Who remember when their parents or grandparents used to tell
them stories about rolling calf? What about three foot jack? Whooping bwoy? I for
one used to enjoy them, even though sometimes hearing them would leave me
scared and shaken up. My brother and I would sit in the evenings and listen to
my great grand uncle telling us stories of rolling calf and three foot jack.
The thought was that, if you ever see a rolling calf, ensure that you find a
cross road before it does else, you know what. Hearing ‘duppy’ stories was one
of my favorite past times, I would look forward to it. Generally, storytelling
was an essential aspect of our culture, whether it was ‘duppy’ stories or otherwise.
Is it gone forever?
When I was in fifth grade in primary school, whenever the
teacher is not in the classroom, my friends and I would get together and share ‘duppy’
stories that our grandparents told us, as well as our own experiences. The most
common one would have been the one about a person trying to catch up to
somebody because he/she needs company but cannot seem to do so, hence the
conclusion is that it is a ghost. The principle of ghost is nothing new per se,
even in the Bible you have references to ghost. When Jesus appeared to the
disciples after in the resurrection while the door was closed because they were
afraid of the Jews, they thought it was a ghost but Jesus said a spirit does
not have flesh and bones. The ghost stories were always interesting and
exciting to me.
I remember one morning I got up early, about 4 a.m. and look through the
window, I saw a car driving on the road and the light shined and two things
that appeared to be playing in the road, up until this day, I don’t know what
they were, but I saw the car stopped reverse and turn back, I was like what? You
may say I was dreaming, could be but I know I wasn’t and what I saw. I had
other experiences which I swear I saw ghosts and only God alone can tell me it wasn’t
so, but I guess you might say my mind was playing tricks on me. I once asked my
great grand uncle, why it is that ghosts are not prevalent as in your day. He replied
by saying that because of the introductions of cars and street lights it drove
them away and I was like okay then.
I also heard about methods one can employ to see ‘duppies’,
but I implore you, do not try them at home. I heard that if you wash you face
with rice water, that is the water after you wash the rice, you could see them,
also if you put dog matter in your eye, eewwww! I also hear if you used seven
rice grain you will see the seven Chinese duppies. I used to hear about the
black heart man, who will offer children gifts and take them way to sacrifice
them. These stories were legendary. But now, ask any child if they know about
rolling calf or three foot jack, then ask if they know about candy crush,
subway surf and temple run. Smart phones, tablets, laptops and social media
have consumed them, and they miss out on the fun that I use to have. Those stories
bond families together, but healthy social relationships, that is all the past,
I guess the black heart man has retired and we have found some way to get rid
of the duppies. Oh when it was about rolling calves and three foot jacks!
