I finally got to read this story, it is so funny and ironic at the same time!! Brought back all the similar memories of growing up in India. It was almost reliving those confusing innocent days!! Ending is absolutely hilarious and just the other day we were talking about hurting knees😜
BIG THANKS, Cristoffa! Appreciate your careful reading and made my day that you enjoyed it despite the chromosomal constraint. I am thrilled to read that my writing is "V Cool Writing".
I did read Kipling when I was young--should go back. I tend to agree that he was unfairly maligned; and was an Indophile; we all like to pretend to be superbly virtuous as if our own values and practices will stand heroically up to scrutiny a 100 years from now. As an aside, I do not take lightly the advantages that learning the English language like a "native" has given me.
Please do let me know if you like any other stories on here. I always try to write honestly for and from myself, but it helps to know where universal themes and appeal surface in my words...
And have re read your Sex Ed novella again, and enjoy even more second time.
And it is Kipling to the punchline.
Nice story about his books and my early intro like late 1960s. His poetry and plays are sort of forgotten.
Listening to Stella Anning Trio on Spotify. Stella is a cool person from from Naarm/Melbourne. A jazz story guitarist connect via Haiti and Montreal. From Two Brave Sisters
So for an XY who thought a few stories only in the barrel, more are popping, both oddly, have to do with toilets and nuns.No seriously bad stuff, but actually not good at all.
Thanks so very much Laura!! So delighted to read that. I was concerned that this story may not resonate with those who did not grow up then and there. So your comment was very welcome. Many thanks!!
Reena, what a delightful and creative piece! I am fascinated by children’s “religious” experiences. I just love the innocence, the imagined meanings the child makes of the church's rules. I laughed out loud more than once, and even louder as I went along.
I can so relate to the mystique about periods.
It doesn’t matter to me what’s true or fiction — it all sounds true, and that’s enough.
I also enjoyed your mix of short sentences with long, and your careful attention to word choice. I hope you write more of your story!
Darlene -- So honored and delighted for this comment from someone like you! Thank you for reading and finding all this in my story. I do plan to keep writing stories and will keep you posted. Many thanks again for your careful reading and support.
I enjoyed reading and especially liked how you stayed true to the age of the child protagonist as she developed. Got the feeling child felt like a total outsider. Wondered if she liked or appreciated any of the teaching by the dedicated nuns. I liked getting a Hindu perspective when child says “we know there are many gods.” It totally showed her pride in her own cultural upbringing and informed Christians there is more than one way to believe in the Divine. A well told tale.
Thank you Elaine for such a careful reading and in depth comment. This is based on my real life experiences, of course, and was quite the norm in those days among my peers. Many of my friends responded to this story with recognition. The education at the catholic schools was excellent—albeit not the sex-education—and rigorous and I’m still grateful for that; but yes the religion was a mystery until we grew up a bit and understood the differences. But the fact was we Hindus were the vast majority and our parents were very comfortable in this knowledge so no one worried too much. I now think back fondly and with gratitude for the the exposure. I appreciate your comment very much.
I went to catholic school and can picture the mothers and brothers and nuns walking around and scolding us for short skirts and other such trivial things. It was funny and emotional. Lovely and entertaining read Reena.
Thank you so much, dear Lalitha! I am so glad this resonated with your memories too -- and that it was entertaining. Some day we have reconstruct how we all managed to get the full picture, finally. :-) Always appreciate your comments.
Great read, Reena. I really liked seeing this side of Catholic school upbringings. I didn't go to Catholic schools, but grew up hearing about them because so many people I know went. Lots of similarities despite the geographical distance.
Thank you Ray for taking the time to read and comment! And so interesting you found some common threads. In our case the lack of such education was as much a function of the catholic schools, which were btw excellent education-wise, as the repressed Indian social milieu we were raised in. It's sort of comical to think about it now but given no other resources (70s, 80s) except equally misled adults, it was all very mysterious to us! Appreciate you stopping by.
loved the ending!
Thank you for reading it Clancy! Appreciate it.
I finally got to read this story, it is so funny and ironic at the same time!! Brought back all the similar memories of growing up in India. It was almost reliving those confusing innocent days!! Ending is absolutely hilarious and just the other day we were talking about hurting knees😜
Aww so glad you read it and enjoyed it, Vanita! Your comment made my day. Thank you for telling me.
Hi Reena, what a fabulous story. Apocryphal or not.
My guess, less the not.
And resonations of the strong kind despite my XY chromo status. At a Convent School till Grade 4
Also, with maybe a current risk to say these days, very Kiplingesque ending,
If you have ever read his plays, and really stretching my memory a lot, from Plain Tales From the Hills maybe.
Maybe tags Clancy's statement.
