It was a Sunday early morning; as usual; the milkman’s calling bell rang a mellow chime in Mike’s ears, trying to wake him up. But he curled up further inside the couch enjoying the nice dream playing with his close friend Jimmy, the puppy, next doors, jumping and running around swinging his tail hither and thither, entwining his tail around Mike’s legs, sitting by his side expecting his gentle palm to caress and massage his fore head. Submitting to the soothing massage, jimmy laid lazily on ground asking for more and more of it closing eyes, curling his ears downwards in warmth. Mike named the massage “Nakattha” to keep in memory as a code shared with parents only! Jimmy would come running from nowhere the moment he spots Mike to get his “Nakattha”
There came a whistling of Mike’s friend Henry at the door, waking him up to carefully step out avoiding sight of his mother who would not allow him to go out before brushing teeth and washing his face. Loaded in pockets with the ants collected while playing in sand, Henry lured him to join in play. One by one the ants were gently placed free on floor to watch how they moved in a line searching food, like soldiers’ march. Mike placed a dry leaf on an ant to watch curiously the movement of leaf on the ants head!
They noticed a grasshopper hopping around the green grass on lawn; got an open bottle to poach it for fun. While poaching the grass hopper, Mike jumped with joy when he found the ball they lost the previous evening. Noticing Mike playing with the ball, the puppy Jimmy rushed jumping the fence, hugging Mike’s legs with joy, wagging the tail gently. Henry too joined them play the ball game. Mike and Henry tossed the ball between each other while Jimmy tried to jump and intercept it. It was great fun teasing Jimmy, who would run and fetch the ball whenever it was overthrown beyond the fence.
Enjoying the play, Mike remembered he has not brushed teeth nor bathed, let alone having breakfast. Soon he got a call from his mother, gently scolding him why he went playing without a wash. Realizing the mistake, Micky apologetically bids good bye to Henry and jimmy; to have a quick wash and breakfast.
Parents accompanied Mike to the Circus show in the town. A huge tent surrounded by many entertainment feats such as Roller coaster, Carousel, bungee jump ,events spread all around the tent, colorful flags, buntings and screens greeted them. Buying the entry tickets, as they took their seats, a loud announcement was heard welcoming the audience, followed by a fast parade of the artistes, clowns ,dance troupe ,musicians , circus animals to introduce them as they walked around the central mast. They all bowed before the audience giving a grand welcome.
The circus animals started their performance in groups Elephants balancing on the ball, the chimp riding the bike, the play girls swinging one end to other near the roof of the tent; had all kept the audience spellbound. The master whips the lions to follow the line, and they roar at him ferociously. Mike was grabbing his mom in fear at every roar of the lions. When the ducks made a see-saw he was all laughs with joy. Clowns were busy imitating in fun the main acrobats. The motor bike drive inside the globe was all perfect show of riders’ expertise. Soon the show reached its scheduled closing time. The artists again started parading bowing to the audience as if thanking for their encouragement, witnessing their performance with interest. Everybody stood up to the National Anthem, slowly moved out of the tent. Mike and parents moved out too, to drive back home.
It was 1O’Clock back at home very hungry Mike rushes to dining table to grab a piece or two of biscuit before supper is ready. Lo! his puppy friend Jimmy is already sitting on floor right below the dining table, waiting for his favorite caressing massage “Nakattha”.
Mike excited by Jimmy’s presence starts cajoling him and doing “Nakattha”. The duo forget the world around conversing goodies with each other unaware of time. Mike and Jimmy’s intimacy is not one day or a month but two year old, ever since the puppy jimmy started walking into Mike’s home. His mother wakes him up calling for food with great persuasion. Reluctantly he bids good bye to Jimmy to join his parents for food. All excited as he was, Mike picturesquely describes the ball game they played with Henry, the teasing fun they enjoyed with Jimmy, Jimmy’s gallop to catch the fast moving ball outside the fence and many more such incidents. As he finished supper Mike notices Jimmy still waiting to take him out for a play. They set out with Henry for a ball game in the field adjacent to their houses by the side of main road, the bus route.
This time the play was to fetch by Jimmy, the ball thrown by Mike and Henry alternately to a long distance. They played hearts content till late in the evening. Many a time the ball used to fall far away beyond the road, Jimmy would enthusiastically run crossing the road to fetch the ball. It so happens once, while Jimmy was crossing the road, a loaded truck speeding came abruptly to a grinding halt sensing the fast crossing by jimmy, to avoid accident. The truck driver was furious on Mike and Henry, shouting at them “ Get back guys,” “Don’t ever paly across the road,” “ Get back”. They wound up the game shell shocked at the thought of Jimmy getting caught in any accident.
Mike’s friendship with Jimmy was so intense and genuine, that as soon as he wakes up Jimmy comes running to Mike’s house, sitting in front of the dining hall watching for a smile and cajole by Mike before he goes to School. It was their usual practice that Jimmy walks with his friend Mike till he alights in bus, bidding him a warm send off by a mellow bow, bow! This being the routine, one day jimmy did not come to Mike’s house in the morning. Mike was surprised and unable to understand reason, he enquires Jimmy’s house lady why he didn’t turn up. The lady burst into tears and tells him he never came home from last evening, they are all sad they couldn’t trace him even after search the whole night. She requested Mike’s parents to in help them to search. Mike gets shocked, dumbfounded returns home sobbing. He skips his class, cries whole day, any amount of consoling falls on deaf ears, only to aggravate his grief. Mike’s grief was intense,he left off eating anything for days, had no interest doing his homework ,no interest in mixing with friends at school. His mother gets frightened, calls his close friends to console and help him return to his normal routine. With great efforts, they could make him believe Jimmy would return soon. As days pass by life becomes dull and drab to Mike at the loss of Jimmy’s company. Many a time he was bursting with tears remembering Jimmy.
One bad morning Mike hears that Jimmy is dead under the wheels of the regular bus that plies on the route. Mike shouts wild and loud with agony, cursing the bus and its driver. He again left taking food, wouldn’t take interest in studies, yet again lost interest mixing with friends. Dumbfounded he sobbed again and again with grief. His friend Henry too was in grief hearing Jimmy’s death. A long silence covered them both for days to come. Their teachers too were unhappy that their bright students like Mike and Henry’s losing interest in their studies and games. It was a subject of pity in the entire community for years to come. The friendship was remembered by one and all in the community and became eternal.
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