I looked up, followed by the priest. The two souls looked up. A strange brilliance appeared above the tree. It shone upon the four of us. It was one of warmth, calm, peaceful and tranquil feeling. A kind of feeling when one was safe in the arms of our mother or father. There was no fear. I cried and wept as I knew the end was just around the corner.
Slowly, the two of them were lifted up towards the brilliant light. It was a sight to remember. I could bet that the four buddies had seen this miracle. As they rose higher and higher, they waved to us. I put up my hand and waved back both for farewell and for a happy ending. My tears rolled uncontrolled down my cheeks. I was not ashamed. I was weeping as if I had lost someone very close. The priest wiped his eyes for he had also cried.
Then I realized that the other four buddies were also beside me. They were seated on the ground beside me. I heard a sniff and someone sighing.
The brilliance faded as the two rose higher and higher. Then they vanished. The moon had appeared once again as the clouds were nowhere in sight. We were bathed in the total brightness from the moon.
My shirt and shorts were covered in dirt and dust. My hair was unkempt and untidy. I was totally soaked in sweat. The four buddies were neater and cleaner because they were not affected by the whole incident.
The priest looked horrible; hair blown loose and unruly. His white dothi was dirty and white anymore.
We got up and together we walked away relieved and happy that we had carried out a deed few had done before. We were proud too. The fear of the place and the stories had faded and we walked away not fearing anymore. We thanked one another and especially the priest for his help and service.
The tamarind tree is still there, tall and mighty. The house had been pulled down as the company had ceased operation. I have not been to the place again since the incident. I do not know if other children still go there to gather the tamarind fruits or to get the sap from the useful tree. I hope to visit it again. But this time, I am sure I shall go there with a sense of pride and happiness.
Slowly, the two of them were lifted up towards the brilliant light. It was a sight to remember. I could bet that the four buddies had seen this miracle. As they rose higher and higher, they waved to us. I put up my hand and waved back both for farewell and for a happy ending. My tears rolled uncontrolled down my cheeks. I was not ashamed. I was weeping as if I had lost someone very close. The priest wiped his eyes for he had also cried.
Then I realized that the other four buddies were also beside me. They were seated on the ground beside me. I heard a sniff and someone sighing.
The brilliance faded as the two rose higher and higher. Then they vanished. The moon had appeared once again as the clouds were nowhere in sight. We were bathed in the total brightness from the moon.
My shirt and shorts were covered in dirt and dust. My hair was unkempt and untidy. I was totally soaked in sweat. The four buddies were neater and cleaner because they were not affected by the whole incident.
The priest looked horrible; hair blown loose and unruly. His white dothi was dirty and white anymore.
We got up and together we walked away relieved and happy that we had carried out a deed few had done before. We were proud too. The fear of the place and the stories had faded and we walked away not fearing anymore. We thanked one another and especially the priest for his help and service.
The tamarind tree is still there, tall and mighty. The house had been pulled down as the company had ceased operation. I have not been to the place again since the incident. I do not know if other children still go there to gather the tamarind fruits or to get the sap from the useful tree. I hope to visit it again. But this time, I am sure I shall go there with a sense of pride and happiness.
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