Dr Fixit (021 - 030)
021
meaning ‘proverb or parable’
and ‘ahbasee’
means ‘god’ so
storytelling – from what I see –
was a
profound thing throughout the clans
and the storyteller to pass on to the ants
a moral tasked
their brains and common folks
tended to believe
these tales were invoked
by aligning
with the gods. ‘There lived a man,’
Grandma went
on, lowered the wick of the lamp
and sat on
the bed beside me, my side
touching her
leg for safety against the tide
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which was
unpredictable. If rough and dark,
I knew I had
my grandma watching my back.
‘How was
he?’ This was the traditional response
showing the
listeners’ interest and bonds
with the
wakefulness of the storyteller.
‘He had
stepped into the shoes of his father
who'd just
passed on. He received a big farm.
He was charming
and lived on Timebound Island.
Where he
lived, the breeze ruffled the palm fronds
and lovely
birds visited the garden at the front
023
‘where a
boulevard tapered to the horizon.
There sat a
long-reigning monarch on his throne.
Charming
homes hedged with stunning flowers
dotted the
sides of the boulevard, commuters
waited at the
sprawling bus stop to the right
and on the
left, a grand house was filled tight
with
revelling hordes of humans
wallowing in
fun and romance ...’
Humans? I’d
never seen one yet and I had doubt
if Grandma
did and so my curiosity was aroused
024
every time folks
mentioned them in their tales
which made
me wonder if they’d hair or scales
covering
their hide – in fact, I was quite eager
this night my
grandma's tale did meander
around humans
to ask many questions
as I’d heard
from my folks many notions
about these
beings for their tales filled the lips
of the army ants
who very often made trips
to hunt, buy
or sell in distant clans.
Meanwhile, I
folded my legs and clasped my hands
025
around them as
I listened attentively
to Grandma’s
tale. The wind rushed hastily
around our
home. ‘In their midst was a dude
inheriting a
fortune that did include
a vast business
worth many millions
and a wagon
driven around by two stallions.
Two army
ants tired from their trek had sneaked in
to the spot
to refresh and peek in
through
words of the revellers the atmosphere
and
goings-on on the island. A table near
026
‘the entrance
where the good-looking dude sat
with his admirers,
they clambered and at
the point the
dessert was, they buckled down
without
invitation to it. The dude and every fan
of his took
no notice of the ants and his aide
as they were
too minute for any fun-seeking mate
to
appreciate. To finally quench
the urges in
their famished frames, they got drenched
in the
sparkling white wine the horde drank
and joined
them in the happy songs they sang.
027
‘The party
had been on for many an hour
when a man
wearing a speckled bowler
moved into
the big hall and walked
to the table
hosting the dude and baulked
perceiving
the throng and their ballyhoo
but then
elbowed his way through
to confront
the dude. He tapped his shoulder
and when he
turned, the man did whisper
into his ear
– it was apparent he was his uncle:
“You’re frittering your fortune away. Be humble,
028
‘“my nephew
and return to manage the farm
that had
been bequeathed to you for great harm
already had
occurred since you left it
in the hands
of others and paid no visit
to supervise
them. Everyone runs things
as they please.
Missing are tools and fittings.
And lastly, I
hope you would remember,
son, that
time would never be a passenger
for anyone to
pick to give a jolly ride
on their
lovely wagon.” The uncle with a stride
029
‘returned as
he had come and the dude
burst out
laughing and a gesture quite rude
he made at
the departing back of his uncle,
mouthing: “Tell
time I’d sure come and get him bundled
at the bus
stop or boulevard when I’m done
into the
back of my charming wagon
and take him
to his destination
whether here
or in another nation.
For now, if
he likes, he should join me
and enjoy
with my friends till we’re all weary.”
030
‘The fans reeled
with boisterous laughter,
hailed the wagoner
with cups raised higher
in a toast.
The ants jollied with them till tipsy;
the music blaring from the speakers, the feet
nippy:
they danced,
the hits ranging from rock
to calypso;
from jeans, was the human frock,
to calico.
From bar to bar, they trooped
with the
wagoner and around him they looped
to gobble
down all on the table he put,
meals quite large, some exotic and cute,
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