Fairies and Magic
Early '60's was when I was born. A little unusual in those days to be the only child and to have working parents. "Loner", "Lonely" were commonly used to describe such children. But not me for I had my Grandma who took care of me and was a big part of my life.
Today, most families have only one child and parents are working. Call it the need of today or progress. Television, game stations, nannies, mobile phones, computers are companions of today's child.
I am here to tell my story.
No television or computers in the early '60s for us. Radio was meant for news and quietly listening to songs in the afternoons while breezing through a book. I recollect my summer holidays which meant that Grandma and me were together from 9am to 6 pm.
We would firmly shut the compound gate after my mother left slinging her bag and as she left she gave strict instructions to my grandma of not giving me fried food and seeing that I finish my studies. I don't know if my mother saw my grandmother nodding to all that she was saying. "Party time" I would scream silently. Study books firmly shut, I opened my magic box. Tumbled out from it half dozen dolls in various stages of nakedness, tiny utensils, broken boxes which served as sofas for the dolls. Match boxes were useful for making any furniture. But my favourite was a bottle of beads that my uncle gave me. I loved their bright colors and would often string them randomly and gift it to the most deserving doll for that day! Grandma would stitch me tiny frocks for my dolls. She had a magic bag too! It was full of things that we term as "junk" today. Tiny cut pieces of cloth, some wool, multi colored thread (which almost looked from pre independence days), chalk pieces, rusty needles of all sizes. Our house was spring cleaned many atimes but Grandma never parted with this bag. A canary yellow top with a tangy orange skirt and lime green sleeves, she put together the pieces and looked at me smiling. Oh what a pretty dress it would make! Out came her sewing machine, almost as old as her but as efficient as her as well. Within minutes the disjointed cloths took shape of a frilly, girly dress and she even stitched a button at the back. Wow today Alice, blue eyed doll got lucky. I still believe that their painted smile broadened each time they got a gift like this.
I got busy to give Alice a few fashion accessories like a bead chain and a tiny bag from the cut pieces that still lay cluttered on the floor. Grandma had quietly gone into the kitchen and was frying bread pieces until they turned golden brown. On it she sprinkled some sugar and yum they became the most delicious dish for me. How I savoured every bit of it and 40 years later, the taste still lingers.
Mid morning she would call me out into our little kitchen garden. I learnt how to weed delicately. She would go round with a bunch of sticks, supporting plants, tying a thread loosely around it. Our garden though small but was blessed. We had a pomegranate tree, a guava tree, a coconut palm, a wide variety of vegetable plants and flowers too. Pumkins would grow to the size of Cinderella's carriage! We never had to buy corriander, it was always there in a cluster in a corner. She knew like a magician which plant needed what nutrition. Any plant she touched would never let her down. Be it flower or fruit it would always put up its best show.
Afternoons were for warding off little birds that would descend on the garden to feast on little saplings. Grandma would sit on a mat with a huge stick in her hand and tell me the most fascinating stories of kings and queens, demons and elves, fairies and goblins. But my favourite was of mythological stories, How God's came down with the first rays of the sun. How a rainbow was an escalator for the pretty maids of Goddesses!
As the clock neared five in the evening, I hurriedly stuffed back my dolls, kissed Alice good night into the box. Then hid it in the corner behind a cupboard. Grand ma also did the same with her bag. Carefully removing all items and hiding her bag. My school books that remained firmly shut, opened them again and stared at the boring alphabets. My mind wandered off to the unfinished tale of this afternoon. The wicked king had imprisoned the beautiful princess in a tower. When will Prince charming come along and rescue her...did the bee carry the message to the Prince...A sharp shrill door bell brought me back from fairyland. Ma was back. Tired, she loosely flung her bag on the bed and went towards the wash room. "Curtains" for today I told myself and looked at Grandma who got busy with household chores.
Today, most families have only one child and parents are working. Call it the need of today or progress. Television, game stations, nannies, mobile phones, computers are companions of today's child.
I am here to tell my story.
No television or computers in the early '60s for us. Radio was meant for news and quietly listening to songs in the afternoons while breezing through a book. I recollect my summer holidays which meant that Grandma and me were together from 9am to 6 pm.
We would firmly shut the compound gate after my mother left slinging her bag and as she left she gave strict instructions to my grandma of not giving me fried food and seeing that I finish my studies. I don't know if my mother saw my grandmother nodding to all that she was saying. "Party time" I would scream silently. Study books firmly shut, I opened my magic box. Tumbled out from it half dozen dolls in various stages of nakedness, tiny utensils, broken boxes which served as sofas for the dolls. Match boxes were useful for making any furniture. But my favourite was a bottle of beads that my uncle gave me. I loved their bright colors and would often string them randomly and gift it to the most deserving doll for that day! Grandma would stitch me tiny frocks for my dolls. She had a magic bag too! It was full of things that we term as "junk" today. Tiny cut pieces of cloth, some wool, multi colored thread (which almost looked from pre independence days), chalk pieces, rusty needles of all sizes. Our house was spring cleaned many atimes but Grandma never parted with this bag. A canary yellow top with a tangy orange skirt and lime green sleeves, she put together the pieces and looked at me smiling. Oh what a pretty dress it would make! Out came her sewing machine, almost as old as her but as efficient as her as well. Within minutes the disjointed cloths took shape of a frilly, girly dress and she even stitched a button at the back. Wow today Alice, blue eyed doll got lucky. I still believe that their painted smile broadened each time they got a gift like this.
I got busy to give Alice a few fashion accessories like a bead chain and a tiny bag from the cut pieces that still lay cluttered on the floor. Grandma had quietly gone into the kitchen and was frying bread pieces until they turned golden brown. On it she sprinkled some sugar and yum they became the most delicious dish for me. How I savoured every bit of it and 40 years later, the taste still lingers.
Mid morning she would call me out into our little kitchen garden. I learnt how to weed delicately. She would go round with a bunch of sticks, supporting plants, tying a thread loosely around it. Our garden though small but was blessed. We had a pomegranate tree, a guava tree, a coconut palm, a wide variety of vegetable plants and flowers too. Pumkins would grow to the size of Cinderella's carriage! We never had to buy corriander, it was always there in a cluster in a corner. She knew like a magician which plant needed what nutrition. Any plant she touched would never let her down. Be it flower or fruit it would always put up its best show.
Afternoons were for warding off little birds that would descend on the garden to feast on little saplings. Grandma would sit on a mat with a huge stick in her hand and tell me the most fascinating stories of kings and queens, demons and elves, fairies and goblins. But my favourite was of mythological stories, How God's came down with the first rays of the sun. How a rainbow was an escalator for the pretty maids of Goddesses!
As the clock neared five in the evening, I hurriedly stuffed back my dolls, kissed Alice good night into the box. Then hid it in the corner behind a cupboard. Grand ma also did the same with her bag. Carefully removing all items and hiding her bag. My school books that remained firmly shut, opened them again and stared at the boring alphabets. My mind wandered off to the unfinished tale of this afternoon. The wicked king had imprisoned the beautiful princess in a tower. When will Prince charming come along and rescue her...did the bee carry the message to the Prince...A sharp shrill door bell brought me back from fairyland. Ma was back. Tired, she loosely flung her bag on the bed and went towards the wash room. "Curtains" for today I told myself and looked at Grandma who got busy with household chores.
posted by Autumn Leaf | 12:29 PM
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