The SUPW Garden Plot

By Sherene D’cruz  alias Mary Bennet ('89 Batch)

It all began in the best of spirits and ended in the worst! Each class of our batch was divided according to houses and each house was allocated a little plot. Everyone dug their hands in except for a few who did not want to damage their well manicured nails. With scientific precision the plots were measured, fences were built and plants were sneaked in from mom’s vegetable garden or what was found on the roadside - begged, borrowed or stolen! No one had time for games anymore during the breaks as everyone rushed to their plots to take care of their precious plants. Lunch was gobbled up quickly, no time for small talk.

It was just loads of enthusiasm and itching green fingers. While you worked on your plot, you enviously eyed your neighbour’s plot.  Every detail caught your eyes, trying to steal ideas, hey? No way! But how come everyone ended up putting together the same little scarecrows to ward off the birds that were fond of the ripe tomatoes. The plants were suffocated with love. How come no one thought of playing music to their plants?  They say plants grow faster when they hear music! Anyway the plants had no choice but to yield the very best!

Wonder where the vegetables finally ended up, most probably in one of mom’s casseroles. Everything was shared fair and square, at least the first season! Summer went by, the plants were neglected during the holidays. The first day of school everyone arrived early to check their plots.  Even though some of the enthusiasm had died, they were still a few brave who cleaned the plots and planted anew.  No one could predict the damage the torrential monsoon rains would do to their precious plants.  Boundaries got smudged, plants and houses intermingled and finally it was "that’s our tomato plant, no it’s ours". Now, it was just one big floating vegetable garden in a sea of reddish water. Complaints were made, fights had to be dealt with while the vegetables rottened away!

Then there was the calm after the storm - when a new SUPW project was suggested, something for all seasons! This time with wonderful Miss Braganza, cross stitch and crochet, there was no rivalry, coz everyone had their own patch!

In school I was known as Mary Bennet. Sherene is what friends and family call me!!