Читать книгу When I was - Nataniël - Страница 5

When I was 8 years old I discovered for the first time that most adults had problems. Up until then I had always believed that being a grown-up meant you had everything you needed, you could do what you wanted and never had to listen to anyone. But then I started noticing things, things that did not seem right, like people frowning, whispering, crying and repeating outfits.

I lost all interest in other children and became obsessed with finding out what was going on with the grown-ups. I could not stop sneaking around, waiting around corners, hiding behind doors, opening cupboards and looking under furniture.

One night I opened my bedroom door and heard the most unbelievable conversation. My mother was telling my grandmother that it was time my grandfather confronted his demons. I knew my grandfather had chickens, ducks and rabbits, but where were the demons?

Then my grandmother said she kept hiding all the bottles but he kept finding them.

She said if he was an alcolic person, she was going to leave him. Then my mother became really upset and started using her high voice, so I closed my door.

The next morning I waited until I was alone in the kitchen with my mother. I tried to sound really innocent.

What is an alcolic person? I asked.

My mother looked at me.

Not alcolic, she said, Alcoholic.

What is it? I said.

It is a person who is very thirsty, she said.

Why? I said.

Because he is in a desert, she said.

Where? I said.

It is an emotional desert, said my mother.

That day I couldn’t concentrate in school. I told everybody my grandfather was in a desert and kept his demons in a bottle. And the more I spoke about him, the more he became a hero. One with a secret.

The next time I found out my grandparents were coming to visit, I told everybody. That afternoon the house was filled with children. We followed my grandfather everywhere. Every time we saw a bottle we gasped.

What is wrong with you? asked Grandfather.

Show us your demon! shouted little Simon Minnie.

Grandfather looked at us.

Sit down, he said. Then he told us a story about a monster that lived in a forest. It was so scary that Corlia Joubert peed on the couch. Grandfather took a deep breath and told us another story. It was about a monster that lived nearby and walked the streets at night. He was harmless and would do anything just to have a friend. He was really tall and brittle and would sometimes lose a hand or a foot. Grandfather said Grandmother always picked it up in the morning and cooked it for supper and would we like a taste, there’s a foot in the oven right now.

Then Vicky Eloff’s asthma returned and we had to phone his parents.

That night I overheard another fascinating conversation. Grandmother was really angry.

How could you tell the children stories about monsters, she screamed, Are you drunk? Those children will never sleep again!

Every child needs a monster, said Grandfather.

I will have you arrested! screamed Grandmother.

When a child learns how the world works, he becomes scared, said Grandfather, He needs his own monster to fight the others. They have been giving children monsters in every fairytale since the beginning, dragons, eagles, geese and bats, creatures that can protect them and help them escape.

From what? said Grandmother.

You know what happens, said Grandfather, You know what they do to children. Teachers, strangers, people they know, parents, uncles. Better you have a monster when you need one, than a demon at my age. You know what happens.

It took me many years to find out what happens. But since that day I have loved my grandfather, he might have been a little alcolic, but he gave me the monster that has been my protection to this day.

This story is dedicated to all those children who never had any.