Metamorphosis…A Change from Caterpillars to Butterflies…
Metamorphosis….a change from caterpillars to butterflies….
Metamorphosis
It was a Friday afternoon and we were planning on visiting some of our friends who were leaving to India for a vacation. From the morning itself, it was raining intermittently as if rain clouds were playing hide and seek with us. By the time we picked up our daughter from school, it started pouring. For a refuge, we dropped in at a Dunkin Donuts near our home which was almost like a second home to us. We used to go there so very often and had our own time tested favorites. Well, what better way to pass time on a rainy day than have steaming cups of vanilla chai, I thought. Cheers to a great afternoon of family time!!!
That day, Dunkin was unusually crowded. We got our orders, found an empty table, hung our wet coats on the chairs and contentedly sat down to enjoy our hot drink. It was then it happened ..an army of school kids suddenly barged in. I guess most were in middle school and some in high school. I was overjoyed because now my five year old daughter will no longer make a fuss and will be quite content in watching these kids, I thought.
It took only a few moments to change the ambience of the entire coffee shop to one of complete pandemonium. There were screams of bubbly excitement,laughter and of course very loud talking. We were curiously watching all these and with the accompaniment of bittersweet emotions, I began to fondly remember my own happy school days. But slowly things began to seem a little bit different from when I was a school kid.The first thing that was kicked out of the way was the yellow board which conveyed the warning that the floor might be wet. No sooner had some of the kids bought drinks and snacks that the munchkins began to be thrown about for sharing. Those thrown with good aim reached the intended recipients while the others fell on floor and were trampled underfoot. The “F” word was religiously uttered in each and every sentence as if their lives depended on it. A glass of soda was poured on the floor and on it some kids were showing off their skating skills. The poor ice cubes left in glasses didn’t stand a chance of being treated with any degree of respect and were soon tossed about.
For a moment, I wondered if we were the only ones who thought this odd and was quite relieved when a middle aged man sitting on the next table was also not amused at these proceedings. The Dunkin staff had gathered in one corner and seemed to be clueless as to what to do. I don’t know how, but in the midst of all this, some kids remained unperturbed and sat as statues immersed in the blinking screens of their phones. One girl looked up from her phone and I was thinking how pretty she was with her golden hair and blue eyes. Then she shouted something to her boyfriend which was sort of a rude shock to me. No, I am not repeating that line because for one thing I can’t bring myself to type it and for another I think I would need permission from the owners of this site for that. To make a long story short when we left Dunkin that day, my husband was having a migraine and I was plagued with lots of doubts. I looked at my daughter who will definitely go through this phase. I imagined with dread the day she would say the “F” word while I kept searching for flowery words to write my poetry. Let that day be far in coming, I sincerely wished..
When does that magical metamorphosis happen? When do all these havoc causing kids turn into perfect gentlemen or elegant ladies? Do they learn the hard way or is it that one morning they wake up and decide to change? I don’t know. But I am sure of one thing.. Among these kids, there would be a father who would play soccer with his kids and ask them to strictly follow the rules, there would be a mother who would be teaching her kids codes of conduct, there would be professionals who would make the world a far better place. Only when and how that transition happens remains to me as unfathomable.
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All so true, and kids can be a handful, particularly in groups where they all fall to the group will and get up to mischief. I can tell you now, teens can be difficult, but my youngest is now 23 and those days are long gone. Like everything else, we survive and if they’re lucky they survive too. lol. Nicely written Anjana, brought back memories.
Thank you dear Tony for your kind words. Don’t know why but i just wanted to write this down..lol..really appreciate your support, as always.
Oh wow! This sure brings back memories. I remember when my son was that age and with a group of his friends. Fortunately my son and friends were not as rude as the ones you watched, but there were times I had to make them tow the line. This is a very well-written memoir, Anjana. I truly enjoyed reading it. Well done, dear friend.
Thank you dear Phyllis..this is the first time i am attempting to write something like this and so i am delighted that this found favor with you..really appreciate your kind support..