They woo one another-while we wallow in the wilderness!

By Rypvanwinkle

"Thaaththa", Bindu Udagedera asked, "what is all this fuss about our cricketers?"
"Why, they lost nearly all our matches in Australia…" Bindu's father Percy said.
"But thaaththa," Bindu protested, "they can't win always; after all, they nearly won the World Cup last year…"
"But now they are being paid millions of dollars…" Percy said, "so, everyone expects them to perform…"
"Who paid them millions of dollars?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Why," Percy said, "they were auctioned off in India and most of our players fetched top prices…"
"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "there are others who cost millions of dollars but do not perform at all, unlike our cricketers who bring some pride and joy to the country every now and then…"
"And who are they?" Percy asked.
"Why, thaaththa," Bindu said, "our politicians…"
"Then, maybe we should auction them off as well…" Percy suggested.
"But will there be people willing to pay good money to buy them?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Of course there will be," Percy was confident, "and I am sure they too will fetch millions of dollars…"
"Why do you say that, thaaththa?" Bindu queried.
"Why, Bindu, although we may think our politicians are not worth the money we spend on them, there will be others who will pay any amount to retain their services…" Percy explained.
"Why is that, thaaththa?" Bindu inquired.
"Take Minister Bandula for instance," Percy said, "I am sure businessmen would always want him to remain as the Minister of Trade at the rate prices are increasing by the day…"
"So," Bindu observed, "if Uncle Bandula is auctioned, he would fetch a lot of money…"
"As would Minister Fowzie…" Percy said.
"Why is that?" Bindu asked.
"Why, I am sure the gas companies and petrol distributors would surely want to retain his services as well…" Percy declared.
"Then," Bindu suggested, "I am sure rice producers would bid a very high price for Uncle Maithri as well…"
"Yes," Percy agreed, "that is also quite possible…"
"And then, the electricity companies will be fighting to bid for Uncle John at the rate electricity rates are rising…" Bindu said.
"And maybe those running international schools will bid for Minister Susil as well…" Percy proposed.
"Why is that, thaaththa?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Why, he has ensured that school admissions are such a headache that it is such good business for all the International Schools…" Percy pointed out.
"Then," Bindu said, "I am sure the private hospitals will bid very high for Uncle Siripala because he has ensured that in government hospitals, somebody is always on strike…"
"It is not only business people who will be bidding to buy our politicians, Bindu…" Percy said.
"Why do you say that, thaaththa?" Bindu asked.
"I am sure Mahinda maama will pay a very high price to retain the services of Uncle Ranil as his opposite number…" Percy said.
"Then," Bindu said, "Uncle Ranil will pay an even higher price to retain the services of Uncle Anura who keeps walking in and out of the Cabinet not knowing whether he is coming or going…"
"But either of them will not be the million dollar superstar who fetches the highest price…" Percy said.
"Who will that be, thaaththa?" Bindu asked.
"Why, Uncle Mervyn of course…" Percy said.
"Aiyo, thaaththa," Bindu protested, "who will want to pay money to retain the services of Uncle Mervyn who invites trouble wherever he goes…"
"Why, Bindu I am sure all the newspapers and television stations will pay any amount of money to retain his services. After all, without him and his antics to report on, most of them would be out of business by now, wouldn't they?" Percy asked.
Bindu knew he couldn't disagree with that.