The Introduction

“Do you remember the little fellow in mismatched socks and a torn shirt pocket? The one who was always late for school bus and his mother followed him right to the bus door with a glass of milk.” Oh sure, he was forever sitting on me talking to that corner right there.” answered a much-used stool to a question put by a defunct school bag.

Misty eyed, the corner remembered a six year old, somewhat destructively intelligent boy of extremely fertile imagination, “ he shared his innermost thoughts with me. We did spend a lot of time together though all through his efforts. He had most outlandish plans and much talent for getting into trouble.”

“He did spend major part of his waking hours with you. You are right, corner he had some volatile schemes up his sleeve. He was a restless fellow, rather thin with perpetually red prominent ears almost at right angle to his face. I suppose, all that ear pinching had had that effect. Why? Didn’t he try to beautify you by hammering nails in your back? Inquired the floor to the stool. The stool shuddered remembering the painful events following this beautification drive. The incidences of torn clothes courtesy half driven multiple nails of various sizes, lead to some serious damage to our friend’s ears and bottoms.

“His intentions were always good though they backfired invariably.” replied the stool rather philosophically.

The above conversation took place at the silver jubilee reunion convention of the Household Goods company private limited. Our little friend was a great favorite of all. Almost all of them had had a close encounter with him that had changed their vital perception of small boys. They had experienced, a master, at work. With him around, the life had been full of surprises though some of those surprises were, downright unpleasant. Nonetheless, no dull moments, the life was fast paced with no room for boredom or letting one’s guard down. The old bed remembered him jumping on it with some back- breaking consequences to it. Its joints were never the same again. They protested by creaking, each time, anyone sat on it. And the poor mattress had to retire early. Its nerves had buckled under pressure. Now having recuperated, it chuckled, “ You see, way back, in 1960, all of us were fitted with metallic springs and could withstand lot of wear and tear. But the little tyke was on an mission extreme.”

“He would fall down the bed every day. I always wondered if you were responsible for it since you had a score to settle with him.” Asked the floor

“How could you think so of me, though, I was tempted and definitely baited. You see he was active, even in his sleep. No wonder, he never put on weight.”

The invalid cycle with missing pedals and the handlebar was being supported by the wall. Straightening a bit, it observed, “He did eat lot of sugar but burnt it all riding me crazy. It’s a wonder; his parents didn’t go insane.”

“And what about his cousins? He always talked them into his schemes. What a crazy bunch they were.” Sighed the old walking stick. It had seen such exciting times. It was used, regularly, to scare the above mentioned, ‘Bunch’. “I miss those times. The children now, are different somehow.”

“ Stop going ga-ga over it now. Each one of us tried merging into the background on spying him. You even cursed him, for breaking the handle while poking the invisible thieves, hiding inside a hedge.” Chided the school bag, “And the scissors had to go into solitary confinement when he tried improving on his hair cut, that he had received at the hands of a family barber, who came once a week.” There was much laughter. He had looked a cartoon. The kitchen table, a hardened veteran, since, most pranks were played in, around or on it came up with a suggestion. He felt that since all of them had so many stories about the ‘little fellow’, they should take turns telling these. Thereby, they would all have great time reliving the period of mid 1960 when their common muse was between six to nine years old and at his craziest best.

“Yes! Yes, let’s do that. And the laptop can record the proceedings for the benefit of the new and young members. And also, for the members, unable to come today, due to old age or ill health.” Suggested the wise corner midst much excitement and noise. There was lot of excited chatter with everyone speaking, wanting to share their anecdote. With a skill acquired over years, the walking stick restored some order. Acting as a chairperson of sorts, it called out members one by one. All the names were written on a slip and the lots drawn. The anecdotes recorded for printing and distribution to all the members. These were also published, every sunday, in THE HG INDIA NEWS, a widely read newspaper, for the benefit of common public.