BLAMELESS SORROWS

55. Festive

Axel's Point of View.

We all sit in the living room with Tilbe curiously looking at us while Uncle Jo also do but him more discreetly.

Grandpa and me both remain silence and said nothing, while I wait for how long it will take Tilbe to finally open her mouth.

Tilbe: Okay I give up with this silence, now tell me what were you guys talking about. That too in secret.

Well that didn't take long, but again it's was not like I was expecting it to take longer or anything like that.

Grandpa again remain silent while I was busy chuckling at Tilbe huffing, puffing and pouting at displeasure all at the same time as if we have done something tragic and fatal.

Tilbe: Come on grandpa, tell me too.

And she look at grandpa while clinging on to him, but the latter don't seem to give a heed on her so she decide to quickly change side and come to me.

Tilbe: Ax, what about you? You will tell me right, you said you don't keep any secrets from me.

I look at her, my expression a bit puzzled.

Axel: When did I ever said such a thing?

And I look at her in question while she huffed at mine. I mean she too know every little thing about me and I don't really keep any secrets from her, but I never exactly said I won't do it or anything like tht either.

Tilbe: Thats not the point, the point is you will tell me about it right?

I act like Iam thinking about it deeply while she looked at me expecting for me to say yes with extreme curiousity. While from the corner of my eye,I can also see Uncle Jo discreetly but surely looking at me expectantly as well. These two curious soul are unbelievable.

Grandpa: Forget about that, Tilbe you know that Mangkhap is coming up right?

Tilbe froze as soon as he mention that while I chuckled at her frightened expression.

Oh and Mangkhap is a festival we celebrate here in Iklu. It is a thanks giving for the succesful plantation of all the rice Patty and also is a thanks giving for the bountiful harvest.

At this time of the year, as far as I can remember all the places are decorated with the ripe rice plant and besides we eat different type of rice cake make of different variety of rice and also a dish which is make by pounding the freshly but not fully ripen rice called the mangatai which is just heavenly.

Besides this all the seasonal food will be sold at a very chep prices as a celebration and also the left over food from the last year will also be sold for cheaper prices.

But besides that there is another important thing, which is singing tradition song and doing a folk dance. This dance actually has to be started of by Tilbe or me, but given my condition it is always Tilbe who leads.

For about a decade now she has been leading but till date she is not expert at the dance. The things she have learn the last year will all be forgotten when the next year come and so on. This cycle had been continuing for a long time now and with no news of it coming to an end anytime soon, looking at how unprepared and scared she looked.

Tilbe: Grandpa, how can you think of talking secrets with Ax first. You should have remind me of this first right?

See she really have forgotten it again. The desperateness and the anxiousness in her voice tell me this year will be quite a hard time as well.

Axel: And by your suggestion, Iam guessing you have forgot about the dance again?

She looked at me and pout sadly while I sigh too and pat her head softly while she sit leaning on me.

Uncle Jo: But it really amazed me how you can forget about it the very next year all the time.

Grandpa: Tell me about it. This is one of the reason why I sometimes question Tilbe's sanity.

Tilbe glare at them as they said that while I continue to pat her head softly.

Tilbe: It's not like I want to forget too. It is very hard to learn them again. But it's like every year my body grow and the new grown body just don't know the dance!

She huff as she finish her little rant while all three of us look at her amusedly.

Axel: Little gift, no offence to your theory but it's been about a decade since you grow.

I told her in a serious tone while grandpa and Uncle Jo nod along looking quite serious as well. Tilbe listen to me curiously for a while until she realise what I mean and hit me on my shoulder.

Tilbe: I thought you were on my side!!!

I chuckle as I take a hold of her hands. While she glare at me, looking quite anxious at the news of the dance.

Axel: Stop freaking out little gift, we will just learn it like we do every year.

Grandpa: Yes, I will drink a cup of ginger tea and then my throath is all yours to practice as much as you wish or need.

Actually Grandpa can sing the tradional folksong quite beautifully and considering that someone has to song while the danger shout and say along the mantra needed for the dance.

