Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from October, 2011

Far From the Madding, Noisy Adults

Mobby’s Amma and I are discussing something serious: what to have for dinner.  Mobby barges in and shouts: “quiet.” “Why Mobby?” I wonder what has offended Mobby’s sensibilities. “Don’t talk,” he says then puts his hands firmly on the table and begins “there are two lizards...” “Mobby, we have heard this story. And this is bad manners; you are not to butt in when elders talk.” Mobby’s Amma suddenly realizes that he needs to learn some manners. “Quiet,” Mobby bangs the table to drive home his point. “Don’t talk and listen to me. There are two lizards…” “But Mobby, this is not fair. We hear your stories all the time, you should bear with us too.” I attempt to evoke his sense of fairness and equality. And yes, I try to forget that he is only two. But now Amma decides to get firm, “Mobby, stop it. Go play with your toys.” Mobby looks at us fiercely and gives us his favourite, “I don’t like you.”   At this juncture, we find him walking away fr

Two Lizards

“Momi there are two lizards,” Mobby gives me this slimy information while I am having my morning tea. “Really? Where are they,” I take a bite of my toast and try not to dwell on the topic of our conversation. “There are two lizards.” “Okay Mobby, but where are they?”  I take a long sip from my mug trying to fathom the whereabouts of the two lizards. “One good lizard, one bad lizard,” Mobby comes up with more information. Now, this seems really interesting. I take a long gulp from my mug and give him my full attention. “Which one is good and why,”  I ask. “The good one has nice feet.” Mobby gestures with his hands and draws a picture of those nice feet in the air. “So where is it, the good lizard?” “It has gone out through the window.” “Oh! And the bad one?” “It is still in my room.” Mobby makes a face and I finally decipher the mystery of good versus bad.