Rossi tiptoed into the kitchen, his braids bouncing as he grinned at his mom. He watched her flip plantains expertly, bright colors of her apron shining against the morning light. The walls, adorned with Jamaican flags and family photos, seemed to vibrate with the warmth and laughter that filled their home. "Mom, tell me about the time you and the cousins used to ride a single bike with 6 or 7 of you on the one bike," he pleaded, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
She described running barefoot in the southern red soil, dodging common mangoes or stringy mangoes while they ripe and fall from the trees. Rossi listened intently, imagining turquoise waves and palm trees swaying in rhythm with Bob Marley’s melodies. "Did you ever see the big ships pass by?" he asked, recalling the lyrics to his second favorite song.
Rossi closed his eyes, letting the music carry him to distant shores. He pictured himself on a Jamaican beach, dancing with friends and family, laughter mingling with the ocean breeze. Reggae rhythms pulsed through his veins, connecting him to a culture he cherished deeply. "I want to live there someday, mom. Right by the water, living off the land,"
He shares stories his mom told him, describing mango trees, beach trips, and sun-drenched afternoons. His friends listen eagerly, drawn into Rossi’s vivid tales and infectious laughter. Some ask about Bob Marley; others wonder about life so far from city streets. "Maybe one day, we'll all visit. I’ll show you where my mom grew up," Rossi promises, his voice confident.
They talk about dreams—Rossi’s hope to live off the land, his longing for ocean sunsets, and the roots that tie them to Jamaica. His mom smiles, pride filling her eyes as she listens to her son’s heart. "No matter where you go, you’ll always carry Jamaica with you," she says gently.
Rossi imagines himself harvesting coconuts, playing guitar by the sea, and welcoming friends to his future home. The rhythm of reggae, the stories of his mother, and the promise of One Love echo through his dreams—guiding him toward the horizon he longs to reach.
