Wednesday, the Chicken Drop

10:34 am, February 10, 2010,

If I have procrastinated overly much in finishing my account of Belize, it is because for such a long time, remembering my time there brought on a strong sense of homesickness for Belize. I felt it was wrong to feel this way, so I asked Marguerite this past Sunday: How did YOU feel after returning from your mission trip to Africa? Her response was that she came back with the strong urge to sell off all her worldly possessions and move back there. I was somewhat relieved. My exact same feelings, then, were not unique or self-indulgent. If a deacon can feel this way, then it’s okay for me to have felt this way, too. So, with that comfort, and a more relaxed and joyful memory of the Heaven-on-Earth that is Belize, I will AGAIN continue for you.

On Wednesday night, the rain that was promised for so long fell while we were assembling for the devotional hour, so everyone tumbled inside the sitting area that was part of Susan, Terry, and Tanisha’s and my rooms [but the rain didn’t last long].

Walt, Tanisha, Alex and I walked down the beach to Caliente’s. The first chicken drop, Round 1, was just beginning, but they were taking bets for the last two drops, Rounds 5 and 6. We made our bets but the Rounds 5 and 6 would not start for more than another hour, so we went to The Reef restaurant in San Pedro, where the rest of the group was eating, and where Roger and Liz had Michael, who joined that night’s devotional hour [and continued on with the group for dinner]. As always, in Belize, it is not uncommon for you to wait over an hour to receive your food. Just as we were served, we took the food to eat on the go on our walk back to Caliente’s. Alex rode his bike.

Finally, we got an unobstructed view—most of the tourists were gone. A DJ played and sang beneath a few tents with some late-nighters in typical tourist dress [dancing]. With Alex, we didn’t feel like tourists at all. The rain was still sprinkling down but we watched the Round 5 chicken poop—we didn’t win. The woman who threw the chicken was told to “shake it to the left, shake it to the right, shake it up and down and all around, blow on its butt for good luck” and toss it in. The shaking must have bothered it a lot [because it pooped immediately]. There was much time in between rounds 5 so we sat under Walt’s poncho, all 4 of us, and Alex played with Tanisha’s hair. I convinced Alex to dance with me but he quickly got too shy.

At long last, they bring another tall basket out and a pretty blonde picks up the chicken inside. She was too afraid to blow on its butt correctly, which I believe led to this chicken’s reluctance to poop. They even threw in a rooster to rile it up a bit, but eventually it was the rooster who pooped on a winning square. Walt won third place—a free drink—and he let me have it.

While leaving the bar, two random guys followed us out, even though we were with a man and a boy. [A] black man, Kenroy, who walked with me talked about how he was planning to open a restaurant in Belize, how that his reunion here with his father wasn’t working out [he came to see him from New York]. I told him he should volunteer with Holy Cross (I mean why not use my time to recruit him?). He said that he had a cousin at Holy Cross, so I said, Oh? What’s his name? Ryan. How old is he? Kenroy hesitated and said 12. I knew Alex was 12, so I asked Alex if he knew a Ryan. No! Alex said accusingly. [That was funny.]

Meanwhile, Walt was walking behind us, and behind him was Tanisha and her suitor, G-Funny. He said that he earned that nickname because he used to laugh like HAH HAH HAH! He told Tanisha he wanted to fly Tanisha back to the island with his weed-selling money. Then, he called Walt “Pops” [and said it was a term of respect because he could learn a lot from a man Walt’s age. I teased Tanisha so hard about G-Funny for days.]

It was a very interesting night. We saw G-Funny at least 4 more times that week! [I think I took a break here from writing.]