Page 29 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

“I didn’t mean that,” he said. “You gotta understand.”
I kept hitting the handlebar. “Yeah, that’s what you meant.”
“Now, what?” he asked.
“What?” I replied. “All you care is about this damn kaput Avon bicycle, not our life.”
“How can I return it to Motay?” he said. “He won’t take it.”
“Well, that’s your problem, not ours,” I said. “This bloody bicycle almost killed us.”
Tsiku shook his head. “Okay, let’s straighten the handlebars.” He brought another stone and hit it.
We straightened it, but the handle bore a dent on the edge. More than anything else, I worried Dad
would have to pay if Motay didn’t take it. He would even thrash me. The next week, Tsiku brought me
another Hero bicycle for our next ride.

***

The inter-house football tournament kicked off soon. My house had a set of talented players, but the
captain wanted me to be a goalie.
“But captain,” I said, “I want to play on defense.”
“I insist you,” said the class captain. “You must play a goalie, please.”
“Why me when there are many people who want to play a goalie?”
“Because you’re tall,” he said. “Height makes a lot of difference. You can save many goals.”
“I don’t think so,” I said. “Why don’t you ask Gopo? He is a good goalie.”
“Please Dorji,” he said. “You should listen to me if we must win this tournament.”
“Since you insist, but no blame if I can’t play well.”
“No blame game in football.”
I couldn’t go to sleep that evening because I didn’t have football boots.
“What’s the matter?” asked Dad. “You look worried.”
“Nothing, Dad. Mild headache.”
“Tell me, what is it you want?”
“Um, I have a football match tomorrow,” I said, curling up to my knees. “But—”
His eyes narrowed. “But what?”
“I don’t have football boots.”
“Football boots?” he blurted. “Can’t you play barefoot?”
“No, Dad. My friends are playing in boots.”
He gazed at the door for a while and said, “How much does it cost?”
“Um, one hundred and fifty.”
“That’s expensive. What about canvas shoes?”
I beamed. “No problem, Dad. That would do.”
“Hope it is not expensive.”
“Only fifty ngultrums.”
“Come.” He took me to YANGKIMO GENERAL SHOP.
For a short-elated moment, I forgot everything—all the bitterness of the world that ruined my life. I
frolicked home with the shoes in my arms. Dad slogged after me with a lopsided grin on his half-wizened
face.
“Thanks, Dad,” I said. “I can’t wait to show them off to my friends.”
“But don’t bring troubles.”
“I won’t, Dad.”
At school, the captain said, “You got football boots, Dorji?”
“Yeah.” I showed him. “My dad bought them for me yesterday.”
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