Publisher's Synopsis
This story, Parson Busta Bagafyah, written mostly in play form, takes readers back to an era of early post-colonial Jamaica. This is a very hilarious comedy with a strong grassroots undertone, but carries a powerful message of salvation. The reader will be cognitively whisked away to a small community on the edge of Kingston: a place struggling with bruising social and economic ills, just like many other places on the island.
A fiery, no nonsense preacher, armed with a 'new dose' of the Holy Ghost, after being abroad for a few years returns home with an undeterred motivation to put an end to the "ole eap a slackness." Most of the residents are poor, others are flourishing while a few 'have arrived' and enjoying life on the 'best side of the tracks'
Largely through his ministry, a convergence of all social levels is quite evident, with interesting and entertaining results. We see this clearly when we meet Mrs. Uptina Perfecta, a wealthy and arrogant native who lived in Europe for many years, travels down the dirt tracks to Marlene's home. After an unplanned firing of her maid, she gives out her clothes to be laundered by this poor, dejected woman, Marlene.
While picking up her laundry from outside Marlene's one room house, 'down the lane, ' she encounters not only Marlene, but also her news-carrying and flourishing friend, Dezrene. Just before she arrives, both friends have a very brassy exchange of words; as Marlene expresses her woes about her life of crushing poverty, which is greatly complicated by single parenthood. Most pressing is her strange urge of wanting to make peace with her Maker and turn her life around. Dezrene finds this 'stirring' in Marlene not only illogical, but amusing, and feels the only
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thing Marlene needs is a man in her life; since Marlene's ex-live-in-lover has been in prison "fi tief" for some time. "Because Bigga gone a prizen yu ago tun virgin all ova again?'
Miss hottie hottie, Dezrene, wastes no time to pounce on her next target Mrs. Perfecta and pokes fun at her: talking lustfully about Uptina's much younger husband. "Im is a fine specimen of a man! Im handsome cyaan done! Di fus time mi bless mi yeye pon im, mi faint DONE mi seh! Mi no know ow mi neva drop a grung. Wid a man like dat mi did ready fi sin." In this setting, Mrs. Uptina Perfecta arrives and demonstrates her well-known prideful, high-minded ways; but at the same time professes her cherished Christianity.
The parson, radically intervenes, leads Marlene to the Lord, after she unburdens her soul to him. She also fearfully discloses her ex's pending return from prison, and his wrathful message of vengeance to her. Parson calms her fears and insists that she attends the upcoming street meeting, a few days away on Sunday night. As the plot thickens, we see how Dezrene's well-meaning efforts to bring a suitor into Marlene's life, almost bring about a fatal calamity.
At the meeting, 'tory come to bump' and sinners weep and moan. Shocking confessions of fornication, adultery, intent to murder, husband's sudden abandonment, plot to deceive, severe injuries while fleeing, and much more, are all revealed as the Spirit moves. Amidst all of these cathartic activities, a sweetly exciting thing happens. Parson Bagafyah performs an impromptu wedding ceremony under the starry, moonlit sky. "Send unnu back home as usband an wife, saved and sanctified"
