King of the Castle

It wasn't me! It was my daughter Alison that drew the winning ticket in the Christmas draw. One week's all expenses paid trip for two in Cayo-Coco, Cuba. I was so happy for her. The only condition was that she had to take that trip before March 31st of the following year. Her boyfriend Lee was preparing for examinations at university and was not able to go. Her best friend, Laura, had just switched jobs and couldn't get the time off. I was third. My bags were already packed.

What a fantastic vacation we had! We explored the rugged northern coast of Cuba on a motor-scooter; chatted with local workers at a lumber camp; went deep-sea fishing in the deep blue Caribbean sea; and cooked our catch on a small but beautiful island in the middle of paradise.


Throughout our adventures, Alison and I befriended Stan and Margaret, an elderly couple staying at our hotel. We had “connected” with each other and we became good friends in the few days we spent together. The highlight of our trip, however, was when Alison and Margaret tricked us into taking them to a midnight disco, when in fact, they had known in advance that it was a spicy beachwear fashion show starring the most beautiful models in Cuba. They were giving us a surprise “treat”. The show was done in exquisitely good taste – suitable for the finest of Latino society.

In some of our quieter moments, Margaret explained that their trip was a celebration of Stan's thirty five years working at an auto-parts plant back in Ontario - and his pending retirement. Stan hadn't been feeling his best lately and they were looking forward to taking things a little bit easier, enjoying life with their family and travelling more. It was evident that they were still deeply in love.

On the very last morning, Stan and I were taking a stroll down the beach when we saw three Cuban bikini beauties who had been participants in the beachwear fashion show the night before. On impulse, I asked them could I take a picture of them with Stan. For a few dollars, they happily complied. By pure chance, the pictures turned out great!

After returning home I received a telephone call from Margaret saying that it had been their very first trip to the Caribbean. They had felt somewhat uneasy at first because they were not experienced travellers, that is, until they met Alison and me. She had called to thank us for our good deed in making their holiday truly special and something to remember for the rest of their lives. Margaret also told me that Stan's workmates had given him the honorary title of “King of the Castle” after having his photo circulated on the front page of the auto plant's newsletter, arm-in-arm with the three bikini beauties. He was smiling from ear to ear. He was the envy of this workmates. He was on top of the world. He was over the moon. He was, indeed, King of the Castle!.

Stan never got to take another holiday. He never even saw retirement. Margaret called again a few days later to inform me that Stan had died suddenly, but peacefully, in his sleep. In tears, she thanked us once again for making his last few weeks some of happiest ones of his life.


Originally Written March 23rd, 2008 (Easter Day)