Uncle: And like every year, I will get the massage oil ready while also getting the attire ready and lastly dance along again.

Well we will need that massage oil consideribg our foot will literally be swollen again.

Axel: And as always I will be the partner to every of your move.

Actually the dance don't need a specific partner but at the start of the dance, Tilbe will lead and will dance around first while after that a group of dancers will join in and all dance along. Everyone can join. So she normally rehearse with me, me dancing to the part of every other permanent member who will join in the performance, for her to get the timing.

With that I went and take the spear which is needed for the dance while grandpa went and drink a cup of ginger tea. While Uncle Jo stand and went through the step once, just for rehearsal purpose Iam guessing.

Tilbe: Ready Uncle Jo?

Uncle: Not really willing to but sure.

He sigh as he went through the steps again. While Tilbe smile at him happily yet tiredly. Yes, she is tired already and she have not even stand up yet.

Tilbe: Grandpa, done with the tea?

Grandpa looked back at her with a cup in his hand.

Grandpa: Last two sips and I'll be there.

Tilbe nod and then look at me asking me the same question but with her eyes.

Axel: Just a minute, I will be back with when grandpa is ready.

And I went towards where grandpa is standing and take some milk from the fridge and heat it up.

Grandpa: You really are like her mother or one may even say, her wife.

I chuckle as grandpa said that, while he look at me his expression questionable at what he said towards the end.

Axel: She will be tired in a few second again, it's better to be prepared.

I make a strawberry smoothie with the milk and spray some whipped cream quickly at the top and went back with a small kettle of the ginger tea grandpa was drinking.

Axel: Then shall we go at it.

All of them nod while grandpa start to sing and Uncle Jo start to dance. Tilbe looking at him extremely focused. Yes Uncle Jo is Tilbe's teacher, she will follow his steps as he dance.

Actually it is quite a comical scene as Uncle Jo is quite build and puffed but as he is dancing to a feminine dance, his dance steps are quite delicate.

He jump a bid and did a little footwork while his hands move delicately as well. Actually the dance is a replica of our ancestors pointing the ripen rice in a huge pot like structure with a long round wooden stick which is heavy enough to pound the rice.

Tilbe start to follow along while Grandpa continue to sing and I join in whenever needed which is whenver someone have to join in or whenever she needs a partner.

Like this we continued for about fifteen minute that is until Tilbe give up and seat down by the couch all tired out.

Tilbe( breathing heavily): I can't, I can't anymore. Iam too tired.

I quickly give her the drink while leaving the straw to her side making he drink it gratefully.

While all three of us looked at her tired from in concern. We are not even warm up yet and here she is covered in sweat all tired and seriously worn out.

Yes, thats her stamina. She basically have none.

Uncle Jo(whispering): Am I the only one who is worrying she might faint or get sick again by overworking when it's only ten to fifteen minute since she start. Is this an overprotective symptoms?

I look at him and whisper back.

Axel: Uncle Jo, you are over protective but yes, you are not the only one who is worried. The gift is literally withering, how can we not.

While we were whispering grandpa look at Tilbe worriedly as she happily sip on her drinks l*****g the whipped cream from time to time.

Grandpa: Like I said every year, shall I do it in your stead?

Tilbe looked at grandpa in disbeleive while he look at her quite serious in what he is suggesting.

Tilbe: Then please remember what I said every year too, don't tempt me like this grandpa. Some if this days I will really say yes and forget all about my pride as a youth.

Grandpa chuckle at her.

Grandpa: Well looking at your frial strength, Iam not quite sure if you really are a youth or not. Or this generationz youth are just different, cause Iam definitely stronger than you.

Tilbe huffed as grandpa said that while vigorously l*****g the cream.

Ah, I should have put a bit more cream in it, if I knew she will like it this much.

I mean she like to have it from before but not really like today, but today she is not drinking the drinks instead.

Tilbe: I will show you how strong Iam today.

She said so completely determined, but she is sitting in the couch as if she has become one with it.

Tilbe: Well after I regain some if my strength.

And she settle in quite comfortably sipping on her drink while all of us chuckle at her antics.