An African Adventure Wednesday, Sept. 10th I just looked out beyond the fence, and there are four or five boys up in the mango tree. Earlier a couple of them came and asked if they could go and pick the ripe mangos. I told them, Not right now. I dont have time to go with you, and you wont stop with the ripe ones. They have no sense at all. Once they begin picking, they pick the green ones as well. They are supposed to pick them, and bring them to the cooks to prepare for supper, but they eat as many as they bring in. I did the same thing with scuppernongs and blackberries as a kid. The only problem is they eat them rind and all, the green ones as well as the ripe; consequently they will all have a belly ache tonight. When I get out there to take names, and paddle behinds, Im surprised and shocked to find Fred Kagje among them. Normally Kagje is a model kid, and is never in trouble. He is one of the ones who had polio as an infant, and has to use crutches to walk. I send the rest back to await their punishment, and I walk with Kagje, while he hobbles along. I think waiting and thinking about a paddling with the posho paddle is better punishment than the actual swat Ill give them. Kagje wont look at me. Finally I break the silence, Didnt you hear me when I said you couldnt pick the mangos? Yes, he mumbles. I shake my head. Im really disappointed in you, Fred. I know. Im sorry. As we walk along, a light comes on in my head. As I said before, Im beginning to learn that sometimes their English doesnt always mean what I think it means. I remember, now, that if you ask them a question in the negative, they will answer in the positive. When I asked, Didnt you hear me? His answer was, Yes, I didnt hear you. I should have known that Fred would never disobey me. So, I rephrase my question. Kagje, were you with the other boys when I said you couldnt pick mangos? No, sir. So, you didnt hear me? Yes, sir. I pride myself on picking up foreign languages fairly easy, but Im not sure Ill ever learn to speak English, their brand of English, anyway.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 02:42:25 +0000
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