Watch your step

        All said and done, there's nothing like writing about a goofy incident from one's childhood! Its theraupetic. 

       Speaking about childhood, I have studied in 5 schools and I believe this is one of the reasons for my extrovertive nature. Its just so simple to start a conversation even with a wall for me. Jokes apart, it depends on how one sees it. I always saw it as an opportunity to make more friends and have an adventure or two there. The flipside is I never mastered this useful talent of staying in touch with all those wonderful friends. Thanks to social networking sites its not too hard these days. 

     There are special memories associated with every friend and every school. In school # 4 (Bangalore), there was quite a lot of importance given to sports. Me being the enthusiastic tomboy used to take part in nearly all the games (a good excuse to miss classes). One of my good friends S in this school was a superb athlete. As in all schools, we were also divided into Houses - here it was named after the famous scientists Edison, Newton and Faraday. I remember I was in Edison House and so was S. We were in Vth Std. Sports day was around the corner. We were in the Juniors category. Post-heats (heats is the name for the pre-selection phase - something like a qualifier), the entire school geared up for the D-day. The heats had been a dampener as it had been raining for a considerable amount of time. But RainGod decided not to play spoilsport and the D-day dawned shiny and bright! Obviously there was neck and neck competition and everyone wanted to do his/her House proud. I had qualified for 4-5 events - 100m sprint, 200m sprint, Sack race, Three-legged race... As I write this now, I find it so hilarious to imagine myself running in a gunny bag! :-) Back in time though, I did run like mad towards the finish line. 

    S had qualified for all the events as she was undoubtedly the best in our category. Her parents had come and my mom and brother were also on their way. S's parents were very enthusiastic and they encouraged her no end. Her dad also came armed with bottles of glucose and after every event she would partake the energy drink! The first few events got over - 100m, Sack race. I really don't remember how I did. I always ended up with something - By a stroke of luck sometimes I stood first. I kept scanning the crowds for my folks who hadn't reached by then. My mom would surely have to come to take me back home but didn't she have to come early to watch me run ?? (and maybe collect a prize or two !). After the third event, I saw my mom and brother - they had just reached and they waved to me. My brother was gobbling something happily and cheering for me ;-) Who needs glucose now? My energy levels shot up. The next event was Three-Legged race. In short, there are 2 people who run together. One person's left leg is tied together with the partner's right leg - which makes it 3 legs. My partner was S. She was insanely energetic (also because she was on a roll so far). 

    Ready.. Steady.. GO & The whistle blew!! We were in the right hand corner. We set off. I was pretty confident we would win. I had more faith in S's legs taking us to the finish line even if mine faltered. We were nearly half-way when disaster struck. My free leg landed on a puddle (remember the rains?!) just outside the boundary line and needless to say - all 3 legs, 4 hands and 2 bodies went down in a heap!! :-( :-(

Puff.. That was the sound of our combined dreams of collecting the first prize evaporating into thin air :-) 

On No!! .. That was my mom immediately worried about cleaning the messy and muddy uniform.

Damn!Clean sweep shattered .. S's father glucose in hand.

Ha Ha Haaa!! Good Show! This is what I came to watch  .. My devilish brother.

    

    S was pretty miffed with me for obvious reasons. But she still bagged the "Best Sportsperson (Girl) in Juniors category" so she was alright. I was a little dejected with my abysmal performance but not for long. Sadly I have lost all contact with S and none of our common friends seem to know of her whereabouts currently. Still, I wonder if S remembers this - and whether she is still mad at me? :D