I had a dad who was innate communist. Socialist leanings were evident at every stage of his life. He was the man who helped me understand that a beggar and a king are in essence the same. So while some around me laughed at me for calling beggars who stood at the doorstep as uncles and aunties, I learnt to practise that sense of equality in spirit. And this political socialization had to be thwarted in deed though retained in word by my mentor himself because of something I did. I was not old enough to be admitted in a school then. They were insistent I should complete three. So I was left at home with the so called baby sitter. I hated being caged like that.
I would sit by the window and watch a few make shift shacks a distance away. And then one day I decided to politically socialize. I tiptoed to the room where the babysitter was busy getting food ready for me. She looked at me quizzically for a second then ignored. I stood for sometime then slowly crept out of the border limits and was beyond line of control. I reached the group and stood staring at them and they at me. They all had brown tinged hair and were dressed in rags. But I guess it was their food time too and when a lady among them invited me to join them, I naturally did. So I had my lunch with them, they had a little of everything including the bread I usually saw at home. So I ate happily surrounded by my new political socialized circle. Half way through my new venture
I felt hands seize me from behind, turned to see the baby sitter's anger flushed visage and I think I travelled all the way home my feet above the ground. She landed me hard on the floor of the living room before my dad. He stood narrowing his eyes at me. I looked at him and said, " Beggar aunty gave me yummy fish". He gave me one quick whack and I think next day my parents requested the nearby school nuns and I was unofficially accommodated in the school. My name was not on the rolls, but i was allowed to be in class, in fact I was to sit there from morning to mid afternoon. 