Dear Editor,

Can we admit to the ripple effects of values? Last night, at a major supermarket, enter four men and one woman. All the men were modelling underwear drawn up high above their buttocks and their pants falling low. The prison look, as they say. But the woman had everybody doing a double take. For lo and behold, her entire behind was as naked as the day she born!

Make no mistake, this was not a peek-show glimpse of naked flesh of the daisy dukes-protruding kind. No siree. This brave soul was not into going half-way! The hips, bottom, thighs, and legs of neon cellulite texture was thrusted at the world for all its inhabitants to see.

In the front was a likkle apron. A tiny purple flap with frills all around the side. Yes, it was the loin cloth of our ancestors, my friends. Just a little skimpier than putting a wash rag over your private area. I had to straighten my glasses! I thought it was a mirage in the dark evening light. And just when I was about to doubt my sanity, my husband, who has 20/20 vision, said, ‘Jeezam! That lady only have on a blouse?’

I was not alone, the security guards rushed towards her and told her she couldn’t come inside the very well-known establishment, for it was a place for families and children. They put up a body barrier in front of the no underwear wearing but otherwise well-groomed-in-a-new-wig individual and kept her outside, resulting in a pile-up of all the cars driving out of the parking lot!

Worse, the four men just left her there. They all walked away! I caught up with the drop-pants posse, tattooed, bleached, and impatient. They were moving in and out of the ice cream line. But since the line was very long, “Missy” had to wait outside, exposed to the numerous, obvious onlookers.

When I was leaving, I saw her in the same spot. She wasn’t going away. She merely placed her bottom up against a pillar and leaned forward like letter K so her loin cloth could hang a little bit while she consulted her phone. She was late for carnival I thought. And only half-dressed for it too.

These are the ripple effects of uptown behaviour. What a Jamaica we are setting up for our children! Mighty God!

D M West

dianeallenwest@gmail.com