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LITTLE MOUNT FEAST They reached Saidapet as it was turning dark. The whole of Little Mount was lit up. There was a fun fare in full swing, food stalls selling everything, tender coconut stalls ---- which they all decided to have. Gambling stalls, (three cups -- find the small marble) coconut shy. The screams from the kids on the merry-go-round. The blaring devotional music,on the horn loudspeakers and oddly enough, amongst all of this, a procession going towards the church. Being good Catholic boys they followed the procession to church and stayed for Benediction. After that they strolled up the hill, away from the noisy funfare and headed towards the sound of guitars and singing. Sitting round a bon fire were a lot of people, who were known to Bobby and Clive. At the top end was a large man sitting in a chair and singing, a funny song. "You remember Cedric ,said Bobby, my Dads kite tester. Thats his dad, Mr Perera ,and theres Cedric and his brother Clydo, playing guitars".
"there are many sweet potatoes after me (after me)
they're always mooching round the corner for me.
Now ladies dont get angry, cause I'm such a handsome fella,
there are many sweet potatoes after me" Then there was "dont have any more Mrs Moore" and "My Girls Face" it was non stop--- and the jokes --- one after the other. When Mr Perera needed a break he would introduce someone who was going to sing, or dance. There were , the Murray brothers who sang like the platters ---- "Only You", and Oh-Oh-Oh-Yes, "I'm the great pretender". oo oo oo oo. Oh the singers of George Town could really harmonise. There was always someone saying "Can I sing seconds uncle." Then there were the guitar players. Every boy from George Town, worth his salt , played guitar, even if it was just three chords , and all of them knew "Guitar Boogie" and every body would
jive around the fire. Or as they used to laughingly say "Doing the charv kooth". It was'nt long before the friends got hungry and went off to find something to eat. They followed their noses and came to a stall run by AIs. On the wood fire was a huge dekshi of curry bubbling away. Michael (his mouth already watering) said to the lady stirring the pot. "Hello Aunty, whats for grub?" "Oh! hello my son, Pork vindaloo, she said mopping her sweating forehead with her sleeve, a special recipe from my Nana in Pondicherry". "Can we have some Please?". said Rudy. "Oh No,No. Not yet, it wont be ready till----- Oscar! Oscar! ! she called. Whats the time?".
(must be the husband) "A quarter to 12". He said. "Thanks, she said -- it wont be ready till one o'clock. Why dont you boys go for the first mass at midnight, and when you come back, it'll be ready". "Any rice Aunty"? asked Rudy. "Not rice my son. Iddlys." she smiled at the look on their faces. "You'll love it, thats the way they have it in Pondy and Mangalore, only in Mangalore they call them "Sunnas". Now off you go to mass or you'll be late". Mass over, the two friends charged back for Pondi pork vindaloo and iddlys. "That will be 50 NP each please" said Aunty and watched the two hungry lads wolf down the meat and mop up the tasty curry with the iddlys. They thanked her and after another tender coconut, went back to the George Town bon fire, just in time to see a fair, blue eyed, skinny young man, with a guitar around his neck, standing at the side of Mr Perera "So my son, what
are you going to sing?" He asked. "Love letters in the sand, uncle". "go on then". Said Mr Perera. The whole crowd was hushed, when they heard the Young Man's voice. It was beautiful. If you closed your eyes, you would
have thought that Pat Boone was there in person. The applause was thunderous, with cries for more, more. "Can you sing another Pat Boone song My Son?". he said. By now people from other bon fires, hearing the shouts and whistles started crowding around to see what was going on. The young man strummed a chord on his guitar and sang. Well--- now --- everybodys gonna have religion and glory
Everybody's gonna be singing that story
Everybody's gonna have a wonderful time up there. ------ glory Halleluja!!! It was amazing, he sang better than Pat Boone. The applause, and shouts and whistles were even louder this time. Then he was gone and everything went quiet. Mr Perera tried to pick up the mood, with a spot of community singing. "I met my little black-eyed doll. (everybody) Down by the river side" ---- etc. And soon he was infull flow again. The night , just flew and "in the blush of dawn" the bon fire lost some of its brightness, and people started to pack up. Michael and Rudy got home tired, but with a lovely feeling of comfort, or rather , contentment, that comes with being with your family. Or in this case -- with being with yourcommunity, your people.
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LOL
Written by domestic engineer on 2007-03-02 21:57:45
Ernest, I am laughing so hard that I am crying!! I haven't heard that expression Fudda Fut since I was a young girl! Someone else in here used a word "Tittawait" (wrong spelling) that I also hadn't heard in a very long time! 
| Ta
Written by ernest on 2007-03-02 17:21:19
Charlotte, thank you for your comment. I was wondering whether anybody was reading my story anymore. I wish each part could be put out fudda-fut each week. Thanks again Ernest | Enjoyed this segment!
Written by domestic engineer on 2007-03-01 06:49:56
Idlies and Pork Vindaloo eh? Yumm! Will have to try that!  |
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