The Fifth Column

5th September 1999

No one has lived up to expectations

“Thaaththa”, Bindu Udagedera asked, “what do you think of our cricket team?”

“Well” said Percy, “it looks as if they have started winning again…”

“Why,” said Bindu, “you don’t seem to be too happy about it…”

“Well,” said Percy, “they won only one match, didn’t they?”

“But thaaththa,” Bindu argued, that was against the world champions…”

“But don’t we have a long way to go?”

“Yes, we do,” Bindu agreed, “but at least we seem to be moving in the right direction…”

“How can you say that?”

“Why, there was a lot of criticism when they removed the former captain and deputy…”

“Some others were also dropped and some retired…” Percy recalled.

“But the youngsters have now shown that they beat even the best…”

“It’s a pity,” said Percy, “that we can’t apply the same method to other matters…”

“Why do you say that, thaaththa?”

“I was thinking about politics, for example…”

“Why, what would you like to do in politics, thaaththa?”

“Remove those who do not perform from the team…” Percy suggested.

“Would you want to remove the Captain and her Vice-captain also?” Bindu asked.

“Why, have they performed well?” Percy demanded.

“Well” conceded Bindu, “they haven’t lived up to expectations…”

“May be then we should consider dropping them too…”

“But thaaththa,” Bindu argued, “there are worse performers in the team…”

“And who are they?” Percy wanted to know.

“Why, the sportsman, the unhealthy-looking one and the media-man…”

“Then,” Percy suggested, “they should all be replaced…”

“But thaaththa,” Bindu pointed out, “it won’t be as easy as it was in the cricket team…”

“Why do you say that?”

“In the cricket team, there were enough youngsters waiting to take those places…”

“Why, what has happened here?”

“Here” said Bindu, “those who are waiting to take those places may be worse…”

“That’s true” Percy admitted, “even about the opposing captain…”

“So, what do you think will happen?”

“I think we may be stuck with the same captain for a few more years…”

“Then,” said Bindu, “let’s hope that the captain maintains a winning record, just like Sanath did the other day…”

“But” Percy said, “Sanath didn’t allow little Kalu to get to his century…”

“That’s what all Sanaths do, thaaththa” Bindu said.

“Why do you say that?”

“They don’t give the other man his share “ said Bindu, “they try to have it all for themselves”

“And, then what happens?”

“And they get into all kinds of trouble because of that” Bindu said.

“Then” said Percy, “I’m only afraid of one thing…”

“What’s that?”

“Kalu might have recorded the match and now he must be showing the tape to Sanath and asking for his share…”

“And then, what would Sanath do?”

“Why, thaaththa, he would deny that he did such a thing and he could call the tape a fake…”

Percy didn’t quite know what to say to that.

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