TEMPTING BELLS

The ice fruit vendor on a bicycle was another character eagerly sought after by the children. The special bells of the ice fruit vendor used to make my mouth water. Children ran about excitedly for ice fruits; it was a scarce item in the villages since there was neither water supply, electricity nor a refrigerator to preserve it. Like other children I too used to pester ‘Ammachi’ to spare three ‘Kasu’, (Six Kasu made One ‘Anna’ and Sixteen ‘Annas’ made a ‘Panam’ or later a rupee), to buy an ice-fruit. Once in a while ‘Ammachi’ used to give me two ‘Annas’ to buy a sweet ice-cake, which I ladled with renewed energy. These ice-fruits and ice-cakes were manufactured by a Tamilian settled at Kaloor in Ernakulam. 

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com