Page 3 - Lesson Note 1

The baker made his musical entry on the scene with the „jhang, jhang‟ sound of
his specially made bamboo staff. One hand supported the basket on his head
and the other banged the bamboo on the ground. He would greet the lady of the
house with “Good morning” and then place his basket on the vertical bamboo.
We kids would be pushed aside with a mild rebuke and the loaves would be
delivered to the servant. But we would not give up. We would climb a bench or
the parapet and peep into the basket, somehow. I can still recall the typical
fragrance of those loaves. Loaves for the elders and the bangles for the children.
Then we did not even care to brush our teeth or wash our mouths properly. And
why should we? Who would take the trouble of plucking the mango-leaf for the
toothbrush? And why was it necessary at all? The tiger never brushed his teeth.
Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all!

staff - stick
Rebuke- an expression of disapproval; a scolding
Fragrance- a pleasant, sweet smell
Parapet- railing, a low protective wall
bangles- here, refers to the bread in the shape of a bangle called „Kankon‟

The baker often made a musical entry with his bamboo stick. His one hand
supported the basket on his head while the other banged the bamboo on the
ground. He would go house to house and greet the ladies before handing them
over the loaves. The parents would scold the children and make them stand
aside. But as eager as they were, they would climb a bench or the wall to peep
into the basket. They did not even bother to brush their teeth before having those
bread bangles because it seemed unnecessary effort for them to pluck mango