FROM A THOMIAN
YOUNG, TO A THOMIAN OLD
"Thomians
young and Thomians old, Thomians staunch and true..........
Hear goes the song of a Thomian,
immaterial of age from start to close. Below are the stages of a cricket
enthusiast (Thomian of course), through the decades of his life's career.
Starting young as a school boy- (in the school by the sea, where even the
waters change from blue, black to blue), through the year to a ripe old age,
-This proud old Thomian "Staunch and true".
Starting from a lower school
"brat", flag in hand, accompanied by parents to his first experience of a
big match. His knowledge of the game is nil, all he knows is to cheer and
wave his flag, when the others do. His main concern is his icy-chocks and
grub. His interest is short-lived and before long he's stretched out on his
chair, playing cricket in his dreams.
Next, in middle school, no longer
'Mama's boy', but 'Dada's son'. Why? Because Dad is an old boy of course.
Now more grown up than before, with drink bottle slung across his shoulder,
armed with rosette, flag and rattle and a few coins in his pocket, you'll
find him in the tent, joining his mates to scream his head off.
Now graduated to upper school
(these are the best days of his school life). You'll find him contributing
his two cents worth, to all that is planned for the match time. The great
day dawns-after weeks of plans and discussions, in his fancy outfit,
balanced precariously on the truck, he goes speeding past the girls schools,
king of his kingdom, destination point -match grounds.
Then on to college forms, all torn
foolery left behind and with a sense of responsibility written across his
grown up self, as a steward, you'll find him checking and bringing to book
the "sinners" for shouting and misbehaving-the very things he himself had
done before. Simultaneously clad in immaculate college uniform and tie, with
straw hat and badge, he performs his 'endurance task', continuing on to the
now extended third day. His heart is heavy and mind is sad, for at the close
of this game play, there closes a chapter in his life-for he leaves his
school days behind him, looking ahead to a new and unknown future.
The next match sees him as an old
boy, cigarette in one hand and girl in the other. Slightly more serious , he
wistfully thinks of recent past. Looking across to the Thomian Tent, he is
tempted once again to join the mad ones there, but the thought of someone
giving his girl the glad eye, restrains him.
Surrounded by his family, he's
next seen at the match, recalling to his children, his school days. Or he
may be an occupant of the Mustang Tent, once again a school boy at heart,
letting himself go, with a mild consumption of liquor, which is their
privilege. He may even be in the V.I.P seats, with the high up's of the
land, perhaps lucky to be the proud father of a player, and the biggest
critic when it comes to analyzing what the team out there should not be
doing.
Age creeps in on him: 'the young
in spirit, physically too old to exert his frail body for long hours at a
match'. In this final stage , the old Thomian keeps himself glued to the
radio at home (or the T.V in the next decade).Commentaries are his only
source of news and in between fits of dozing off, his failing memory
recollects snatches from the past, of his own school days, while the
commentator blares the achievements, of perhaps his own grandson, as he
performs on the field.
Cricket enthusiast or not, this
stage sees him still.........with unfailing loyalty, still....the Thomian
(old) living up to his ESTO
PERPETUA.
LALITH DASSENAIKE.
