‘Will you take us to school today in car, Acha (dad)?’
My elder daughter asked me while brushing her teeth in the morning.
Sometimes they like to go to school in car, though their school is just 10 minutes walk away. For a change from usual routine walking. Other occasion in which I have to take them to school is when my wife gets up late disregarding mobile alarms (no more time-pieces). If I am lazy to go for morning jogging, somehow I will pull her up from bed. She likes to cuddle up in the bed, as it is so cold out there now-a-days. Hey, we are getting into rainy season! (‘You are really mad to go out and jog in the cold mornings’, she taunts me now ‘n then).
So, today it is one of those days when kids feel like going to school in the car.
‘What about you’, I asked the younger one.
‘I like to go by walking, talking, seeing the trees, hearing birdies..’ She said.
‘But I prefer Amma, as I don’t want to run because you walk fast pulling me along’
Though she is a small girl of 6 years, very difficult to argue with her. ‘Like dad, thus daughter’, my wife says.
(Sometimes I feel the elder one has got likes and dislikes of my wife and the younger one, of mine. I too like to walk, see and enjoy the nature.)
Taking them in car has another dis-advantage: to go to school in the one-way-road takes 10 minutes; then another 5 minutes to find a parking space outside the school gate; hence it would be at least 25 minutes before I come back. So, I too like to ‘walk them to school’, as I could save time to reach office.
‘If both of you agree, I will take you to school by walk’ I said. Though grumbled a bit, she agreed. And ah, I would walk slowly.
‘Then, you hurry up, as you need to leave latest by 8.30 am’, wife reminds me.
And she managed to push us out in time, with small ‘boxes’ for each kid for first break, second break and for lunch. (Second break, they need to take some fruit. And cakes, pastries prohibited by school for lunch. So, moms have to be really creative to fill the boxes daily).
It is a wet and sunny morning as it was raining last night. Very pleasant weather. Sun is making us warm with soft rays. Green lawns in front of each house inside and outside the compound line are afresh. Tree leaves still have some water left on it from the night rain. Birds chirping. Cold wind, not chill, just smoothly brings you the smell of earth. Ah, What a morning I got to take them to school. Isn’t it a gift to me!
A nice walk to school. Talking to kids, answering their doubts, picking flowers which are fallen on the path way… Seeing many kids on the way (Alas, no Indians). Could see boys carrying Oval ball (which is used for Australian football). Kids go to school on cycles, ‘n skate boards too. (My daughters still waiting for me to allow them taking bicycle to school; they have ‘proved’ their balance on two wheels, but I want them have more practice, may be another few weeks).
There are few Eucalyptus trees near the school gate. The strong healthy smell signals you that you reached destination. The school is having classes till 7th, so there are no big boys ‘n girls. Kids are playing tennis, basket ball, cricket. Some girls are playing by throwing pink colored football.. Few boys and girls are on ‘monkey bars’, on which they can climb, jump, hang with legs heads down. Small kids – my kid of 6 year too - do such things, giving us shivers. Now there is a new item – ‘spider web’ it is called, which is very popular among kids, on which kids can climb to the top. In total, very active atmosphere, which really pleases my mind.
The elder one ran off to her class, and I took the younger one to her class and hurried back home, The first bell rang.
* * * * * * *
While coming back, I thought of my school days. What a difference from our days and present days, (especially here down under). We tend to be more careful - over protective, I should say – about kids; don’t allow them to go to school alone; They go to school either in school bus or car. Walking is luxury (unless you live very close to school). I used to walk more than 1 kilometer one way daily to school, and back - till 10th standard, when I got my first bicycle. But I really enjoyed those walks. Primary school, we were accompanied by ‘Kunjamma’ (Aaya); and was not much fun: small kids, right!.
In upper primary school, I used to come home for lunch. As my home was little bit farther than my mom’s Tharavadu (ancestral home), I always had lunch at Ammumma’s (Grandma) home. After lunch when I go back to school, I get some coins (10 or 25 paise) to buy ‘peanut toffee’. She always kept balance from provision purchase on the window-sill in the kitchen. Religiously after lunch, I used to ask ‘Ammumma, could I have some money for toffee?’ She used to reply ‘okay, take 25 paise from the window-sill’. Before she could complete the sentence, I would have taken the money and left the kitchen. I look around for Muthachan (Grand dad), and if he was not there in the vicinity, I used to jump over the fence without going thru the front Gate which was on the other side of compound (it was a large compound of almost 2 Acres, till later divided during partition among my mom, aunts and uncles. Both Grandfather and Grand mom have left the earth some years ago).
Taking a turn at the junction, few yards ahead, there was ‘Shiny Stores’ which used to sell stationery, small toys, sweets etc. Three schools in the perimeter of one kilometer helped the owner to make some money. By seeing me, he would dip his hand into the large glass jar, and take out the round peanut toffee. I really loved that toffee. (even now I love peanuts, and for that matter any nuts!). This helped me to brave the scorching sun on the way to School. Usually not much friends would come home for lunch; hence that made it easy to enjoy my toffee alone without any need to share it.
While returning, 4 O’ clock, road would be full of kids, in uniforms green & white, and blue & white. Literally full of kids, which made the buses and cars to slow down. Walking along with friends, talking, fighting, we never knew the distance between school and home. And more over, the expectation of some savories awaiting me at home, thanks to mom.
* * * *
By this time, I reached home. Now to hurry to office as it is almost 9am. To delve into school days another time.
16 Comment(s)
Another Morning