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A Journey through the Desert

( First posted in Portuguese,  in March 2016) For Julia , The Princess with the Green Slippers 'Julia! Bernardo!&...

Friday 12 August 2016

Goodbye Childhood

Having refused to go out with her granny to buy some water, some milk and other stuff for the tired men and women who have been fighting fires and trying to save our woods and houses, she realised that it was almost lunchtime.
Sprawled on the bed with the TV on, the eleven-year old shouted out that she was hungry. 
'Your granny'll be here in a bit with the pizza. Let's set the table so we can have lunch as soon as she gets home, shall we?' said her auntie, from the bedroom door. 
'In a bit.'
Five minutes later.
'Come on, let's set the table.' said the auntie.
'I'm coming. I'll be there in a bit...I'm really hungry.' said the pre-teen without moving an inch.
A few minutes later.
'Come. Let's set the table.  Like that we can have lunch as soon as your granny gets home.'
'I'll be there in a bit!' said the girl with a lazy drawl. 
'What? No! For crying out loud...Get your lazy self off the bed and come and set the table! NOW!'
Teary-eyed, the teen gets up and leads the way to the kitchen with a steaming auntie right behind her. 
Damn. Usually someone does the things for her when she procrastinates.


I AM THE DESPERATE AUNTIE OF THIS YOUNGSTER WHO HAS NO CHORES AND SPENDS HER DAYS ON HER BACK LOOKING AT THE INTRICATE PAINT PATTERN OF THE WHITE CEILING, SURFING THE NET OR PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES ON HER TABLET. IT SEEMS THE PLEASANT LITTLE GIRL WHO ONCE LOVED PLAYING BOARD GAMES, READING AND GOING PLACES ARE OVER. I ALREADY MISS THAT LITTLE GIRL.