ENCOUNTER by Kathy Beckwith

Author:Kathy Beckwith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 2 Wonders LLC
Published: 2021-08-11T02:10:41+00:00

She included #3 because it was a major reason for taking MRT and she still needed to know. Or hoped she did. Param’s last email had been there when she got back from Hampi – a forwarded collection of jokes. They weren’t even funny, and she decided not to answer it. That would be a test to see if he noticed. He evidently didn’t, because he hadn’t emailed again. Not even when she was so sick.

Annie worked on the MRT paper throughout the next week and had it ready to turn in at the end of the day on Friday, leaving her last Saturday morning free for one final visit to Chinnakadu. Mr. Hausden arranged for the jeep, as he said he would, and Annie, Ketsa, Vidhya, and three other girls from Tresham loaded in as soon as they’d had breakfast.

They were expected, and when they arrived at the school, a large group of girls greeted them, along with the women from the Kurinji group – Nirmala, Jayanthi, Leelakumari, Chandra, Radha, Asha, and Anandhi. Annie realized that somewhere along the way she had learned their names. The fancy long skirts and blouses and saris told Annie this was a time of special celebration. Tea and biscuits were brought, and afterwards Radha asked Vidhya if they would make a speech.

“Kattayam!” she replied. “Sure!” She turned to Annie. “They said they want you to make a speech.”

“Me?” Annie asked.

“Well, not specifically you, but the rest of us will be back next year. You’re the one going home. It’s your time in the sunshine.”

“So what am I supposed to say?”

“Thanks for the chai, and then whatever else you want,” Vidhya replied. “I’ll translate.”

So Annie began: “When I first came to Chinnakadu, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew we were working on water filters, and I knew I wanted to help because everybody needs good water to drink. Oh, and thank you for the chai and biscuits.” She paused for Vidhya to catch up.

“And I did help build one filter and I hope it works forever, but what I really want to tell you is that when Chandra took my hand a couple of weeks ago, when you first showed us the cards you’d made … she called me a name in English that I didn’t know. She said I was an Animator. And I found out later what it meant, and what I want to tell Chandra and all of you …” Again she paused for Vidhya.

“I want to say that you are my Animators.” Annie’s throat tightened and she tried not to cry as she looked for the words to finish. “The dictionary at our school says it means giving breath or life or spirit. You have given me so much that I didn’t know about life. You let me know you and what you hope for and what you work so hard to make happen. Your cards are awesome.”

She remembered something, and once Vidhya had finished, she added, “Thank you for my kurinji flower get-well card.

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