C006 Cold Shower
1826 Words
Several of the children were running about and chasing the chickens and ducks back to their individual chicken or duck coops.
The coop was made of woven bamboo strips that were fashioned like a teepee of some sort to give a space for the hens to rest inside rather than to have a proper hen house for to roost for the night.
At least, with a proper hen house, the settlers could gather eggs every morning when the hens produce eggs without the need for a rooster present.
An elderly man walked over to the middle of the courtyard and began to use a Flint and a striker to light the prepared neatly stacks of wood, tinder, and kindling for the bonfire.
It seems that a bonfire would be lighted every night for the settlement until the bonfire dies down which means that it would be a sign for everyone to be in their houses and be ready for bed.
Well, that's what a bonfire is used for right?
The guards at the majestic house also went about to light the torches set on top of the fences. This helps to illuminate the small settlement as the torches were lined up sparingly above the wooden fences high above the ground and the flickering flames helped to light the area as well.
Soon the whole settlement was once again filled with the activity of preparing dinner, welcoming their husbands, fathers or siblings back from the farm or from the sea while others headed to the common well which was partially covered by a 4 feet high bamboo fence near the edge of the settlement to shower and get rid of the dirt and grime from their day of harvesting.
I noticed a few outhouses or public toilets lined near the common well too just slightly behind it near some clumps of young bamboo plantations.
I observed Ani approaching the group where I was sitting and handed me a wraparound cloth. "Time for you to head for the shower, Bo." I immediately understood that this cloth that Ani had just handed me would be used for showering and I wondered how am I going to do with it.
I excused myself from the guys and made my way gingerly towards the well where a group of men had already gathered and taken their turns at the common bathing area.
Entering inside the partial fence of the common bathing area, I followed what the rest of the men were doing and covered myself with the cloth before undressing myself and wrapping the cloth around my waist.
I peered from the corner of my eyes and copied every step that the men had taken and had wrapped the cloth given to me around the waist like a piece of towel.
The clothes that I had worn earlier was hung on top of the fence as I went straight to the well. There was a small bucket with a rope attached so I copied the men who had dropped the bucket into the well and pulled on the rope to draw the water from within.
After I had pulled the bucket up, I have forgotten to test the temperature of the water as I raised the bucket and poured the whole contents onto my head and to my body.
"Aaahhh... Bbbbrrrrrrrr... This water is way too cold...!!!" I can't help myself but yelp in surprise when the water suddenly hit me.
I was half thinking that the water would be warm since it would be somehow affected by the weather around it.
But I never realised that the natural groundwater could be this cold and yet so refreshing...!
The other men who were watching me yelp out aloud in surprise earlier chuckled to themselves. "By Golly...! I've got to get used to this type of life after all since I won't be leaving here so soon, innit?"
"By the way, there's so much to do here and explore in this simple and mediocre life of settlers. Also, it would be a good idea to find out where exactly I am since this place doesn't look too native like the aborigines."
I thought to myself as I repeated the process of dropping the bucket inside the well and pulling the bucket of water and pouring it on myself at the same.
There were no other comforts such as a soap or body shampoo so I rubbed my body throughout with the palms of my hands and hope I could get the grime off my body as much as possible.
After I am done pouring buckets of water on my body and enjoying the cool sensations thereafter, I shook myself off the excess of water and then picked up the clothes that I had slung over the top of the fence and gingerly stepped outside the bathing area.
As I stepped out from the bathing area after gathering my clothes, I walked and can't help but shiver as I headed to the house where Ani entered the earlier.
I copied her way before stepping onto the steps by scooping the water from the brown earthen jar and cleansed my feet, where I was still wearing the open-toed leather sandals.
I held on to the wet and dropping wrap cloth around my waist I headed towards the main door. As I entered the house with the wet and dripping wraparound cloth around my waist, I suddenly heard a shriek from Ani.