A man of his time perhaps, but I feel far less jingoistic Brit than labelled and much more a humanist and loved India and people.
Yours is V Cool Writing.
Look forward to more in the future, as I read your back catalogue.
Cristoffa, aka Dr Bok.
BIG THANKS, Cristoffa! Appreciate your careful reading and made my day that you enjoyed it despite the chromosomal constraint. I am thrilled to read that my writing is "V Cool Writing".
I did read Kipling when I was young--should go back. I tend to agree that he was unfairly maligned; and was an Indophile; we all like to pretend to be superbly virtuous as if our own values and practices will stand heroically up to scrutiny a 100 years from now. As an aside, I do not take lightly the advantages that learning the English language like a "native" has given me.
Please do let me know if you like any other stories on here. I always try to write honestly for and from myself, but it helps to know where universal themes and appeal surface in my words...
Cool invite that I will take seriously.
Sublime Stuff Reena.
And have re read your Sex Ed novella again, and enjoy even more second time.
And it is Kipling to the punchline.
Nice story about his books and my early intro like late 1960s. His poetry and plays are sort of forgotten.
Listening to Stella Anning Trio on Spotify. Stella is a cool person from from Naarm/Melbourne. A jazz story guitarist connect via Haiti and Montreal. From Two Brave Sisters
So for an XY who thought a few stories only in the barrel, more are popping, both oddly, have to do with toilets and nuns.No seriously bad stuff, but actually not good at all.
Can you wait???
I got such a kick out of this piece! So many lines made me chuckle. The childlike perspective adds such a vivid sense of authenticity.
Thanks so very much Laura!! So delighted to read that. I was concerned that this story may not resonate with those who did not grow up then and there. So your comment was very welcome. Many thanks!!
Reena, what a delightful and creative piece! I am fascinated by children’s “religious” experiences. I just love the innocence, the imagined meanings the child makes of the church's rules. I laughed out loud more than once, and even louder as I went along.
I can so relate to the mystique about periods.
It doesn’t matter to me what’s true or fiction — it all sounds true, and that’s enough.
I also enjoyed your mix of short sentences with long, and your careful attention to word choice. I hope you write more of your story!
Darlene -- So honored and delighted for this comment from someone like you! Thank you for reading and finding all this in my story. I do plan to keep writing stories and will keep you posted. Many thanks again for your careful reading and support.
I enjoyed reading and especially liked how you stayed true to the age of the child protagonist as she developed. Got the feeling child felt like a total outsider. Wondered if she liked or appreciated any of the teaching by the dedicated nuns. I liked getting a Hindu perspective when child says “we know there are many gods.” It totally showed her pride in her own cultural upbringing and informed Christians there is more than one way to believe in the Divine. A well told tale.
Thank you Elaine for such a careful reading and in depth comment. This is based on my real life experiences, of course, and was quite the norm in those days among my peers. Many of my friends responded to this story with recognition. The education at the catholic schools was excellent—albeit not the sex-education—and rigorous and I’m still grateful for that; but yes the religion was a mystery until we grew up a bit and understood the differences. But the fact was we Hindus were the vast majority and our parents were very comfortable in this knowledge so no one worried too much. I now think back fondly and with gratitude for the the exposure. I appreciate your comment very much.
I went to catholic school and can picture the mothers and brothers and nuns walking around and scolding us for short skirts and other such trivial things. It was funny and emotional. Lovely and entertaining read Reena.
Thank you so much, dear Lalitha! I am so glad this resonated with your memories too -- and that it was entertaining. Some day we have reconstruct how we all managed to get the full picture, finally. :-) Always appreciate your comments.
Great read, Reena. I really liked seeing this side of Catholic school upbringings. I didn't go to Catholic schools, but grew up hearing about them because so many people I know went. Lots of similarities despite the geographical distance.
Thank you Ray for taking the time to read and comment! And so interesting you found some common threads. In our case the lack of such education was as much a function of the catholic schools, which were btw excellent education-wise, as the repressed Indian social milieu we were raised in. It's sort of comical to think about it now but given no other resources (70s, 80s) except equally misled adults, it was all very mysterious to us! Appreciate you stopping by.
Thanks for inviting me! 😁
Loved this piece. How beautifully you have weaved in the stories. And spectacular ending. 😂
Thank you Femy!! So happy to hear that you enjoyed it.
This is all so true to emotion and the innocence of growing up - I relate so much!!!💛
Thank you Pragalbha! SO happy to hear that you related.
Bonded through Sacred Hearts :) my piece of my experience https://tillism.com/2021/04/13/the-brilliance-of-the-sacred-heart-of-buddha/
Love it!!! Thank you for reading Anniqua.