The Impromptu Pool Party

It’s been particularly balmy in Mauritius lately. The air hangs heavy, thick with the incessant buzzing of mosquitos. The sun glares down on this tiny island, daring its inhabitants to brave the bright blue ocean.

All this heat causes tempers to flare, especially pint-sized tempers that feel hot and irritable when the temperature rises above 30 degrees Celsius.

At four, o’clock in the afternoon, escape to the beach was not an option, the sun was still too high and neither Papa nor Mummy had the energy to pack for the beach. But an irritable child is a force of nature in itself and cannot be ignored. So the inflatable pool was hauled out to the shade of the backyard and an overjoyed Shabd, clapping his hands in glee, gingerly climbed into the pool.

All the commotion and excitement roused Dada out from his afternoon nap, drawing him outside to enquire as to all this hullabaloo. His smile widening as he catches a glimpse of Shabd reclining in his pool, box of juice in one hand and his penguin boat in the other – this is the sweet life!

 

“Have you’ll had tea as yet?” he enquires. Receiving a negative response, he quickly jumps into action, doing what Dada does best, organizing a fete!

We overhear him inviting his elder brother to come over and have tea by the pool with Shabd. “Tea by the pool?” the puzzled ‘other’ Dada responds, “Aller right, mo vini la” (Alright, I’ll be right there).

Dadi has been tasked with brewing tea and having retired the previous day, she graciously provides delicious chocolate cake as well. Papa is in charge of brining the table and chairs by the poolside. It would be defeating the purpose of having tea by the pool, if seats were not arranged by the pool. What a fete this is turning out to be!

 

And Shabd, oblivious to all but his rubber ducky and plastic animals, lies in his teensy pool, cooling down. He comes out occasionally; to have a sip of his freshly brewed rooibos tea, or a bite of retirement cake. Alternating between cooling off in his pool, swinging under the olive tree and watering his Dadi’s potted plants, all bare bummed of course!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah, another pearl of happiness for my necklace of joy; sitting by the pool, enjoying a cup of hot tea, a slice of chocolate cake surrounded by family.

 

 

The air is light, a breeze cools the air and laughter rings in the yard as a content Shabd gets up to his usual and always entertaining antics.