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| Wednesday, 15 December 2004 |
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A letter to Minerva Players
I am sorry I have to keep changing scenes so often. You see 'memory' does not always come in sequence. It meanders here and there and I choose to write about things that I 'feel' could interest the reader. I feel sorry about poor mother (Kudamma). She HAD to report to father about our doings during the week, when he came home for the weekend meaning Akka and me. Akka being a very 'obedient' home girl, there was very little to report about her, but I was a different quantity. In spite of severe admonitions by father I just could not help doing certain things - like a bath in the stream with other boys, climbing up cadju trees, 'pollufying' (aiming sticks) others' mango trees and a host of other pranks that boys would be up to, not to mention neglecting home-work. Although I was quite used to these weekly 'summons' by father, I knew by instinct that this time it was going to be a serious matter. And father confronted me with the one question I dreaded. "Where did you find the money to see theatre in town?" Up to this day I cannot fathom how parents - particularly of yester year - could immobilize their kids by that single question they dread to be asked! "I did not STEAL the money." I told truthfully. Great favour I could not let Derrick Aiya down after he had done me such a great favour. "I know you don't steal money, although you are up to all kinds of other pranks, I asked you where you found the money....?" Insisted a rather bemused father. That was a good sign for me, that bemused half smile from father - a rather rare thing. "It was only fifty cents.." I pleaded. "You gave me ten cents last week for pocket money, and I get little tips from Colombo Nanda and Merryl Aiya for running errands for them." Still I did not want to bring Derrick Aiya into this subject. "Don't tell me that you get that much pocket money!" Father was saying and then he suddenly realized that he was veering away from the subject. "No, that's not the point." He declared looking stern once again. Permission "Who gave you permission to be gadding about town, until late in the night....? Why didn't you ask Mother or Loku Aiya.?" That WAS once again a difficult question. If I asked them they would not have said "Ah yes, that's okay, you go and enjoy yourself..." So I had to tread carefully. And I told father the truth that if I asked I wouldn't have got their permission. "In fact Derrick Aiya refused to take me along. It was I who forced myself. And it was a very nice play.." I added for effect. I believe father let me off lightly that night because I had told the truth and mother must have been very happy that things ended that way. Actually, things did not end there. I had already written a letter - a letter to the Minerva Players of Negombo. "I am a boy of about twelve years from Gampaha. I saw your play 'Sengavunu Pilithura' at the new hall in town last night. It was a wonderful play. I can sing well and I can recite poetry even better. I am sure I can act well too. I would very much like to join your troupe because I want to act. I can act any child role you may have. Please reply soon. I can find my way to Negombo..." That was what I wrote, more or less. I had hidden the letter in the small clothes cupboard, that Akka and I shared, between my clothes. I had managed to make an envelope by turning an old one inside out. I hid the letter in the envelope till I had enough money to buy a stamp - six cents. Somehow - I don't know how - Akka had found the letter and read it. Not only had she read it but also she brought it to the notice of Loku Aiya. He in turn, I believe as a matter of duty, brought it to the notice of father. Confrontation I remember that confrontation extremely well. On this particular day, father was having some sort of 'meeting' with some of his friends he had invited home for a particular purpose. I think I should mention the purpose. Father was planning to construct a tennis court in the bare land adjoining our Ulu Gedara. He was also planning a kind of summer house in the shape of mushroom, adjoining the Tennis Court - all this of course to make our Ulu Gedara more attractive for anyone who rents it out, after we leave for Colombo. In fact I remember Loku Aiya, our wise man, just venturing a question to father as to who would be playing tennis in a village like ours. Loku Aiya was firmly asked by father to mind his own business and nobody, not even Kudamma, raised that question ever again. The tennis court was not wasted after all. We children used it to play soft ball cricket, later. Anyway, back to my letter to the Minerva Players. Loku Aiya presented it to father in the middle of that little meeting with his friends. Loku Aiya could have easily presented it at some other more 'auspicious' time, but I believe he too was a little bit worried about the whole thing and wanted to convey the message to father as soon as he learnt about it. He MAY have really believed that I was planning to run away from home! Poor Loku Aiya was and is still such a trusting person. In mid-meeting, father read and looked at my letter for a long time. I was watching from a point of far away vantage. Akka, by now had realized the gravity of her momentary action and fled the scene into some sanctuary of hers. I was waiting with a pounding heart waiting for father's summons any moment. Strangely enough father did NOT summon me that day, nor did he admonish me. Somehow, suddenly he was looking weary and sad. He looked at his guests rather uncomfortably, sighed a deep sigh and dismissed the meeting. He looked at Loku Aiya as if to say "Yes, understand, you did your duty...' Scolding He pushed his chair back, got up and gave the letter back to Loku Aiya. "Newton, I don't know what's wrong... do something about this..." With those words father turned and left the scene. I was more petrified than amazed at what happened. I would have preferred a sound round of scolding by father or even the cane, but not this 'sadness' which I could hardy bear up, coming from father. I don't know up to this day if father felt at that moment that he had 'neglected' his youngest son all this time or that he was too rough. I don't know if he also thought that I was planning to run away. It is a strange thing in life that often things go unexplained and this was one of those moments. I certainly was not planning to run away. I did not even know where Negombo was. It was just a letter from a boy determined to join the stage. But he was certainly not going to run away from home. But, sometimes these little misunderstandings work well. They certainly worked well for me. **** Back **** |
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A rather mild report had been given to father by mother that I had gone
to see a 'teeter' play in town and come home late. I was summoned to
father's presence. Yes, this is again before we moved out to Soma Stores,
Bambalapitiya.