"Abang...! Haiyo...! You are going to get the floor wet again...!!" as Ani was screaming her words in despair, she threw a dry wraparound cloth at my direction, slipped it over my head and in one movement, removed the wet one that was around my waist and replaced with the one that she had just slipped on.
"Haiyo, Abang... How many times Ani have to remind you not to walk in dripping wet like that. You really looked like a poor little puppy that had just been caught in the rain and shaking its body and fur all over the house...!"
Ani complained to me while she picked up the wet wraparound cloth that she had forcefully removed from my waist and quickly ran down the flight of stairs.
From the main door where I stood there like a fool with the new wraparound still half covering the top of my wet hair and part of my body, I saw her wringing the wet cloth and spreading it on the clothesline beside the house.
After doing so, she walked up and stood in front of me and fumbled with the dry wraparound cloth around my waist tightly.
I looked at her with a curious look and she later remarked, "Abang, you seemed odd today. Have you forgotten how to wear a 'sarong' is it?"
Soon thereafter, I realized that this wraparound cloth was called a sarong. It seemed that every cloth had its purpose depending on the intricate designs.
The sarong that I was wearing was made up of squarish designs and was very plain. I guess this would be used as evening wear for men, I suppose?
By the way, I was wondering how could a man be without his boxers or any forms of underwear? It would be na uneasy feeling with the swinging and the clanging of the two wrecking balls between my legs...!
Ani went over near the door and hung my "keris" and proceeded to place my earlier worn clothes in an orderly manner in the corner of the room where a woven basket was. Seems to me it looked like a dirty laundry basket.
Don't worry too much about me, Ani. I think the heat goes up in my head too much today and that's why I still feel a bit blurry after all."
"After a days rest, I am sure I would be feeling alright then," I reassured to Ani as she went about her duties around the house and was wiping the wet floor when I entered right in after my hasty shower.
I thanked Ani again under my breath and I asked her if she was done preparing dinner. "Dinner is ready, come and eat together before heading for bed. Tomorrow you need to wake up early to assist the brothers to weigh in their catch."
Ani simply replied as she enters the 'clean kitchen' and after a while, she came out with a tray and set it on the floor of the main living hall.
On the tray, I saw 2 wrapped banana leaves mound, which I guessed contained some kind of steamed rice, a simple dish of 2 deep-fried sun-dried mackerel and a dish of blanched greens with a serving of stir-fried coconut gratings on it.
The mouthwatering wafts made me salivate involuntarily. There was only one spoon and a bowl of clean water, which I first thought was for drinking or maybe as a clear soup of some kind but then I realised it was meant to dip the fingers in before eating.
There were also a wooden gourd and 2 wooden cups. "Come, let's eat," Ani said while putting one mound of wrapped banana leave before me.
Ani sat on the floor in front of me and she deftly flipped the mound of banana leaf on her plate while removing the wooden skewers. She carefully removed the flaps and it revealed a portion of white steamed rice.
She took a piece of fried mackerel and placed it on the side of the rice. Using the wooden spoon, she scooped a portion of blanched greens with some garnishings and set it aside as well.
Afterwards, she dipped her fingers in the bowl of water and began to place some rice with bits of greens into her mouth. Her actions were secretly observed by me and I copied the exact manner of what she was doing and assume what she was doing afterwards.
I would prefer to use the spoon and scoop the food right into my mouth instead of using it as a serving spoon instead. However, if I did that I think I would incur another squeal from her once again.
"So this is the way to eat by using bare hands. How I wish they have a complete set of eating utensils instead." I thought aloud in my mind, slowly adjusting my way of eating using my own hands while scooping the food and manoeuvring my right hand into my mouth.
After several attempts, I managed to correctly adjust the way the scooped rice and placing it into my mouth without making a mess on my face. It's a trick of not clamping the food in the palms but using just the tips of the fingers to mix the food up and scoop it in.
After some time, I got the hang of it and was happily scooping food into my mouth and I accidentally bite down on my fingers a few times as well. But I managed to keep my composure as cool as possible as not to raise too much of suspicion from Ani.
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- Writer
