" and off we quickly went to find Bart and Cameron!

We laughed and laughed at that for the rest of the day! And now, when we are all together and it has quieted down, one of us will pipe up and say,

"I likah yoo dau-tuh, mommi!"

And the laughter begins again......

Bethany, Ashley, Lauren waiting for Ferry to take us from St. Thomas to St. John