 “Artists and writers my best lovers”
by Tissa Hewavitarane
 In the southern edge of Vanni
tank, 58 miles from Colombo, lies the district of Kurunegala. There are
the loveliest picnic sites one could imagine. The shores of Batalgoda
tank lies a temple particularly worthwhile for its art treasures. It’s
also known for its rich minerals of plumbago.
A few miles away from Kurunegala town lies the famous Kahatagaha
mines. These plumbago mines have brought new prosperity to the town. The
owners were dark-faced men who wore white drill coats adorned with
silver buttons over bright silk dhotis which are pleated in heavy folds
and they wore socks and shoes. This was where I was born. My appearance
in this world was not an easy one. Hefty men with stunning moustaches,
square-faced and bare bodied went under 60 to 80 feet deep in search of
fortunes.
 Various instruments were used to pull me out from the crusted debris.
Their deep pits were dangerous and risky. Once, I was pulled out from
the deep pits and given a good bath, cleaned every dirt and sent in a
truck load to a factory in Colombo. Here I had to undergo many changes
in my body.
I met a lot of my companions here. We were transformed into thin
needle-shaped bodies. Next, we were put into a thin cylindrical shaped
light wood barrel for protection. I was a beautiful tall figure with
many eyes set on me. I had many admirers and lovers in every age group.
My best lovers were writers, draughtmen, artists and many from the
newspaper world. I was in big demand as there were no other to compete.
Many teenagers possessed me as I became very helpful to communicate
with their loved ones, writing poems, brief notes indicating their
contact numbers. I had a hectic time with them and I was known as a
pencil.
It was a period before ballpoint pens were introduced therefore, I
was in big demand and was with high spirits. As time passed, my owners
decided to improve the quality of my breed and began making more fine
art pencils in different colours.
 One day, while I was in a shop, a beautiful blond, cute figure
grabbed me and took me to her home. It did not take much time to realise
that she was a reputed artist.
Needless to say I had a thrilling sensation when her cute fingers
were busy, holding me. Light slided along the drawing board turning out
beautiful sketches.
A pencil by the way, can be used to give a good idea of the slope and
angle of the subject being drawn.
Finally, I am happy and proud of my contribution as a brand of artist
quality drawing pencils now renowned throughout the world.
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