Le Voyage

I glared at my brother.
It was he who told her

That our school was far
And we’d need a drive in the car.

It wouldn’t cost him his life to walk for a day.
All we could do now was sit and pray,

Hoping Grandma wouldn’t launch into the story
Of how difficult school for her used to be.

“Kids nowadays,” Grandma moaned.
“Our shoulders,” slumped as we groaned.

To go to school. So grateful were we,
We didn’t even complain, you see.

Our school was perched on a cliff top.
The way till there was no easy hop.

Swimming through crocodile-infested rivers,
We had to brave our own fears.

Then on the rockiest road we had to walk
And get pricked by the sharpest rock.

During summers, it was like burning coal,
And as I said, the route was no stroll.

A little way ahead, we used to hitch up our frock
And walk through the pond, damp till the sock.

“No, no, don’t worry, my dear,”
Grandma said as she mistook my yawn for fear.

And she continued, as nothing would stop
Dear old Grandma from her childhood days’ talk.

“As we crossed the pond, damp may we be,
Our spirits were bright and energy high, you see.

Because next we had to cross the sea,
And school wouldn’t wait for you or me.

With a deep breath would we dive,
Hoping that we would survive.

We would swim until we reached the seabed,
Preparing ourselves for the journey ahead.”

Grandma kept on blabbering,
And in chorus did we join her to sing.

I had unwillingly learnt it by heart, the novel-long story,
And I knew the ending way too far to see.

And again did Grandma continue.
She would never stop. I already told you.

“And now we finally reached the seashore,
Arms heavy, socks drenching wet, and back sore.

But anyway, we would soon be dry,
’Cause there was a desert to pass by.

A 2-minute walk and we were all dry,
But it was sizzling hot; we were about to fry.

Now one last stop remains.
After all the hard work, hope, and pains.

First was a walk through a narrow lane,
And then the climb would begin on the mountain.

Our mouths would dry and fingers would freeze
Because of the snowy, cold mountain breeze.

But we kept going; persistent were we,
And we worked hard, as hard can be.

All their efforts. And finally, cliff top did we reach,
All the teachers waiting for us to teach.

And that is how to school we went.
We walked and walked; that’s exactly what I meant.

We had neither bike nor car.
We walked to school long and far.

You kids nowadays, struggle unknown to you.
You grumble and complain, nothing new.”

And finally, she finished. Now do you understand
Why I wanted to prevent this beforehand?

To stop my ears hearing the story again,
But as usual, my efforts went down the drain.

Because anyway, Grandma did say,
Causing us a huge delay.

With 5 minutes left to spare, I jumped off the bed.
And I pledged, I’ll go by bus instead.