The Same Waters, Different Land

       The stories “Little Cog-Burt” and “Cotton Candy” both take place in the Caribbean, though on different islands. Therefore, it would be safe to say the stories involve people of similar ethnic backgrounds, outside of indigenous islanders of course. This does not mean the cultures and experiences of the two islands match, as an ocean separates the two islands.

       It only makes sense that most of their stories would differ as well, not only in attitude but subject matter. For example in “Little Cog-Burt” we are thrown into a scene where the characters are

struggling to communicate and exist with other inhabitants. Some of it due to racial issues. With one of the main characters Richard wanting to keep to traditions in order to keep morale within his plantation. A hint of seclusion is depicted as well in this story, as a christmas party sat in silence to a point where a pessimistic character, who didn't even want to have the get together, began to make attempts to liven the scene up. All of this differs from the story “Cotton Candy”, which expresses an attitude quite the opposite.

       Even though both stories were told, and or written, around the same time period, the feeling of division and dread are almost lost in “Cotton Candy”. We experience more of a community in the

story, as we hear of children and the exchange of puppy love. An unlikely friendship based business transaction with a local prostitute helps showcase the lack of seclusion in the story, compared to “Little Cog-Burt”. Especially as the story progresses and shows the main character interact with everyone at her new job at the zoo. They all seem to enjoy one another's company and feel almost like a family, as seen in the playful teasing at the main characters expense.

       Even racial tensions appear to be flipped with the main characters in the two stories. “Cotton Candy” ends with the main character, who can be assumed to be cuban, fawning over a black man who seems to flirt with her. This interracial attraction differs from what is told to us in “Little Cog-Burt”, where one of the English main characters often displays disdain towards what she calls the “dark” children, as well as their parents. Though these stories can not speak for every aspect, situation, or person surrounding their originating islands, they are an example of how storytellers from the same region but different islands lived in two different worlds.

*Stories taken from the collecting Green Cane and Juicy Flotsam