The Goat That Ate My Loaf

Back in my primary school years , passing a test or an examination was always rewarded with sweets or chocolates. Unlike the present times when we feel compelled to buy more 'substantial ' gifts for our kids, we seemed content with a packet from the local confectioner . Growing up in a Bengali household, sweets were central to our celebrations, irrespective of the scale of our achievements. Thus, receiving a national award called for an earthen pot of ' Roshogollas' as much as passing a grade at primary school. 

Times changed and the 'Roshogolla' was ignominiously replaced by pastries and puffs that found favour with our generation. 

On one of the many such moments when we strode out of the school holding on to my progress report jubilantly, my mother rode me to the only bakery in town, for a treat of cream rolls and pineapple pastries . I rarely catch a sight of cream rolls in the plush bakeries these days. 

She parked the scooter close enough to be within her view and we went into the bakery. Along with the pastries and rolls, she picked up some dinner rolls and a loaf of bread for the house. She carried the packets out and put them in carefully into the front carrier. The loaf of bread just about made it into its spot. Then, she felt the urge to buy some chocolates as well and went back into the bakery, asking me to stand guard over the purchases. 

From the corner of my eye, I sensed a shadow lurking around the scooter. That shadow turned out to be a large black goat that was too close for comfort. I don't know whether the goat was too large or if I was too small to shoo it away, but it stared at me almost threateningly and came straight for the loaf of bread which was wrapped in paper. Before I could gather courage to react, our visitor had treated itself to half the loaf ! Meanwhile, my mother stepped out of the bakery and paused in shock and amazement , both at my goof up as well the audacity of the goat ! It saw her and cantered away , bleating with a sense of victory. 

That year , I had done surprisingly well in Mathematics and I shall always remember it , for, the goat ate my loaf !!