Craftwork

THE PARENTS - Part 4/8 – Craftwork

Jay drove back to work.

Back at home, the kids were on cloud nine. They jumped, danced, ran around and played singing loudly.

The boys had their lunch and later, as Vye relaxed in the living room watching his favourite TV channel Jim Jam TV, Elle and Kay sat down to review Kay’s schoolwork and to finish his homework for the day.

As she flipped through his school almanac, mom asked Kay “How was your school today?”

Kay replied “Okay”, which initiated the following conversation

“Why just okay. Wasn’t it great? You got your Hindi test paper today, and it says 15/15, isn’t that great?”

“Okay, but I don’t like Adrian and Ranjan and Nikhil and Mustafa. I don’t like them.

They are all bad boys only”

“Why… Why do you say that Kay”

“They are always saying that I am a girl. I am not a girl no Amma? I don’t like them”

She replied “Just ignore them Kay, they are just silly boys”

Kay didn’t respond. He just kept quiet gazing away from her face looking through the book shelf on the right.

She called out “Kay, you here? What happened to you? You got lost in wonderland or what? Where are you boy?”

The boy jerked his head as if he had just been released from a trance, and then replied “But Amma, they are making fun of me all the time, when I am in the class and even in the bus ….. the big boys in the bus also….. they also laughing at me and making fun. I don’t like that”

“These boys are all crazy. Don’t pay attention to them” his mother advised.

Kay responded half heartedly “Okay Amma” and they proceeded with his homework for the day.

After Kay finished his homework, he got permission to watch TV and so proceeded straight to the living room, where he picked the TV remote and switched channels to his favourite channel Cartoon Network. This act pissed off little Vye and he started crying loudly throwing tantrums and jumping on the sofa. The boys started fighting and rolling over each other. Finally their mother, who was busy watching some craftwork videos on youtube intervened and negotiated a settlement. Vye went back to watching his channel and Kay could now watch his favourite Ben10 videos on youtube; but after his mother finished her viewings.

Elle and Kay went back to the study room, where Elle sat back on the revolving chair and resumed watching her craftwork videos as Kay stood next to her looking at the screen inquisitively and yet anticipating that his mother’s work would finish soon so that he could hop on to the seat and take charge of the computer.

As his mother watched the videos Kay asked her innocently “Amma, why are you watching this? Will it make you strong and teach you how to attack?”

“Ahh” she said and continued “Kay remember, on Friday when we were Shopping, I had brought some crepe paper and a bottle each of glue and varnish?”

“Yes Amma” he responded

“Well, I am making a new cookie jar” she informed him

“How will you make it Amma?” Kay asked

She replied “You just watch me do it and you’ll know. Would you like to help me to make it?”

Kay asked back “Would it be fun?”

“Yes, it would be. You will enjoy it” she said and continued “But we have to wait, can’t do it while Vye is awake”

“Okay Amma” he said and added “I know, babies should not play with scissors, It is not safe. But I am a big boy no? I know how to work safely”

She replied “Yes” and got up from the chair and let Kay hop in.

Elle then proceeded to the living room to put little Vye to sleep. Vye, hopped on to his mother’s chest and shut his eyes as Kay, who was now watching Ben10 – Alien Force videos on youtube was all animated and screamed out the names of various Ben10 forms. His mother, who sat in the adjacent room listening to his mumblings, let out a chuckle as she heard him scream “I am the ultimate….. hee hooo haa….. you, bad boy ….. I am going to attack you with the Ultimatrix….. take that .... yeahhhh”

When Vye had dozed off, Elle took him and placed him in his crib and called out Kay. It was time to make their cookie jar.

From the kitchen, Elle got two large empty canisters of Nido Milk Powder, in which she used to otherwise store their confectionaries and cookies. She took measurements and then cut out the crepe paper and wrapped it over one and on the other she wrapped bits of newspaper cut outs, gluing both on the underside. As they waited for the glue to dry, they searched for flower images on google and later printed out pictures of beautiful flowers on their home printer. Elle cut out the flower printouts as Kay watched admiringly, impressed by his mother’s craftwork.  When the glue had dried, they pasted the flower pictures on the canisters. Later Elle applied a coat of varnish over it and put it for drying.

After they finished making it, Kay kept staring at it and asked his mother, “Amma, why did you put this thing over it?” to which his mother asked back “What thing? This Varnish?”

“Yes” he replied, to which she explained “That is to protect it”

“Like Gwen’s shield no, Amma?” He suggested.

“Yes” his mother replied and asked back “Isn’t it beautiful now, Kay?”

“Yes it is. Like a new dress, no Amma?” he replied and continued “Cool. That’s a great job, Amma”

Elle thanked her son and said “It wouldn’t have been possible without your help, son” to which Kay responded “Yes Amma, I am a good boy always. I can help anyone all the time. Like Ben10, I always save the day” and went on to resume watching his Ben10 videos.

Elle then made a phone call to Jay, who was at work. As his phone rang, she heard little Vye calling out, and so, rushed to the Kid’s Bedroom giving the phone to Kay and instructing him “Talk to Pappa. I think Vye has got up. I’ll get him”

After some ten odd rings Jay picked up the phone. He sounded tired and weak.

Kay asked “How are you Pappa? Are you busy?”

His dad replied “I am okay son”

“Okay Pappa. You know today Amma made a new cookie jar and I helped her” said Kay.

Dad replied “Okay, Good”

“I am a good boy no Pappa?” Kay continued

“Yes you are” said Dad in a tired voice

“Did you buyed the Colouring Puzzle?”

“It is not buyed Kay. We say bring, buy or brought. There is no word buyed”

“Ok Pappa. Did you buy it?”

“No I didn’t. I shall do that on my way back from the office”

“Okay Good Pappa. You are my hero. I know you can save the day like Ben10”

That brought a little cheer into Dad’s eyes and Kay heard him smile as he replied “Thank you Kay”

“Okay Pappa. At what time will you come home?” Kay enquired

“I’ll be there before seven”

“What is the time now, Pappa?”

“I think it is around half past four”

“Okay Pappa. Don’t forget to bring the Puzzle, Okay”

“Okay Kay I will not”

Kay then pepped up his dad’s mood by adding “Thank you Pappa. You are a Super Hero. You are strong like Hulk and no one can ever kill you. You can do the Hulk smash and save the day”

“Thank you Kay” said Dad who sounded rejuvenated and disconnected the phone.

After disconnecting the phone Kay ran to the Kid’s Room, where his mother sat on the sofa bed rocking Vye on her lap. He narrated the phone conversation to his mother and said that his Dad had promised to bring the Colouring Puzzle on his way back from work. He then mentioned that he thought his dad was not well, to which his mother replied “Oh! Your Pappa is always sick and tired when he is at office”

Kay replied “Yeah, maybe. Pappa is always like Homer Simpson only no Amma?”, to which Elle burst out laughing loudly and in the process woke up little Vye. Kay, who didn’t realize what the joke was all about, faked a laugh and then rushed back to watch is youtube videos.

Elle later got her younger son to the Study Room and showed him the new cookie jar and in response Vye said “Cookie Amma? Waawww. Goooo (Is this for the cookies, Amma? Wow! Good)” His mother, who liked the compliment, started blushing joyously. They then proceeded to the Living Room.