The Last Candy

While one of Goa’s most renowned authors sat at his desk scripting his next great work, two twelve year old boys entered the room with the sole intention of stealing some candies from the old man’s bed side table. This was daily routine. Every day they would slip into the room one behind the other, and without the slightest of murmur, giggle or a heavy foot fall, they’d accomplish their mission. But today, they were caught. Just as one of them stretched out the tiny fingers of his hand to hold the jar, the old man called out to him. Practically petrified, the boys stared at each other. Their daily candy stealing racket had been busted. He called the boys near him. They took one step at a time and with each step they wondered what the possible punishments could be. They came and stood just behind his chair. He turned his neck towards one of them, the one who was his grandson, and held his hand out for the jar. The boy, Tobu, handed it over and looked at his friend. A look that had “no candies from today” written all over it. The old man, meanwhile, opened the jar and took out a handful of candies (an assortment of mint, éclairs, orange etc.) and handed it evenly into the hands of both of them. This was the best punishment ever. As soon as their hands were laden with candies, they shot out of the room; and Tato, as we preferred to call him, got back to his work.

Continued...