All for a can of yeast

The boy got up early in the morning along with his cousins. As the routine was they had to finish their morning chores which was allocated to them and sat down to have their breakfast. “Lets play the family family game” said one of the cousin. The rest of them agreed to this idea. So as per the plan, soon after breakfast they hurried together to the arecanut plantation which was part of their grandfathers farm. They spend the entire morning roaming in through the plantation, over the stream up in to the forest, till lunch beckoned them back to the house.

Soon after lunch they set off again into the forest. They then began collecting articles which they wanted to be used in the game which was still to begin. Their pursuit for these tinkers brought them close to the the cow shed close to their house. Just behind the cow shed was a swamp. One of the girls noticed a can of yeast lying in the corner of the swamp and decided that they would be needing it. Glen being the eldest said,” Let me go down and get it. All of you stay away”. Saying this he lowered himself into the swamp. He made his way to the yeast can and retrieved it and passed it on to the rest of them on the shore. As he tried to come back he realised that his leg was stuck in the muck. The more he tried to remove the more deep it went. (Of course it was a quicksand, but how would they know of it).

Now Glenn was in knee level of trouble and was going more down. “Who will help me out he shouted?”he shouted. Who else but the best buddy Glenn had, our boy.” I will”, said the boy and ran into the swamp made his way to Glenn pulled and pulled him out. Then suddenly, the boy realised that he was stuck. He tried hard to move but he could not and the more he tried the more he went into the quicksand. Glenn now tried to stand on the bank and pull him out. But he was not successful. He then began to get back into the swamp. On the bank few of the cousins were laughing and few of the younger ones crying. The boy felt weird standing there. He felt like snakes were moving about around his leg. Now he began to panic and started to howl and cry.

Uncle who happened to be in the cow shed heard the pandemonium and came running. He came up to the pond and realised what was going one. He got into the swamp pulled out Glenn and then the boy. “ “My chappels”, yelled the boy as he was being pulled out. Uncle got the footwear out too. Now that they were safely on the bank of the swamp uncle landed one blow each one to Glen and the boy on their behind. He led them out into the lower courtyard of the house, where the boys mother too welcomed them with blows in their buttocks. So did Glenn’s dad who was right there talking to the boy’s mom.

As they entered the house crying grandpa came into the scene. He picked up his thickest and longest jute cane and landed one blow each on the boys. Then they were made to go before the alter and kneel down and ask forgiveness from Jesus for what they had done. (which was tradition). Of course one had to raise their hands til they were told to lower it………

The boy of course was myself. Glenn had called me up the other day and asked me to write this piece down. I think this was on of the most laughed out incidents in our lives… all for a can of yeast.