BUMPER BALL, BATTING, AND HOME WORK

 BUMPER BALL, 'BATTING' & HOMEWORK 


Growing up in the 50's and 60's was a nostalgic adventure, full of fun, frolic, family, and personal scholastic achievements, coupled with many misadventures. 


It was a time when we had very little, if any, technological accessories. The only working technology that was commonly used, and which we feared, was the 'wildcane'. The cracking and hissing sound that this instrument made was used copiously by the older folks. Not us, the curious, inquisitive, growing children. It kept children in line. Even the police applauded the use of this simple technology. 


The wildcane governed the behaviour of those of us who grew up during this period but it never stopped us from having fun and making great strides in personal achievements.


After school, during the regular school week, was hectic and fast moving because of the limited time we had before sunset. Getting home, having a snack,and doing some household chores to help our mothers was normal before rushing off to the village ballfield to meet with neighborhood friends, and foe, for a game of bumper ball.


There was one demand from my mother, "Get home before the sun sets".


On one of these afternoons, with clear blue skies and a brilliant sunshine, I was one of the first to reach the ballfield. You had to be there early to get on the better side! All went well! My team batted first! The north easterly winds kept us cool, blowing from the Atlantic, over the river which bordered our village, and then swept across the ballfield.


We made a defendable amount of runs before my captain declared the end of the innings. But he erred

There wasn't enough time left for the other team to bat, chasing the score that we had already made.


I convinced my captain to allow me to field in the long on position, close to the boundary line. It was a calculated move! The sun was dipping fast on the western horizon and the team that was batting was only at the halfway mark in it's chase to overhaul our total score. We felt that we could have bowled them out before the sun set. But we were wrong! This one guy, one of my fiercest foe, kept on batting. We couldn't get him out!


The sun was almost over the horizon, and darkness was creeping over the ballfield. I made my move,and hastily but with extreme stealth, dashed out of the field and into the blacksage bushes. I ran through the bushes and emerged unto the pathway which led into the street which would've taken me home. But my foe saw my move!


He caught up with me before I got home and proceeded to cuff me across my shoulders. He was much bigger than me in stature. He was the village bully! 


" You have to stay and give me my 'batting' ".


"I have to get home before the sun sets, or I will get the wildcane", I said.


"All of us will get the wildcane tonight but I don't care. I am going to win this game", he said.


"Oh, wait", he demanded. " I will let you go home if you do my homework for me".


After telling him yes, I ran home, took a bath and had my dinner. That night I sat at my usual table, with light coming from the flickering hand lamp, and did two sets of homework, one for me and one for him. 









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