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| Sunday, 4 May 2003 |
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Spring doldrums Now that the natural New Year celebrations are over, only the remnants of Spring remain. The forest is quiet again and everyone is having withdrawal symptoms after the euphoria of the stay of the rumbustious Cultural Troupe from Sri Lanka. We were happy to welcome them to our forest fastness and enjoy their entertainment-from which we also learned a few things. Bottom was really down in the dumps as was Puck and the rest,even the Blithe Spirits of the Night. Our Queen Titania is quiet in her favourite tree, but her mind is at work, and you never know what she is contemplating when she is quiet. It was a chilly mid-morning with some warm sunshine like you only get at this time of year. Everyone was lazily lolling around, some still in their beds with only Quince trying to be up and about. He thinks that because he is our Master of Ceremonies that he must at least appear to be extending his job to trying to make everyone jolly even when all they want to do is doze. Suddenly Bottom, who was lolling about in his favourite alcove,came rushing out as if he had got a fit of the jitters. He had an idea, he said. Quince signalled to him to be careful as the mood everywhere was not exactly convivial. 'Nothing to worry, Quincy,' said Bottom. 'It's just that I have an idea to wake everyone out of the doldrums and be a bit brighter, 'we heard Botty saying. 'Well, what's this great idea of yours?' Quince asked, his only interest being our welfare and security. With the assumption of duties as our ADC, Quince had become quite obsessed with security and protecting our person at all costs. He also made a very good bodyguard although that duty was not officially his. 'I thought to have a one-day cricket match in the forest,' Bottom said. 'A what?'asked Quince in disbelief. Bottom cleared his throat somewhat nervously. 'A one-day cricket match. Quincy, don't behave as if you don't know what a one-day cricket match is,' Bottom said. 'Well, of course I know what a one-day cricket match is, but I dont know whether you can play cricket in Spring,' Quincy answered. 'Well, let's be the first to try,' said Bot, adding: 'Surely they start practising for the County championships in Spring?' 'You have a point there, Botty,' said Quincy, already beginning to admit defeat. 'Let's sound Robin O'the Hood on the matter and see whether he is willing to help to make up a team,' said Bottom. 'But don't forget, Botty, we once tried to make up a team for a women's cricket match and it fell through.' 'That's a women's cricket match,' Bottom said, as if he had nothing whatever to do with that non-event. "Yes, but you know what happened to that match,' said Quince. 'Oh, come on, Quincy, there's nothing like trying. Everything is so dull in the forest now after the New Year and we need something to make us all feel better,' Bottom persuaded. 'But it's still Spring in this part of the world and no one plays cricket in Spring. Quince was sticking to his point. And so was Bottom, and it was quite amusing to listen to them going on about making us feel better now that the new year celebrations were over. Anyway, Bottom won the day and told Quince to send off an e-mail post haste to Robin O' the Hood about the cricket match. Bottom waited with bated breath for a reply. After some time, an arrow flew through the air and stuck in a branch of our tree. It had a message tied to it. 'With apologies, your maj, could you please send down that message, asked Bottom from way below where we were ensconced listening to what was going on. We threw down the arrow and message to Bottom who was thrilled to get one from Robin who was a hero to him. But poor Botty's face changed and we thought we saw a tear glistening at the corner of an eye. Quince rushed up to ask what the message was about. The message read: Many thanks for inviting us to join you in a one-day match, but we have already arranged a tournament in Derby and would be delighted to invite Oberon and Titania and all the rest to grace the occasion. Bottom perked up quite a bit and did a sort of fandango round one of his favourite trees, shouting: 'Your maj, your maj, Robin has invited you and the queen and all the rest of the forest folk to join him at the tournament that has arranged in Derby. What fun! Robin and his Merry young men...Robin and his Merry young men...B....'Bottom sang as he danced round the tree, so much so that Puck arrived on the scene and announced that Pyramus and Thisbe had overheard the message and wanted to know whether they could also go to the tournament. 'Well, I don't exactly know whether the two of them could attend,'said Bottom sounding rather lofty. It was then that we intervened: 'Pyramus and Thisbe will go along with us to the tournament. There is no question about leaving them alone here. I am sure Robin and the rest would be very happy to see them.' But Bottom could never really bring himself to like P&T, why, we do not know. Then Quince came to the rescue. 'Now that everything is settled, shall we celebrate the tournament in advance, your majesty?' We nodded our assent and Botty could hardly believe his ears. 'Get the mead! Get the mead! On with the motley!' he sang as Puck disappeared into the steward's quarters to do the needful, with Botty on his heels. Oberon |
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