Store Boys

It was the summer vacation between the sixth and seventh standard.  We were all busy making the best use of vacation, playing outdoor games during the daytime and indoor games like chess, carrom etc., during the evenings.  Remember, it was 1984, no television! One day Thankappan Sir, my schoolteacher, who was also my father’s friend, came to my house.  He told my father that he had been made in-charge of the bookstore in the school and he wanted me to assist him in this task.  My father happily agreed.  I was not very happy as I had to go to school everyday and spend almost the entire day there.  But I had no choice.  Thankanppan Sir had also asked another friend of mine, Selvaraj, to assist him.  

Next day we both reached the school.  Since it was vacation, the school looked deserted.  Bookstore was meant for distributing textbooks to the students and usually all students picked up books before the school reopened.  Hence, the bookstore was busy during the second half of vacation.  Thankappan Sir explained our responsibility.  Students would first pay the fee in the office and come to the store for collecting books.  We had to sort the books, bundle them class wise and stack them in the shelf.  As students came, Sir would verify the receipt and make necessary entry in the register.  We had to supply books to them.  He took us to a large classroom converted as bookstore.  Newly printed books have a typical smell, and the room was filled with it.  Though it was not a great assignment, we both were excited that we would be assisting Sir.  The students were supposed to show the receipt through a window and collect books.  Only we both along with Sir were allowed inside the store.  So, we pretended to be special in front of our classmates and other children who looked through the window.  We were enjoying the special status.  The school attender used to bring tea and snacks for Sir (mostly ‘pazham pori’, banana fry) in the morning and afternoon.  We too were served the same.  That was the biggest attraction for us!   Our assignment continued till the school reponed. 

Next year also Thankappan Sir asked us to assist him.  We were attracted by the tea and snacks.  Within few days Thankappan Sir got transferred to another school and Abdul Khader Sir was made in-charge of stores.  While Thankappan Sir was a tough task master, Khader Sir was a soft person, who hardly scolded anyone.  But on the first day itself we realised that our biggest attraction was gone!  It was the month of Ramadan and Khader Sir was fasting.  So, he didn’t ask for tea.  Since there were no other teachers in the school due to vacation, the attender also stopped getting tea.  The next year again Khader Sir asked us to take up the assignment, but this time, the Principal of the school came to our rescue saying they are in high school now.  Let them spend some time learning something during the vacation.  We nodded in agreement.  So, Khader Sir took some other students, and we were back in the playground!

Today, when I look back, I feel we learnt lot of things during those days: the importance of being organised, the significance of maintaining proper documents, little bit of inventory management, and overall management of an activity.  Such small things in life teach us some important lessons; it is only that we realise it much later!