Memories of Washday Adventures

Back in the day

We, the children, were assigned washday chores

Simple chores like hanging clothes on the clothesline

But to children, no chore is simple

We had other life and death issues to tackle

We had to do chores our way

** ** ** **

We were smart, we thought

To cut down on time

Hanging clothes without clothes pegs was faster

So we could go and play hide and seek

Hopscotch, mawe saba (seven stones), and other games

Chores were coming in the way of

These life and death issues

** ** ** **

The winds would blow

Powerful tropical whirlwinds

We’d see our clothes up in the air

Not knowing where they’d land

And that’s when we’d realize we were in trouble

And there are other life and death issues

** ** ** **

But we had short memories

We’d still do chores our way

Short, younger children would yank at the clothes on the line

To dislodge the pegs

Damaging the clothes

Inviting another life and death issue

** ** ** **

After losing some clothes

And suffering the punishment

That came with it

We learned there are other life and death issues

Apart from playing hide and seek

****

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