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Stories of the supernatural and paranormal are not uncommon in the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana. In fact, they are quite common. But when Cora (not her real name) said to me, “I’m possessed,” I felt like my back was against the wall. And it was, literally.
I had invited the young girl Cora for a night over at the Takutu Hotel where I was staying as a guest and always working part time. I gave her a beautiful room to spend the night: one which had the balcony overlooking the beautiful Rupununi Savannahs towards the back of the room.
It was there that Cora and I sat sipping a few beers and chatting. I had known Cora for a while and I shared a warm friendship with her siblings.
Cora was a very pretty young girl of 19 years old – with the kind of looks that easily drew a man’s attention – which is only enlivened more by her colorful Facebook posts.
That night, as Cora and I were enjoying the cool Savannah breeze and sipping a beer, the conversation soon veered itself around to Cora’s life. She told me the stories of her abusive dad who often beat her mom and abused Cora and her other siblings verbally and physically.
Cora said that the problems she encountered at home drove her to start smoking marijauna at the age of twelve. I gasped.
I was shocked to hear this, because, from all outward appearances, this young woman showed no signs of having problems.
“Do you also smoke cigarettes?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said. “When I don’t get marijauna, I smoke cigarettes.”
But amazingly, Cora’s lips and teeth showed no signs of a cigarette smoker such as blackened lips or gums: they were pink as a newborn baby. And I told her that.
Then we started talking about the “beena” plant of the Rupununi. The “beena” plant is a Rupununi folklore which seems to hold some water. Legend has it the residents of the Rupununi use plants which are sort of like spirits to get favors such as making someone fall in love. From the way they talk, most people who find love in these interior districts might have done so with the help of the beena plant.
It was then that I asked Cora if she has ever heard or experienced paranormal activities – of which I’d heard so much -in the Rupununi.
“Yes,” she responded. And then she proceeded to tell me some stories.
“Actually, I’m possessed.” Cora said. I stared the young girl blankly in her face, trying to conceal all emotions of fear that had suddenly struck me. The cold and refreshing Savannah air turned chilling. I felt the chair I sitting on suddenly bracing against the wall – which it was, literally. And it dawned on me that there was nowhere to run.
But after all, why would I want to run from a teenage girl, and a beautiful one too?
“You’re possessed?” I asked Cora.
“Yes,” she said.
“You mean, you think something is living inside of you?”
“Yes,” she said calmly. “I had an experience when I was 12 years old. But it happened again when I was smimming for school athelics. I saw a woman appear in front of me. Then one time, I saw a woman walking in my classroom. She had a knife in her hand with blood dripping from it. I put my hand in front of my face and I was about to scream when my teacher snapped me back to my senses. I removed my hand and the apparition was gone. But it was so real. And an old woman or man or person would talk to me sometimes.”
We both paused for a while.
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