23rd April 2000

Crown Prince for captaincy?

"Why, Bindu, to take over when the captain is unable to play" Bindu's father Percy Udagedera said.

"But thaaththa, what happens if the vice-captain is also unable to play?"

"There is no point appointing such a vice-captain, Bindu" Percy said.

"Then they must change the vice-captain, shouldn't they?" Bindu wanted to know.

"What is this team which is having all these problems?" Percy asked.

"I am thinking of Satellite's team"

"Of course," Percy said, "there is a good reason for having a non-playing vice-captain"

"What's that?"

"The vice-captain is the most senior player in the team"

"But if she isn't playing well, shouldn't she resign?" Bindu asked.

"In this country no one resigns, Bindu"

"Then they can drop her from the team" Bindu suggested.

"I suppose they want to do that but they can't" Percy observed.

"Why is that?"

"Because that will lead to more problems"

"How can that be?" Bindu asked. "I thought that would give younger players a chance"

"It should," Percy said, "but unfortunately it will only lead to the younger players fighting among themselves"

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, there are so many contenders.

"Who are these contenders?" Bindu wanted to know.

"Why, we have the one who speaks, then we have the one who leads the House"

"But thaaththa, they are also almost as old as the present vice-captain"

"Ah, there are young players too"

"Who are they?"

"Why, there is the General who has generally had a hard time with the war and then there is the Professor who has had a hard time with the peace process"

"They are also not very young, are they?"

"Of course, then there are the younger chaps who are the Captain's favourites"

"Who are they?"

"Why, we have the Sportsman and the Postman who also works as the newspaper-boy"

"Why what about the Fisherman?"

"A lot of people would like to see him as vice-captain but I think Satellite doesn't like him, really"

"So, what has she done now?"

"She has appointed the one who leads the House to oversee her duties while she is away?"

"So, he hasn't been appointed the vice-captain, then?" Bindu queried.

"Not really," Percy agreed, "but he has been made acting vice-captain of sports"

"How will the other contenders take it, then?"

"It's Satellite's choice, so I don't think they can do much about it anyway" Percy said.

"So, thaaththa, do you think the one who leads the House will one day captain the team?"

"I am not so sure about that" Percy declared.

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, Bindu, the captaincy of this team has never gone out of the family"

"But thaaththa, there is no one now to continue the family tradition"

"Why, the Crown Prince is always there"

"But thaaththa," Bindu protested, "he is in the opposite team"

"Don't count on that," Percy said, "he can always come back if he wants to, especially if the present vice-captain has her way"

Bindu didn't know what to say to that.

The Jungle Telegraph

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