Space-men, cowboys, rain, ice creams, a pair of gumboots and eternity

My father owned a pair of big black gumboots. That was my cutting edge when I was a space man. Complemented with the white helmet, one plastic straw sticking out of it, I was ready for the moon. I never trusted wire less or invisible technologies much, so the plastic straw was essential for me. When I was on the roof top how else could I have talked with my mother downstairs! People are just a bit too sensitive, they used to complain that I am a very noisy, pathetic boy.

The gumboot served well when I used to be the lonesome cowboy. But then also a handkerchief was needed around my neck, covering my neck. I never enjoyed wearing hats though. People just never understand. How can I be a cowboy with a six gun when there was no one to buy me some ammo! It was priced Rs 1! Too high as a price. I used to get pieces of the strip from him or them. Well then again the boy was a pest.

Once it rained. For eight years. The road in front of our house had water above my ankle. With small fishes ('How can you be so illiterate!Those are called 'GUPPY'') swimming around. I had the gumboot. I remember I got astonished that I can not see the pond. Water was everywhere and there were no line between land and water. Thousands of civilizations were gasping for me under that small pond. But he did not come out. His house was flooded and he was pouring water outside. With their whole family on the bed. So I came back home again.

Sometimes me and my mother used to go with our relatives till the main road to bid them good bye. From there some good times mother used to take me to a shop. She used to buy an ice cream. Half of it was put in a cone for me and the remaining half for her. I never understood why she did not buy me a full ice cream and I always had to share. I only got a full ice cream when mother went to bank and I had to wait. I used to walk on the bank's lined floors designing my treasure map while she stood in the queue. Coming out, there was another ice cream shop. Where they kept the ice creams in big containers and you could choose the color.

There are some alleys. Here I probably lost my school life. Or probably lost nothing as I never had anything. The boy still walks along with his booing, anger, pain, rejection. He never received the A4 page which she sent back to him. Later on, probably after 4 years when they talked again, she asked do you still have that. Astonished he replied that he never received anything. Probably all those alcohol/smoke in his veins would never have been there. Or maybe he wanted it in his unconscious mind. Thus slowly created excuses. She still sometime trips over at the side way. Shy and stupid he helps her to the auto and returns red faced. He still walks with handkerchief covering his busted and swelled and stitched lips thinking him self as a Gladiator. Those notebooks/cassettes are probably still there. The Manchester United jersey he borrowed from his brother's friend, the day she gave treat, probably was too big for him. He sometimes used to get amazed how he could make up so many topics to speak upon on phone.

Its like leaving pieces of you at safe places. Like in fairytale. What ever happens, you only need to keep the map safe and sound so that you can come back when ever you want.


[Picture @ Craig Thompson ]