THE PURGE
My early teenage years at school was not only full of misguided infatuation but also of stern parental guidance and unbreakable stipulations. The end of the school term was always a time of excitement, expectations, and trepidations. We made plans and set goals, all within the parameters of strong parental controls, respect, and obedience to the sacrosanct principles of morality and acquired values of well trodden pathways. We never went against the wishes and aspirations of our parents and our village elders, one of which was an accepted, almost religious ceremony - to go through an end of term exercise that revolved around castor oil, epsom salts, and senna leaves. The Shaman, as many of us called him because he knew everything about everyone, or, the practicing medical expert in my village, was the popular Pharmacist, who we fondly referred to as Dr. Shannon.He was an expert who dispensed several concoctions to ward off a multitude of ailments and maladies. My end of term ritua...