DR FIXIT (NEW VERSION)

  341 'He started banging the trunks of trees, screaming out loud: "Even if your sting is like a bee's; you can tie and crush like a python  or your venom is close to that of a scorpion  or your weight is quite like a mature redwood, I've come to seek you out in your neighbourhood and prove to all I'm the undisputed champ globally in all-round fight where we'd clamp our arms like wrestlers, turn our frames to punching bags like boxers or fly like cranes 342 '"and rain kicks on ourselves like pros in martial arts. The one with the tussle, kicks or blows - you're the one I'm here for. I say, come out. You're a darn idiot if you chicken out!" When Bragado stopped banging and shouting, the forest was quiet except for the cackling  of the Great Blue Turaco telling the time. The leafage was awashed with bright sunshine. Bragado again marched forward along the track, cursing loudly Saucy Pauper for daring to crack 343 'such a senseless jo...

331 'to retrain those who'd wasted their time  and parents' food.' But someone was on a fine line. He was a customer to a welder. He praised every pupil who did weather  the storm and moved to a new class. Those who failed shouldn't be seen as outcasts. 'They're still young and need ample time  to grow. I tell you they would outshine  the best when they realize their potential.' 'You do it now, not during my funeral. 332 'That's what I tell my kids,' said the welder. The artisans and customers reeled with laughter. The arguments went back and forth. The soundbox dropped the hits and like frogs  on Ma Moonit"s verandah, we leaped around. During the holidays, we lingered in our compounds - eating, playing and sleeping while our limbs were growing. We didn't visit the streams that much as it was the peak of the rains. We were around the fire munching some grains. 333 And the storytelling shifted from the moonlight  to the fireplace....

321  to trimmed sticks or even palm nuts. If we wanted to be great bankers who'd tie knots  of strips of cloths with shirts and suits, this was the time to prepare well for that pursuit  as we would get right our sums with the counters,  Mrs Bearit told us. And shortly after  was the break. When the timekeeper  rang the bell, we jumped and streaked past our teacher  to the outside for an hour of leisure  where we would put ourselves in every posture  322 as a sleuth, a cop, a criminal or preacher as we play-acted fictitious or real characters  we'd viewed in real life, movies or dramas. Being a warm sunny day, we sneaked past the borders  of the school to look for wild fruits, especially one called 'mkpa-ntuk' at the circuit  of a nearby church. It is a wonder fruit. The taste is slightly sugary. The skin looks  yellowish and the seed is round and hard like palm nut. After you suck and discard  323 the thin white fles...

311 When he moved back to his seat and sat down, 'Tieh', Mrs Bearit wrote on the board. The sound  she guided us to make, meaning to sit. The next was 'Sang'ah' - to walk with the feet portrays the word. Then she wrote, 'Tang.' When we said it with her, some added: 'Uhtang' and Mrs Bearit smiled and we all burst out laughing. She said to us: 'Yes, of course, I know that's what most of you do at home, saying this, asking that. "Tang" isn't for talk alone.' 312 'Tang 'Uhtang' means someone talks too much. 'Tang ikor' means someone speaks and such  a person (based on their mood) is angry, loquacious or learning to talk, if a baby. 'Tang' (the second meaning) connotes to pick or carry pieces of furniture or stick, showing the bits of that thing are many. 'Tang mkpor' is to pick things in the laundry, shop or dump. 'Tang hefeah' is to gather  firewood and there's a song quite popula...

301 my thoughts further there and then. I was glad she heard from the lectern  what the young teacher taught and would be truthful to herself or else a bee would sting her and her scream  for help would be heard right at the stream  at the other side of the clan. Then, she'd know an hideous plan was what all along they had been hatching  but henceforth I was keenly watching. 302 We got to school and Mrs Bearit  was glad to see us back. She hit the table and we sang our hygiene song. Of course, with the song it was wrong not to clean your teeth and tongue. You never kept your nails long as you weren't a vampire. We knew we must hang on the clothes wire  all our washing as they would dry and smell good and we would try  303 cut and comb our hair and keep our feet  out of dust as lice and jiggers were benefits  for all those doing otherwise. Who did those nice things was wise. We sang, clapped, jumped and stamped  the concrete floor. With o...

  291 and whosoever sewed them and their threads. Of all the games, the two ugly trends I joined as a kid were card-throwing and button-kicking. Later in the evening  we'd gone to the stream to wash, swim and fetch water as we got everything within  our reach for school the next day. A new fellow had joined us to play the bubblegum cards. His name was Soulit. Right while having supper, a fist hit 292 (not knocked) - yes, a fist rammed the door like it would bring it down to the floor. Grandma screamed for the person to stop  the pranks, thinking who did that had dropped  his senses somewhere after being drunk but it turned out the person was sunk in despair for his son stole a chunk  of his cash and when the father searched his bunk, all he discovered was this pile of cards the son said were from bubblegum packs  293 but he claimed from others he won them all - I was included. Before grandma's call, I was beside her immediately I heard  the mentio...