::: Star Weekend Magazine :::

Slice of Life

All My Bags Are Packed

Richa Jha

Son (aged 4½ years) Speaks:
I have decided I am going to stay on. Yesterday when mom scolded me, I told her I'd leave her and go. She said, ok, go. Then she asked me if I had some other place in mind. I said, yes, I do, near my friend's house. She wanted to know what was so special about that house. I said that house has no mamma, so there would be no one to scold me. She smiled, said "Oh my sweetheart", drew me closer, and hugged me. I didn't like it. Why did she smile when I was telling her I wanted to leave? She doesn't love me anymore. So I didn't let her hug me, and I ran away from there.

Ever since my little sister has come from the hospital, mom loves only her. She smiles when she looks at her, she plays with her, and does all sorts of things with her. I pointed it out to mom yesterday. She smiled again and said, "But I'm smiling at you too now, my pudding. What makes you think I don't love you?"

"You feed the baby, but you turn to me and say that I have to learn to eat by myself."
"But that's only because I want you to grow up quickly."
"But I don't want to grow up. I want to be a <>chhotu<> baby." I remonstrated.
"Are you sure? Think about it. Decide whether you want to be a big boy or a little baby."
"A little baby, just like her. At least you will love me then."
"Fine, so then I will give away all your big boy books and cars; you can play with her rattle."
"No,
"Now com'on. You can't play with both. You decide and let me know. And remember, no school, no TV, no Wonderland Park for little babies, ok?"
I felt cornered, so I ran away.

I went to dad. Dad, I said, I am going to leave this house because mom keeps scolding me all the time. Do this, don't do that; sit properly, eat properly, first sleep on time and then wake up also on time. There is a limit to everything, I complained. Pink Panther doesn't wake up on time, but his mother doesn't scold him; Bob the Builder doesn't even have a mom, so then?

Dad adjusted his spectacles, lifted me and perched me on his lap, wrapped his arms around me and whispered into my ears, Yes, yes son, I quite understand, but that doesn't mean you'll leave the house and go away.

"No," I objected, "I must go. Then mom will miss me and feel what a good boy I am."
Dad nodded, looked at me with endearment and said, "Makes sense what you are trying to say. I too feel persecuted here. I think that's a good idea, son, take me along. Is there room for two at this other house?"
"Yes dad. We can all go," I said counting on my fingers, "One, two, three. Okay dad? Three of us? Like the three little pigs? That will be fun."
"The third?" Dad looked at me puzzled.
"I'm taking my little sister along with me," I announced.
"Uh oh son, are you sure? It might not be a wise idea."
"But I've already told her. She laughed and said aaa-aaa, which means a yes. She doesn't even know how to speak; I have to teach her so many things! She is ready to come with me."

So off we trudged past the rooms and came to the desk where mom was working. Even before she looked up from her note book, I declared, "Mom, baby and I are going to leave this house, and since dad says you trouble him a lot, he too wants to come with us. He says he doesn't mind having a new mamma."

Mom looked at dad with just the kind of big round eyes she shows me when she is angry with me. Dad turned pale, don't know why.

And then, with a smile breaking at the corner of her lips, she turned back at me and said, "Oh really? How unfortunate. I had made such grand plans for the evening. We could have gone swimming, visited a book shop later, read out all the new books at bedtime. And since you have been such a wonderful boy since yesterday, I was thinking of giving you two red-dots just now. How many would that make it, let's see?"

Mom has introduced this system of red dots for me. Every time she says 'great job' to me, I get a red dot. Ten dots entitle me to a big bar of chocolate! I looked up at the felt-pen marked red dots teasing me from the Post-it stuck on the door. I couldn't count them from a distance, but they looked like a whole bunch of them. Mom started counting.

"Eight here, and two more would make how many, dad? Ten? Uh-oh! That's really sad. But anyway, I'm sure your new mamma is going to give you something there, won't she? And great. Since all be free, I can attend a puppet show this evening. So then, what time are you'll leaving? Lunch here, or in the new house? Chocolate lolli pies for dessert today, am already famished," she said smacking her lips.

I looked at dad with pleading eyes and entreated him to bend so that I could reach his ears, "We'll go tomorrow dad. Let's have fun today."

Mom heard it and said, "No, you decide once and for all. Either you go now, or you don't go ever. Tell me quickly."

I lost no time in jumping and shouting, "I'll stay. You go dad."

"Good boy! Let me give you three red dots right away. And as for you dad, I'll deal with you separately." Mom rolled her eyes again and thundered, dad trembled. But I don't know what happened after that. I was thrilled with my choco-bar! This morning I heard from mom that dad was not served ice cream after dinner.

I have decided I will stay on, until the next time mom scolds me again.