Jestina's Calypso

Jestina has convinced her pen-pal of many years, a man she has never met, to return to Trinidad from the US to marry her. Known locally as the Queen of Ugliness, Jestina hopes, but cannot be sure, that her inner beauty transcends her outward appearance. Her features altered from violence, her body scarred from hard labour and assaults over 39 years, the locals say Jestina is too bold and ought not to show her face, that she is mad. As the locals sing derisive songs outside her window and the car waits to take her to the airport to meet her fiancé, Jestina prepares herself, wondering how he will react. The problem is that when he asked for a photograph, Jestina had sent one of Laura, her younger, prettier and much lighter complexioned neighbour.