Peacock Oiled Cane

My 4 yrs old revealed a school secret that circulated in her kindergarten of a legendary cane that was used by a highly feared teacher. The legend has it , as my daughter confides with big eyes, a whipping with this cane not only reduce one to tears but also deters one from doing the same mistake. It was used liberally by Mrs. Leela the Kindergarten  class teacher to control the class.

 “It is made is a special way, that’s why is so powerful” she says.

“How is it made?” I asked being thoroughly curious at this point.

“You have to select a stick, any stick by either breaking off a branch or cutting one down.”

I nod as I listen.

“You have to dry the stick after taking off the dirty sides but putting it in the sun”

I nod.

“ You take ½ kg ginger and ½ kg black pepper and grind to a paste ”

I nod

“Then, apply the paste on the stick like we do for chicken or fish…..and then put it in the sun to dry…”

I raise an eyebrow.

“Then, take ½ kg salt and apply it in the same way and put it in the sun to dry…”

At this point, I started to imagine the stick which was thoroughly marinated in ginger, black pepper and salt and frankly it was beginning to resemble a chicken by then!

“Then, we take 1 kg peacock oil and oil the stick well for half and hour …and then put it in the sun to dry…”

At this point I was already snickering and trying to control my giggle.

“Once it is dry, you can take it and test to see if the stick is ready for use.…”

“Where do you get to buy the peacock oil from?”  I asked giving in to a small smile.

“From the store. They squeeze a big peacock to get the oil, silly.” she said as a matter of fact.

My control slowly slipping, the mere thought of squeezing the poor bird to get oil for the infamous cane was looking funny by now. “How do you test the stick?”

“Well, that’s easy…” she exclaimed… “You poke it on to your palm, if it hurts, it is ready. ”

I failed in my attempt to keep a straight face and started chuckling. A kindergartener would believe anything. It was evident to my husband and mother in law by now. They were trying hard to keep a straight face so that my daughter would not be offended by their amusement. “Has anyone ever received a beating from the cane?”

“Oh yes! Rahul from KG 2 got a nice one on his butt and he never bothered me again as he remembered the stick every time he saw me”

A loud burst of laughter followed and I couldn’t figure who started laughing out loud first….

“Seriously mummy, its no joke! He got a nice whipping on his butt from Mrs . Leela and he keep holding his butt when he walks around so that it does not fall off. A beating with that cane can make your butt come off!!!”

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child.  There are seven million.  ~Walt Streightiff

Article written by Anney Thomas. This is her first article in GingerChai. Lets welcome Anney to our GingerChai author panel. Looking forward to more brews from her in the coming days.