It was exciting. I followed Betty before dusk settled, through the vegetable garden and cackling Cornish hens to Tituba’s bungalow. The pastor thought we were still in the kitchen. John Indian was still working so we had Tituba to ourselves.

We were panting with anticipation or at least I was.

‘What tales are you going to tell us tonight?’ I asked.

Betty’s face was as eager as mine.

‘Tonight, my loves, I will tell you of men and women in Barbados.’

I saw Betty’s eyes go round while I felt my mouth form a smirk.

Tituba had our attention.

‘As you already know the bodies of men and women are different.’

Betty started to wring her hands.

‘You also know that there are different fluids that come out of der body.

What fluids do you know, Betty?’

Betty’s eyes were downcast. ‘Perspiration.’

‘Blood,’ I said.

Tituba lowered her head and whispered. ‘All these fluids can cause sickness.’

I wanted to ask straightaway but I listened.

‘These fluids can control the minds of others when they enter der bodies.’

Betty and I were agog for different reasons. I was thinking of Robert. I wanted him forever. Betty was still too young, yet fascination gripped her.

‘It’s called tying. You see our women used to tye our men to us, their love, their money and their faithfulness. We do it with our blood.’

I became very pensive. The scene of Robert and me in the teashop came back to me. I saw the plum jam and the clotted cream for the hot scones.

Tituba whistled through her teeth as she took in Betty’s innocent eyes.

‘But we can also use food. We can use rice, peas and coconut. ’

‘I haven’t seen any coconuts. Do they grow on bushes or trees?’

‘We’ve got them in Barbados. We can use their roots; it’s the reddish brown colour that is best to tye a man.’

My heart was pumping. ‘Show us; show us how to do it here, please, Tituba, please.’

Betty looked quizzical, with her nose at a peculiar angle.

‘We can use roots of plants here. But, they have to be of the reddish brown colour.’

‘Can they be found in the woods?’

‘Yes, they but you have to know where to look.’

‘Oh, let us go the woods and find these roots. I looked into her deep brown eyes. This is magic and I want to know how to do it. Please teach me, Tituba. Please teach me.’ I said this all in a rush and I nearly blurted out about my love for Robert. I stopped myself in time. I rested my chin on Tituba’s knee. I saw her eyes twinkle I shocked myself that I was out of my chair, on my knees to Tituba, my uncle’s black slave. And I didn’t care. I was a little shocked but I didn’t care.