"Now Daddy works at a factory. He takes a
subway train and two buses so early in the
morning that it looks like night.
At my new school, I look out the window at
the gray sky and the grayer snow. I imagine
a bakery that smells of spices - curry, thyme,
and pimento.
When I get home, I ask, "Daddy, can you
make us a patty?" But he says it's too late."
It is the smell of Daddy's patties that waft into August's bedroom in the morning. It pulls him out of bed and into the kitchen where cooking is in full swing. Mummy uses a fan to send the delicious smells out the kitchen window and into the senses of anyone passing by. Everyone in their Jamaican community is eager to buy those flaky, seasoned morsels any day of the week. Those patties are how Daddy makes a living, keeps the family home, and allows for the children to attend school. The kids at school love them, too.
As living conditions change, families choose to move to new places where it's easier to make a living. Those changes force the family to sell their bakery and move as well. Toronto is colder, snowier, and very challenging. Daddy finds a job, the children attend school, and there is never time for making patties. Despite daily requests from August, Daddy doesn't have the time or the inclination to get back to making the patties everyone loves.
August decides to give it a go on his own. Hot peppers take a toll on his fingers; it's Daddy to the rescue with cold water and fatherly concern. The very next morning, August wakes to find his father back in the kitchen making his famous patties.
"I pick one up, and it's still warm. I take
a bite, and it's tasty and light, flaky and
nice, with just the right amount of spice.
And it tastes like home."
Mommy sends him off with patties to share with his friends. Their interest and love for the food soon has Daddy back in the kitchen and earning money for the family with his in-demand patties for parties, weddings, the school, and the neighborhood. A food stand is the next step ... and brings happy success.
This is a most enjoyable story of immigration, family, and success in a new home. Mr. Robinson's detailed and colorful illustration add context for listeners and show that bringing family traditions and food makes for a smoother transition when a move is necessary.
The author and illustrator are both of Jamaican heritage. Their story is based on that upbringing. Ms. Hohn adds a note in back matter explaining the Patty Wars of 1985 when Jamaican bakery owners fought for the right to use the word patty for their meat treats.
February 23 has been declared Jamaican Patty Day. Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment