Gary’s Temple Visit By Lakshmi Menon Smashwords Edition * * * * * * * Published by Lakshmi Menon on Smashwords Gary’s Temple Visit Copyright © 2011 by Lakshmi Menon Smashwords Edition License Notes Thank you for downloading this free eBook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other works by this author, given at the end of the story. Thank you for your support. * * * * * In a small village in India, there lived an old man. He lived alone in a small house as he had lost his wife few years back and his children were away in the city with their families. He did all his household chores himself. He washed his vessels, cooked his food, cleaned his house, and washed his clothes, everything all alone. After a few days, he felt the need to have a friend with whom he could talk and who would also enjoy his company, but who would not interfere in his life. As he was wondering how to get such company he found a small kitten lying in his garden, with a wounded leg. The old man felt sorry for the kitten and picked him up. He called him Gary. The old man nursed him with utmost care and gave him milk every day. Within a month Gary grew up to be a beautiful and healthy-looking pussy cat, in white and black, with silky fur and bright eyes. Gary and the old man became great friends. Gary followed him like shadow everywhere. The old man talked to Gary about his dead wife and his children who never bothered to visit him. Like an obedient child Gary sat and listened to his master’s sorrows and joys and he mewed sadly or happily in between to show his response. It made the old man happy. Gary followed him even to the field, to the shops and to the temple. He felt it was his responsibility to take care of his master who took care of him when he was wounded and abandoned by his mother. Now, every day after the pooja was over the temple priest gave the old man some prasadam. The old man smeared a little sandal paste on Gary's forehead and kept a flower on his ears. Gary felt very great about it. After reaching home, he gave him a spoonful of the payasam he had received from the temple along with the prasadam . Gary enjoyed eating the delicious payasam, which he had never tasted before meeting the old man, and he looked forward for the temple visit each morning. ***** One day the old man fell ill and couldn’t go to the temple. Gary was very sad, and began to cry silently seeing his master lying in the bed. The old man knew that Gary was upset. He also knew Gary enjoyed going to the temple. “Gary, do you want to go to the temple?” he asked. “I want to go to the temple and pray for your good health”, replied Gary. “Can you go alone?” asked the old man. “I’ll go and pray for you and come back with prasadam for you. I’m sure God will heal you soon,” replied Gary. “Okay, Gary. You go and come back soon.” Gary was very happy that the old man had permitted him to go. He left the place immediately. But to his surprise, the poojari refused to give him the prasadam since the old man was not present. Disappointed, Gary stood there for some time, but the poojari didn’t take any notice of him. Gary didn’t want to go back empty handed, which he knew would upset his master who was waiting in the bed for the prasadam. Suddenly an idea struck him. He decided to enter the temple and ask for some prasadam for his master’s sake. As the poojari left the payasam inside and closed the door Gary also followed him without being seen. Within a short time, Gary left the temple with little payasam in a plantain leaf. As he was already late Gary was running with the payasam. On his way he saw a fox. His name was Brown. “What’re you taking and running, Gary? You better give it to me and go. Otherwise I’ll kill you,” screamed the fox. Gary knew that it was wise to stop there and give him some payasam. Otherwise he was sure to be killed. He was not worried about his death, but he was worried about his master. “Please don’t kill me, Brown. I’ll give you a share of the prasadam I’m taking for my master who is sick and lying at home,” Gary pleaded. “Okay. Give it to me soon”, ordered Brown. Gary slowly opened the banana leaf and gave him a portion of the prasadam. Brown tasted it and felt very happy. “Oh, fantastic, my friend! Where did you get such tasty payasam? I’ve never tasted such a delicacy in all my life. It’s so tempting. I want some more”, said Brown. “I got it from the temple. I’m sorry my dear friend. If you want more you come along with me tomorrow. I’ll get you some,” said Gary wisely. “Why can’t we go now itself and take more? I can’t wait till tomorrow.” Brown became impatient. “No, Brown. You can’t get it today. The poojari has already taken it and gone. Tomorrow you can have it before he takes it away.” Suddenly an idea struck him. “Okay…. Promise? I hope you won’t cheat me. I’ll wait for you here tomorrow morning”. Brown said. “It’s my promise. Tomorrow morning I’ll take you with me,” said Gary with his heart beating fast. Brown went back to join his wife happily and told her about his meeting with Gary and the lucky day ahead of him. Gary went home and gave the left over prasadam to his master. ****** In the night Gary didn’t get a wink of sleep. He was worried about his promise given to Brown. “How can a fox go to the temple and how can I get him the payasam?” he kept thinking. He had made the promise to Brown just to escape at that moment. Gary wanted to tell his master about his problem, but after a second thought he decided not to worry him when he was unwell. Next day Gary got up early and went to the temple. Brown was waiting for him on the way. "We will wait for the poojari," Gary said. "After the pooja he will distribute payasam." Brown didn't like his suggestion. “Idiot! Are you telling me to wait for the poojari, little pussy cat? Will he give me payasam? I’m the most cunning animal in this world. Don’t you know that?” Brown laughed at him. When they reached the temple, the poojari was performing the pooja. After a while he came out and distributed the prasadam to the devotees and kept the remaining inside. He also gave some to Gary. Then he locked the door and went away. Brown wanted to have a bigger share. He entered the temple through a small opening. He ate stomach full, and he could not come out through the small opening. Meanwhile Gary went home. For the noon prayer, the poojari came to open the door and was shocked to see a fox sleeping inside the temple and the empty payasam vessel by his side. The poojari locked the door again, shouted for help and soon the villagers gathered. Within no time, they killed the fox. Next day morning, Gary came to the temple as usual. He saw his friend’s beaten up, lifeless body lying on the side of the road. Immediately, his master’s words came to his mind: “Greedy people will always end up in trouble. Even the most cunning will, one day or the other, get into trouble.” ***** Glossary: Poojari = Temple Priest, Payasam = A sweet desert , Prasadam= food offered to the deity To the Reader: My other stories for kids are https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/61443 “Big Brother Appu” https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/61438 “Mini’s Little World” https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/61784 “Two stories of Kings”